Kidney stones are among the most painful afflictions one can experience, but they are usually preventable. A plant-based diet that is high in potassium and includes plenty of water can help keep your urinary tract and kidneys healthy. Potatoes are high in potassium, making potato juice an excellent preventive measure, though it is not particularly useful as a cure.
Calcium Stones
Calcium stones are exactly what they sound like – small, hard particles of hard calcium. They form in the urinary tract and are usually so small that you don’t know you have them and don’t feel it when you pass them. Sometimes they grow to be a bit larger, and can obstruct or block your urinary tract causing severe pain and difficulty urinating. Treatment usually involves the use of painkillers to ease your discomfort in passing them, and, occasionally, surgery can be necessary.
Potatoes
There are over 100 different varieties of potatoes, ranging in color from pale gold to dark purple, and in size from that of a golf ball to larger than a man’s fist. Most of the nutrients in potatoes are in the peel, so choose thin-skinned versions for juicing. Potatoes are very high in potassium, which is known to help prevent kidney stones. However, there is no evidence that drinking potato juice will dissolve or otherwise affect calcium stones that already exist.
Making Potato Juice
Juicing does not have to involve expensive or unwieldy equipment. Thoroughly wash a potato and cut it into small chunks. Place the pieces into a blender. Add carrot juice, or another sweet, natural juice, and blend the potato chunks until they become a liquid. Strain the mixture before drinking it. This juice will provide you with vitamin C, magnesium and other nutrients – especially potassium.
Warning
Home remedies and complementary and alternative medicines can be a natural adjunct to traditional Western medicine, but should never replace a qualified medical opinion. If you think you have kidney stones – especially if you are vomiting and have a fever – see your doctor immediately. Discuss lifestyle and dietary changes, as well as naturopathic solutions, and work with her to find a treatment that is effective and safe.
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