You may have heard about kidney stones. These are painful, can block the flow of urine and result in infection, blowing considerable damage to your kidneys. These can even cause kidney failure, if not treated well.

But what if we could prevent kidney stones from forming in the first place? Preventing a disorder is far more beneficial than curing it, isn’t it?

Ever wondered if there’s a way to prevent kidney stones? Well, the good news is, yes. You can prevent kidney stones from forming through certain dietary changes.

This means, you can be at an arm’s length from kidney stones by eating the right kind of food and avoiding a handful of them. Yes, it is that simple. All you need to know is what you should eat and not to prevent kidney stones.

In this blog, Mykare Health will help you explore the kidney stone diet. And make you understand what foods you should eat and what you should avoid eating to prevent kidney stones.

What Do You Know About Kidney Stones ?

Before getting into the kidney stone diet, let us do a brief recap on what kidney stones are.

Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi, are irregularly-shaped crystals that can vary in size and location. They can form when urine becomes too concentrated, causing calcium, uric acid salts, and other chemicals to crystallise. Kidney stones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.

Some common symptoms of kidney stones that you must not miss are:

• Severe pain in the lower back or side
• Blood in the urine
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
• A burning feeling when urinating

What increases the risk of kidney stones? Here they are:

• Not drinking enough water
• Living in warm, dry climates
• Sweating a lot
• Eating a diet high in protein, sodium (salt), and sugar

Pain caused by a kidney stone may change — for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract.

Types of Kidney Stones

Knowing the type of kidney stone you have helps determine its cause, and may give clues on how to reduce your risk of getting more kidney stones.

If possible, try to save your kidney stone if you pass one so that you can bring it to your doctor for analysis.

Types of kidney stones include:

• Calcium stones: Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a substance made daily by your liver or absorbed from your diet. Certain fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate content. Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine.

• Struvite stones: Struvite stones form in response to a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.

• Uric acid stones: Uric acid stones can form in people who lose too much fluid because of chronic diarrhoea or malabsorption, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Certain genetic factors also may increase your risk of uric acid stones. Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder called cystinuria that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of a specific amino acid.

• Cystine stones: These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder called cystinuria that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of a specific amino acid.

What is the most important factor to prevent kidney stone formation?

One of the best things you can do to avoid kidney stones is to drink plenty of water every day. This will help make sure that you urinate frequently to avoid any build up of calcium or uric acid.

Don't underestimate your sweat! Saunas, hot yoga and heavy exercise may sound good for your health, but they also may lead to kidney stones. Why? Loss of water through sweating due to these activities or just the heat of summer may lead to less urine production. The more you sweat, the less you will urinate, which allows stone-causing minerals to settle and deposit in the kidneys and urinary tract.

Hydrate with water. Be sure to keep well hydrated, especially when doing exercise or activities that cause a lot of sweating. You should drink 2-3 quarts of liquid or 8-12 cups per day to produce a good amount of urine. Speak with a healthcare professional about the right amount of water that's best for you. Try to avoid sodas (especially those with high amounts of fructose), sweetened iced tea and grapefruit juice.

What to eat and drink

If you’re trying to avoid kidney stones, what you eat and drink is as important as what you shouldn’t eat and drink. Here are some important rules of thumb to keep in mind.

Diet Recommendations for Kidney Stones

• Drink plenty of fluid: 2-3 quarts/day

This includes any type of fluid such as water, coffee and lemonade which have been shown to have a beneficial effect with the exception of grapefruit juice and soda. This will help produce less concentrated urine and ensure a good urine volume of at least 2.5L/day.

• Limit foods with high oxalate content

Spinach, many berries, chocolate, wheat bran, nuts, beets, tea and rhubarb should be eliminated from your diet.

• Eat enough dietary calcium

Three servings of dairy per day will help lower the risk of calcium stone formation. Eat with meals.

• Avoid extra calcium supplements

Calcium supplements should be individualised by your physician and registered kidney dietitian.

• Eat a moderate amount of protein

High protein intakes will cause the kidneys to excrete more calcium therefore this may cause more stones to form in the kidney.

• Avoid high salt intake

High sodium intake increases calcium in the urine which increases the chances of developing stones. Low salt diet is also important to control blood pressure.

• Avoid high doses of vitamin C supplements

It is recommended to take 60mg/day of vitamin C based on the US Dietary Reference Intake. Excess amounts of 1000 mg/day or more may produce more oxalate in the body and can lead to kidney stone formation.

3 Kidney Stone-Friendly Recipes To Try

Here are a few recipes to try in case you currently have kidney stones. These recipes include low oxalate ingredients to curb the growth of stones as well as ingredients that may dissolve existing stones. Speak with your doctor before trying out any new diet plan.

1.Basic pomegranate juice

• Peel the skin off 2 medium-sized pomegranates and put the fruit into a large blender.
• Blend for several minutes until a wet, runny pink juice forms.
• Strain the juice into a glass and drink.
• Do not add sugar or salt unless your doctor has allowed it.

2. Low oxalate homemade bread

• Mix 2 spoons of sugar, 1 cup warm water, and 1 cup whole wheat flour in a large bowl with 1 sachet of dry yeast.
• Once the mixture starts to bubble slightly, add half a cup more wheat flour, half a spoon of salt, 1 cup of regular flour, and 2 spoons of vegetable oil.
• After mixing well, turn the dough onto a flat surface and half a cup more regular flour along with 2 tablespoons each of sunflower seeds and -oatmeal.
• Knead the dough for several minutes until all ingredients are combined well then put it away into a clean bowl (put a little oil at the bottom of the bowl first and the bowl with a cloth after placing the dough).
• Allow the dough to double its size, deflate the dough slightly, and shape it into a log (or several buns), place this onto a pan or oven-safe cooking tray.
• Let it rise for another 30 minutes then bake the bread for about 30 minutes at 190 °C (375 F) until golden brown.

3. Hydrating refresher

• Add the juice of 1 fresh lime or lemon with a tablespoon of honey.
• Add 230 ml of warm or cold water.
• Blend for a few seconds till it is well mixed.
• This refresher will have high levels of citric acid which helps reduce the acidity of urine.
• Consume immediately and quickly (the taste may not meet everyone’s preferences).

Read More About Kidney stone Treatment

Diet Chart for kidney stones patients

You can include these foods to your daily diet plan:-

• Cereals- Rice, Wheat, Maize, Bread, Barley, Jowar, Rice flakes, Puffed Rice, Cornflakes.
• Pulses and Legumes- Red gram dal, Black gram dal, Green gram dal, Bengal gram dal, Peas, Soya beans.
• Fruits and Vegetables- Include Low and Medium Potassium fruits and vegetables.
• Non-vegetarian foods that you must eat- Egg white, Chicken (skinless), Fish (fresh water)
• Milk and Milk Products- Milk, Curd & Buttermilk (should not exceed 200 ml/day).
• Beverages- Tea, Green tea, barley water.
• Others- Garlic, Sago, Honey, and Olive oil.

Foods to limit or avoid in kidney stones

Here are some kidney stones foods to avoid:

• Oxalate-rich foods: Limit spinach, rhubarb, beets, potatoes, nuts, and chocolate.
• Sodium: Reduce intake of processed foods, canned soups, and fast food to lower calcium excretion.
• Animal protein: Moderate intake of red meat, poultry, eggs, and fish to prevent uric acid stones.
• Sugar and fructose: Cut down on sugary drinks, candies, and high-fructose corn syrup.
• Caffeine and alcohol: Drink in moderation, as excess can increase dehydration and risk.
• Calcium supplements: Avoid excessive intake; get calcium from dietary sources instead.
• Salt: Minimise high-sodium foods like chips, processed meats, and pickles.
• Vitamin C supplements: Excessive amounts may lead to oxalate formation.
• Oxalate-rich beverages: Limit tea, coffee, and certain fruit juices.
• Phosphate-containing foods: Reduce cola consumption and processed foods with additives.

In case you have had kidney stones, consult with a urologist to know the type of kidney stones, and accordingly decide your diet plan. Based on the type of kidney stone, you may be able to prevent kidney stones by modifying the diet.

Choosing which food to limit depends on the type of stone developing in a person’s body.

Every person is different, and individual needs and dietary requirements will vary.

The most important aspect of managing diet when looking to prevent recurrent kidney stones is speaking to a doctor or dietitian. They will be able to identify the type of kidney stone that is developing and ways to slow or stop its development.

Potassium content level of vegetables and fruits that must know

FAQ

What is the diet limit for kidney stones?

To prevent uric acid stones, cut down on high-purine foods such as red meat, organ meats, and shellfish, and follow a healthy diet that contains mostly vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and low fat dairy products. Limit sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, especially those that contain high fructose corn syrup.

Can you eat eggs on a kidney stone diet?

Most animal sources of protein increase the level of uric acid and reduce the level of citrate in urine. Citrate is important in preventing stone formation. Therefore, you should avoid eating large quantities of red meat, poultry, chicken, pork, eggs and fish which contain large quantities of citrate.

What foods are bad for kidneys?

• Salt: Sodium overload leads to increased blood pressure, which puts a strain on your kidneys.
• Sugar: It doesn't take having a sweet tooth to indulge in sugar. ...
• Sodas
• Meat & Dairy Products
• Caffeine
• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

What foods help destroy kidney stones?

• Diet and Calcium Stones
• Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water.
• Eat less salt.
• Have only 2 or 3 servings a day of foods with a lot of calcium, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, oysters, and tofu.
• Eat lemons or oranges, or drink fresh lemonade. ...
• Limit how much protein you eat. ...
• Eat a low-fat diet.

Can I eat rice with kidney stones?

If you want to lower your risk of kidney stones developing, you can either cut down your oxalate levels or increase your calcium levels to bind the oxalate. Rice and oats can be part of a low oxalate diet.

What are foods good for kidneys?

Here are the top foods that may improve kidney health or prevent it from worsening:

• Cauliflower: Cauliflower provides many nutrients, including vitamin K, folate, and fibre.
• Blueberries
• Sea bass
• Red grapes
• Egg whites
• Garlic
• Buckwheat
• Olive oil