Kidney & Gallbladder Stones - Dietary Tips That Can Be Of Help!

Kidney stones are caused when certain minerals of your urine are retained and are not fully released, causing them to amalgamate and form a stone. Passing a kidney stone is one of the most painful experiences you may face physically.

Its magnanimity is often compared to childbirth, and those who are suffering from kidney stones dread having this experience. If you are not yet affected by kidney stones and do not want to, read further to know what type of diet you need to follow in order to prevent it.

1. Drink lots of water: On an average, a person must be drinking at least 3 liters of water every day. If you live in a more hot and humid climate, your water intake must be even more than that, so that on an average, 2.5 liters of urine is passed throughout the day, which decreases the chance of unnecessary retention of minerals from the urine and release them more easily from the body.
2. Continue eating foods rich in calcium: It is a common misconception that calcium accelerates the formation of kidney stones. Calcium is digested by the intestine, only excess calcium cannot be digested by the intestine and is sent to the kidney. Continue consuming calcium rich foods unless your doctor prescribes you against it. Make sure your diet includes enough dairy products such as milk, cheeses, etc., or other calcium rich foods, such as oats and broccoli.
3. Limit intake of oxalic acid: Oxalic acid is mostly found in foods obtained from plants. It restricts the absorption of calcium in the intestines and as a result, more calcium is passed into the kidneys; thus, forming calcium oxalate, or oxalate stones. Try to avoid foods, such as rhubarb, Swiss chard, nuts, tea, sweet potatoes, etc.; mainly leguminous plant products.
4. Decrease the ingestion of sodium salts, sugar and meat protein: Salts and sugars, mainly found in packaged foods are used to prevent them from expiring. They increase the release of calcium and oxalates into the blood, which thus increases the chance to develop kidney stones. Meat contains fibers which affect certain nutrients in the kidney, thus aggravating the formation of stones.
5. Increase the consumption of insoluble fibers: Insoluble fibers are those rough fibers which are not soluble in water during the process of digestion. They are found in rice, wheat, barley, etc., and are found to decrease calcium absorption in the kidney. They attach themselves to the calcium and oxalates, which enable them to be released as stool instead of urine.

Dietary Tips For Treating Gallbladder Stones:

People also usually suffer from gallbladder stones which complicate their daily living. The best way to treat and prevent them is by following some dietary guidelines. Here are a few tips for you:

Foods that can be of help:

Managing your weight is always a good option to prevent gallstones. You are recommended to eat a diet that is low in fat and cholesterol, moderate in calories and high in fiber. The healthy food options to ensure the same are as follow:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables

• Whole grains (whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oats, bran cereal)

• Lean meat, poultry, and fish

• Low-fat dairy products

Foods you should ignore:

Dietary restrictions may not eliminate gallstones that are already there, but eating a healthy, balanced variety of nutrients may help you ease the symptoms. Foods you should avoid are:

• Fried foods

• Highly processed foods (doughnuts, pie, cookies)

• Whole-milk dairy products (cheese, ice cream, butter)

• Fatty red meat

Following these dietary tips can be of great help in keeping your kidneys and gallstones healthy forever.