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Last Updated: Feb 04, 2020
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Kidney Stone Diet - Five Foods To Prevent Them!

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Dr. Pujah KundaarDietitian/Nutritionist • 17 Years Exp.BHMS, MSc DFSM, MD AM, CNCC
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Kidney stones are caused when certain minerals of your urine are retained and not wholly released, causing them to amalgamate and form a stone. Passing kidney stones is one of the most painful experiences you may face physically. Its severity is often compared to childbirth, and those who are suffering from kidney stones dread having this experience.

There are different types of kidney stones:

  1. Calcium oxalate
  2. Calcium phosphate
  3. Urate and 
  4. Struvite stones.

The most common causes of the above mentioned stones are as follows:

  1. Dehydration from not drinking enough fluid
  2. A diet too high in:
  3. Obesity
  4. Medical conditions like:
    • Dent Disease (a rare genetic disorder that affects the kidneys)
    • Hyperparathyroidism
  5. Digestive Diseases and Surgeries like:

Read to know what dietary changes you can undergo to prevent kidney stones -

1. Drink lot of water - On an average, a person must be drinking at least 3 liters of water every day. Drink more water especially if you live in a hot and humid climatic area, so that on an average, 2.5 liters of urine is passed throughout the day, which decreases the chances of unnecessary retention of minerals from the urine and release them more easily from the body.

2. Continue eating calcium containing foods - It is a common misconception that calcium accelerates the formation of kidney stones. Calcium is digested in the intestine. Excess calcium which when left unabsorbed in gut gets excreted via urine and faeces (stools). Continue consuming calcium rich foods unless your doctor prescribes you against it. Make sure your diet includes enough dairy products such as milk, curd, buttermilk, cheeses or other calcium rich foods like oats and broccoli.

3. Limit intake of oxalic acid - Oxalic acid is mostly found in food 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 like sweet potatoes, beetroot, cocoa powder, spinach, peanuts if you have oxalate stones. 

4. Decrease the ingestion of sodium salts, sugar and meat protein - Salts and sugars, mainly found in packaged foods increases the release of calcium and oxalates into the blood, which thus increase the chances to develop kidney stones. Eating excessive animal protein like red meat, poultry, sea food increase the level of uric acid which could lead to formation of urate 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 wheat, barley, beans and are known to decrease calcium excretion via kidney. They attach themselves to the calcium and oxalates, which enable them to be released as stool instead of urine.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult a specialist & get answers to your questions!
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