{"id":16570,"date":"2024-11-01T00:00:52","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T00:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/?p=16570"},"modified":"2024-11-01T15:27:08","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T15:27:08","slug":"kidney-stone-diet-foods-to-eat-and-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/na\/kidney-stone-diet-foods-to-eat-and-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"Kidney Stone Diet: Foods to Eat and Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Overview<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kidney stones in the urinary tract are formed in several ways. Calcium can combine with chemicals, such as oxalate or phosphorous, in the urine. This can happen if these substances become so concentrated that they solidify. Kidney stones can also be caused by a buildup of uric acid. Uric acid buildup is caused by the metabolism of protein. Your urinary tract wasn\u2019t designed to expel solid matter, so it\u2019s no surprise that\u00a0kidney stones\u00a0are very painful to pass. Luckily, they can usually be avoided through diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to eat and drink<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re trying to avoid kidney stones, what you eat and drink is as important as what you shouldn\u2019t eat and drink. Here are some important rules of thumb to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay hydrated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Fluids, especially water, help to dilute the chemicals that form stones. Try to drink at least 12 glasses of water a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up your citrus intake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Citrus fruit, and their juice, can help reduce or block the formation of stones due to naturally occurring citrate. Good sources of citrus include lemons, oranges, and grapefruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eat lots of calcium (and vitamin D)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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If your calcium intake is low, oxalate levels may rise. It\u2019s preferable to get your calcium from food, rather than from supplements, as these have been linked to kidney stone formation. Good sources of calcium include milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and other types of cheeses. Vegetarian sources of calcium include legumes, calcium-set tofu, dark green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and blackstrap molasses. If you don\u2019t like the taste of cow\u2019s milk, or, if it doesn\u2019t agree with you, try lactose-free milk, fortified soy milk, or goat\u2019s milk. Also make sure to include foods high in vitamin D each day. Vitamin D helps the body absorb more calcium. Many foods are fortified with this vitamin. It\u2019s also found in fatty fishes, such as salmon, egg yolks, and cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food and drinks to avoid on a kidney stone diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Limit salt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

High sodium levels in the body, can promote calcium buildup in urine. Avoid adding salt to food, and check the labels on processed foods to see how much sodium they contain. Fast food can be high in sodium, but so can regular restaurant food. When you\u2019re able, ask that no salt be added to whatever you order on a menu. Also, take note of what you drink. Some vegetable juices are high in sodium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lower your animal protein intake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many sources of protein, such as red meat, pork, chicken, poultry, fish, and eggs, increase the amount of uric acid you produce. Eating large amounts of protein also reduces a chemical in urine called citrate. Citrate\u2019s job is to prevent the formation of kidney stones. Alternatives to animal protein include quinoa, tofu (bean curd), hummus, chia seeds, and Greek yogurt. Since protein is important for overall health, discuss how much you should eat daily with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A plant-based diet may be ideal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Eat oxalates wisely. Foods high in this chemical may increase formation of kidney stones. If you\u2019ve already had kidney stones, you may wish to reduce or eliminate oxalates from your diet completely. If you\u2019re trying to avoid kidney stones, check with your doctor to determine if limiting these foods is enough. If you do eat foods containing oxalates, always make sure to eat or drink a calcium source with them. This will help the\u00a0oxalate\u00a0bind to the calcium during digestion, before it can reach your kidneys. Foods high in oxalate include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n