Kidney Stones: Diet and Lifestyle Changes

Dilution is the greatest solution 

The one more effective step to protect yourself from recurrence is to add to your fluid consumption. By consuming 8 to 10 glasses of liquid a day, you will dilute your urine, to make it less concentrated. This can help to keep crystals from developing and lower the likelihood of stone development. In one study individuals taking in more than 8 cups of water on a daily basis were less inclined to have a kidney stone recurrence.

A minimum of 50% of your fluid intake ought to be water. Although one cup of coffee or tea every day has been shown to slightly reduce the chance of stone formation, excessive ingestion of caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, or soft drinks is shown to raise risk. To find out your fluid status, pay attention to your urine. Darker urine usually means that you're not getting adequate fluid. The objective is to consume enough so that your urine is pale in color.

Lower your protein consumption

Eating plans rich in animal protein (like meat, eggs, cheese, and so forth) can increase levels of calcium, uric acid,  and oxalate in the urine, which can increase the possibility of calcium stone formation. Eating plans lower in animal protein and salt have been proved to lower calcium and oxalate within the urine. Low-carb diets, generally full of protein and fat, are not suitable for people with a history of calcium kidney stones. To help to lower your chance of calcium stone development, consume less meat, and substitute a vegetarian meal maybe once or twice every week.

Reduce your sodium intake

Researchers have continuously proven that higher sodium (salt) intakes result in greater calcium within the urine.

Decreasing sodium in the diet decreases urinary calcium levels. Countless specialists believe decreasing sodium to two thousand mg a day while raising fluid consumption is among the more effective ways of cutting down on calcium stone recurrence. High quantities of sodium, however, are found in many prepared foods, and not just in the salt shaker. Reduce your consumption of canned or processed foods, seek out reduced-sodium products, and steer clear of introducing extra salt to food.

Eat calcium-rich foods

The calcium we get from eating calcium-rich foods, like low fat milk and yogurt, is not a problem for calcium kidney stone formers. Restrained intake of calcium-containing foods in fact protects against stone development by binding dietary oxalate and minimizing oxalate levels in the urine. So don't remove calcium-rich foods from your diet.

Taking high doses of some calcium supplements may improve your likelihood of stone creation. If your healthcare provider has suggested you take a calcium supplement for bone health, pick one with calcium citrate. Because citrate helps inhibit stone formation, this form of calcium is the preferred choice for individuals susceptible to kidney stone formation.

Watch your oxalate intake

The amount of oxalate in the diet affects the amount of oxalate in the urine, which can be a key factor in kidney stone development. Your urologist might suggest you reduce your ingestion of oxalate-rich foods. Foods very full of oxalates include chocolate or cocoa, spinach (and other dark, leafy greens), beets, strawberries, wheat germ, peanuts, pecans, and soy.

Stay away from high-dose vitamin C supplements

Avoid high-dose vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements except if otherwise suggested by your healthcare provider. Usually, the volume of vitamin C seen in a multivitamin is safe, but higher amounts (over five hundred milligrams) from supplements could raise the risk of kidney stones by increasing urinary oxalate levels.

Raise your consumption of stone inhibitors

Some chemicals found in the urine are said to reduce calcium-based kidney stone formation. Two of the biggest are citrate and magnesium.

Lemon juice has been seen to raise the amount of citrate within the urine. Real lemonade (not from a powder mix) is a superb way to raise both your citrate and fluid intake.

Nutritional supplements that contain magnesium, potassium, and citrate also may help to increase the concentration of stone inhibitors inside the urine.

Vitamin B supplements

Vitamin B6 works well in decreasing oxalate production, and therefore vitamin B6 supplements are believed to decrease the danger of calcium oxalate kidney stones.

One study revealed that a mix of magnesium oxide and vitamin B6 increased urinary magnesium and citrate and diminished urinary oxalate in calcium oxalate stone formers.

For additional information, contact Metropolitan Urological Specialists.