Kidney stones can be very unpleasant. If you or someone close to you is living with kidney stones, there are steps that can be taken to ease their condition. Be sure to follow the advice of both your healthcare provider and registered kidney dietician when dealing with kidney stones; here are some essentials you should discuss with them.
1. Stay Hydrated
To combat either gallstones or kidney stones, drinking plenty of fluids daily should be top of mind. Two to three quarts can make a significant impact in how your body operates.
Coffee and lemonade have both been shown to help those living with kidney stones, but grapefruit juice and soda should be avoided as these could trigger attacks.
2. Minimize Oxalate Intake Foods high in oxalic acid include spinach, beets, tea leaves, chocolate and wheat bran. Oxalates should be limited as much as possible in your diet as they can contribute to kidney stone formation and progression.
Though consuming plenty of calcium can help manage oxalates in the body, it is still wise to limit their consumption.
3. Get Enough Calcium
Calcium can help the body reduce oxalates levels and prevent calcium stones. For best results, taking calcium with meals ensures it can better be absorbed by your system.
Just three servings a day can have a significant effect on kidney health; however, taking too many supplements could be counterproductive and should only be undertaken under consultation with healthcare provider.
4. Don’t Overdo Protein
To achieve maximum kidney stone prevention, moderation in protein consumption is key. Excess protein may prompt kidneys to produce extra calcium deposits that lead to more kidney stones formation; for this reason, taking periodic “Meatless Monday” breaks could be beneficial to give your body some much-needed rest from protein consumption.
5. Reduce Your Salt Intake
A diet high in sodium can contribute to kidney issues as well as high calcium intake – both contributing to stone formation. Reducing salt consumption also has the added bonus of helping lower blood pressure.
6. Avoid High Doses of Vitamin C
An excess of vitamin C can be detrimental. The daily recommended allowance (RDA) of 60mg of vitamin C has been established; taking more than 100 mg a day increases oxalates levels in your body – which has been known to lead to kidney stones.
7. Adopt a Balanced Diet
A healthy, well-rounded diet is important for everyone, but those suffering from kidney stones have specific steps they can take to increase the chances of reduced stones. Consuming more water than you drink and participating in physical activities regularly are all vital to bettering health outcomes and decreasing kidney stone formation.
National Kidney Foundation suggests there are various approaches to dealing with kidney stones and improving their health. Diet is one effective method, being one of the least intrusive ways of doing so.