Kidney Stone Diet Plan and Prevention

                           

What is a kidney stone?

A kidney stone is a hard mass that forms from crystals in the urine.  For most people, natural chemicals in the urine keep stones from forming and causing problems.

Are all kidney stones the same?

No. The most common types of kidney stones are calcium stones followed by uric acid stones.  Diet changes and medical treatment are individualized based on the type of stone, to prevent them from coming back.

What is the most important factor to prevent kidney stone formation?

One of the best things you can do to avoid kidney stones is to drink plenty of water every day.  This will help make sure that you urinate frequently to avoid any build up of calcium or uric acid.

 

Don't underestimate your sweat! Saunas, hot yoga and heavy exercise may sound good for your health, but they also may lead to kidney stones. Why?  Loss of water through sweating whether due to these activities or just the heat of summer may lead to less urine production. The more you sweat, the less you will urinate, which allows stone-causing minerals to settle and deposit in the kidneys and urinary tract.

 

Hydrate with water.   Be sure to keep well hydrated, especially when doing exercise or activities that cause a lot of sweating.   You should drink 2-3 quarts of liquid or 8-12 cups per day to produce a good amount of urine.  Try to avoid sodas (especially those with high amounts of fructose), sweetened iced tea and grape fruit juice.

What is the kidney stone diet?

People who wish to prevent kidney stones developing for the first time or reduce the risk of recurrence if they have already had stones should follow these main steps:

• drink plenty of water
• limit their intake of salt and animal protein
• restrict foods that contain high levels of oxalates
• get enough calcium

There is no single diet plan for all types of kidney stones, as they can form due to a buildup of several different minerals in the body. However, many dietitians and doctors who specialize in kidney diseases, or nephrologists, recommend the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet for people with kidney stones.

This diet has demonstrated the ability to reduce the risk of kidney stone formation and improve other elements of overall health, such as lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Diet Recommendations for Kidney Stones

General Recommendations

1. Drink plenty of fluid: 2-3 quarts/day

• This includes any type of fluid such as water, coffee and lemonade which have been shown to have a beneficial effect with the exception of grapefruit juice and soda. 
• This will help produce less concentrated urine and ensure a good urine volume of at least 2.5L/day

2. Limit foods with high oxalate content

• Spinach, many berries, chocolate, wheat bran, nuts, beets, tea and rhubarb should be eliminated from your diet intake

3. Eat enough dietary calcium

• Three servings of dairy per day will help lower the risk of calcium stone formation. Eat with meals.

4. Avoid extra calcium supplements

• Calcium supplements should be individualized by your physician and registered kidney dietitian

5. Eat a moderate amount of protein

• High protein intakes will cause the kidneys to excrete more calcium therefore this may cause more stones to form in the kidney

6. Avoid high salt intake

• High sodium intake increases calcium in the urine which increases the chances of developing stones
• Low salt diet is also important to control blood pressure.

7. Avoid high doses of vitamin C supplements

• It is recommend to take 60mg/day of vitamin C based on the US Dietary Reference Intake
• Excess amounts of 1000mg/day or more may produce more oxalate in the body.

Will it help or hurt to take a vitamin or mineral supplement?

The B vitamins which include thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6 and B12 have not been shown to be harmful to people with kidney stones.  In fact, some studies have shown that B6 may actually help people with high urine oxalate.  However, it is best to check with your healthcare professional or dietitian for advice on the use of vitamin C, vitamin D, fish liver oils or other mineral supplements containing calcium since some supplements can increase the chances of stone formation in some individuals.