Skip Kidney Stones

Article by healthybalance.com staff
Posted on November 06, 2008

More people than ever before are developing kidney stones. Even children have them—something unheard of in the past. While not life threatening, kidney stones are extremely painful and can result in hospitalization and expensive medical bills. Why the rise in kidney stones? Many researchers see a link to diet.

If you or someone you know has had trouble with kidney stones, the information gleaned from many different studies could help avoid kidney stones in the future.

Watch your weight.

Diet wisely. Other studies found that if you try to lose weight by following a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet, like Atkins, or by using the prescription weight loss drug, Xenical, your risks for kidney stones increase even more.

Cut back on caffeine. Researchers studying the link between caffeine and kidney stones recommended that people prone to stones drink less than two cups of coffee a day. This advice applies to caffeinated teas, soda pop and energy drinks, as well.

Easy on the oxylates. A by product of certain foods, oxylates have been linked to kidney stone formation. If you are prone to stones, you may want to limit the amount of soy products you eat. Other high oxylate foods include spinach and rhubarb.

Drink more water. Not drinking enough water is a definite risk factor for kidney stones. Many experts recommend that adults drink 10 eight-ounce glasses a day. Except for uncaffeinated, unsweetened green tea, other beverages cannot be counted in the place of water.

Get C from fruit and juices. Citrus fruits, lemonade and orange juice can help prevent kidney stones—but taking vitamin C supplements may increase your risks.
Don’t ditch dairy. Contrary to common belief, calcium-rich dairy products actually lower risk of kidney stones by binding to oxalate in the gut. However, if you take a calcium supplement, be sure to take it with a meal—not on an empty stomach.

“Some people believe that if you have a calcium stone, you should go on a low-calcium diet, and that’s absolutely the wrong thing to do,” said Dr. Gary Curhan, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.