Kidney stones are a painful condition and 1 out of every 10 individuals get kidney stones at least once in their life. The pain is so excruciating that everyone wants to avoid them. Naturally, ‘How to prevent kidney stones?’ is a recurring question on the internet.
But is there truly a way of preventing kidney stones? Let’s find out!
Symptoms & Cause of Kidney Stones
Before we tell you how to prevent kidney stones, it is important to know the kidney stone symptoms and causes. These are some common symptoms:
abdominal pain (especially in the lower abdomen)
bloody urine
vomiting and nausea
painful urination
foul-smelling and cloudy urine
Now let’s understand the causes of kidney stones. A buildup of specific substances in a person’s urine results in kidney stones when the substance hardens. Some kidney stone risk factors are dehydration, over-intake of foods high in sodium and salt, and prolonged consumption of certain medications.
Types of Kidney Stones
Most people assume that all kidney stones are the same. However, kidney stones can be of the following four types:
Calcium stones:
Cystine stones:
Struvite stones:
Uric acid stones:
Note: Kidney stones can differ in shape, color, and size. They can be as tiny as a grain or as big as a golf ball. Doctors customize medical treatment and diet changes based on the kind of kidney stones.
Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones
While there is no guaranteed way of preventing kidney stones, a nutritious diet and good lifestyle choices can significantly decrease the chances of stone formation.
1. Stay hydrated
Hydration for kidney health, is of utmost significance. Studies have revealed that not drinking sufficient fluids can be a cause of kidney stones. That’s because if you drink less water, your urine will be more concentrated. So, urine salts won’t be dissolved, and these salts can crystallize to form salts.
So, notice the color of your urine and if it is yellowish, it means you are dehydrated. If you do not like drinking water now and then, orange juice and lemonade are good options.
2. Reduce the intake of sodium
The Urology Care Foundation states that too much salt in an individual’s urine stands in the way of calcium reabsorption to the blood. Then the urine will be high in calcium, and this can lead to stones. Hence, to prevent stones from forming, reducing sodium intake is another step that you can take.
The risk of developing kidney stones will be lower if you resist the temptation of the following foods that are loaded with sodium:
condiments
processed foods, like crackers and crackers
canned vegetables
edibles that have baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
foods that have monosodium glutamate
snacks that have sodium nitrate
3. Consume calcium-rich foods
We all know that calcium strengthens our bones and teeth. But did you know that calcium will also help prevent kidney stones?
Research proves that if your diet is low in calcium you can suffer from osteoporosis and kidney stones. However, to get maximum benefits, rely on food sources of calcium instead of calcium supplements. Milk, yogurt, cheese, etc. are some great options.
4. Don't have excess oxalate-rich foods
Doctors recommend a low-oxalate diet to minimize the chances of getting calcium oxalate stones.
Spinach, sweet potatoes, beets, chocolates, coffee, soy products, peanuts, and wheat bran are some major sources of oxalates. For stone prevention, don’t have these on a daily basis.
5. Have animal protein in moderation
Urine acid is increased when people have animal protein regularly. When urine acid is high, it may lead to calcium oxalate and uric acid kidney stones. So, it is better to have poultry, pork, fish, and beef in limitation.
6. Don't take vitamin C supplements
In a 2013 study, it was discovered that vitamin C supplements can be responsible for causing kidney stones and this is more prevalent in men. Sourcing vitamin C from citrus fruits won’t pose similar risks.
The Takeaway
So, by making the above-mentioned dietary changes and monitoring your urinary tract health, you can say no to common types of kidney stone formation. Therefore, eat nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What foods should I avoid to prevent kidney stones?
For kidney stone prevention, you don’t need to stop eating animal protein, sugary drinks, oxalate-rich foods, and salt but have them in moderation.
Q. How much water should I drink daily to reduce the risk of kidney stones?
Ideally, an adult will drink 3 liters per day as dehydration may lead to kidney stones. Water will dilute uric acid salts and calcium salts.