Discover The Right Diet For Kidney Stones
If you have kidney stones, you may need to follow a special diet. We therefore give some advice in this article, so that you can follow the right diet for kidney stones. We will also provide examples of menus.
However, you should consult your doctor first to determine what kind of stones your body is producing. Based on this, the doctor can then indicate which changes in the diet are most appropriate.
What is a kidney stone?
Those who have had kidney stones say it is more painful than childbirth. “ That’s right. It is a very sharp pain ,” assures Dr. Miguel Arrabal, President of the Andalusian Society of Urology and Head of the Department of Lithiasis and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University Hospital of Granada.
In 75% of cases, the body expels the kidney stones spontaneously. In the remaining 25%, however, the size of the stone prevents natural expansion and requires instrumental treatment.
A kidney stone is a hard mass that forms from crystals present in the urine. In most people, natural chemical compounds in the urine prevent the formation of stones.
Remember that not all types of kidney stones are the same. The most common kidney stone is made of calcium and oxalate. The individual treatment of kidney stones therefore depends on the type of stone.
Diet for kidney stones
It is important to note that depending on the type of stone, the proper diet for kidney stones can vary. Often this condition is due to the accumulation of:
- Calcium oxalate
- Calcium Phosphate
- uric acid
- cystine
1. Foods Rich in Calcium Oxalate
Avoiding excess oxalate in the diet mainly helps prevent cases of calcium oxalate stones. Calcium is not the main cause of these stones, but oxalate-rich foods contribute to them, such as:
- Spinach
- beets
- Cacao
- Swiss chard
- Rhubarb
- Drinks
- Teas (such as black tea, yerba mate, or green tea)
- peanuts
- Coffee
- nuts
- Seafood
It is important to consume these foods only in small amounts and an excellent strategy is to use a method called double cooking.
This then consists of cooking vegetables rich in oxalates twice and changing the water after the first round. By doing this, you reduce the amount of oxalate present in the diet.
2. Diet For Kidney Stones: Avoid Excess Protein
The excessive intake of proteins such as meat or other animal products promotes the production of uric acid and in turn, the formation of stones. It is therefore important to limit your consumption of red meat. However, this is not only good for your health, but also for the health of the planet!
Consuming too much meat and animal products also affects the formation of kidney stones. So it is essential to moderate your consumption.
3. Diet for Kidney Stones: Watch Your Salt Consumption
Sodium is one of the main components of salt and this facilitates the accumulation of salts in the body. It is therefore important to avoid it.
You should avoid not only table salt, but also industrialized foods that are rich in salt. This includes, for example, stock cubes, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, sauces in general, frozen foods and fast food. It is therefore advisable not to consume more than 2.5 grams of salt per day.
4. Limit your consumption of foods rich in vitamin C
You should also avoid foods and supplements that are too high in vitamin C. This is especially true if the stones are made of calcium oxalate, as this vitamin can promote the formation of these stones.
5. Alcoholic Beverages
You should also avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. That’s because they cause the body to become dehydrated, which promotes the formation of kidney stones, as dehydration is one of the main causes of their formation.
The Right Diet for Kidney Stones: Sample Menus
A light diet can help treat kidney stones. A nutritionist can help design them based on each patient’s needs. Diet plays an important role in the prevention of stones.
Here are some kidney stone diet ideas that can help. However, remember that you should consult your doctor if you have any questions. Here are some ideas for a menu:
Breakfast
- Option 1: 1 glass of juice with mint + 2 slices of wholemeal bread with white cheese.
- Option 2: 1 glass of natural yoghurt + 1 tablespoon of honey + 2 scrambled eggs with tomato, onion and oregano.
Lunch/dinner
- Option 1: 1/2 cup rice + 1/2 cup beans + 100g turkey breast + 1 cup cooked vegetables + 1 teaspoon olive oil.
- Option 2: 1 plate of chicken soup with carrot, potato, pumpkin, onion.
snack
- Option 1: 1 yogurt + 1 tablespoon cranberries
- Option 2: 2 cooked bananas sprinkled with cinnamon
Things to Keep in Mind on a Kidney Stone Diet
The most important thing is to increase fluid intake to increase urine volume. “ You need to drink about three liters of water a day to urinate between two and two and a half liters and dissolve the salts. ”
This is the advice of Dr. José Luis Soler, urologist at Torrecárdenas Hospital in Almeria, Spain (Spanish link) and president of the XXVII Congress of the Andalusian Society of Urology.
Finally , we recommend that you see a dietician so that they can advise you specifically on your condition. The professional will be able to more accurately assess the best diet based on your needs.
