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Kidney Stones: Preventing Kidney Stones Through Diet

Introduction

If you have kidney stones, your doctor or dietitian may talk with you about an eating plan to help prevent new stones. The most common types of kidney stones are calcium and oxalate. Each type may require a different eating plan. There are certain foods you can have, and other foods you should avoid, to reduce the chance that you will get kidney stones again.

Key points

  • If you had kidney stones before, you are more likely to get them again. But by following the eating plan your doctor or dietitian suggests, you may prevent new kidney stones.
  • Drink plenty of water. The most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough fluids, especially water.
What?
What are kidney stones?
 

Kidney stones are made of salts and other minerals in the urine that stick together to form small "pebbles." These stones can form in the kidneys, the ureters (the tubes that lead from the kidneys to the bladder), or the bladder. Stones are usually not a problem as long as they stay in the kidneys, but they may cause sudden, severe pain as they travel from the kidneys to the bladder. They can block the flow of urine and cause bleeding.

Test Your Knowledge

Kidney stones that stay in the kidneys usually cause pain.

  • True
    This answer is incorrect.

    Kidney stones that stay in the kidneys usually don't cause pain. But when they travel from the kidneys to the bladder, they may cause sudden, severe pain.

  • False
    This answer is correct.

    Kidney stones that stay in the kidneys usually don't cause pain. But when they travel from the kidneys to the bladder, they may cause sudden, severe pain.

Continue to Why?

Why?
Why is it important to pay attention to what you eat and drink?
 

After you have had kidney stones, you are likely to have them again. You can help prevent them by drinking more fluids and eating the right foods. Not drinking enough fluids can cause the minerals and other things in the urine to stick together and form a stone. Too much of some foods can also lead to kidney stones.

Test Your Knowledge

What I eat has nothing to do with whether I will get kidney stones.

  • True
    This answer is incorrect.

    Kidney stones form when there is a change in the normal balance of water, minerals, and other things found in urine. This can happen if you do not get enough fluids or if you eat too much of certain kinds of food, such as animal protein.

  • False
    This answer is correct.

    Kidney stones form when there is a change in the normal balance of water, minerals, and other things found in urine. This can happen if you do not get enough fluids or if you eat too much of certain kinds of food, such as animal protein.

Continue to How?

How?
How can you prevent kidney stones?
 

The following tips may lower your chance of getting kidney stones:

  • The most important thing you can do is drink more fluids, especially water if your doctor says it is okay. Try to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. If you don't already drink that much, slowly increase how much you drink. For example, add one more glass of water each day until you are drinking 8 to 10 glasses a day. This slow increase will give your body time to adjust to the extra fluids. You are drinking enough water when your urine is clear or light yellow. If it is dark yellow, you are not drinking enough fluids.
  • If you had a calcium kidney stone, it may help to:
    • Eat less salt and salty foods. One way to do this is to avoid processed foods and limit how often you eat at restaurants.
    • Talk to your doctor or dietitian about how much calcium you need every day. Try to get your calcium from food, rather than from supplements. Milk, cheese, and yogurt are all good sources of calcium.
  • If you had an oxalate kidney stone, your doctor may ask you to limit certain foods that have a lot of oxalate, such as dark green vegetables, nuts, and chocolate. You don't have to give up these foods, just eat or drink less of them.

If you have had kidney stones in the past, it may also help to:

  • Eat a balanced diet that is not too high in animal protein. This includes beef, chicken, pork, fish, and eggs. These foods contain a lot of protein, and too much protein may lead to kidney stones. You don't have to give up these foods. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about how much protein you need and the best way to get it.
  • Increase how much fiber you eat. Fiber includes oat bran, beans, whole wheat breads, wheat cereals, cabbage, and carrots.
  • Avoid grapefruit juice.
  • Drink lemonade made from real lemons (not lemon flavoring). It is high in citrate, which may help prevent kidney stones.
  • Talk to your doctor if you take vitamins or supplements. He or she may want you to limit how much fish liver oil or calcium supplements you take. Also, do not take more than the recommended daily dose of vitamins C and D.

Test Your Knowledge

The most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough fluids, especially water.

  • True
    This answer is correct.

    Not drinking enough fluids is a major cause of kidney stones. Make sure that you drink plenty of fluids (water is best) each day. Try to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.

  • False
    This answer is incorrect.

    Not drinking enough fluids is a major cause of kidney stones. Make sure that you drink plenty of fluids (water is best) each day. Try to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.

Continue to Where?

Where?
Where to go from here
 

Now that you have read this information, you are ready to follow an eating plan to prevent kidney stones. Your doctor or a dietitian can give you an eating plan that includes more foods you can eat and recipes for preparing them.

If you would like more information on kidney stones, the following resources are available:

Organizations

National Kidney Foundation
30 East 33rd Street
New York, NY  10016
Phone: 1-800-622-9010
Phone: (212) 889-2210
Fax: (212) 689-9261
Web Address: www.kidney.org
 

The National Kidney Foundation works to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases and help people affected by these conditions. Its website has a lot of information about adult and child conditions. The site has interactive tools, donor information, recipes for kidney disease patients, and message boards for many kidney topics. Free materials, such as brochures and newsletters, are available.

UrologyHealth.org, American Urological Association
1000 Corporate Boulevard
Linthicum, MD  21090
Phone: 1-800-828-7866
Phone: (410) 689-3990
Fax: (410) 689-3998
Email: auafoundation@auafoundation.org
Web Address: www.urologyhealth.org
 

UrologyHealth.org is a website written by urologists for patients. Visitors can find specific topics by using the "search" option.

The website provides information about adult and pediatric urologic topics, including kidney, bladder, and prostate conditions. You can find a urologist, sign up for a free quarterly newsletter, or click on the Urology Resource Center to find materials about urologic problems.

Return to topic:

Kidney Stones

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Tushar J. Vachharajani, MD, FASN, FACP - Nephrology
Last Revised April 28, 2011

Last Revised: April 28, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Tushar J. Vachharajani, MD, FASN, FACP - Nephrology

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