Manage Kidney Stones: How Diet and Nutrition Can Help

Kidney stones are a fairly common medical condition in the population of any part of the world and are usually quite a painful experience too. Those are the hard mineral deposits that develop in the kidneys, and if not treated, they may cause severe pain and discomfort and lead to complications. 

The following article will examine the various types of kidney stone diet, the types of dietary habits recommended against, and the best everyday eating plans. 

Classification of Kidney Stones

Different types of kidney stones and each has its features and causes which are distinct :

• Stones Made of Calcium: Almost 80% of all cases with kidney stones and by far the most common are calcium stones. These can also occur due to high calcium or other mineral levels in the urine in the metabolic processing and excretion of such materials from the body. 

• Stones made of Uric Acid: Uric acid stones come next; they are approximately 10-15% of kidney stones. These emerge as a result of excessive uric acid concentration in the urine which most often relates to dietary, genetic, or other ailments that cause an increase in uric acid levels.

• Cystinuria Spheres or Stone: The cases of cystine stones are quite unusual, covering only 1% of kidney stone ailments. 

Managing and Treating Kidney Stones Through Controlled Diet

If one wishes to treat and/or avoid kidney stone recurrence, knowing what foods and drinks can favor their development is essential. The following are some of the kidney stone diet categories of food.

• Soaked Foods High in Oxalate: It is common knowledge that food items with increased oxalate levels such as spinach, beets, rhubarb, and almonds contribute to the risk of developing more calcium oxalate stones which are the most common type of kidney stones.

• High Salt Foods: A diet with excess sodium shows high levels of calcium in urine which may promote the formation of calcium stones.

• Soda and Other Sugar-laden Beverages: Ingesting excessive amounts of sugar-containing beverages like soda, fruit juices, and the like tends to create conditions that favor the formation of kidney stones by distorting the mineral and pH balance in the body.

Dietary Strategies for Kidney Stone Prevention

There are minor changes to the meal planning and to the specification of the subsequent aspects, which foods to avoid with kidney stones management:

• Enhance Fluid Consumption: One should take at least 2-3 liters of water per day. It aids in reducing the concentration of their urine thereby allowing for the removal of any excess minerals or other matter that could lead to the formation of stones in the body.

• Eat More Calcium-Rich Foods: It is a common myth that consuming calcium-rich food-dairy products, for example- increases the chances of developing kidney stones.

• Incorporate Magnesium-Rich Foods: Some foods with high magnesium content such as whole grain cereals, nuts, and green enough vegetables can inhibit kidney stones from forming by regulating the calcium and oxalate concentration in the urine.

Also Read: Dietary Changes That May Help Prevent the Recurrence of Kidney Stones

Conclusion

No doubt that kidney stones can be quite both disturbing and distressing. But you can easily cope with and even prevent their occurrence thanks to the right dietary and nutritional modifications. You can take charge of your urinary health management by knowing the different forms of kidney stones, avoiding the foods and drinks that are known to cause their formation, and eating a well-rounded, kidney-friendly diet to lower the risks of such painful stones.