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KIDNEY STONES

About Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are ten times more common now than they were a hundred years ago.  This may be partly because the amount of animal fats and protein in the average Western diet has increased significantly. 

Nutrition Facts & Diet Advice for Kidney Stones

Consider the following nutrition guidelines:

Prevention:

• Drink at least 2 litres of spring or filtered water every day.

• Drink the juice of fresh lemon in a glass of warm water first thing in the morning.

• Increase intake of dietary fibre, complex carbohydrates and green leafy vegetables.

• Increase intake of foods with a high magnesium:calcium ratio (barley, bran, corn, buckwheat, rye, soy, oats, brown rice, avocado, banana, lima beans, potato).

• Avoid smoking, as cadmium poses increased risk of kidney stones.

• Reduce intake of high oxalate containing foods (black tea, cocoa, spinach, beet leaves, rhubarb, parsley, cranberry, nuts)

• Limit dairy products, especially milk fortified with vitamin D.

• Avoid sugar, salt and salt substitutes.  Sugar stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, which in turn causes extra calcium to be excreted in the urine.

• Avoid antacids.

• Eat less meat and poultry.  If you are prone to stones, become vegetarian, or, better still, vegan.  If you become vegan, consider seeing a nutrition consultant to ensure you get all the nutrients you need.

• Get daily exercise.  This helps calcium to stay in the bones.

If you have kidney stones now:

• Every 30 minutes, drink 8 ounces of water with the juice of half a lemon.  Alternate lemon with fresh apple juice if desired.

• Aloe Vera juice can help reduce the size of a stone during an acute attack and help prevent stone formation.

• Quebra Pedra is a well-known 'stone breaker'.

• Uva Ursi herb helps relieve pain and bloating.

Health Supplements and Kidney Stones

Often, a combination of supplements may help in alleviating this condition. You may wish to consult a nutritional therapist for personal advice. Supplements that may be helpful in alleviating symptoms are shown below: