Kidney Stones
- How to prevent?
You may reduce your risk of developing kidney stones if you:
- Drink water. You should drink enough water to produce light and clear urine.
- Reduce intake of oxalate-rich foods. These include spinach, sweet potatoes, nuts, tea, chocolate, and soy products.
- Reduce salt and protein in your diet.
- Continue eating calcium-rich foods, but use caution with calcium supplements. You may reduce the risk of stone formation by taking supplements with meals. Diets low in calcium can also increase kidney stone formation in some people. If in doubt, please consult your doctor or a dietician.
You are likely to form another if you have had more than one kidney stone. Therefore, prevention is important. Adequate water intake is crucial. If you tend to form kidney stones, try to drink enough liquid throughout the day to produce at least two litres of clear urine. Calcium intake is also important. Recent studies have shown that foods high in calcium, including dairy products, may help prevent calcium stones. Older women taking calcium supplements to prevent bone loss should continue to do so. Oxalate intake should be monitored, especially for those prone to forming calcium oxalate stones. Vitamin D intake and meat intake may also need to be regulated based on the type of stones formed.
