Kidney stones are a common problem affecting millions of people worldwide every year. A kidney stone is a tiny, hard deposit inside your kidney when your urine contains high levels of certain minerals and salts.
Kidney stones can be painful, especially when they block urine flow. The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent or reduce your risk of developing a kidney stone. One important way to prevent kidney stones is to make dietary changes and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Let’s discuss some dietary tips and lifestyle changes you can make for preventing kidney stones and to reduce your risk of developing kidney stones.
What Are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts inside your kidneys. They originate when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances — such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid — than the fluid in your urine can dilute.
At the same time, your urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.
Kidney stones can vary in size. Some are as small as a grain of sand, others are pebble-sized, and some can grow to the size of a golf ball. The size of the stone doesn’t necessarily correlate with the severity of the symptoms. Even small stones can cause pain as they move or cause blockage.
Symptoms of kidney stones include:
- Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs
- Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
- Pain during urination
- Pink, red, or brown urine
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Persistent need to urinate
- Fever and chills if an infection is present.
There are four main types of kidney stones:
- Calcium stones: These are the most common type of kidney stone and are often formed of calcium oxalate.
- Struvite stones: These are caused by urinary tract infections. They can grow rapidly and become quite large.
- Uric acid stones: These form in people who lose too much fluid due to chronic diarrhea or malabsorption, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
- Cystine stones: These occur in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria).
Dietary Tip for Preventing Kidney Stones
Here are some tips from kidney specialists to prevent kidney stones.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of fluids is one of the most effective ways to prevent kidney stones. When you’re well-hydrated, your urine dilutes, preventing minerals from concentrating and forming stones.
Aim for at least eight glasses of water daily, although this can vary depending on your body size and activity level.
Limit Sodium Intake
A diet high in sodium can increase your risk of kidney stones by increasing the amount of calcium your kidneys must filter, which can lead to stone formation. Try to limit your sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day or less.
Moderate Your Protein Consumption
While protein is essential to any balanced diet, excessive amounts can increase the risk of kidney stones. High-protein diets can raise uric acid and lower the amount of citrate in the urine, contributing to stone formation.
Consume Calcium-Rich Foods
Although most kidney stones are made of calcium, it doesn’t mean you should avoid calcium in your diet. In fact, a diet low in calcium can increase the risk of stones.
Instead, aim to get your calcium from food rather than supplements, as supplemental calcium may increase the risk of stones.
Limit Oxalate-Rich Foods
Oxalate is a compound found in certain foods that can bind with calcium in the urine to form stones. Foods high in oxalate include spinach, rhubarb, nuts, wheat bran, and chocolate. If you’re prone to calcium oxalate stones, it may be beneficial to limit these foods.
Lifestyle Changes for Preventing Kidney Stones
In addition to dietary changes, kidney specialists recommend certain lifestyle modifications to help prevent kidney stones.
Stay Active
Regular physical activity can help prevent kidney stones by keeping the bones strong and healthy, reducing calcium in the urine.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of kidney stones. Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can help reduce this risk.
Limit Alcohol and Caffeine
Excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine can lead to dehydration, which in turn increases the risk of kidney stones. Limit your intake and always rehydrate after consuming these beverages.
Kidney Specialist in Brockton & Taunton, MA
Kidney stones can be a painful nuisance, but at Associates in Nephrology, we’re here to ensure they don’t disrupt your life. Our team of board-certified kidney specialists has the specialized training and experience necessary to effectively diagnose and treat kidney stones, as well as a range of other kidney-related conditions.
For more information or to visit one of our kidney centers in Brockton or Taunton, Massachusetts, call today at (508) 587-0700 or request an appointment online. We look forward to serving you!
