How To Eat With Kidney Stones?

Author: Joe Fowler Time for reading: ~3 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)

Urolithiasis is a common disease and its development can be influenced by a proper diet.

Urolithiasis, or the formation of kidney stones, is a multifactorial disease. It is based on internal and external causes.

Internal factors - these are increased excretion of relatively insoluble urine salts, pH reaction of urine other than normal (which is about pH 6), the presence of an organic matrix for crystallization (damage to the renal calyces and pelvis by bacteria or congenital anomalies in the anatomy Another example is increased albumin excretion) and decreased urinary excretion of substances that inhibit crystal formation.
External factors - increased salt content in urine, drinking water, diet and climate.

There is a certain hereditary component in the origin of the disease, but it is not so strong. In general, the formation of kidney stones is not an isolated disease, but is a manifestation of other disorders in the human body and deviations from a healthy lifestyle.

Kidney stones are of two types - organic and inorganic. The organic ones are uric acid, cystine, xanthine and cholesterol, and the inorganic ones are calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate and magnesium phosphate. Calcium oxalates are the most common stones .

Everything in the urine comes from the blood, and the substances in the blood depend on the flow in the stomach. Thus, the diet patterns influence the processes of urolithiasis.

General recommendations

Urolithiasis requires physical activity and significant fluid intake . The latter must ensure the excretion of more than 2000 ml of urine per day (unless another disease requires limited fluid intake). Food is subject to certain restrictions depending on the type of stones and the reasons for their formation.

Herbal treatment is based on the diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic action of extracts of medicinal plants. Bearberry, white birch bark, corn silk, cherry stalks, thunderbolt, parsley, flax, hemp, etc. are used. For convenience, standardized extracts in the form of tablets have been created.

Uric acid concretions can be completely dissolved by systemic alkalization of urine. It is important for the patient to limit purines . They are contained in meat, offal, legumes.

For magnezievofosfatnite stone is a characteristic that result from infection of the kidney in an alkaline urine. There, an antibiotic is needed for treatment, and an acidic measure is the acidification of the urine by taking ascorbic acid ( vitamin C ).

In oxalate stones

No more than 50 mg of oxalates should be taken daily. Fats should be limited as they help absorb oxalates in the gut.

Dairy products - all, but 1 serving per day; soy substitutes are prohibited;
Meat - all clean meat and fish, limit the intake of offal;
Lentils and chestnuts; avoid peas, almonds, beans, peanuts, sunflower seeds;
Fruits - peeled apples, avocados, bananas, melons, cherries, white grapes, mangoes, nectarines, watermelon; restriction of apricots, blackcurrants, peaches, pears, pineapples, oranges and grapefruits, and small berries (strawberries, raspberries, etc.), kiwis, tangerines, lemon peel, lime and orange are prohibited;
Bread and pasta - all kinds of bread, noodles and pasta, rice; avoid cornbread and corn products, oatmeal, brown rice, sponge cake; ban on whole wheat, graham and soy crackers, pastries with jam or figs;
Vegetables - the intake of cabbage, cauliflower, red peppers, radishes and zucchini is unlimited; restriction of asparagus, broccoli, carrots, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, potatoes and tomatoes; avoid beans, beets, celery, leeks, okra, parsley, green peppers, spinach, sweet potatoes, olives;
Spices - all without cinnamon, ginger, soy sauce; limit pepper and fresh basil;
Drinks - apple juice, beer (bottled or canned), distilled alcohol, grapefruit and lemon juice (without peel), and wine; restriction of coffee (up to 3 pieces per day), car (up to 2 cups per day), grape and orange juice; avoid draft or dark beer, instant coffee, cocoa (and chocolate!), black tea and all forbidden fruit juices.

The fight against urolithiasis should be waged on all fronts, because the patient faces not only the threat of renal colic, but also the risk of complications from the kidneys.

How To Eat With Kidney Stones?

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)

General recommendations

In oxalate stones

Related Articles