Kidneys stones can be prevented or controlled by dietary intervention or medication. Risk of stone formation is related to genetics, urinary tract infections, eating habits and fluid intake. Given here are tips for making better dietary choices to prevent stones from forming in the first place. If you are having difficulty , read entire article in Urdu
Fluids
- Drink at least 2-3 litres water daily. During summer season or while exercising we tend to loose a lot water because of sweating so increase your daily water intake.
- Drinking enough fluid each day will help to wash chemicals or crystals through the kidney before stones have a chance to form
- In hot weather, increase the fluid intake to make up for losses in sweating
- Add 4 tbsp of lemon juice in 4 glasses of water and drink it throughout the day, especially on rising up in the morning or during the night
Avoid drinking:
Limit tea, coffee and green tea intake, if taking these items, do not over boil the tea or coffee as this will result in the release of oxalates. Avoid caffeine containing foods like soft drinks
Calcium Rich Diet
Calcium and vitamin D are important for healthy bones; hence it is important to include these in diet. Too little calcium in the diet can result in too much oxalate being absorbed and released into the urine
Foods high in calcium:
- Dairy products
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Ice-cream
- Cheese (low salt)
Include at least 2 3 items from above list daily in your diet
Oxalate controlled diet
Oxalate in the urine can be decreased by decreasing the oxalate content of the diet. Avoid using the following foods high in oxalate content:
Avoid oxalate rich food:
- Dark green leafy vegetables e.g. spinach
- Nuts
- Vitamin C supplement
- Soft drinks like coke, Pepsi
Limit eating:
- Chocolate
- Strawberries
- Soy products
- Beans
Note: if taking any oxalate rich food, take it with milk or yogurt
Animal Protein
- Eating large amount of animal proteins can increase the amount of uric acid, calcium and possibly oxalate in the urine.
- Reduce portion size of animal protein
Limit eating following foods:
- Liver, kidney, heart
- brain
- beef
Visit our Nephrology Clinic or Urology Clinic for more guidance about kidney Stones and healthy lifestyle choices.
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