A kidney stone generally forms from crystals in the urine. Certain kidney stones pass without causing lasting damage, but the pain involved can be excruciating. Kidney stones are also sometimes associated with lower back pain, stomach pain, vomiting and fever. You can avoid kidney stones by adopting a diet that does not exceed the daily levels of compounds responsible for stone formations.
Here are some daily food habits you should follow if you have or are prone to develop kidney stones:
1 . Restrict Your Salt Intake
It is advisable to avoid a high salt diet if you want to prevent kidney stones. Extra sodium will eventually mean that you lose more calcium in your urine, thereby increasing the risk of developing a stone. Restrict your salt intake to less than 3 g per day.
2 . Stay Away From Oxalate Rich Foods
Studies suggest that that limiting high oxalate foods may reduce chances of kidney stones. Kidney stones due to calcium oxalate are recently assumed to be of the most common type. Oxalate is naturally found in many foods like nuts and seeds, grains and legumes. High levels of oxalate are usually found in peanuts, spinach, beets and sweet potatoes. Since oxalate is healthy for the body, it may be helpful to increase the consumption of calcium rather than limit foods with oxalate. Calcium binds with oxalate which in turn helps kidneys get rid of the excess oxalate in the body.
3 . Cut Down On Refined Foods
While fast foods are becoming popular by the day, the negative effects also surround us in many ways. Certain sources of “hidden” sodium are canned or commercially processed foods. If you are on a diet which helps you regulate your sodium intake, be sure to avoid the popular fast foods.
4 . Do Not Take Red Meat
Uric acid stone is another common type of kidney stone. Purine is a natural chemical compound found in extremely high concentrations in red meat. High purine intake results in higher production of uric acid. Uric acid starts to deposit as crystals in the joints or as stones in the kidneys. High purine can be avoided if you eat less of red meat, organ meats, and shellfish. It is very important to follow a diet consisting mostly of vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.
5 . Take Vitamin Supplements With Caution
Recent research indicates that excess use of vitamin C supplements usually taken to prevent common cold can also lead to the formation of a kidney stone. Though natural sources of vitamin C may not interfere with your health, taking them in the form of high-dose supplements can increase your chances of kidney stone formation.