Kidney
stones are a painful condition and passing one is an
extremely difficult trial that nobody ever wants to go through. People
who
suffer from kidney stones usually find themselves forced to eliminate a
large
variety of foods from their diet for different kidney stone related
reasons. Many foods
go to chopping block
because they contain substances which help in the formation of these
very
painful kidney stones, with the minerals calcium and oxalate being the
two main
culprits. Both of these minerals are found in many different foods and
both
need to be reduced to prevent further suffering. Other foods, such as
those
that are high in protein, put strain on the kidneys and should also be
reduced
.
Here are some kidney
stone diet tips aimed at helping you
pass kidney stones and also to prevent more kidney stones from forming.
Protein
and calcium
A diet that is high in
protein tends to put considerable
strain on the kidneys, which is why bodybuilders who partake in a very
high
protein diet oftentimes develop kidney infections.
If you have any type of kidney disorder, a
diet high in protein should be avoided. Kidney stones are formed in
part by
calcium so foods that contain should also be limited. Dairy products
which are
both high and protein and calcium should definitely be avoided as
should
supplements that contain high amounts of calcium and calcium based
antacids.
Protein and calcium, however, should not be completely eliminated from
your
diet since your body does need
both of
them in order to function properly. They just need to be cut back.
Oxalate
Oxalic acid is a
substance that is found in many different
plant based foods which can combine with calcium and form kidney
stones. Many
of the foods that contain oxalate are actually considered to be healthy
foods,
but when you have kidney stones, you might want to consider staying
away from
them.
Some
high oxalate foods include:
- Spinach
- Chocolate
- Rhubarb
- Tea
- Beets
- Strawberries
- Wheat
bran
- Nuts
Things you can and should eat
While there are many
foods out there that you need to avoid
when you have kidney stones, there are also some low oxalate foods out
there
that you can partake in to you hearts desire.
These include:
Grapefruit
- Radishes
- Oatmeal
- Rice
- Green
grapes
- Melons
(very kidney friendly)
- Lemons
(also very kidney friendly)
- Plums
- Mushrooms
Here are some other low
oxalate foods that you can eat;
however since they happen to be high in calcium and/or protein, their
intake
should be moderate.
- Yogurt
- Fish
- Poultry
- Pork
- Eggs
Soda, white flour and
sugar also happen to be low oxalate
and will not cause kidney stones, however since they are not really
good for
you, they should be eaten only occasionally.
Other things to do to
help deal with kidney stones:
- Drink
lots of water
- Get
regular exercise
As you can see, A kidney
stone diet can end up being a bit
restrictive, however if you stick with it and learn what you body can
and
cannot absorb, you will prevent this painful condition from cropping up
in the
future.