Kidney stones are deposits of minerals and acid salts that form a
hard mass in your kidneys and may also affect your ureters, bladder or
urethra. Pain in the belly and side of the back is the dominant symptom
of kidney stones. There are several steps you can take to avoid kidney
stones, including avoiding dehydration and changing your diet. Here are
some common habits that can cause kidney stones and how to prevent it.
1. Not drinking enough water
The most important factor for the prevention of kidney stones is to
produce adequate volumes of urine. Strive to drink enough fluids to pass
2 liters of urine a day, which is roughly 8 glasses. Drinking extra
water dilutes the substances in urine that lead to stones. Also include
some citrus beverages, like lemonade and orange juice. The citrate in
these beverages helps block stone formation.
2. Not emptying your bladder when there is a need/urge
Holding urine in the bladder for too long is one of the reasons that
can cause kidney stones. It can cause toxins and minerals to accumulate
and crystallize over the time to form stones. So, always empty your
bladder when you feel the urge to urinate.
3. Too much salt Could Cause Stones
Salt contains sodium. When your diet is high in sodium, it causes
over-excretion of calcium into urine by the kidneys. High concentrations
of calcium in the urine combine with oxalate and phosphorus to form
stones. No more than 5.8 grams of salt should be eaten daily.
4. Eating a high-protein diet can lead to stones
Animal protein has been linked to the development of kidney stones
and if you have a high protein diet, then you are more likely to stress
out your kidneys and this can contribute to their creation. Furthermore,
seafood, meat and other proteinaceous foods are rich in compounds
called purines. High purine levels increase the production of uric acid
leading to uric acid stones.
5. Limit stone-forming foods
Oxalate is a substance that is present is several foods. It binds
calcium to form calcium oxalate crystals or stones while urine is
produced by the kidneys. Beets, chocolate, spinach, sweet potatoes, tea,
and most nuts are rich in oxalate. Limit the intake of oxalate rich
foods to prevent kidney stones.
6. Consume calcium and oxalate-rich foods together to Prevent Stones
Consume calcium and oxalate-rich foods together to avoid formation of
oxalate crystals. When you do that, oxalate and calcium will bind in
the stomach itself before reaching the kidneys. This way you will be
less likely to suffer from kidney stones.
7. Eat a balanced alkaline/acid diet
High acidic diets create an environment that encourages kidney
stones. A more alkalizing diet raises the pH of the urine and prevents
kidney stones. The majority of fruits are alkalizing. Some of the best
fruits are melons, lemons, limes, dates, figs and raisins. Coconut water
has clinically been found to dissolve kidney stones. It is naturally
rich in potassium, which plays a key role in urine alkalizing and
preventing formation of kidney stones.