Foods that Cause Kidney Stones

Tap to Read ➤ Naomi Sarah

You'll stumble upon the many foods that cause kidney stones, where staying clear of or eating them in moderation, will help your body maintain its proper functionalism.

Kidney stones are crystallized globules made up of either phosphate or oxalate combined with calcium. These contained within certain foods that people ingest, causing one to have an overabundance of these chemicals within them. When these stones form, they make their way through the urinary tract, passing through the body, without the person really knowing.

Pain starts either around the groin area or the abdomen, with blood spotting sometimes noticed in one's urine - a condition known as 'hematuria'. This condition of having stones form inside the kidneys, is known as nephrolithiasis .

A stone called a 'struvite' forms, when an infection in the urinary tract takes place. Other kinds of stones that develop are uric acid in nature, where another a 'cystine' is a very rare stone occurrence. Stones present in any one area of the urinary tract is a condition labeled as urolithiasis , and those present in the ureters as ureterolithiasis .

Diet Plan for Kidney Stones

There are many situations that can cause kidney stones, with dehydration and too much calcium/calcium-oxalate/oxalate present in the body, as two major factors. In the case of hypercalciuria , which is the presence of highly concentrated calcium in urine, a well-planned diet has to be taken into consideration depending on how bad the problem is.

Here we look into ways on how you can manage your calcium and oxalate intake, following a diet plan of what to eat, and how much of it is all right to consume.

Calcium Control Plan

The body usually expels the presence of excess calcium in the body, which is then passed through one's waste. Sometimes the body cannot handle the overload of calcium, causing it to absorb more than it can take, thus causing stress to the kidneys.

Therefore it is important to control your calcium intake, by following a diet plan that allows you still to eat foods rich in calcium (in moderation), since this is an important compound that the body requires for other functions.

Managing Sodium and Soluble Fiber Intake

Sodium levels, when dangerously low in one's body, worsens the condition of calcium-oxalate or calcium stones in the body. People need to avoid large doses of sugar, and cut down on the over-consumption of processed/prepackaged foods. The ideal amount of sodium that is safe for the body to absorb, is between 2300 - 3500 mg a day .

Soluble fiber helps the body pass calcium through the intestines faster, so that the body doesn't have a chance to absorb too much. Insoluble fiber on the other hand, binds with the excess calcium, as it passes through one's feces - the kidneys do not absorb any, in this case.

Oxalate Reduction

The body, when experiencing a high dose of oxalate within it, causes one to pass the excess through his/her urine. This is known as hyperoxaluria . When this happens, calcium-oxalate/oxalate stones form. When there isn't enough of calcium in the body, its main function of absorbing excess oxalate is hampered.

People with this problem have to reduce their oxalate intake, while slightly increasing their calcium intake. One has to either consume lesser oxalate-rich foods, or completely rid the source to eliminate an excessive intake of oxalate.

List of Foods That Cause Kidney Stones

The foods to avoid with kidney stones, will help you regulate your calcium and oxalate intake, depending on which problem you suffer from. Managing your diet is crucial at this point, in order to keep your condition at bay and not fuel it.

Foods Rich in Calcium

Sardines Herring Dark leafy greens Dried herbs Waffles Cheese (like mozzarella, Provolone, Romano, Gruyere, and Swiss) Broccoli Oatmeal Fortified cereal Tofu

Soybeans Milk Yogurt Buttermilk Brazil nuts Blackstrap molasses Flaxseeds Fortified fruit juice (even soy/regular milk) Sesame Seeds Enriched white food (bread, waffles, pancakes, grains)

Foods Rich in Oxalate

Sweet potatoes Swiss chard Beet greens Spinach Elderberries Beetroot Nuts Eggplant Beans Dark leafy greens

Black raspberries Star fruit Rutabagas Carob powder Green gooseberries Okra Potatoes Leeks Celery Wheat germ

Collard Rhubarb Parsley Legumes Buckwheat Tahini Sweet potatoes Wheat bran Tempeh Dried figs

Redcurrants White corn Squash Poke weed Soy products (tofu, soy flour, soy milk, soy nuts, soy yogurt) Amaranth Whole-wheat flour Black tea Instant coffee Nuts (hazel, pecans, peanuts, pistachios, almonds)

These foods need to be eaten in moderation, even if you don't suffer from kidney stones. It is important to drink a lot of fluids, water to be specific, and anything that is freshly squeezed or made from scratch. It keeps the body stay hydrated, as unnecessary toxins and excess substances are washed out continuously. Have a healthy tomorrow.