Do You Have Kidney Stones? What Should You Eat and What You Shouldn’t?

Did you know that kidney stones are as old as human civilization? It is said that the oldest renal stone was found in an Egyptian mummy dated before 4800 BC.

Kidney stones technically called renal calculi, nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis are small hard deposits that form in the kidneys due to the supersaturation of the urine with salts and minerals. The bad news is that it affects all age groups—from infants to adults. Nearly 12 per cent of the world population suffers from the disease at some point in their lives with men at a higher risk than women. The good news is that a balanced diet and proper medical guidance (based on the stone composition of the patient) can prevent the recurrence of kidney stones.

Delhi’s Eminent Dietician and Nutritionist, Avni Kaul shares her expert tips on what diet to have and what food to avoid when you have a kidney stone.

Stay well hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids that will dilute the salts in the urine thereby reducing the risk of stone formation. While water (at least 12 glasses a day) is the best remedy for kidney stones, tea, coffee, citrus juices also help. Study reveals that lemons reduce the risk of kidney stone formation due to the presence of a high concentration of citrate that acts as a natural inhibitor. So,drink lemonade regularly to keep kidney stones at bay. Avoid sugary drinks, grapefruit juice, and certain types of tea that increase the risk of stone formation.

Add calcium to your diet: Eat enough dietary calcium like milk, curd, paneer (cottage cheese), legumes and nuts during a meal. The oxalates and calcium from the foods will bind together to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Limit your salt intake to 1,500 to 2,000 milligrams a day: Say NO to processed cheese, pasteurised butter, pizzas, pretzels, chips, breads and bagels, to name a few.

Eat less meat/Mind your meat intake: Excessive consumption of animal protein, red meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood, raises the level of uric acid thus increasing the risk of kidney stones. Since protein is important, add quinoa, tofu, and chia seeds to your diet instead.

Avoid taking Vitamin C supplements: High doses of vitamin C can increase the risk of kidney stones.

Kidney stones can be life-threatening if left untreated. Say goodbye to kidney stones by following the right diet.