You may need to adhere to a particular food plan if you have kidney stones. Your healthcare provider will first do blood and urine tests to identify potential risk factors. Your healthcare professional will then explain the dietary modifications and medical procedures you need to take to prevent kidney stones from recurring.

A kidney dietitian can help you make the essential changes in your diet plan and lifestyle modifications.

What is a Kidney Stone?

An object that is solid and forms from urine crystals is a kidney stone. Most people's urine contains natural substances that prevent stones from growing and causing health risks.

Common types of kidney stones include:

• Calcium oxalate stones
• Calcium phosphate stone
• Struvite stones
• Uric acid stones
• Cystine stones

A range of factors can lead to kidney stones, including the following dietary factors:

• High oxalate consumption from certain foods
• A diet rich in protein
• Excessive sodium
• Low water intake or dehydration

What is the Kidney Stone Diet?

People should adhere to the following main steps if they want to prevent kidney stones from forming for the first time or lower their chance of recurrence if they have already had stones:

• Drink a lot of water
• Reduce their consumption of animal protein and salt
• Limit the intake of foods high in oxalates
• Consume adequate calcium

Foods to Eat

Dietary advice will vary since kidney stones differ depending on the minerals they contain.

To learn what meals should and should not be consumed in order to reduce the likelihood of developing stones in the future, a person should consult their doctor about which foods produce stones.

The following is a list of foods to include in your diet to avoid developing kidney stones.

Increase your water intake

Add at least 10-12 glasses of water each day; water helps dilute the chemicals that form stones.

Add citrus food items to your diet

Citrus fruits help reduce the formation of stones, such as lemons, oranges, and sweet lime.

Vitamin-D  

The calcium-rich diet helps to manage oxalate levels.

Milk and milk products (curd/yoghourt/paneer), vegetarians (lentils, tofu, dark green vegetables, nuts, and seeds).

Plant-based protein

Animal-based proteins in excess are safe to eat. However, consuming too much animal protein can make someone more prone to kidney stones.

Foods to Avoid

Choosing which food to avoid depends on the type of stone developing in a person's body.

Foods to avoid include:

• Excessive salts and spices
• Reduce animal protein
• Soda and beverages
• Artificial sweeteners
• Fruits and vegetables with seeds 
• Spinach and sweet potatoes

If someone has already experienced calcium oxalate stones, they may want to limit their consumption of the following foods, as they are high in oxalate and may raise the risk of recurrence:

• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Almonds
• Peanuts 
• Wheat bran

Individual needs and dietary requirements will vary because everyone is different.

Speaking to a doctor or nutritionist about your diet is the most crucial step you can take to prevent recurring kidney stones. They will know what kind of kidney stone is forming and how to stop it or slow it down.

Conclusion

Typically, kidney stones are painful ailments. Fortunately, nutrition can be a powerful management and prevention technique for kidney stones. Important components of a kidney stone diet include:

• Drinking enough water.
• Avoid foods high in salt and sugar.
• Balancing calcium with foods high in oxalate.

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