Diet and Kidney Stones - What you Need to Know

It is almost common knowledge that when a person suffers from kidney stones, he or she is in a great deal of pain. Although kidney stones are often linked to genetics, your diet can also be a factor. It has been proven that in many cases diet and kidney stones can be linked together.

Here are some suggestions to assist you in keeping your diet and kidney stones under control. The most important thing for you to always stay on top of is drinking plenty of fluids. Dehydration is a large, heavily weighing factor in the formation of many kidney stones.

More than likely your medical care professional is going to do some testing in order to determine the type of kidney stones you have. Because there are different types of kidney stones, there are different methods for treating them and minimizing the possibilities of new ones forming in the future.

One of the common types of kidney stones are calcium stones. In the event this is determined to be the type of kidney stones you have, your medical care professional might suggest that you reduce the sodium and salt intake in your diet. Generally, a doctor will suggest you limit your sodium to about 3,000 mg per day at the most.

Another common kidney stone is one that is formed from oxalates. With this type of kidney stone it is wise to limit the amount of foods you consume that have oxalates in them. Here are a few of the foods you might need to avoid because they are high in oxalates:

* instant coffee
* dark leafy greens
* draft beer
* peanuts
* oranges
* sweet potatoes
* strawberries
* tea
* beets
* tofu
* concord grapes
* rhubarb
* chocolate
* beans
* blackberries
* gooseberries

As previously mentioned, fluids are vital to eliminating kidney stones of all types. Water is going to be the best liquid for you to drink. It is suggested that a person drink about 8oz of liquid (non alcoholic) every hour.

Although almost any liquid is going to prove to benefit you, you should avoid grapefruit juice and any other citrus fruit juices. Try to drink juices that are all natural if you will be drinking fruit juices.

Another modification used for controlling diet and kidney stones is avoiding animal protein. You might also want to discuss with your doctor the benefits of incorporating a vitamin supplement into your daily routine. However, before you make any changes to your diet it is of the utmost importance that you first speak with your doctor.