If you or someone you know has had a kidney stone, you understand how excruciating it can be. So National Kidney Month is the perfect time to discuss kidney stones, how they develop, and how best to avoid them.
The best news? Kidney stone prevention isn’t difficult.
Join us as Dr. Philip Weintraub and our Urology Associates Medical Group team highlight our top tips for preventing kidney stones.
Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts in your kidney. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball.
As they move through your urinary tract, kidney stones cause severe pain, leading to other symptoms like bloody urine and frequent urination.
We can’t guarantee you’ll never get a kidney stone, but embracing these strategies can significantly decrease your risk.
Water helps flush out excess minerals and prevents them from forming crystals that turn into stones. The rule of thumb is eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily, or more if you live in a hot climate or sweat a lot.
If you’re not sure if you hydrate enough, take a glance at your urine. It should be a pale yellow. If it’s dark yellow, you need more water.
Too much salt in your diet can increase the calcium levels in your urine, which can lead to kidney stones. The best way to cut back on sodium is to limit processed snacks, canned soups, fast food, and deli meats.
Swap those out for fresh, whole foods, and always check nutrition labels (even if they’re labeled as health foods).
Eating more calcium-rich foods to prevent kidney stones might seem counterintuitive, but getting enough calcium in your diet can help. Calcium binds with oxalate in the intestine, reducing the amount that makes it to your kidneys.
Dairy products, leafy greens, and almonds are the best sources of calcium. But we often recommend against taking calcium supplements, as high doses can increase your risk of kidney stones.
Oxalates are natural compounds in certain foods, such as spinach, beets, rhubarb, nuts, and chocolate. They can contribute to stone formation. We recommend limiting or replacing these foods with calcium-rich foods to reduce the number of oxalates reaching your kidneys.
Sugary drinks (namely those containing high-fructose corn syrup) can make kidney stones more likely. Soda also contains phosphoric acid, which may contribute to stone development.
Water, herbal tea, and citrus-infused drinks like lemon water are not only healthier options; they can even prevent kidney stones.
Speaking of citrus …
Citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, and oranges, contain citrate, which wards off kidney stones by stopping crystals from sticking together. Try adding a few squeezes of lemon to your water or snacking on oranges throughout the day.
Obesity and metabolic disorders are two of the risk factors for kidney stones. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can help you keep your weight in check and lower your risk. Even the smallest adjustment in your diet and exercise habits can make a huge difference.
Too much animal protein in your diet can flood your system with uric acid and cause kidney stones to form. Reduce the amount of red meat, poultry, and eggs you consume, and every so often, add plant-based proteins like beans, lentils, and tofu.
Do kidney stones run in your family? You might be next in line to get them. But if you know you’re at an increased risk, take the necessary precautions to stay stone-free.
If you’ve had kidney stones before or are at risk, see us for regular checkups. We can run tests on your blood and urine, check for risk factors, and recommend personalized prevention strategies.
Kidney stones can be painful, but they’re also preventable. There’s no better time than National Kidney Month to take charge of your kidney health.
If you’d like more information about kidney stone prevention, call us at 818-853-9659 to speak with one of our friendly staff members and schedule an appointment at our Burbank, California, office.
