Kidney Stones - Diet

Certain type of diet changes can help in dissolving kidney stones. Taking plenty of fluids can help dilute the urine and thereby pass out small stones. Doctors would suggest a very well planned diet for kidney stones along with an effective medication regime. A registered dietician can also help you in designing correct and balanced diet that helps to remove these stones.

In order to dissolve calcium stones, fresh fruit juices other than grapefruit juice can be included in the diet. Avoiding high oxalate foods can also help removing kidney stones. In fact, increase in oxalate level increases calcium absorption of the body. Oxalate is rich in certain plant foods like spinach, strawberry, chocolate, wheat bran and nuts. Diary products like cheese, butter, milk etc can also induce calcium stone formation. Therefore, the diet for kidney stones has to be free of all such items.

High protein diet also increases calcium in the body. Limiting the intake of meat, fish and chicken proves to be beneficial in avoiding calcium stones. Similarly, salt increases calcium excretion in human body. Hence, it is better to reduce the salt intake. Foods high in slat content are processed meats, chips, pickles, sauces and tinned soup varieties. Normally processed and tinned foods contain lot of salt so that the product gives longer shelf life. Diet for kidney stones needs to avoid these products.

Taking lot of fiber rich diet including carrot, oats, beans, cereals, beans etc is helpful in avoiding kidney stone formation. Green peas, pumpkin, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage etc can be included in the diet for kidney stones. Fresh fruits like guava, watermelon, papaya, pineapple etc can also be taken.

Uric acid may cause kidney stones. It is present in purine food like sweet bread, liver and kidney, alcoholic drinks, dried beans, peas etc. Therefore, such foods should be avoided in the diet for kidney stones. Spinach and white flour needs to be avoided as it may increase the risk of promoting kidney stones.

If you were not taking food for longer period of time, then this will increase the level of acidity in the body. That in turn would cause uric acid stone formation. Uric acid stones can be removed by taking adequate fresh fruit juices. Watermelon and pomegranate prove to be effective in passing the uric acid stones.

High protein intake can increase the chance of kidney stone formation. Consuming high protein foods including chicken, beef, pork, fish and eggs need to be limited in order to reduce the risk of stone formation.

Eating whole foods like leafy vegetables, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, brown rice and soy makes the perfect diet for kidney stones. Including foods containing Magnesium and other minerals, high fiber like oats, wheat bran, barley etc proves to be beneficial in preventing kidney stones.

Avoiding spicy foods and fried foods can help to reduce the risk of kidney stone formation. Limiting the consumption of sugar and refined food also proves to be effective in preventing kidney stone formation. Diet for kidney stones plays a major role in passing out small stones. Taking lot of fluids and high fiber food can help in moving small stones out in urine.