Prevent Painful Kidney Stones

Our curiosity was peaked after hearing about several friends and family members being diagnosed with kidney stones. Why so many cases? Are more cases being diagnosed? If there are more cases being diagnosed - why?  Could all these cases of kidney stones have something to do with what we are eating?Well, according to data collected over the last decade from several insurers there has been a significant increase in the incidence of kidney stones in 18 to 64 year olds.  And diet does play a role in promoting & inhibiting the development of the more commonly diagnosed kidney stones.To clarify, all kidney stones are not created equal.  There are five different types of stones (calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite, cystine) with the three most common stones strongly affected by diet.  If you or a family member have had a kidney stone here are few recommendations for avoiding the most common kidney stones – those made of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate & uric acid:Bite This:Dairy foods such as milk, yogurt & cheese contain high levels of calcium. By eating foods high in calcium ensures there will be enough available to bind up the oxalate, keep it out of the urinary tract & prevent stone formation.  A daily intake of 800 mg of calcium is recommended to prevent kidney stone formation while maintaining bone density.  Researchers suggest the calcium-rich foods be eaten at the same time as foods containing high levels of oxalate.Beer & Wine Not that I am recommending alcohol consumption if you don't drink but research has shown that moderate amounts of beer & wine have prevented the formation of stones and moderate is defined as an average of one drink a day for women & 2 drinks a day for menWater, water, water Making sure you drink enough water can help prevent all types of kidney stones!  Dehydration is one of the most common risk factors for kidney stone formation and one of the easiest way to avoid it is to drink plentiful, inexpensive water.  Make sure you drink enough water & other fluids to produce at least 2 quarts of urine a day.  A quick hydration check is the color of your urine (you want it to be no darker than the color of lemonade).Not That:Dark colas & other foods high in oxalates may increase the amount of oxalate in the urine, increasing the risk of calcium- & phosphate-oxalate stones forming. Our bodies produce oxalates and they are found in a variety of foods but only a few foods have been found to increase the oxalate level in urine nuts, rhubarb, spinach, & wheat bran.  There is controversy about whether drinking colas increases the risk of kidney stone formation but many experts believe there is enough evidence to recommend you stick with water or lemonade if you have a history of kidney stones.Although cranberry juice is often promoted as useful for preventing urinary tract infections, the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) does not recommend it above other fruit juices for preventing the formation of kidney stones.Non-dairy animal proteins eggs, fish, shellfish & organ meats (liver) are high in something called purines. Purines break down into uric acid & high levels of uric acid in the urine can cause the formation of uric acid stones.  The acid content in animal proteins may also increase the risk of calcium oxalate & phosphorus stones by increasing the loss of calcium & reducing the loss of citrate (prevents kidney stones when excreted in urine).  If you have had kidney stones or there's a family history of kidney stones you'll want to limit non-dairy animal proteins to no more than 6 oz a day.Foods high in sodium – for many this can be just about everything they eat.  Our daily reliance on convenience items & fast food can translate into a daily sodium intake that is 3 to 4 times higher than the daily recommendation (1500 to 2400 mg a day).  When our kidneys have to get rid of high levels of sodium it results in the loss of more calcium.  More calcium in the urine can combine with oxalate & phosphorus to make kidney stones.  Try eating more fruits & vegetables or cooking meals at home. Foods without labels are almost always lower in sodium.