Eating habits can easily cause kidney stones

Kidney stones form when minerals and salts deposit and crystallize in the kidneys. This condition is often caused by not having enough fluid in the body or too much solid waste in the urine. The habit of consuming certain foods and drinks below increases the likelihood of developing kidney stones.

Drink less water

Dehydration is the main risk factor for kidney stones. When urine contains more fluid, the likelihood of minerals and salts clumping together, forming stones, is lower. Normal urine is light yellow, if darker it is a sign of dehydration.

Doctors often advise people to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. Fluid intake should be evenly distributed throughout the day. Liquids can include water, mineral water, fruit tea, juice, and watery fruits like watermelon. Drink less alcohol to prevent dehydration.

Eat lots of salt

Salt can cause fluid retention and lead to dehydration. Some foods with high salt content can easily cause kidney stones to form, such as cold meats, processed foods, French fries, canned soups… The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends the amount Salt per day for adults is less than 2,300 mg, equivalent to about a teaspoon of table salt.

Eat lots of foods containing oxalate

Kidney stones can form from many different compounds such as uric acid, struvite and cysteine. The most common type of kidney stone is calcium oxalate. Foods containing high levels of oxalate include grapefruit and cranberry juice, potatoes, soybeans, spinach, some nuts such as cashews, peanuts, chocolate, beets, and asparagus. Most berries, celery, parsley, whole grains, and tea contain oxalates.

Eating foods containing calcium with oxalate reduces the risk of kidney stones by binding the chemicals together before they reach the kidneys. Doctors usually only recommend limiting oxalate intake in people who are at high risk of kidney stones or who have high oxalate levels.

Coffee abuse

Caffeine speeds up metabolism and easily causes dehydration. The recommended limit for adults is 400 mg of caffeine per day, equivalent to 4 cups of coffee. Note that some sodas, chocolate, teas and energy drinks may also contain caffeine.

Drink lots of fresh water

Some studies have linked sugary drinks, especially those containing high fructose corn syrup, to the development of kidney stones. At least half of the liquid a person drinks should be pure water. Consuming a lot of sugary drinks and soda increases the risk of kidney stones.

Not providing enough calcium to the body

Increasing calcium intake from the diet helps reduce the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation. Most dairy products, orange juice, canned fish with bones, tofu, and some cereals provide calcium.

Eat lots of highly acidic foods

Highly acidic urine increases the risk of uric acid kidney stones and makes passing the stones more painful. High levels of acid in the urine also prompt the kidneys to reabsorb citrate instead of excreting it. Citrate is a compound that can eliminate calcium stones as well as weaken their growth.

Highly acidic foods such as red meat, poultry, most fish, cheese, eggs. People do not need to avoid these foods completely because they are good sources of protein. You should only monitor and limit your intake if you frequently have kidney stones. Animal protein should be reduced to around 150g per day.