Kidney Stone Diet
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Dietary Changes to Help Prevent Kidney Stones
People can help prevent kidney stones by making changes in fluid intake and, depending on the type of kidney stone, changes in consumption of sodium, animal protein, calcium, and oxalate. Drinking enough fluids each day is the best way to help prevent most types of kidney stones. It is recommended that a person drink 2 to 3 liters of fluid a day. Recommendations based on the specific type of kidney stone include the following: Calcium Oxalate Stones: 80% of stone are Calcium Oxalate
Calcium Phosphate Stones
Uric Acid Stones * limiting animal protein |
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How much fluid should a person drink to prevent kidney stone formation?
People who have had a kidney stone should drink enough water and other fluids to produce at least 2 liters of urine a day.
The amount of fluid each person needs to drink depends on the weather and the person’s activity level—people who work or exercise in hot weather need more fluid to replace the fluid they lose through sweat. A 24-hour urine collection may be used to determine the volume of urine produced during a day. If the volume of urine produced is too low, the person can be advised to increase fluid intake. Drinking enough fluid is the most important thing a person can do to prevent kidney stones.
Some studies suggest citrus drinks like lemonade and orange juice protect against kidney stones because they contain citrate, which stops crystals from growing into stones.
How does sodium in the diet affect kidney stone formation?
Sodium, often from salt, causes the kidneys to excrete more calcium into the urine. High concentrations of calcium in the urine combine with oxalate and phosphorus to form stones. Reducing sodium intake is preferred to reducing calcium intake.
People who have had a kidney stone should drink enough water and other fluids to produce at least 2 liters of urine a day.
The amount of fluid each person needs to drink depends on the weather and the person’s activity level—people who work or exercise in hot weather need more fluid to replace the fluid they lose through sweat. A 24-hour urine collection may be used to determine the volume of urine produced during a day. If the volume of urine produced is too low, the person can be advised to increase fluid intake. Drinking enough fluid is the most important thing a person can do to prevent kidney stones.
Some studies suggest citrus drinks like lemonade and orange juice protect against kidney stones because they contain citrate, which stops crystals from growing into stones.
How does sodium in the diet affect kidney stone formation?
Sodium, often from salt, causes the kidneys to excrete more calcium into the urine. High concentrations of calcium in the urine combine with oxalate and phosphorus to form stones. Reducing sodium intake is preferred to reducing calcium intake.
The U.S. recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of sodium is 2,300 milligrams (mg), but Americans’ intake averages 3,400 mg, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
How can a person limit sodium intake?
Learning the sodium content of foods can help people control their sodium intake. Food labels provide information about sodium and other nutrients. Keeping a sodium diary can help a person limit sodium intake to 2,300 mg. When eating out, people should ask about the sodium content of the foods they order.
Some foods have such large amounts of sodium that a single serving provides a major portion of the RDA. Foods that contain high levels of sodium include
How can a person limit sodium intake?
Learning the sodium content of foods can help people control their sodium intake. Food labels provide information about sodium and other nutrients. Keeping a sodium diary can help a person limit sodium intake to 2,300 mg. When eating out, people should ask about the sodium content of the foods they order.
Some foods have such large amounts of sodium that a single serving provides a major portion of the RDA. Foods that contain high levels of sodium include
- hot dogs
- canned soups and vegetables
- processed frozen foods
- luncheon meats
- fast food
What diet plan should a person follow to prevent future kidney stones?
"My doctor said I am making calcium oxalate stones. Should I cut back on dairy products in addition to a low oxalate diet?"
Your diet should have between 800 and 1200mg of calcium per day. Eating a diet low in calcium is not advised. In fact, studies have shown that eating a low calcium diet will increase calcium oxalate stone risk. Oxalate and calcium bind together in your intestine and leave the body together. If you eat a low calcium diet than oxalate has no partner to bind to and leave the body with. Oxalate will then be absorbed back into your system leading to higher oxalate levels that will be excreted in the urine.
Items listed below contain high levels of oxalate. Items are reported by the milligram of oxalate/100 gm (100 grams is approximately 3.5 ounces). Foods that have less than 50 mg of oxalate per serving should be limited to 4 oz per day. Foods higher than 50 mg of oxalate per serving should be strictly limited. If you do eat something that has a very high oxalate content, make sure you drink a glass of water before and after the product to help flush out the extra oxalate.
Cereals and Cereal Products: mg of oxalate/100g
Bran Flakes .............................................. 141.0
Cake ................................................. 7.4
Crackers, soybean .................................... 207.0
Fiber One cereal .................................................. 142.0
Grits ........................................................... 41.0
Wheat Germ ............................................ 269.0
White bread ............................................... 14.3
Meats
Liver.............................................................. 7.1
Fruits
Berries, black ............................................. 18.0
Berries, blue ............................................... 15.0
Berries, raspberries red ..............................15.0
Berries, strawberries ............................10.0
Cranberries ....................................... 88.0
Currants .............................................. 19.0
Fruit salad, can........................................... 12.0
Grapes ......................................... 25.0
Lemon peel ............................................... 83.0
Lime peel............................................... 110.00
Peaches ............................................ 5.0
Plums ......................................... 10.0
Preserves, strawberry jam .......................... 9.4
Prunes ............................................. 5.8
Rhubarb .......................................... 600.00
Cereals and Cereal Products: mg of oxalate/100g
Bran Flakes .............................................. 141.0
Cake ................................................. 7.4
Crackers, soybean .................................... 207.0
Fiber One cereal .................................................. 142.0
Grits ........................................................... 41.0
Wheat Germ ............................................ 269.0
White bread ............................................... 14.3
Meats
Liver.............................................................. 7.1
Fruits
Berries, black ............................................. 18.0
Berries, blue ............................................... 15.0
Berries, raspberries red ..............................15.0
Berries, strawberries ............................10.0
Cranberries ....................................... 88.0
Currants .............................................. 19.0
Fruit salad, can........................................... 12.0
Grapes ......................................... 25.0
Lemon peel ............................................... 83.0
Lime peel............................................... 110.00
Peaches ............................................ 5.0
Plums ......................................... 10.0
Preserves, strawberry jam .......................... 9.4
Prunes ............................................. 5.8
Rhubarb .......................................... 600.00
Vegetables
Asparagus .................................................. 5.2
Beans, green boiled .................................. 15.0
Beets ....................................... 675.0
Celery ........................................................ 20.0
Chard, swiss ............................................. 645.0
Collards ..................................................... 74.0
Corn ................................................ 5.2
Dandelion greens ...................................... 24.6
Eggplant .................................................... 18.0
Escarole ..................................................... 31.0
Kale ........................................................... 13.0
Leeks ........................................................... 89.0
Mustard greens ........................................... 7.7
Okra .......................................................... 146.0
Parsley .............................................. 100.0
Parsnips ..................................................... 10.0
Pepper, green ............................................ 16.0
Potatoes, sweet .......................................... 56.0
Rutabagas .................................................. 19.0
Spinach ...................................................... 600.0
Squash, yellow ......................................... 22.0
Watercress .................................................. 10.0
Nuts
Peanuts, roasted ....................................... 187.0
Peanut butter ............................................. 95.8
Pecans ........................................................ 22.0
Sweets
Chocolate ................................................ 117.0
Butterfinger candy bar............................. 53.5
Marmalade, orange................................................ 10.8
Drinks
Hot or Iced Tea ........................ 72.0
Sodas that are caramel colored. Coke, Pepsi are all high in oxalates
Juices
Cranberry juice ............................................ 6.6
Grape juice .................................................. 5.8
Tomato juice ................................................ 5.5
Miscellaneous
Cocoa, dry powder................................... 623.0
Coffee instant (Nescafe)............................ 33.0
Ovaltine, powder can ................................. 35.0
Pepper, black ............................................ 419.0
Vegetable soup ............................................. 5.0
Asparagus .................................................. 5.2
Beans, green boiled .................................. 15.0
Beets ....................................... 675.0
Celery ........................................................ 20.0
Chard, swiss ............................................. 645.0
Collards ..................................................... 74.0
Corn ................................................ 5.2
Dandelion greens ...................................... 24.6
Eggplant .................................................... 18.0
Escarole ..................................................... 31.0
Kale ........................................................... 13.0
Leeks ........................................................... 89.0
Mustard greens ........................................... 7.7
Okra .......................................................... 146.0
Parsley .............................................. 100.0
Parsnips ..................................................... 10.0
Pepper, green ............................................ 16.0
Potatoes, sweet .......................................... 56.0
Rutabagas .................................................. 19.0
Spinach ...................................................... 600.0
Squash, yellow ......................................... 22.0
Watercress .................................................. 10.0
Nuts
Peanuts, roasted ....................................... 187.0
Peanut butter ............................................. 95.8
Pecans ........................................................ 22.0
Sweets
Chocolate ................................................ 117.0
Butterfinger candy bar............................. 53.5
Marmalade, orange................................................ 10.8
Drinks
Hot or Iced Tea ........................ 72.0
Sodas that are caramel colored. Coke, Pepsi are all high in oxalates
Juices
Cranberry juice ............................................ 6.6
Grape juice .................................................. 5.8
Tomato juice ................................................ 5.5
Miscellaneous
Cocoa, dry powder................................... 623.0
Coffee instant (Nescafe)............................ 33.0
Ovaltine, powder can ................................. 35.0
Pepper, black ............................................ 419.0
Vegetable soup ............................................. 5.0