There are several types of kidney stones that vary according to their composition, maybe struvite, uric acid, calcium oxalate or cystine, so the doctor performs a series of tests to identify what is the composition and depending on the result, The foods to be avoided may vary a bit. However, in general, most nutritional recommendations remain the same.
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Kidney stone diet (includes sample menu) |
Allowed Foods
The foods allowed in the diet to prevent the formation and eliminate kidney stones are mainly water-rich, which increase the amount of fluid and dilute the urine, preventing the formation of crystals and stones. See what are the foods rich in water.The individual who has stones in the kidneys should drink about 2 to 3 liters of fluid per day, this allows to increase the production of urine and remove stones through it. The main cause of the emergence of kidney stones is dehydration, so rehydration is the first step to avoid the formation of stones.
It is also important to remember that the ideal amount of water varies according to the weight, having to consume around 35 ml of water per kilogram of weight. So a person with 70 kg should consume at least 2.45 L of water per day, and the higher the weight, the more water will be necessary to hydrate the body well.
An excellent option is to add natural fruit juices to the diet, include soups both at lunch and dinner, as well as drinking water and teas such as chancapiedra, which has diuretic and analgesic properties.
Foods that should be avoided.
1. Foods rich in calcium oxalate
Avoiding excess oxalate in the diet helps prevent mainly the cases of calcium oxalate stones. So calcium is not the main cause of these stones, but if foods rich in oxalate, such as spinach, beets, cocoa, Swiss chard, rhubarb, soft drinks, teas (such as black tea, mate or green) ), peanuts, coffee, chocolate, and chocolate drinks, nuts, and seafood.These foods should be consumed in small quantities, and an excellent strategy is to use a method called double cooking, which consists of cooking the oxalate-rich vegetables twice, changing the water from the first cooking to reduce in this way the amount of oxalate that contains the food.
Another technique for this type of calculation is to consume foods in conjunction with products rich in calcium, such as milk and its derivatives because calcium reduces the absorption of oxalate in the intestine.
2. Proteins in excess
Exaggerated ingestion of proteins such as meats, or any product of animal origins such as butter, or processed meats such as sausages, ham, and bologna, favor the production of uric acid and in turn the formation of stones.The idea is to go to the nutritionist to determine how much you can consume, according to the needs of the individual.
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Kidney stone diet (includes sample menu) |
3. The consumption of salt should be regulated
Sodium is one of the main components of salt, and it facilitates the accumulation of salts in the body, so it should be avoided. Not only should you avoid common salt, but also those industrialized foods rich in salts such as cubes, English sauce, soy sauce, sauces in general, frozen meals and fast foods.It is advisable not to consume more than 2.5 grams of salt per day.
4. Excess of foods rich in vitamin C
The excess of foods rich in vitamin C and the intake of supplements should be avoided, mainly when the calculations are of calcium oxalate because this vitamin can favor the formation of them. See what foods are rich in vitamin C.5. Avoid calcium supplements
When calcium supplements are ingested, there is a high possibility that stones form in the kidneys, which is why they should be consumed under the doctor's instructions.In the case of calcium-rich foods, while consuming the daily recommendation of calcium that is 1200 mg per day, and do not exceed this amount, there is no problem in consuming them.
6. Alcoholic beverages
Avoid the intake of alcoholic beverages, because they cause the body to dehydrate by favoring the formation of kidney stones, dehydration being one of the main causes of its formation.Example menu for kidney stones
The table below shows an example menu of 3 days for an individual suffering from kidney stones:
Food Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
- Breakfast 1 glass of juice with mint + 2 slices of whole wheat bread with white cheese 1 cup of tea + 1 wheat tortilla with egg and chia 1 glass of natural yogurt + 1 tbsp of honey + 2 scrambled eggs with tomato, onion, and oregano
- Morning snack 1 glass of coconut water 1 apple + 15 grams of cranberries 1 glass of green juice with cabbage, ginger, lemon, and coconut water
- Lunch / Dinner 1/2 cup of rice + 1/2 cup of beans + 100 g of turkey breast + 1 cup of cooked vegetables +1 tsp of olive oil 1 cup of whole wheat pasta with tuna prepared in natural tomato paste + 1 cup of raw salad +1 tsp of olive oil 1 plate of chicken soup with carrot, potato, pumpkin, onion
- Afternoon snack 1 plain yogurt + 1 tablespoon cranberries 240 ml avocado shake 2 cooked bananas sprinkled with cinnamon
- Cranberry is a red fruit widely used to treat kidney stones and urinary tract infection, so it is important to include it in the diet.
Other important information about kidney stones
The most indicated doctor to treat kidney stones is the nephrologist, who may refer a nutritionist to the affected individual, to adopt the diet according to the type of kidney stone he has and to avoid the formation of new stones.People who have a family history of kidney stones or who have already had kidney stones in their lives should maintain a balanced diet guided by a nutritionist to avoid the formation of kidney stones.
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