6 Kidney Stone Causing Foods
Kidney stones are a painful, disgusting affliction. For this reason, it is a good idea to avoid certain foods that cause kidney stones, which promote the formation of kidney stones. At the same time, it is important to increase the amount of water you consume, as this will help the kidney stones get out of the kidneys through the urethra.
Kidney stones are accumulations of sparingly soluble substances in the urinary tract and renal pelvis. Urinary stones can form if any of the sparingly soluble substances in the urine, such as uric acid, precipitate. The stones can get stuck in the urinary tract and cause episodic pain, as well as fever and vomiting.
A healthy diet is a great help in preventing the formation of urinary stones and dissolving the stones formed. With the right diet, you can also get rid of existing urinary stones more easily. In this article, you will find guidelines on what foods to avoid if you are afraid of urinary stones formation and how to prevent them from occurring with lifestyle choices.
Avoid the kidney stone-causing food listed below, especially if you have already suffered from kidney stones and want to prevent new stones from forming.
6 foods that cause kidney stones
1. Caffeine
Coffee is a matter of course for many, and without it, the day will not start at all. Coffee may give you the dose of energy you need to get up in the morning, but consuming caffeine can also be harmful to your body.
One of the effects of caffeine is to force the kidneys to work harder, which increases the risk of kidney stone formation. Caffeine is not only found in coffee, but can also be found in tea and soft drinks. To avoid caffeine, which causes kidney stones, you should avoid all drinks that contain it.
Caffeinated beverages increase the amount of calcium in the urine and can lead to kidney problems as well as the formation of urinary stones.
2. Red meat
Animal protein and animal fat are associated with kidney stones and kidney problems. If your diet includes plenty of red meat, it is important for you to know that it is difficult to remove the ingredients in red meat from your body.
Red meat is rich in uric acid and purines. When the amount of these substances in the body rises high, kidney stones can develop.
Other foods that are high in purines include e.g. asparagus, beans and cabbage. Avoid excessive consumption of these foods for a short period of time and you can prevent the accumulation of uric acid.
3. Artificial sweeteners
Many of us prefer artificial sweeteners because we believe they are a healthier alternative to sugar. Artificial sweeteners are used especially in soft drinks and low-calorie preparations that are marketed as health products.
However, sweeteners can have many harmful side effects and can sensitize the kidneys to stone formation.
4. Salt
One of the most common problems in modern man’s diet is the excessive amount of sodium obtained from salty foods. Even if you don’t add too much salt to your foods, many prepared foods contain too much sodium. Sometimes salt can even be found in sweet products!
Excessive salt intake can accumulate fluid in the tissues and lead to edema and the formation of kidney stones. The body is unable to remove excess sodium, so it is stored in the kidneys and ureters.
In addition to this, a large amount of salt in the diet raises blood pressure and can lead to weight gain.
5. Seafood
People prone to kidney stones should avoid foods high in oxalates. Oxalates are organic compounds that can promote the accumulation of sodium and calcium in the kidneys. The foods that contain the most oxalates are Seafood, such as shrimp and other crustaceans.
In addition to seafood, green leafy vegetables, chocolate and walnuts contain oxalates.
It is also recommended to reduce peanuts, bran, liver, celery and beets if you want to avoid kidney stones. Oxalate should not be consumed more than 50 milligrams during the day.
If you want to eat foods that contain seafood or other oxalates, make sure you get plenty of calcium at the same time. When you take oxalate and calcium at the same time, it is easier for the kidneys to process them and they do not accumulate in the organs.
6. Dairy products
Many of us love dairy products like cheese, butter and yogurt. Dairy products are a common part of today’s diet, but as you might guess, they are high in calcium. Calcium is an important part of bone health and growth, but too much calcium can increase the number of kidney stones.
When you eat dairy products, the excretion of calcium through the urine increases and the excretion of waste products and kidney stones becomes more difficult. It is recommended that you eat calcium-containing foods in moderation, but do not eliminate them completely.
Prefer different sources of calcium and even try almonds.
Prevent kidney stones this way
Now that you know what foods you should avoid to prevent kidney stones, take a closer look at the foods you absolutely should eat for kidney health.
A healthy diet and lifestyle such as exercise and non-smoking are important, as is adequate water intake. Enjoy at least 8 glasses of water a day and increase the amount to 12 glasses if you have a tendency to kidney stones.
When you drink 12 glasses of water, you produce 8 glasses of urine. Drinking water helps remove waste products and buildup from the urinary tract.
If you don’t like drinking water alone, you can enjoy your liquid as fresh juices, lotions or decaffeinated tea drinks. You can add lemon slices or mint to the water to refresh the taste.
