Studies show that kidney stones appear to be more common in people with Asian and Caucasian backgrounds than for Native Americans, Africans, or African Americans.
Body weight, not diet or fluid intake, appears to be the greatest risk factor for kidney stones. Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise to reduce your weight and your risk.
Gastric bypass or other intestinal surgery Urinary tract infections Inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease Chronic diarrhea Renal tubular acidosis Hyperparathyroidism Insulin resistance
Calcium stones. Calcium stones come in two forms: calcium oxalate stones and calcium phosphate stones. Calcium oxalate stones are the most common form of kidney stone. Calcium stones are often caused by high sodium intake. Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones form when urine is very acidic, and are often because the patient has a diet high in animal protein (meat, fish, shellfish). [6] X Trustworthy Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Struvite stones. These are usually caused by kidney infections. Staying free of infection can usually stop struvite stones. [7] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source Cystine stones. These are formed when cystine leaks into the kidneys, resulting in stones. Cystine stones are caused by a genetic disorder. [8] X Trustworthy Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
If you’re sick or you exercise a lot, you’ll need to drink more. [10] X Research source Water is the best choice. Drinking a half-cup of fresh-squeezed lemon juice daily raises the citrate levels in your urine, which can help reduce your risk of developing calcium kidney stones. [11] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Experts no longer recommend orange juice, as it raises oxalate levels. Be cautious with grapefruit juice, apple juice, and cranberry juice. Several studies have linked grapefruit juice to an increased risk of kidney stones, although not all studies agree. Apple and cranberry juice both contain oxalates, which are linked to the development of kidney stones. Cranberry juice may increase your risk for calcium oxalate and uric acid stones. However, it may help prevent the less-common types of stones, such as struvite and brushite stones, and it’s good for overall kidney function. Talk with your doctor about whether consuming these juices is a good idea for you. [12] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium daily if you are a healthy young adult. According to the US Department of Agriculture, most Americans eat far more than that recommended allowance, 3,400 mg. [14] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source Restrict your sodium to 1,500 mg per day if you are at least middle-aged or you have certain conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Look for “lower sodium” or “no salt added” labels on canned foods. Canned vegetables and soups often have high levels of salt. Luncheon meat, hot dogs, and frozen prepared meals often have extremely high levels of sodium, so check labels before you buy. [15] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Red meats, organ meats, and shellfish are high in a substance called purine, which increases your body’s production of uric acid and can cause kidney stones. [17] X Research source Eggs and fish also contain purines, although at a lower level. [18] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Substitute some of your animal protein with other rich sources of protein, such as nuts and legumes. [19] X Research source
Lemons and limes are the best source of citric acid. Drinking lemonade or limeade (especially low-sugar varieties) and squeezing lemon or lime juice on foods are excellent ways of increasing your citric acid intake. Increasing your fruit and vegetable intake will help boost your citric acid consumption. Some sodas, such as 7UP and Sprite, contain high levels of citric acid. While you should avoid high-sugar beverages, the occasional clear soda may be a good way to increase your citric acid intake. [21] X Research source
Limit oxalate to 40-50mg daily. Foods that are high in oxalate (10mg+ per serving) include nuts, most berries, wheat, figs, grapes, tangerines, beans, beets, carrots, celery, eggplant, kale, leeks, olives, okra, peppers, potatoes, spinach, sweet potato, and zucchini. Beverages that contain high levels of oxalate (more than 10mg per serving) include dark beer, black tea, chocolate-based beverages, soy beverages, and instant coffee. Don’t over consume vitamin C. Your body may turn high doses — such as those from supplements — into oxalate. [24] X Research source
Children between four and eight years old should get 1,000 mg of calcium daily. Children nine to 18 years old should get 1,300 mg of calcium daily. Adults 19 and older should get at least 1,000 mg of calcium daily. Women over 50 and men over 70 should increase their intake to 1,200 mg of calcium a day. [26] X Research source
Beans and rice bran are good sources of phytate. While wheat and soybeans also contain phytates, they are also high in oxalate, so it’s recommended that you avoid them unless recommended by your doctor.
Dark beers contain oxalate, which can increase kidney stones. [30] X Research source
