Here's a short list of recommendations to consider.įluids of all types are safe, because they increase urine output and that's a big goal. We can make stone prevention work it's just a matter of giving it individualized attention." Ways to prevent kidney stonesĪll that said, there are some always-good-for-you options that can also help prevent stones. "Everyone has slightly different stone risk profiles and health needs, and people have different dietary habits on top of that. "Every time I finish a talk or meet with a patient, that's the main message: It's not about going to the internet and picking out a diet," said Penniston. There's never going to be a one-size-fits-all stone prevention diet. The salt shaker accounts for about 10 percent of a person's salt intake, so it's really a matter of educating patients."Īll four major categories of stone have subcategories within them, so looking at nutritional contributors of stones gets very individualized. "That's a big problem because people have so many contributors to salt in their diet and they don't even realize it. "If salt intake is high and if you're forming calcium stones in particular, then we may recommend reducing salt intake," said Penniston. Sometimes patients are asked to reduce their salt intake, but if their salt intake is already low, then no amount of salt reduction will prevent stones from forming. MYTH: Surrendering the salt shaker is a sure thing In general, we're trying to help people eat a healthy, balanced diet." That can lead to constipation and other bowel issues. Moreover, studies show that when you reduce oxalate, you reduce your fiber intake. "The foods that are highest in oxalate are also high in fiber, magnesium, potassium, and phytate. After making sure calcium intake is appropriate, then a lower intake of a couple of the most oxalate-rich foods might be recommended. In some people who form calcium oxalate stones, if there's no other reason (there usually are other reasons!) for that stone formation, then it might be time to try to reduce oxalate intake. Over-absorbing oxalate can lead to extra oxalate in your urine and that can lead to calcium oxalate stones Many people fear calcium because they hear stones are made of calcium, but the truth of the matter is if your calcium intake is too low, you're at risk for over-absorbing oxalate, a common compound we eat in many foods. People that form calcium stones will say, ‘What? I've been told to avoid dairy all my life!' To that I say, ‘Yeah, and you've continued to form stones, right?!' " "Sometimes we actually need to increase a person's calcium intake. "This is a big myth-buster here," said Kristina Penniston, PhD, registered dietician and researcher in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Urology. The two most common kidney stones include ‘calcium' in their names, so does that mean you should cut out milk and other calcium-rich foods? Kidney stone myths Struvite stones, often caused by an active infection Uric acid stones, often associated with diabetes There are four main kinds of kidney stones:Ĭalcium oxalate stones, by far the most common type of kidney stoneĬalcium phosphate stones, also very common The logic: Identify what you're consuming, and reduce whatever the stone is made of. This simple answer leads to simplified - and problematic - responses. What are kidney stones? They're crystal-like formations of the excess minerals in your urine. But many of grandma's homemade fixes may actually do more harm than good when it comes to the specific composition of your kidney stones and the reasons why you are forming them. You've probably gathered lots of advice and home remedies in your battle against kidney stones (and you probably even asked for some of it). "You don't want calcium because that's what stones are made of, so ditch the milk." "Oxalates are bad, so stop eating foods like chocolate, beer, soy, nuts, spinach and coffee." "And if you feel a stone coming on, start drinking lots of cranberry juice to get rid of it." And while unsolicited after-dinner medical advice may sometimes sound reasonable, there's a lot you need to know about your own kidney stones before you start adjusting your diet based on Aunt Alice's latest stone story.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |