Diet for kidney stones

The kidney stones are formed when our urine accumulate certain substances that create a solid mass which is housed in the kidney area. This process does not produce any type of symptoms, it is when the stones travel to the urinary tract that the patient experiences great pain and discomfort, and complications such as obstruction of the urinary tract may be generated.

It is important to know what are the substances of which these calculations are made, because depending on this we will have to make certain adjustments in the diet. The types of kidney stones are:

Calcium stones

They are formed when our body is unable to eliminate excess calcium that we ingest through diet or supplements, something common in the case of people who decide to take supplements of this mineral without medical supervision or recommendation. Calcium joins with other wastes and goes on to form kidney stones, they can be made up of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. They are most common in men in their 20s and 30s.

Uric acid stones

They are more frequent in men than in women, they occur in people with high uric acid and also in those who suffer from gout.

Struvite stones

Unlike the previous ones, these types of stones are more frequent in women than in men. They occur in patients who have recently had one or more urinary infections and often cause obstructions and great discomfort.

Cystine stones

They are less common than all the previous types, they occur due to a genetic disorder known as cystinuria. In these cases, the cystine leaks into the urine leading to the formation of these stones.

Kidney stones can be of different sizes and a medical opinion is essential for their accurate diagnosis.

Regardless of the type of kidney stone you have, including plenty of fluids in your diet is essential. It is recommended to drink between 2 and 3 liters of liquid a day, consisting mainly of water, natural juices or infusions. Soft drinks, packaged juices, especially tomato juice, and alcoholic beverages should be avoided.

Fruits such as lemons, grapefruits and oranges are widely recommended, because due to their high citrate content they prevent the formation of stones in the kidneys. It is recommended to eat oranges, consume its juice, drink lemonade or drink a glass of warm water with lemon on an empty stomach every day. In addition, vegetables, fruits and vegetable protein are generally recommended.

Meats should always be lean, preferably opting for light, white fish and fat-free foods.

In general, fried foods, rich in fat, preservatives, sugars and sweeteners should be avoided, however depending on the type of stone you suffer there are particular recommendations. The most common kidney stones are calcium and uric acid, therefore the dietary recommendations will be oriented to these groups.

Foods to avoid with calcium stones

• Moderate the consumption of foods rich in calcium, you should only eat 2 servings a day of these types of ingredients, always skimmed. Avoid excessive intake of milk, cheese, butter, cream and other ingredients such as tofu, shellfish, soy or blue fish.
• Significantly reduce the intake of salt in the diet. Canned, prepared, canned and pickled foods should be avoided as well as those preparations that contain a lot of salt such as canned broths, soy sauce or tomato juice.
• Foods rich in oxalates should be avoided in the case of calcium oxalate stones. Some of them are spinach, beets, chard, leeks, beans, parsley, wheat, nuts, chocolate and fruits such as kiwi, raspberries, grapes, plums or figs.

Foods to avoid with uric acid stones

• High-fat ingredients should be minimized in the diet.
• Avoid foods with purines that increase uric acid, such as cold cuts, all types of meats including chicken or turkey, organ meats, meat derivatives such as concentrates and broths, shellfish, oily fish, especially canned ones, legumes such as lentils, chickpeas or beans and vegetables like asparagus, spinach or cucumber. In addition, alcohol must be eliminated from the diet.

If your calculations are calcium, either oxalate or phosphate, it is essential to moderate the consumption of this mineral to a great extent, so we give you some recommendations appropriate to your case.

What to have breakfast

Option 1

• 2 whole wheat toasts accompanied by 2 slices of turkey and a portion of fresh cheese.
• A fruit salad to taste but without kiwi, raspberries, grapes or cherries because they are rich in oxalates.
• A cup of coffee preferably with some vegetable milk that is not soy (almond, rice) or skimmed milk. You can substitute a glass of orange juice.

Option 2

• A bowl of skim or vegetable milk with whole grains with no added sugar.
• 2 wholemeal bread toasts with jam without added sugar.
• A glass of fresh orange juice, without adding more sugar.

Option 3

• Scramble made with 2 eggs, 2 slices of turkey, pepper and a small pinch of salt.
• Two toasts of whole wheat bread.
• A glass of orange juice, a cup of lemon infusion or any other of your choice.

What to eat

Option 1

• 2 pieces of baked chicken or a grilled chicken breast with spices and lemon.
• Tomato, cucumber and green pepper salad.
• A serving of brown rice.
• Accompany with water, a natural juice or an infusion.

Option 2

• Hake or sea bream in the oven or on the grill.
• 1 medium potato mashed, baked or steamed.
• Grilled asparagus
• Accompany with water, a natural juice or an infusion.

Option 3

• 120 grams of lean red meat made in your preferred preparation.
• Sautéed aubergines, zucchini and onion.
• 1 medium steamed potato.
• Accompany with water, a natural juice or an infusion.

What to dine

Option 1

• Homemade carrot and pumpkin cream without cream, milk or butter.
• A portion of the white fish of your preference grilled.

Option 2

• A vegetable broth made with all the ingredients except spinach, chard, leek or beans.
• 2 grilled chicken or lean meat burgers.

Option 3

• French omelette with zucchini, tomato and onion.
• A grilled chicken breast.

Remember to drink at least 2 liters of water a day and moderate your salt intake.

In the case of uric acid stones, the diet must be quite restrictive to avoid foods rich in purines and saturated fats. In addition to the following dietary recommendations, you can opt for home remedies to lower uric acid that can contribute to this matter.

What to have breakfast

Option 1

• 2 wholemeal bread toasts with jam without added sugar.
• A skimmed yogurt with whole grains and / or fruit
• A cup of coffee with skim milk.

Option 2

• Whole wheat bread sandwich with cheese and low salt turkey.
• A serving of fruit, those high in fiber are recommended such as kiwi, strawberries, citrus fruits, etc.
• A natural juice or coffee with skimmed milk.

Option 3

• A bowl of skimmed or vegetable milk with whole grains.
• 2 whole wheat toast with fresh cheese and turkey.
• A natural juice, infusion or coffee with skimmed milk.

What to eat

Option 1

• 80 to 100 grams of pasta accompanied by olive oil, sprinkled Parmesan cheese and pepper to taste.
• 2 steamed or baked artichokes.
• For dessert a portion of fruit.
• Accompany with water, a natural juice or an infusion.

Option 2

• 100 grams of skinless grilled chicken breast.
• Sautéed aubergines, onion and mushrooms.
• A serving of brown rice.
• Accompany with water, a natural juice or an infusion.

Option 3

• Wild rice sautéed with skinless turkey or turkey breast, carrot, onion and zucchini cubes.
• Arugula, apple, walnut and mozzarella cheese salad.
• For dessert a portion of fruit.
• Accompany with water, a natural juice or an infusion.

What to dine

Option 1

• 120 grams of white fish such as sea bream, hake or grilled grouper.
• Homemade carrot cream.
• A skimmed yogurt.

Option 2

• French omelette with fresh cheese, mushrooms and onion.
• 100 grams of skinless grilled turkey.

Option 3

• Vegetable broth made with carrot, onion, leek and pasta.
• 100 grams of skinless grilled chicken breast.
• A serving of fruit to taste.

Remember to drink at least 2 liters of water a day and moderate the consumption of fat and salt.

Patients with struvite and cystine stones should maintain a balanced diet and increase their fluid intake significantly, consuming between 2 and 3 liters a day, even slightly more in the case of patients with cystine stones.

Citrus fruits are highly recommended, it is also important that throughout the day the urine remains as clear as possible, which indicates that we are adequately hydrated. Water, infusions, natural juices, fruits and vegetables are the best option to obtain the liquid we require.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Diet for kidney stones , we recommend that you enter our Kidneys and urinary system category .