DIETARY MANAGEMENT:

Kidney stones have tendency to reoccur, it can be prevented by some dietary changes. Depending upon the type of stones, you can make necessary changes in your diet and prevent stone formation.

• Fluid intake:
  • Drink lots of water, fruit juice, vegetable juice and other drinks. At least 50% total fluid intake should be water.
  • Drink about 3-5 liters of water as water dilutes urine and there by hinders the stone formation.
  • Drink enough to ensure the passage of 2000 ml / 70 oz of urine per day.
  • Never let yourself to become dehydrated. Drink more water if you are doing strenuous work or are working in hot humid climate.
  • You can drink barley water and coconut water daily, it helps in removing stones.
  • You can have 1-2 unit of beer it is good for flushing out the stone. Take care not to over indulge. One unit is about 285 ml beer.
• Drink lots of orange juice or other citrus fruit juices like – grapefruit, cranberry and grape juice. Citrus fruits especially orange juice is rich in potassium and citrate, potassium citrate is commonly used to prevent kidney stones.
• Reduce sodium intake. High sodium intake increases the risk of kidney stone by increasing urinary saturation of calcium phosphate and monosodium rate and decreases the inhibitory activity against calcium oxalate crystallization.
• Increase intake of fiber – bran, whole grains, oat, green leafy vegetables, peas, beans, potatoes, raw vegetables, salads, dried fruits and fresh fruits.
• Consume good amount of B-complex vitamin daily, especially pyridoxine (Vitamin B-6) and B-1 (thiamine) as their deficiency is associated with formation of stones.
• Reduce intake of sugar as it is associated with kidney stones.
• If possible stick to vegetarian diet. Studies have shown that plant sources of oxalates and calcium are not the cause for stone formation. Diet high in animal protein affects certain minerals in the urine which aids in the formation of kidney stones.
• Large quantities of water should be consumed to dilute the concentration of cystine in urine, which is difficult. Drink at least a gallon of water per day and third of it should be drunk during the night.
• Consume buffered vitamin C, in the form of ascorbate.
• Consume diet low in mithionine:
  • Foods high in methionine: broccoli, mushroom, cauliflower, potatoes, spinach, corn, avocado, nuts – peanuts, pistachio, macadamia nuts tofu, green beans, beans sprouts, dried beans – kidney beans, black beans, tempeh, milk and eggs.
• High-homocysteine levels increase the risk of heart disease, avoid meat and saturated fats