Health Care

Frank Madras

As the world of medicine slowly starts to make a stronger link between diet and assorted sicknesses, the common condition of kidney stones is no exception. Your diet directly influences their formation, but it can also be the best treatment for the condition.

You are more likely to develop the condition if you have a bad diet, but can kidney stones be treated with a good diet? The answer is yes, they can be. Generally, excess consumption of protein, fats and sugars can increase your chance of developing kidney stones. So logically decreasing these elements in your diet should give your body a chance to cleanse the stones from your system.

First, ensure you’re drinking enough water (Purified is the best). If you’re already aware of the formation of kidney stones, water will give your bladder the required liquids to flush and break down the stones. Water is also essential for preventing kidney stones from forming in the first place, by diluting your urine and decreasing the chance of solid particles forming.

Secondly, consumption of raw fruit and vegetables is also vital as they give your body a water-soluble fibre. Eating a baked apple cake with ice cream is NOT what I’m talking about here, once the fruit is baked its chemical composition changes for the worse, and all the beneficial fibres and vitamins are destroyed.

In terms of food items to avoid, products with high levels of salt and sugar are to be avoided as much as possible. Red meats should also be cut down as the proteins in the meat have been associated with kidney stone formation. Carbonated drinks such as lemonade should also be avoided as they contain large amounts of phosphorus (which is in all sodas).

These pointers will give you a head start, but if you want to find out more about treating kidney stones at home solely with diet, you can find a complete e-book about the topic here!