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Contents
  • 1. Drink Up!
  • 2. Watch Your Diet
  • 3. Maintain a Healthy Weight
  • 4. Consider Medications

5 Simple Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones

5 Simple Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones

Stone-Free Living

Kidney stones can be excruciatingly painful, but the good news is that many cases are preventable. Here are five easy strategies to keep your kidneys stone-free.
Contents
  • 1. Drink Up!
  • 2. Watch Your Diet
  • 3. Maintain a Healthy Weight
  • 4. Consider Medications

1. Drink Up!

The most important step in preventing kidney stones is staying hydrated. Aim to drink enough fluids to produce at least 2 liters of urine per day. Water is the best choice, but other non-caloric beverages can help too. Think of your urine as a river - keeping it flowing strong helps wash away stone-forming minerals.

2. Watch Your Diet

Certain dietary changes can significantly reduce your risk of stones. Limit sodium intake to below 2300 mg per day. Increase fruits and vegetables, which are rich in stone-preventing potassium. Maintain adequate calcium intake through dairy or other calcium-rich foods. Avoid excessive animal protein, sugar, and high-oxalate foods like spinach and rhubarb.
Five simple lifestyle and dietary strategies to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

3. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of kidney stones, especially in women. Losing excess weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can help prevent stone formation. Think of it as giving your kidneys less work to do in filtering waste products.

4. Consider Medications

For people with recurrent stones, certain medications can help prevent new formations. These might include thiazide diuretics to reduce urinary calcium, or potassium citrate to increase urinary citrate (which inhibits stone formation). Always consult with a doctor before starting any new medication.

FAQs

How much water should I drink daily?

Aim for 8-10 glasses, or enough to produce 2+ liters of urine.

Are all kidney stones preventable?

Most are, but some people may have genetic predispositions.

Can too much calcium cause stones?

Surprisingly, adequate dietary calcium may help prevent stones.

The Bottom Line

Simple lifestyle changes can go a long way in preventing painful kidney stones.
Ready to stone-proof your kidneys? Chat with Doctronic about personalized prevention strategies.
Additional References
  1. Borghi L, et al. Comparison of two diets for the prevention of recurrent stones in idiopathic hypercalciuria. N Engl J Med 2002; 346:77.
  2. Taylor EN, et al. Obesity, weight gain, and the risk of kidney stones. JAMA 2005; 293:455.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.