How to Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Stones With a Healthy Diet and Hydration

Eating a nutritious diet and staying hydrated are effective ways to lower your risk for kidney stones. Furthermore, these steps can help regulate high blood pressure – another risk factor for developing kidney stones – by keeping you feeling hydrated.

Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water to dilute your urine and make it harder for stones to form. Other beverages like ginger ale, lemon-lime sodas and fruit juices can also help keep you hydrated.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating a nutritious diet is essential for decreasing your risk of kidney stones. This involves including plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains in addition to cutting back on saturated fat and added sugars.

Additionally, this program stresses getting adequate amounts of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and potassium into your system. Eating more of these essential minerals can help balance out mineral levels within your body which could lower the likelihood of kidney stones.

A nutritious diet should include plenty of water, fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Not only is it low in sodium and fat content but also high in fiber.

Hydration is key, and drinking plenty of water each day can reduce your risk for kidney stones. The government suggests drinking 6-8 glasses of liquid daily.

Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of water, as well as electrolytes that help your body maintain a balance of minerals. Aim to get at least half your recommended daily intake of water from fruits and vegetables each day.

Additionally, you should avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate your body and may lead to bloating, fatigue and headaches.

Additionally, you should steer clear of beverages with a high sugar content like soft drinks and energy drinks. These can be detrimental to your teeth and increase the risk of gum disease.

If possible, drink more water before exercising or going out in the sun on hot or humid days. The extra fluid will help you stay hydrated while exercising and prevent the formation of new stones.

Consuming hydrating foods throughout the day, such as fruit and vegetable smoothies or salads, is beneficial. These can include yogurt bases for the smoothies and fresh produce like celery, tomatoes, cucumbers and peaches in salads.

Eating less of the high-calorie, fried foods like chocolate bars is also recommended. You can still enjoy these treats; just in smaller portions.

Drink Plenty of Water

One of the best ways to reduce your risk for kidney stones is drinking plenty of water. This keeps your urine diluted, which helps prevent a buildup of waste products that could form stones in the kidneys.

Dehydration is the leading cause of kidney stones and should be avoided at all costs. Aim to drink eight glasses of fluids each day, which should be enough to flush out two liters of urine.

Drinking plenty of water is essential for keeping your body running optimally, as well as helping prevent various health issues such as headaches, heart disease, skin conditions and fatigue.

Maintaining proper hydration is especially critical if you exercise frequently or sweat a lot, or have a history of kidney stones. Depending on your age and weight, you might need to drink up to 80 ounces (about 10 glasses) of water daily.

In addition to water, consider adding non-sweetened drinks like fruit tea or coffee for optimal hydration. And don’t forget about all those refreshing fruits and veggies – packed full of water!

For example, strawberries contain 92 percent water and are an ideal choice for keeping hydrated, just like cucumbers and watermelon do. Other fruit and vegetable options that you could try include honeydew, oranges, and apples.

Eating a diet rich in calcium-rich foods can help keep you hydrated and prevent kidney stones, since these contain calcium that deposits itself within the body through urination. Milk is an excellent source of this mineral, and you may get it from eggs, cheese, nuts, fish or other sources too.

Avoiding salty and fatty foods can help regulate your uric acid level, thus decreasing the likelihood of kidney stones. A low-salt diet with no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day is generally considered ideal for avoiding kidney stones.

Consuming enough dietary fiber is essential for proper bowel function and to prevent constipation – which could lead to kidney stones or other health complications. Furthermore, a diet rich in fiber is an ideal way to control weight, as it encourages you to eat less and feel full for longer.

Exercise Regularly

Kidney stones are a common health issue that can affect people of all ages. They form when the kidneys filter too much waste into too little liquid, leading to intense pain and the risk of infections, blocked ureters or permanent kidney damage.

Fortunately, you can reduce your risk of kidney stones by eating healthily and exercising regularly. Exercise not only helps maintain a healthy weight, but it also helps regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels in your body.

Exercise not only strengthens bones and muscles, but it can also increase flexibility. Aside from helping you stay healthy, regular exercise also gives you a great feeling of well-being.

If you’re new to exercise, start with some easy exercises that fit into your daily schedule. Most people find it takes two to six weeks for them to form the habit of following a regular workout regimen.

While you’re building up your stamina, try doing exercises that target major muscle groups like arms and legs. You can utilize weights, resistance bands or your own bodyweight to develop strength in these areas.

You can also incorporate some light yoga moves, like breathing and stretching, into your routine to keep your joints and muscles loose and flexible. Improving flexibility also helps you play sports more efficiently since it allows your muscles to stretch and move more freely.

According to one study, people who engaged in regular physical activity were less likely to develop kidney stones. So find an exercise routine you enjoy doing and make time for it!

In addition to exercising, it’s essential that you drink plenty of water each day. Aim for about 2.5 liters (about 2/3 gallon) of fluid each day so your body stays properly hydrated.

Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, high in fiber and low in sodium can help lower your risk for kidney stones. Studies have even demonstrated that people who eat diets high in produce experience lower rates of kidney stones than those who don’t.

See Your Doctor

Kidney stones are hard deposits of salt and minerals in your kidneys that can cause pain, difficulty urinating, cloudy or smelly urine, as well as nausea.

To reduce your risk of kidney stones, follow a nutritious diet and drink plenty of water. Doing this helps flush wastes out of your kidneys in the form of urine.

A nutritious diet should include plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as lean meats, fish and eggs. It should be low in fat, sodium and calories; try to limit processed foods and takeaway meals whenever possible.

Maintaining healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels by including enough protein at each meal. Choose lean sources like chicken, turkey, fish or eggs for variety in your meals.

Eating less salt, refined sugars and saturated fats is recommended; these are the primary culprits of inflammation that can lead to kidney stones. Consuming excessive fructose – like that found in table sugar or high-fructose corn syrup – also increases your risk for developing kidney stones.

Your doctor can provide instructions on a healthy diet and may also suggest taking medication to prevent kidney stone formation. Alpha blockers, for instance, relax the muscles in your ureter and make passing kidney stones easier.

If your kidney stone is large and won’t pass on its own, it is important to see a urologist or nephrologist. They can treat kidney stones using sound waves or surgery.

The most common type of kidney stone is calcium oxalate, which occurs when too much calcium combines with waste products in your urine. The most effective way to avoid this condition is by avoiding foods high in oxalate or calcium.

Strivite is another type of urinary tract stone, formed when bacteria in your urine alter its pH level. Usually this happens due to an infection or kidney disease but could also be triggered by eating too much acidic food like meat, dairy and grains.