What Food to Avoid Eating While Having a Kidney Stone?

Having kidney stones can be a harrowing experience. These stones are tiny but solid deposits developing in the kidneys for several reasons like the accumulation of minerals and acid salts. The causes of kidney stones are in multitude and can be detected by certain symptoms, including abdomen pain, vomiting, and blood in the urine. Kidney stones are complex to remove without surgical intervention. If it becomes intolerable, you should unquestionably have a kidney stone removal done by a specialist.

Fortunately, dietary modulation can decrease kidney stone complications. But various types of kidney stones can form in your kidney by various substances and underlying hereditary conditions, so it can be challenging to determine which foods are healthy for a given kidney stone. Consult a doctor to find the kind of kidney stone you have and consider making a diet chart accordingly. Keeping yourself hydrated is a great way to manage kidney stones. In minor cases, these stones are flushed out with urine when water consumption is increased.

You can avoid those uncomfortable kidney stones and ureteric calculus largely by following a healthy diet. A kidney stone diet restricts foods that are more likely to promote kidney stones, thereby reducing your risk of developing one. But before considering a diet change, let’s learn about the food components to avoid to maintain a manageable kidney stone situation.

Foods to steer clear of when suffering from a kidney stone

A healthy diet and sufficient hydration are crucial for many reasons, including kidney stone prevention. You cannot rely on one diet to treat all types of kidney stones because they can form as a result of mineral accumulation in the body. However, many nutritionists and nephrologists suggest avoiding certain foods which primarily contribute to kidney stone formation.

Below are the food products to be avoided to slow down the development of kidney stones:

Caffeine

The caffeine makes you urinate more frequently, which can lead to dehydration and kidney stones. You need to ask your doctor if you can drink coffee if you have a kidney stone. Dehydration, or a lack of water in the body, is frequently cited as the primary cause of kidney stones.

Sodium

It is commonly believed that reducing salt intake is the most effective way to prevent kidney stones. A high sodium intake can promote calcium buildup, which leads to kidney stones. Additionally, you should limit your intake of junk food because it contains high levels of sodium and increases your risk of kidney stones. Before buying anything to eat, check the sodium content; the lower, the better.

Vitamins C

Even though vitamin C has many health advantages, it might have health implications for kidney stone patients. Since our bodies don't have a special way to store vitamin C, we frequently take supplements to increase vitamin C without realising that doing so produces oxalate, which is frequently linked to the development of kidney stones. Excess vitamin C can also have negative effects on your body, leading to nausea and diarrhoea.

Soft drinks

However tempting they may seem, fizzy drinks can harm our bodies. If you have kidney stones, you should absolutely avoid drinking these aerated drinks because they contain phosphate that promotes the formation of kidney stones. Our bodies already have a sufficient amount of phosphate; consuming it in excessive amounts through cold beverages could result in an overload. Kidney stones may develop as a result of the extra phosphate crystallising because our bodies cannot store it.

Animal protein

If you eat too much animal protein, such as that found in red meat and seafood, it's time to cut them out or limit your intake, as it's a contributing factor to kidney stones. Eat your protein in small amounts throughout the day. These proteins make our bodies have higher levels of uric acid and lower levels of citrate. While uric acids cause kidney stones, citrate acids help to prevent them. Therefore, it is important to make an informed decision about whether to eat animal protein.

Rhubarb

If you have kidney stones, one of the foods that you must avoid is rhubarb. Although many people may have told you that eating this vegetable in moderation is safe, it actually contains high levels of oxalic acid, which is extremely dangerous for kidney stones. It fastens as a stone crystallisation which may possibly aid in larger stone formation.

Spinach

We frequently include green vegetables like spinach in our diets because we have always been told about their health benefits. But spinach contains oxalic acid, which can exacerbate kidney stone issues and worsen your condition Eating them makes your stones more painful and less likely to break, so you must avoid consuming spinach.

Berries

Although berries have health benefits, eating them can be dangerous for kidney stone patients because they speed up the growth of stones in our bodies. Concentrations of oxalate are found in fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. You should eat them in moderation if you want to avoid kidney stones.

Added Sugar

Our bodies have always been negatively affected by sugar. You can prevent kidney stones and other diseases by avoiding sugar-containing foods and beverages like chocolate bars, protein bars, and soft drinks. Before bringing any product home, make sure to check the ingredients list for added sugar. Adding more sugar to your diet results in more calcium absorption and less urine production, thus speeding up kidney stone formation.

The Soy Products

As everyone thinks soy is a healthier food option, soy products have become a common commodity in modern society. However, many people are unaware that soy can cause kidney stones. Large amounts of oxalate are present in soy, and this compound can bind to calcium as it passes through the kidneys, resulting in the formation of kidney stones.

Takeaway

Your health is greatly influenced by your diet. When you have a high risk of getting kidney stones, your diet affects how they form. The risk of kidney stones is increased by foods high in sodium or oxalate. If you want to completely eliminate the risk of kidney stones, you should consume enough calcium and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Follow the list of kidney stones foods increasing associated complications and manage your kidney health. Besides, keep your condition under check through medical assistance and avoid detrimental consequences.