Dietary Restrictions With Kidney Stones

Dietary restrictions play a vital part in reducing the likelihood of developing painful kidney stones. Smart choices among foods and beverages depend on the type of stone one may be prone to forming. But, does one really have to avoid chocolate?

Diet

• While a variety of factors come into play with the treatment and prevention of kidney stones, diet is certainly a large part of the equation. There are basic suggestions for foods and minerals that may help in avoiding a stone's growth. However, the process of limiting foods is made easier for those who have already faced the condition. That's a major reason why capturing the stone upon passing can be helpful. Stone analysis will help shape those dietary restrictions.

Types

• The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases tells us there are four primary types of kidney stones.

  Calcium-oxalate stones, the most common, form when there is an abundance of calcium concentrated in the kidney. Therefore, consumption of excessive amounts of calcium should be avoided. However, physicians caution not to limit this important nutrient completely. Consult a dietitian or doctor to determine an appropriate level for your individual situation.

  Struvite stones contain ammonia and magnesium and often form after a urinary tract infection.

  Uric acid stones develop when the urine is especially acidic. Animal protein is the culprit in generating this type of acid. Eating too much red meat can help this stone grow.

  Cystine stones are extremely rare and usually present in people with with a history of metabolic or genetic kidney disease.

Foods

• Kidney stones have been a powerful problem for people throughout time. But the Western industrialized world has seen a drastic increase in the condition over the past 60 years. This has to do with the modern-day trend of consuming rich and overly processed foods, according to Dr. John S. Rodman, Cynthia Seidman and Dr. R. Ernest Sosa in their book, "No More Kidney Stones: The Experts Tell You All You Need to Know About Prevention and Treatment."

  Who would have thought that both chocolate and spinach could be bad for you? The most common type of stone, the calcium-oxalate variety, may form not only as a result of excessive calcium, but also courtesy of foods with a prevalence of oxalate concentration. According to the National Kidney Foundation, these include chocolate, draft beer, grapes, oranges, tofu, dark leafy greens (like spinach), peanuts, instant coffee, beets, rhubarb, beans and berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries).

  Red meat and eggs are substances to be avoided by those prone to developing uric acid stones. Upon digestion, this type of protein breaks down into uric acid and gathers as excessive waste in the kidney.

Sodium

• The sprinkling of too much salt causes more calcium to be lost as waste, thus increasing the level of calcium in the kidney and urine stream. A dietitian will likely recommend limiting sodium to between 2,000 and 3,000 milligrams daily.

Beverages

• Kidney stones also occur as a bodily punishment for not drinking enough fluid. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends downing at least 12 full glasses of water daily. This is crucial to flushing out waste products that form stones. Fruit juices, lemon-lime sodas and ginger ale are decent alternatives to water. Dietary restrictions include no more than one or two daily glasses of cola, tea and coffee.