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Home Remedies for Prevention of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can prove quite painful as travel through the urinary tract. Men are more likely to experience the condition, which occurs over time and is associated with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, pain in the genital region, chills, fever and/or pain in the buttocks. Kidney stones can form when the body has an excess amount of calcium; natural methods can help prevent them.

  1. Dietary Changes

    • Make changes in your diet to promote good kidney health. When possible, eliminate food additives and preservatives, which can cause digestive problems, and instead consume foods high in antioxidants, which help destroy cell-damaging free radicals. Foods high in antioxidants include cherries, tomatoes, blueberries, dark green vegetables and fresh fruits. Increase your fiber intake to keep your digestive system regular. According to the Food and Nutrition Board from the Institute of Medicine, you need 21 to 38 grams of fiber a day, depending upon your age and gender. Natural sources of fiber are whole grains, yams, potatoes, beans and psyllium seed.

    Supplements

    • Consuming a multivitamin every day with vitamins A, C, E and the necessary B-complex vitamins will ensure that you get plenty of antioxidants. Consuming 200 to 400 milligrams of magnesium daily can help keep your body's calcium levels regulated in order to avoid kidney stone formation. You can further increase your magnesium intake by consuming foods such as dark green vegetables, almonds, blackstrap molasses, squash, spinach, brans, oats and whole grains.

    Cranberries

    • Cranberries are rich in natural antioxidants and are also high in vitamin C, an important vitamin for supporting a healthy immune system. The consumption of cranberries also promotes the health of the bladder and urethra. Drink three ounces of pure cranberry juice or 10 ounces of a cranberry juice cocktail. You also can take cranberry extract in capsule form at a dosage of 300 to 400 milligrams, six times a day.

    Milk Thistle

    • Milk thistle is an herb that contains silymarin, a flavonoid that helps detoxify the body and decrease inflammation. Milk thistle also aids the liver in healing and cell repair and promotes the growth of healthy new cells. Consume this herb as a standardized extract three times a day at a dosage of 80 to 160 milligrams.

    Increase Water Intake

    • Kidney stones, once they form, often are passed by consuming more water, which pushes the stones out of the urethra and out of the body. To keep your urethra flushed and to keep your body hydrated, you should drink at least six to eight ounces of water every day.

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