Foods That Help to Cure Kidney Stones

Once kidney stones have formed, the only way to cure them is to pass them or have them removed. You can, however, modify your diet to help prevent certain kinds of stones from forming in the first place.

Insoluble Fiber

• If your kidney stones are made of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate, you can eat foods high in insoluble fiber to help prevent future stones. Insoluble fiber is found in foods like whole wheat bread and cereal, beans, bran, and vegetables like cabbage and carrots. The insoluble fiber may lessen the amount of calcium that spills into your urine.

Calcium

• The most common type of kidney stones are formed of calcium oxalate. Experts at Aetna's InteliHealth say a diet rich in calcium can help stop new calcium oxalate stones from forming. Try to eat lots of dairy products, such as low-fat milk, cheese and yogurt.

Foods to Prevent Urinary Tract Infection

• If you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), your body may form struvite stones. You can help prevent these by following a diet that lessens your chances of contracting a UTI. A 2003 study found that women who ate yogurt and drank cranberry juice were less likely to experience a UTI than those who did not.

What to Avoid

• Physicians at the Urology Channel website recommend reducing the risk of future kidney stones by eating a diet low in sodium. Too much salt can produce calcium in your urine. On his website GI Care, gastroenterologist Jackson Siegelbaum cautions against taking Vitamin C supplements if you have calcium oxalate stones, since the body produces oxalate when it uses Vitamin C. Your doctor may also tell you to cut down on oxalate-rich foods and drinks, such as rhubarb, sweet potato, spinach, beets, cola and tea.

Considerations

• There are several different types of kidney stones. Before you can determine which foods will help prevent your particular condition, you should check with your doctor to determine your type of kidney stones.