Health - Beauty - Fitness
If you have kidney stones, changing a few daily eating habits may help reduce the risk of future stones. The right diet depends on your stone type, but knowing the main foods to avoid with kidney stones is a useful starting point. 1. Cut Down on Salty Foods Excess sodium can increase calcium in the urine. Limit chips, pickles, instant noodles, processed foods and heavily salted meals. 2. Limit Very High-Oxalate Foods If you form calcium oxalate stones, your doctor may recommend limiting foods such as spinach, rhubarb, beetroot and some nuts when urinary oxalate is elevated. 3. Don't Overeat Animal Protein Large amounts of red meat and other animal protein may increase the risk of certain kidney stones. Moderate portions are generally preferable. 4. Reduce High-Purine Foods People with uric acid stones may need to limit organ meats, sardines, anchovies and other foods particularly high in purines. 5. Choose Water Over Sugary Drinks Adequate hydration helps dilute urine. Make water your main beverage whenever appropriate and limit sugar-sweetened drinks. One Important Calcium Reminder Avoiding calcium completely is usually not necessary. Adequate dietary calcium can help bind oxalate in the digestive tract. Speak with a healthcare professional before making major changes to your calcium intake. Final Takeaway The best foods to avoid with kidney stones depend on your stone composition and individual risk factors. If you have recurrent stones, a urologist can recommend appropriate testing and personalized dietary changes. Medically reviewed by Dr. Jayanth Reddy, Urologist, My Health Hospitals. This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
