What fruits can I eat if I have kidney stones?

Patients with stone disease can eat fruits such as lemons, apples and pears in moderation. These fruits may help reduce the risk of stone formation, but they need to choose a suitable diet based on the type of stones and the doctor's advice.

1. Lemon: Rich in citrate

Lemons contain a lot of citrate, which can inhibit the formation of calcium oxalate stones and help dissolve existing small stones to a certain extent. Especially for patients with urinary stones, drinking lemon water can increase the concentration of citric acid in urine, reduce urine acidity, and thus reduce the risk of stone growth. It is recommended to squeeze natural lemon juice and dilute it with warm water for drinking. The daily intake of lemon juice can be maintained at about 100-150 ml, but avoid adding too much sugar.

2. Apple: Rich in pectin and dietary fiber

The pectin component of apples can help the intestines absorb some calcium and phosphorus, reducing the chance of these minerals entering the urine, thereby reducing the probability of calcium oxalate stones. At the same time, the high fiber characteristics of apples can also promote gastrointestinal motility and help the body discharge metabolic waste. It is recommended to eat fresh apples without peeling them, and consume 1-2 apples a day. Try to choose varieties with moderate sugar content to avoid affecting blood sugar.

3. Pear: Rich in water and organic acid

Pears have a good diuretic effect. The high water content can help dilute urine, reduce the chance of crystal precipitation in urine, and help prevent uric acid stones or calcium oxalate stones. The organic acid in pears can also help regulate the acid-base balance of urine, which is more suitable for patients with gout-related stones (such as uric acid stones). It is recommended to choose juicy snow pears or crown pears, and eat one or two a day, or steam them for consumption, which is more friendly to patients with weak spleen and stomach.

Dietary considerations

Regardless of which fruit is chosen, patients with stone disease need to adjust the type and amount of fruit according to their own stone type (such as calcium oxalate stones, uric acid stones, phosphate stones, etc.). For example, patients with calcium oxalate stones should avoid eating fruits with high oxalic acid content (such as strawberries, oranges, etc.); and patients with uric acid stones should pay more attention to controlling the intake of high-purine foods and increase the proportion of diuretic fruits.

It is recommended to drink plenty of water (at least 2 liters) every day to keep the urine dilute, and avoid high-salt, high-sugar and excessive protein diets to reduce the promotion of stone formation.

When choosing fruits, patients with stone disease should prevent the stones from getting worse. Generally speaking, low-oxalate and low-sugar fruits are preferred. Please adjust your diet plan based on the advice of your doctor or nutritionist to better manage your health.