Urinary stones and kidney stones

Patients with urinary stones and kidney stones should drink more water and choose foods low in oxalate and calcium. At the same time, they should develop a personalized diet plan based on the doctor's advice.

1. Effect of dietary adjustment on patients with stones

Urinary stones and kidney stones are strongly related to diet. Certain foods may increase the risk of stone formation, while a scientific diet can help prevent stones or relieve symptoms.

(1) Drink more water to dilute urine

Drink 2-3 liters of water a day, including boiled water, lemonade, etc. Adequate water helps dilute urine and reduce the deposition of salt substances, thereby reducing the chance of stone formation. Avoid drinking sugary drinks or strong tea, as they may increase the formation of crystals in urine.

(2) Control oxalate intake

Oxalate is a major component of some stones. Reducing the intake of high-oxalate foods, such as spinach, beets, chocolate, and nuts, can help reduce the risk of oxalate stones. When cooking foods containing oxalate, pairing them with calcium-rich foods (such as milk) can reduce the absorption of oxalate.

(3) Proper calcium intake

Calcium supplementation is not a contraindication for patients with kidney stones. On the contrary, moderate intake of dietary calcium is beneficial for some patients. The recommended daily calcium intake (about 800-1200 mg) can be appropriately supplemented through low-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt or cheese, but calcium supplements should be avoided because they may increase the risk of stone formation.

2. Optimize your diet

Patients not only need to avoid dangerous foods, but also choose a healthy diet that helps improve metabolism.

(1) Low-purine diet

For patients with uric acid stones, the intake of high-purine foods, such as animal offal, seafood, and thick broth, should be limited. Low-purine foods such as tofu, eggs, and some vegetables (carrots, cabbage) can be chosen.

(2) Foods rich in citric acid

Citric acid has the ability to inhibit the formation of stones. You can consume more citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, etc., or you can add lemon juice to water and drink it.

(3) Low-salt, low-protein diet

High sodium intake increases calcium excretion, so patients are advised to limit their daily salt intake to less than 5 grams. A high-protein diet increases the levels of oxalate and uric acid in the urine, so care should be taken to control meat intake, especially red meat.

3. Development of a personalized diet plan

Dietary recommendations vary depending on the type of stone you have. For example:

- For patients with calcium oxalate stones, oxalate intake must be strictly controlled while ensuring calcium requirements in urine;

- For patients with uric acid stones, the focus is on lowering uric acid levels, and appropriate use of urine alkalinizing drugs is recommended;

-People with cystine and ammonium phosphate stones may require targeted medications and special dietary strategies.

Standardized dietary adjustments need to be combined with professional advice from doctors and nutritionists to avoid blindly restricting certain foods and causing malnutrition.

A healthy diet is an important means of preventing and alleviating urinary and kidney stones. Regular checkups are still required, and the diet structure should be adjusted flexibly according to the physical condition. A light and balanced diet and improved lifestyle can help reduce the recurrence rate of stones and prevent related complications.