subject: Kidney Stone - Diets For Kidney Stone Patients [print this page] Kidney Stone - Diets For Kidney Stone Patients
Kidney stones can occur when there is too much of a certain mineral to be completely dissolved in the urine. This builds up into a clump that eventually turns into a hard stone. Sometimes they pass and you will not notice their presence, while other times they become too large and can be very painful to pass. They might even get to the point where they need to be removed by surgery. Since they can easily continue to come back at a later time, it's important to follow a specific Diet kidney plan, as well as take any medications prescribed by your doctor.
A good Diet kidney plan will include plenty of fluids. The reason that it's important to drink so much is because they will help to dilute the urine and prevent the build up of any minerals. A general rule of thumb for kidney stone patients is that they should be drinking at least 8 ounces every hour they are awake in order to sufficiently dilute the urine. All the fluid you drink doesn't have to be water, but at least half of it should be. If you are physically active or live in an area where you're constantly sweating, you need to increase that amount of water.
The next thing you are going to have to watch with your Diet kidney plan is your calcium intake. Calcium is something that you need for your bones, but if you get too much of it and your body cannot absorb it all there are problems. Kidney stone patients really need to be careful about this. Dairy products contain a lot of calcium that the body can absorb pretty easily, so that is not as much of a concern. Leafy vegetables, on the other hand, have a calcium that is not as readily absorbed so you need to watch that.
The last things to remember for a good Diet kidney plan is that you need to get a sufficient amount of fiber from foods like barley and wheat to help cut down on calcium in urine. You should also try to get less sodium, animal protein, and sugar, because they can hinder the ability to absorb and dissolve calcium.
