Kidney stones are crystals formed when certain chemicals are abundant in the body. The minerals that cause the most kidney stones in both women and men are calcium and oxalate. They are common minerals found in everyday food items. So, does everyone have a risk of kidney stones? No. A calcium or oxalate-rich diet is not the only defining factor for the formation of kidney stones. 

While it increases your risk for stones, a diet alone is not a primary cause for the condition. However, that being said there are a lot of food items that increase your risk for kidney stones, if you continue consuming them in unmoderated amounts. So, here’s a list of food items and the corresponding kidney stones they cause that you should avoid. We will also be discussing foods that prevent kidney stones and that you should add more to your diet.

Types of Kidney Stones & The Foods That Increase Their Risks

Calcium Oxalate Stones

Calcium oxalate stones are the most common type of kidney stone with almost 80% of all diagnosed kidney stones being this type. The primary reason for the formation of these crystals is because the calcium content of your urine combines with the compound oxalate found naturally in foods. Here are some of the food items you should avoid to decrease your risk of calcium oxalate stones.

• High Oxalate Foods: Foods with high oxalate content consumed regularly over time can lead to an increased risk of kidney stones. Plant-based food items like spinach, almonds, cashews, beets, okra, and sweet potatoes. As you can imagine, these food items are difficult to completely eliminate from your diet. So, doctors recommend that you should pair these food sources with a calcium-rich food source like cheese, dairy, or yoghurt. Also, having milk doesn’t increase your risk of getting kidney stones, it is a commonly believed myth about kidney stones.
   
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C should be consumed in moderation throughout the day. An adult’s daily consumption of vitamin C should not exceed 500 mg from all food and supplement sources combined. It increases your risk of kidney stones as excessive vitamin C consumption increases oxalate production in the body.
   
• Salt: Salt has high levels of sodium, which increases the amount of calcium in your urine. If you are not moderating your salt/sodium intake in a day, the oxalate in your body sticks to the extra calcium in your urine and starts forming crystals in your kidneys and urinary tract. This is one of the primary reasons you should moderate your sodium intake as it increases the risk of kidney stones in women.
   
• Animal Protein: Animal protein like beef, eggs, cheese, pork, and fish increase your risk of most types of kidney stones, if you are not consuming them in moderation. As you age, doctors will in most cases ask you to lower your consumption of these animal proteins to keep your kidney stone risk in check.
   

Calcium Phosphate Stones

The mineral phosphorus also has crystallisation tendencies when mixed with the excess calcium in your urine. Calcium phosphate stones have the most likelihood to form if you are having these food items in your diet in excessive amounts.

• Processed food items like frozen meat and ready-to-eat luncheon meat. Phosphorus is a common preservative used to process these food items and as such, limiting their consumption is best to reduce your risk of calcium phosphate stones.
   
• Animal protein-rich food sources like chicken and beef liver, eggs, dairy products, and seafood.
   
• Sodium as excess sodium consumption increases the calcium in your urine, which increases the risk of kidney stones in women.
   
• Food that makes your urine more alkaline like vegetable juices and molasses.
   

Uric Acid Stones

Uric acid stones are different from the previous mentions in this list as calcium doesn’t play a role in the formation of these stones and your sodium consumption isn’t a direct risk factor here. Uric acid is a substance formed inside your body during the digestion process. Here are some of the food items that increase your risk of uric acid kidney stones.

• Alcohol as it increases the amount of uric acid in your blood
   
• Sugary drinks as they increase your risk of kidney stones in general. This includes any drink that is flavoured using sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
   
• Animal protein like poultry, red meat, eggs, and shellfish increase your risk of uric acid kidney stones as these food items force your body to produce more uric acid.

Foods That Prevent Kidney Stones

Consuming the food items mentioned above in moderation does not put you at a risk of kidney stones. However, in the regular course of life, other factors can lead to an increased risk of kidney stones, even if you have moderated your consumption of risk-associated foods. That’s why there exist food items that have the potential to prevent kidney stones. Consuming these food items (in moderation too) can help you reduce your risk of kidney stones and even prevent them in the first place. Here are some of the best examples of foods that can help you prevent kidney stones.

• Water: Water is your best friend when you are trying to reduce your risk of kidney stones. Having enough water daily as per your age can help you reduce your risk significantly. The recommended amount is drinking at least two litres of water a day.
   
• Cruciferous Vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale decrease the level of calcium loss in your body, which in turn reduces your risk of kidney stones. These foods are also rich in potassium and have antioxidant effects. They can help you reduce your risk of other conditions like kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer.
   
• Lemon: Lemon is rich in citric acid, which helps prevent kidney stones and even helps break the stones that have already formed.
   
• Whole Grains: Having whole grains can help you manage your body weight, which in turn helps with the prevention and even treatment of existing kidney stones.
   
• Calcium: Even though calcium is a contributing mineral to kidney stones, consuming calcium in moderation can actually help you reduce your risk of kidney stones significantly. The calcium found in food sources like milk and yoghurt are most helpful in decreasing your risk of kidney stones, when consumed in moderation.

Conclusion

When you are trying to create a diet plan to reduce your risk of kidney stones, the key is to follow moderation and not eliminate food items from your diet. With the right dietary and lifestyle changes, you can reduce your risk of kidney stones and live a healthier, more fulfilling life in general. For more information about kidney stone treatment in Delhi, feel free to check out MASSH. As a superspeciality hospital, we specialise in all types of treatment for kidney stones. Check out our website to learn more about kidney stone treatment at MASSH or visit us today to consult with our specialists.