Vegetables rich in potassium such as brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale decrease calcium loss and stop kidney stones from forming. These foods also have antioxidant effects that help prevent bladder, prostate and kidney cancers.
Some examples of foods that have high levels of oxalate include peanuts, rhubarb, spinach, beets, Swiss chard, chocolate and sweet potatoes. Limiting intake of these foods may be beneficial for people who form calcium oxalate stones which is the leading type of kidney stone.
Broccoli is a delicious low-oxalate vegetable at just 2 milligrams per cup.
Eat more lemons and oranges, and drink lemonade because the citrate in these foods stops stones from forming. Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water.
Avoid processed and fast foods, canned soups and vegetables, and lunch meats. Look for foods labeled: sodium free, salt free, very low sodium, low sodium, reduced or less sodium, light in sodium, no salt added, unsalted, and lightly salted.
Eating a diet that's high in protein, sodium (salt) and sugar may increase your risk of some types of kidney stones. This is especially true with a high-sodium diet. Too much salt in your diet increases the amount of calcium your kidneys must filter and significantly increases your risk of kidney stones.
Eating avocados will not have an effect on forming kidney stones. Learn more about the kidney stone diet.
Though water is best, other liquids such as citrus drinks may also help prevent kidney stones. Some studies show that citrus drinks, such as lemonade and orange juice, protect against kidney stones because they contain citrate, which stops crystals from turning into stones.
Eating foods rich in potassium helps prevent kidney stones from forming. Some foods that are high in potassium are bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, orange juice and papaya.
Hard boiled eggs are an excellent low oxalate breakfast idea. Pair them with a slice of toast and/or some fruit and you are good to go!
Because oxalates are water soluble, they can be reduced by blanching, boiling, or steaming with the liquid discarded.
Skimmed milk, 1% or semi-skimmed and low fat products are just as high in calcium and as good at preventing stones, but contain less fat. Look at milk and dairy food labels for calcium content. Adults should aim for 700 - 1200mg of calcium a day.
6. Increase your intake of citrus fruits and juices. Citrate in these foods inhibits stone formation by binding to calcium, which makes it unable to bind with oxalates and form stones. Lemon and lime have been proven to be best sources of citrate, followed by oranges and then grapefruits.
Dairy Products – Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are great sources of calcium, which is essential to balancing the oxalates in your diet. Increasing your dairy intake can help reduce the formation of kidney stones.
Limit animal protein.
Eating too much animal protein, such as red meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood, is linked to a higher risk of developing kidney stones. If you're prone to stones, limit your daily meat intake to a quantity that is no bigger than a pack of playing cards. This is also a heart-healthy portion.
It is important to be mindful of the following foods that can lead to the formation of kidney stones in certain people: foods high in sodium, cola beverages, fast foods, processed meats, certain supplements, black tea, chocolate, spinach, soy milk, almonds, cashews, soy beans.
Winners and losers
But drinks with sugar in them were not all bad. Apple juice, grapefruit juice, and tomato juice did not raise or lower risk of stones. Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, red wine, white wine, orange juice, and beer were the winners. People who used more had a lower risk of new stones.
Tomatoes are a good way to add extra potassium to your diet and decrease the need to take an additional potassium pill. Eating tomatoes will not have an effect on forming kidney stones.
Most dairy foods are very high in phosphorus. People with kidney disease should limit their daily intake of milk, yogurt, and cheese to ½ cup milk, or ½ cup yogurt or 1-ounce cheese.
Blueberries and kidney disease
A ½ cup serving of blueberries has less than 150 milligrams potassium making them a low potassium fruit choice. Blueberries are also low in sodium and phosphorus making them suitable for a kidney friendly diet.
High-calcium foods
Calcium is an important part to any diet. However, increasing calcium intake too much can cause calcium formations to end up in the kidneys. Limit milk, cheese and other dairy products if you get kidney stones.
Kidney stones can cause permanent kidney damage. Stones also increase the risk of urinary and kidney infection, which can result in germs spreading into the bloodstream.