Guide to Kidney Stone Prevention

Are you looking for natural ways to prevent kidney stones, also known as renal calculi? Here you will find a whole host of resources designed to help people reduce their risk of kidney stone formation by changing the way they eat.

Kidney stones (or renal calculi in medical jargon) are relatively common, especially in men over 30 years of age, and recent research indicates that their incidence is steadily rising in the United States. Kidney stones form when certain substances — usually calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate — become extremely concentrated in the urine and turn into hard, solid concretions. Kidney stones are classified based on the substance they are composed of. About 80 percent of kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones, meaning that they are composed of calcium oxalate crystals.

Kidney stones usually result in severe pain in the left or right lower back or the pelvic area. When a stone attempts to leave the kidney through the ureters (the tubes that propel urine from the kidneys to the bladder), the pain gets even more intense. Some people have compared the pain with that of childbirth. Other symptoms of kidney stones may include blood in the urine and an increased urge to urinate. Possible treatments for kidney stones include simply waiting for the stone to pass, painkillers, diet modification, and surgery.

Although anyone can develop kidney stones, middle-aged and older men seem to be at the highest risk. Also a family history of kidney stones, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight or obese, high blood pressure, and changes in the digestive process can predispose an individual to developing kidney stones. You are also at an increased risk of forming kidney stones if you have already developed a stone in the past.

Furthermore, certain dietary factors are strongly linked to an increased risk of kidney stone formation. On the other hand, other dietary habits have been shown to reduce the risk. The purpose of this online guide is to provide nutrition-related tips on how to naturally prevent kidney stones from forming. To learn all about how nutritional factors can affect your risk of developing stones, check out the diet, food and recipe sections of this online guide:

Kidney Stone Avoidance Diet: 6 Tips for Preventing Renal Stones

In this section of HealWithFood.org's Guide to Kidney Stone Prevention, you will learn how certain dietary habits – such as limiting foods that contain oxalates, cutting down on salt and sugar consumption, and drinking more water – can prevent kidney stones from forming.

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Best Foods for Kidney Stone Prevention

There are a number of foods that are thought to be particularly good for kidney stone formers. In this section of our guide, you will why foods like nettles and rice bran are particularly good for the kidneys and renal function.

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Recipes for Fighting Kidney Stones

Treat your taste buds to carob pudding which, unlike chocolate pudding, is low in oxalates. Or how about a bowl of apple and carrot salad that is loaded with stone-preventing fiber? To view the recipes for these dishes and other dishes that feature kidney stone fighting ingredients, click on the link below.

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