If you ever have had kidney stones, you must remember that painful time. Your urinary system can not expel solids. Therefore it causes immense pain when it has to pass a kidney stone out of the urinary tract. The signs and symptoms of kidney stone are a pain in urination, pain in the back and abdomen, blood in urine, sweating, fever and nausea.
Moreover, a kidney stone can make you prone to urinary tract infections. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, visit a top urologist in Rawalpindi. Never delay your visit to the healthcare provider, as kidney stones can cause urinary obstruction, a life-threatening condition. In this article, we are going to talk about things you can do, and things you should avoid if you have kidney stones or you are prone to it.
Do’s With Kidney Stones
Table of Contents
Keep Yourself Hydrated
For getting rid of kidney stones, you must keep yourself hydrated. Drinking water helps dilute your urine, as well as those chemicals that form kidney stones. You must drink at least 12 glasses of water in a day if you have kidney stones.
Increase the Citrus Intake
Citrus fruits prevent kidney stones by blocking or reducing their formation due to the naturally occurring citrate. You can add lemon, oranges, and grapefruit to incorporate citrus fruits in your diet.
Depend On Natural Sources of Calcium and Vitamin D
Since calcium ions can form kidney stones, you can not take calcium supplements if you have kidney stones. Therefore, to avoid calcium deficiency, eat plenty of calcium-containing foods. Furthermore, high calcium diet will help in binding up with oxalate in your body, a compound that leads to stone buildup. Calcium will bind with oxalate, thereby leading to lower absorption of oxalates in the bloodstream, hence, preventing kidney stones.
Drink two to three glasses of milk in a day. Eat legumes, cheese, yoghurt, nuts and seeds for adequate calcium intake. Moreover, drink vitamin D fortified milk, fish, eggs and cheese to have enough vitamin D in your diet. Consuming calcium without vitamin D would not absorb in the body because it needs vitamin D for calcium absorption.
Don’ts With Kidney Stones
Limit Salt Intake
High sodium levels can lead to calcium buildup in the urine. Therefore, you must keep an eye on your daily sodium intake. Processed foods and fast foods contain a high amount of salts. Therefore, check on the label or ask a person at a restaurant to limit salt intake in your meal.
Consume Protein in Little Amounts
Eating a protein-rich diet that contains eggs, chicken, lentils and fish can lead to a buildup of uric acid. Moreover, it also reduces a compound called citrate that prevents the buildup of kidney stones. Therefore consult with a nutritionist or your doctor about how much protein you can eat in a day.
Limit Oxalates In Your Diet
Foods like chocolates, tomatoes, beets and sweet potatoes contain oxalates, that can lead to building up of kidney stones. Therefore, you must limit their intake if you already have kidney stones.
Avoid Drinking Colas
Colas are rich in phosphate, a compound that promotes kidney stones formation. Moreover, they contain a high amount of added sugars, that is also bad for your health. Also, keep an eye on other sugar sources you are consuming like cakes, chocolates, fruit and soft drinks.
Conclusion
Having kidney stone is a painful condition. However, diet can play a role in its prevention. If you have kidney stones, make sure you follow these tips.
Drink at least 12 glasses of water in a day
Increases citrus foods in your diet
Eat high calcium-containing natural sources along with vitamin D.
Limit salt intake in your diet
Lower oxalate containing foods in your diet
Consume protein in an optimal amount
Avoid drinking colas
Avoid excessive sugar-containing products
If you are suffering from kidney pain or burning in urine, visit the best urologist in Islamabad.