Kidney Stones - Urinary Tract

LifeSource Vitamins

Kidney stones have become an increasingly common medical problem in Western society, mainly due to poor dietary habits. Although many kidney stones are so small that they pass unnoticed, they may sometimes become very large, up to the size of a marble. It is not hard to imagine that as these large stones move through the urinary tract, they cause great-and often excruciating-pain. Kidney stones are most likely to affect white men over the age of thirty. People of any race or sex who live in the southern United States also have a higher risk, probably because of dietary habits in that region.

Complementary therapies offer effective, natural pain relief for more minor cases, as well as strategies for keeping the stones from growing any larger, but on the whole, it is far easier to prevent kidney stones in the first place. History hold a clue to their prevention: Back in the early 1900s, when Americans ate natural, wholesome foods, kidney stones were largely unheard of. As the century wore on, and as diets became lower in fiber and higher in fat, sugar, dairy, and junk, the disorder became much more common. Now a man living in America has a 10 percent chance of passing a kidney stone at least once in his life. If you suffer from kidney stones, take heart in the knowledge that you can prevent a recurrence of this painful condition with changes in diet and lifestyle and by using specific nutritional supplements.

There are different types of kidney stones, with 80 percent being composed of calcium salts, especially the oxalate type. Some stones are also composed of calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite, cystine, or other materials. If your stones are mainly composed of uric acid, please follow the recommendations in the Gout section. This section focuses on the prevention and the treatment of calcium-oxalate stones.

If you have been diagnosed with or suspect that you have kidney stones, then you should be under the care of a professional. Your doctor will rule out other conditions or underlying causes and will check for infection. In cases of very large stones or severe pain, you may need to be hospitalized. This condition can be a medical emergency when stones block the urinary tract for a long time, causing urine to back up and distend the kidney (hydronephrosis). You are also at more risk for a urinary tract infection during an acute kidney stone crisis. Conventional treatment may involve breaking the stones up with sound waves (lithotripsy) or surgical removal.

Smaller stones that are not causing symptoms or an infection will usually pass through without any problems if you follow our recommendations. People with a chronic susceptibility to this condition should remember that an effective prevention program generally requires the nutritional approach outlined in this chapter.

** All of these prescriptions below have been proven effective; level of effectiveness depends on the individual. Please consult your doctor when taking any and all supplements.

Symptoms

• Pain on one side of the lower back, in the belly, or down into the groin
• A frequent urge to urinate
• Blood and sediment in the urine
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chills and fever, if the stone causes a blockage and an infection

Root Causes

• A poor diet
• Dehydration
• Urinary pH balance
• Allergies and food sensitivities
• Infections that disturb the flow of fluids
• Obesity
• Inactivity
• A magnesium and potassium deficiency
• An inherited inability to absorb calcium properly or to excrete too much oxalic acid
• Metabolic disorders that increase the risk of kidney stone formation, such as hyperparathyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, sarcoidosis, cancer, and others

TREATMENT

Diet

Recommended Food

Many people with kidney stones suffer from dehydration. A lack of fluids increases the mineral concentration in the kidneys and, with it, the chance that stones will crystallize. While you have a kidney stone, drink 2 1/2 to 3 quarts of clean water every day. Once the stone has passed, resume a normal daily dose of 1 glass every two waking hours. Hydration is the single most important tactic in the treatment and the prevention of kidney stones.

Vegetarians have a much lower risk of getting kidney stones than meat eaters do. Follow a diet based on fresh, raw vegetables and whole grains; eat beans, nuts and seeds, and fish for protein. If you must eat animal products, stick to lean, high quality sources of white meat.

Consume oat and what bran daily, as they reduce the risk of kidney stones being formed.

Lemon juice mixed with a little hot water is another remedy that will help acidify the urine and ease the passage of calcium-oxalate stones. Drink some at breakfast and throughout the day. Orange juice has been shown to be helpful as well.

Vitamin A is healing to the urinary tract, so be sure to eat lots of orange-yellow and green vegetables.

Consume 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds daily. Studies show that consuming these seeds reduces risk factors for kidney stone formation.

A magnesium deficiency has been linked to recurring kidney stones. Boost your levels of this nutrient by eating green leafy vegetables, kelp, soybeans, almonds, and apples.

Celery, parsley, and watermelon help cleanse the urinary tract, so add these foods to your regular meals.

Foods to Avoid

Eliminate foods that contain high amounts of oxalic acid from your diet. By far the worst offenders are spinach, rhubarb, tomatoes, collards, eggplant, beets, celery, summer squash, sweet potatoes, peanuts, almonds, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, Concord grapes, parsley, and cocoa.

Avoid grapefruit juice, which studies show increases the risk of kidney stones.

Animal fat causes the body to excrete calcium, creating a build-up in the kidneys. Avoid all red meat, and limit your consumption of other animal products.

Avoid calcium overload by eliminating dairy products from your diet. The calcium from milk, cheese, ice cream, and the like is not easily absorbed by the digestive system and ends up as extra waste matter in your kidneys.

When you eat too much sugar, the resulting high levels of insulin leach calcium from the bones and divert it into the urinary tract. Stay away from all products that contain refined sugar. Of particular importance are soft drinks that contain phosphoric acid. They should be completely avoided, as some studies show that they cause an increase risk in kidney stones.

Salt, caffeine, and alcohol all conspire to dehydrate your body and increase the concentration of minerals in the urine. Cut out caffeine and alcohol, and dramatically restrict your salt intake.

Detoxification

A three-day vegetable juice fast will cleanse your body of a mineral overload and will encourage the stone to pass as painlessly as possible. Drink a variety of vegetable and fruit juices: those make from green vegetables, carrots, lemons, parsley, celery, and watermelon are especially helpful for a kidney cleanse.

Other Recommendations

• Antacids that contain aluminum may cause kidney stones, especially when taken along with dairy products. Choose an antacid made without this metal, or, better yet, simply avoid foods that give you indigestion.

Bruce Brightman – founder

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