FOODS THAT CAUSE KIDNEY STONES: BE AWARE

In most cases, kidney stones are formed by substances from the food that people take, aside from rare occasions that hereditary diseases led to stone formation. Diets play a big role in forming these unwanted stones on our kidneys. It is then a good proposition that we will be educated on what these food groups are so we would be able to manage and control intake or if possible eliminate those from our daily food diet.

What to Avoid:

Foods High In Oxalate
Most researches show that oxalate or oxalic acids are potential risks in forming kidney stones. When combine with calcium, the oxalic acid come together to form kidney stones—small shingle that form in either the kidney or the bladder. If these stones are tiny enough, they will pass out of the body without being detected. However, if these substances become too large, they can cause too much pain, making barrier of the urine flow, and sometime resulting to severe urinary tract infection.

Example of foods which are high in oxalate:

Beans
Beer
Beets
Blackberries
Black and red raspberries
Blueberries
Celery
Chard
Chocolate
Cocoa
Coffee powder (Nescafe)
Collards
Concord grapes
Currants
Dandelion greens
Eggplant
Escarole
Fruit cake
Fruit salad (canned)
Green bell pepper
Grits (white corn)
Kale
Leeks
Lemon and lime peel
Nuts
Okra
Ovaltine
Parsley
Pokeweed
Rhubarb
Spinach
Strawberries
Summer squash
Sweet potatoes
Tea
Tofu
Tomato soup
Wheat germ

Sodium
High consumption of sodium may also pose threat to formation of kidney stones. Salt and other sodium compositions in food ingredients may contribute to high amount of calcium excreted to the urine.

Food Rich in Protein
Too much intake of protein-rich foods may also contribute to increasing calcium in the urine. Thus, should be controlled or limited in your daily diet.

Some of protein-rich sources are:
• Milk
• Soy Milk
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Peanut Butter
• Lean Meats, Fish, and Poultry
• Beans, Tofu, Lentils, and other Legumes
• Grains, including bread and pasta
• Nuts and Seeds

Sugar
Large amount of sugar may also increase the tendency of producing calcium oxalate stones. It is wise enough to decrease sugar intake in meals.
The article above does not convey the message that we do not eat all the foods mentioned. Our body, for proper system balance still needs the right amount of each of the food group. However, as concerned enough for our own welfare, we should have the maturing awareness of what could be the implications when we take more than what our body requires. It is not bad to eat those once in a while, just take it in the manner that is according to what we call a healthy diet. Remember, our kidneys are only two. If these will be threatened, we could not buy those again with the money that we earn.