Kidneys play an important role in cleaning and maintaining balance of our body. The function of the kidney is to filter the blood, remove toxins and excess water from the body and maintain hormonal balance, but if no attention is paid to diet and lifestyle, then this delicate organ gradually starts becoming weak.
Apart from this, diet can also cause kidney stones. However, kidney stones are not a one-time problem. Once kidney stones have formed, there is always a fear of their recurrence.
According to health experts, patients suffering from kidney stones have more than 50 percent chance of suffering from it again in the next ten years. No one has ever forgotten the painful experiences caused by stones. In such a situation, it is necessary to pay special attention to lifestyle, eating habits and water intake. Surgeon, Urologist, Dr. Nitin Srivastava told what things people suffering from kidney stones should stay away from and how to prevent them.
Oxalate Rich Foods
Foods like spinach, beetroot, peanuts, almonds, cashews and chocolate are rich in oxalates. When these elements enter the body, they combine with calcium to form hard stones in the kidneys or bladder. This is a major cause of kidney stones, people who consume such things in excess have an increased risk of getting stones again and again. In such a situation, it is necessary to limit their intake. Instead, include low-oxalate vegetables and fruits like cucumber, watermelon, grapes, cauliflower. Drinking enough water helps flush out oxalates from the body.
Foods rich in salt and sodium
Nowadays the consumption of processed food, packaged food and fast food has increased significantly. All of these contain high amounts of sodium. Due to excess of sodium, calcium present in the body gets excreted through urine. This calcium is the main cause of kidney stones. Therefore, the first solution is to reduce salty foods. For this, it is better to consume fresh vegetables, fruits, home cooked food and light spices.
Animal-Based Foods and Meat-Based Diets
Along with protein, animal meat also contains high amounts of purines. These purines increase the amount of uric acid in the body and uric acid stones are formed. Apart from this, the proteins present in meat make urine more acidic, which increases the chances of stone formation. Therefore it is important to avoid eating too much meat. Instead, pulses like lentils, gram, soybean, grains and vegetables should be included in the diet. These provide essential proteins to the body and do not harm the kidneys.
sweet drinks
Sugar not only harms many organs of the body, but is equally harmful for the kidneys. Sweet cold drinks, soda, packaged juices, energy drinks contain high amounts of fructose. Fructose promotes the formation of kidney stones. People who frequently consume such drinks are more likely to develop stones.
Excessive intake of caffeine and vitamin C
Cola contains phosphoric acid, which directly increases the formation of kidney stones. Caffeine dehydrates the body, reduces urine volume and increases the risk of stone formation. Apart from this, many people also take Vitamin C supplements in large quantities. Due to its excessive consumption, oxalate is formed in the body, due to which stones start forming again.