According to the National Kidney Foundation, your eating and drinking habits might contribute to kidney stones. Too little water or too much food with salt, sugar, or fructose might cause kidney stones, according on the National Kidney Foundation. Calcium deficiency may also lead to calcium oxalate being the most common type of kidney stone. As a result, it’s critical to develop healthy eating habits that reduce your chance of developing kidney stones.
According to a new study released in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, high calcium and potassium diets may help prevent recurrent symptomatic kidney stones.
Researchers looked at 411 individuals with medical records of symptomatic kidney stones from Jan. 1, 2009, to Aug. 31, 2018 for their study. They all filled out a questionnaire comparing what the participants ate in their diet to those that might cause serious stones.
Those who ate less calcium, caffeine, potassium, and phytate in their diet and drank less were all more likely to have a symptomatic kidney stone.
It is common knowledge that diets rich in calcium and potassium are necessary for good health. In fact, these two elements are two of the four nutrients of concern for Americans (vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and fiber).
Calcium is required for bone formation and maintenance as we age, according to Goodson. Potassium is an essential electrolyte that aids in muscular contraction. Potassium may assist some people in lowering their blood pressure.
According to Amy Goodson, “Low consumption of both of these nutrients over time was associated with an increased risk of kidney stones, reinforcing the need for more of them.”
The best source of calcium in the American diet, according to Goodson, is dairy products. Milk, cheese, and yogurt are examples of some foods that contain it. Potassium is also present in potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, strawberries, avocado fruit, and beans.
Adding more of these foods to your diet could help you get in more of these vital minerals, according to Goodson.
Furthermore, Goodson claims that the majority of individuals are dehydrated. If they are prone to kidney stones, this might put them at risk.
“Drinking water and low-calorie fluids is critical to good health and a lot of body processes,” she adds. “Do you think you’re hydrated? Look at the color of your urine; the objective is for it to be pale yellow to clear in color. If it’s apple juice or darker, get to drinking.”