Last week we offered 5 dietary tips to reduce the formation of kidney stones. In today’s post we will try to sharpen the shot. A large percentage of kidney stones are formed by calcium oxalate or uric acid, the former being the most common. For this reason, I want to give you some keys in nutrition to avoid or limit the appearance of these two types of kidney stones. Let’s see how…
HOW TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF CALCIUM OXALATE KIDNEY STONES?
To avoid their formation, it is important to reduce or eliminate the consumption of foods rich in oxalic acid such as spinach, chard, cabbage, asparagus, beets, red fruits, nuts, chocolate, wheat germ and bran, tea and cola-type drinks. However, an adequate calcium intake must be ensured. This may seem contradictory, but it is not. If we provide an adequate daily amount of calcium, the absorption of oxalates at the intestinal level will decrease and good bone health will be maintained. This is achieved by consuming two or three daily servings of foods rich in this mineral, mainly dairy products: milk, yogurt or cheese.
“To avoid the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones, we must reduce the consumption of foods rich in oxalic acid, but ensure adequate calcium intake with foods rich in this mineral.”
HOW TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF URIC ACID LITHIASIS IN THE KIDNEYS?
The main factor would be to reduce or eliminate the consumption of foods and drinks rich in purines, such as certain blue fish (sardines, anchovies, herrings), offal, game meats, seafood, sausages and salted meats, bouillon cubes, brewer’s yeast, as well as alcoholic drinks in general. It has also been shown that high fructose consumption favors the formation of uric acid in the blood and its elimination through the urinary tract. For this reason, industrial foods sweetened with fructose (soft drinks, juices, diet products, etc.) should be avoided. Fructose naturally contained in fruits can be taken, but the consumption of products containing additional fructose should be limited.
“If we want to avoid the formation of uric acid kidney stones, we should reduce the consumption of foods and beverages rich in purines and try to limit the consumption of fructose to that naturally contained in fruits.”
