Prevention of Kidney Stones

There are a number of lifestyle and dietary changes your doctor may suggest to avoid repeat episodes of kidney stones. Those therapies include:

• Increasing water consumption to produce urine volume of 2 liters/day - this is the most effective measure
• Reducing animal protein to one serving/day
• Increasing citrate intake: Fresh lemonade, orange juice, but not grapefruit juice
• Avoiding:  meats, shellfish, brewer's yeast, baker's yeast, herring, sardines, mackerel and anchovies
• Reducing foods high in oxalate content:  Turnip greens, almonds, peanuts, beet greens, parsley, spinach, rhubarb, black tea, cocoa, chocolate, figs, and cola beverages
• Avoiding the use of table salt
• Reducing caffeine intake
• Increasing fiber intake
• Smoking cessation
• Daily exercise program
• Medications

Some patients are unable to reduce their risks of forming recurrent kidney stones with dietary changes. These patients will need to be placed on daily medications to prevent future stones.