Suffering from a kidney stone is painful and unbearable. Waiting for the stone to pass from your body can be an excruciating period. What's more, patients can suffer from another kidney stone even after years. Taking preventative measures to protect yourself from the condition is crucial.
Here are some key lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of kidney stones as recommended by researchers at Harvard Health.
* Consume a lot of water: Make sure to drink a good amount of water. This will help to weaken the substances in urine that cause the formation of stones. You should ideally consume at least eight cups of water every day. If you are sick of drinking water, you can switch it up by consuming orange or lime juice.
* Make sure to provide your body with calcium: If you are not getting enough calcium from the foods you consume, your chances of developing kidney stones are high as it may cause oxalate levels to rise. Make sure to get calcium from the right food sources. Avoid getting your calcium dose from supplements as some studies suggest it may be the cause of kidney stones.
* Reduce your intake sodium: Too much sodium is already bad news for our health. Excessive amounts of it may also cause kidney stones as it tends to increase calcium levels in your urine. Ideally, you should limit your intake of sodium to 2,300 mg. Opt to follow a low-sodium diet or be mindful of the amount you consume. While making this change may help to reduce your risk of the condition it may also improve heart health and help you manage blood pressure levels.
* Reduce your intake of animal protein: They say took much of a good thing is bad. While animal protein may be a challenge to avoid, you should try to reduce your intake of it.This is because eating too much meat, eggs and even seafood can give a boost to uric acid levels, which could cause you to develop kidney stones.
* Stay clear of stone-forming foods: Foods like spinach, chocolate, tea and beets are rich in oxalate, which could increase your risk of developing kidney stones. Seek professional advice to know what foods to stay away from if you have already suffered from this health issue.
While certain drinks and foods that trigger kidney stones may not have the same effect for everyone, it is better to be safe than sorry. Some research suggests high levels of vitamin C taken in the form of a supplement may increase your risk of the condition as this vitamin can become oxalate.
