Kidney Stones :common causes: Home Remedies for Kidney Stones
What are the common causes of kidney
stones?
The leading cause of kidney stones is a lack of water in
the body. Stones are more commonly found in individuals who drink less than the
recommended eight to ten glasses of water a day. When there is
not enough water to dilute the uric acid, a component of
urine, the urine becomes more acidic
How to prevent kidney
stones naturally
Stay hydrated. Drinking more water is the
best way to prevent kidney stones. ...
Eat more calcium-rich foods. ...
Eat less sodium. ...
Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods. ...
Eat less animal protein. ...
Avoid
vitamin C supplements. ...
Explore herbal remedies.
Home Remedies for Kidney Stones: What
Works?
Water
Drinking water is
one of the easiest ways to prevent and treat kidney stones. Most health
authorities recommend drinking 64 ounces (oz) or eight glasses of water per
day.
Drinking 12 glasses
per day may help ease the passage or slow the growth of deposits in the
kidneys.
Lemon juice
Lemons contain
citrate, a compound that helps break down calcium deposits and slow their
growth. Two 5-oz glasses, the first on an empty stomach first thing in the
morning and another a few hours before dinner, may help break down smaller
stones.
It is important to
examine labels closely when purchasing juice products. Many products labeled as
lemon juice contain small amounts of pure lemon extract and high amounts of
sweeteners, which can increase the risk of kidney stones.
Buying pure extract
online or purchasing fresh lemons and squeezing them at home are the easiest
ways to get undiluted lemon juice.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
again contains citric acid that may help dissolve calcium deposits.
Two tablespoons of
pure apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 oz of water may reduce the symptoms of
kidney stones and prevent their development. This mixture can be drunk several
times a day and may be most effective when consumed before meals.
Apple cider
vinegar, and apple cider vinegar supplements, are available to purchase online
from various brands.
The urinary
benefits of wheatgrass are best obtained by consuming 2- to 8-oz of pure
extract or juice daily. Supplemental powders or pills are also available to
purchase online or at many health stores.
Celery juice or seed
Celery contains
antioxidants and compounds known to increase urine production. Adding celery
seeds to meals on a regular basis may help reduce the likelihood of developing
kidney stones.
One or two celery
stalks can also be blended with water to create celery juice. Celery juice can
be consumed daily to help treat kidney stone symptoms.
Kidney bean broth
Kidney beans
contain a lot of magnesium, a compound known to help reduce kidney stones and
their symptoms.
One way to get the
benefits from the beans is to remove them from their pods then slowly boil the
pods for approximately 5-6 hours. The resulting liquid can then be strained,
ideally using a cheesecloth, and served warm or cooled.
The preparation can
be consumed several times throughout the day.
Pomegranate juice
The astringent and
antioxidant properties of pomegranates are thought to reduce the chances of
developing kidney stones and ease their passage.
Pomegranate juice
also contains compounds that lower the acidity of urine, making it harder for
stones to form.
Buying whole
pomegranates and eating their seeds or juicing them is the easiest way to get
these health benefits.
Lose weight
A healthy weight
combined with a healthful diet rich in nutritious, fiber-filled foods, is
considered essential to the prevention of kidney stones and for their
treatment.
Carbonated,
caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks can all increase a person's risk of
developing kidney stones.
Also, foods high in
sugar, salt, or fat are known to increase the risk of kidney deposits and to
intensify symptoms.
What is the best thing to drink if
you have kidney stones?
Follow these guidelines if you have
calcium kidney stones:
·
Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water.
·
Eat less salt. ...
·
Have only 2 or 3 servings a day of foods with a lot of calcium, such as
milk, cheese, yogurt, oysters, and tofu.
·
Eat lemons or oranges, or drink fresh lemonade. ...
·
Limit how much protein you eat.
Symptoms that should be assessed by a
doctor include:
persistent lower
abdominal or lower back pain lasting more than 4 weeks
fever or chills
vomiting
nausea
bloody urine
loss of
consciousness
painful urination
cloudy or foul
smelling urine
