Anatomical Nourishment: 3 Holistic Tips to Prevent Kidney Stones

Written By: Vivian Benjamin

What is Kidney Stones
While at work we were told that two of our co-workers have been off sick due to kidney problems. After some time off, they both returned to work and talked about their experience of having kidney stones. How that condition affected their daily life and what they learnt from the journey; it was a painful journey for both of them.



More than half a million people go to the emergency rooms each year due to kidney stones as it affects at least every individual at some point in their life. Men are more susceptible to developing kidney stones than women Moreover, if you have a family history of kidney stones; you are likely to be affected with this condition. Apart from that, if you have been diagnosed with kidney stones once, the condition might relapse if you are not careful with taking care of yourself.



Kidney stones usually occur between 30 years of age and above nevertheless; recent findings show that it has affected teenagers from the age of 15. In the medical field, kidney stones are also known as renal calculi, urinary stones, nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis. These stones are made from chemicals that are found in the urine. Urinary stones can be small or large depending on the level of minerals in your body.



Some stones stay in the kidney and do not cause an issue however; some stones travel down to the ureter (the tube between the kidney and bladder). When the stone reaches the bladder it can pass out with the urine. Nonetheless, some stones are larger and may get caught up in the ureter thus; blocking the urine flow and causing pain. 




There are four types of renal calculi:
1. Calcium stones
This is the most common type of stone an individual can develop in their kidney. This stone is made from calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, though in most cases calcium oxalate is more prevalent. Calcium from food does not increase your chances of developing calcium oxalate stones; instead having a balanced calcium intake might reduce the formation of these stones. Food high in oxalates can be found in potato chips, nuts and seeds.



2. Uric acid stones
Uric acid stones are the second most prevalent stones that can cause kidney conditions. These stones can develop in individuals suffering from gout, obesity and metabolic syndromes. A diet rich in purine can increase the urine’s acidic level thus, forming uric acid stones. Purine can be found in fish, shellfish and meat.



3. Struvite stones
When an individual has an infection in the kidney, a urinary tract infection occurs thus; promoting the development of struvite stones.



4. Cystine stones
Cystinuria is a type of rare disorder caused by the amino acid cystine that is found in certain types of food such as ricotta, cottage cheese, pork and sausage meats. When the kidney doesn’t reabsorb this amino acid causing a build-up of cystine, kidney stones start to form and obstruct the urine flow, therefore; causing pain. 





Causes of Kidney Stones
There are many possible causes that can create urinary stones which include:

•     Inadequate water intake
•     Consuming food excess in salt and sugar

•     Obesity
•     Sedentary lifestyle
  
•     Family history
  
•     Kidney infections
  

 




Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Some individual may not even notice they have renal stones in their bladder as the size varies according to the chemicals found in the urine. However, if the stones are larger in size this causes extreme pain during the passing of urine. Other symptoms include:

•     Blood in the urine
•     Nausea and vomiting
•     Fever and chills
•     Sharp pain in the back or lower abdomen
•     Urgent need to urinate
•     Cloudy or bad-smelling urine
•     Urinating a small amount

 




Complications of Kidney Stones
Once you are diagnosed with urinary stones you are highly susceptible to having recurrent conditions within 5 years time. The main complication of kidney stones is chronic kidney disease. 




3 Holistic Tips to Prevent Kidney Stones
1. Hydration
One of the main causes of renal calculi is inadequate intake of water. Drinking plenty of water is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Water is important to flush out metabolic waste from the body through sweating and urination.


In my years of practice, I have met many people who still think that they are fully hydrated even just drinking milk tea and coffee. Not many people like to drink clear fluid because it doesn’t have any flavour or taste. But does drinking milk tea, coffee or soft drinks that contain sweeteners benefit your mind and body? Does it keep you fully hydrated? No, it does not.



Besides drinking clear fluid/water you can also consume medicinal plants tea. Hibiscus tea, blue pea tea, cardamom tea and tulsi tea can help protect your kidneys and overall wellbeing.




2. Nutrition
Another primary cause of urinary stones is an unhealthy diet. Food high in calcium oxalate, purine, salt and sugar is bad for the kidneys and increases the risk of kidney stones. Most foods either vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy, nuts and seeds can cause the formation of kidney stones therefore; balance in the diet is very important. Most canned food contains higher salt intake so consider choosing fresh products instead.




3. Healthy Weight
Obesity is a major public health concern affecting the human population worldwide. Poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle are the primary causes of obesity. Obesity can increase the risk of developing renal calculi due to oxidative stress and inflammation caused by weight gain. Nevertheless, a healthy weight can be achieved with good nutrition habits, physical activities and healthy lifestyle habits.










All in All
Although urinary stones are a common medical condition affecting individuals globally, this condition can be prevented with holistic approaches. However, once you have kidney stones you will need the help of medications and holistic interventions to heal your condition. Furthermore, once you have stones in your kidney this condition has a 50% chance of relapsing within 5 years.



Nutrition Takes explores what is renal calculi and explains how you can take measures to protect your kidney health, so you can live a healthy and happy life. Share in the comment section what you think about this article. Alternatively, share your insights if you have any updates. 












References
1. Stephen W et al. (2024); Renal Calculi, Nephrolithiasis; StatPearls.
2. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-stones
3. https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/k/kidney-stones
4. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneystones
5. Stamatelou K et al. (2023); Epidemiology of Kidney Stones; Healthcare (Basel); 11(3): 424.
6. Sarah H et al. (2020); Genetics of Kidney Stone Disease; Nature Reviews Urology; 17: 407 – 421.
7. Roswitha S (2021); Nutrition and Kidney Stones Disease; Nutrients; 13(6): 1917.
8. Paleerath P et al. (2023); Kidney Stone Prevention; Advances in Nutrition; 14(3): 555 – 569.