Kidney stone is a painful condition that affects approximately 5 to 12% of the population globally. An Indian diet, rich in spices and flavours, gives way to the preparation of a variety of meals in each home. But with kidney stones, it is crucial to narrow down your options and choose food items that can benefit your condition.
This article highlights some dietary changes you can make if you have or have had kidney stones in the past. Before delving into the diet for kidney stone patients, let's first understand some basic facts about kidney stones.
Kidney stones are also known as renal calculi, where renal stands for 'kidney' and calculi stands for 'stones'. Kidney Stones can also be described as nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis, based on where the stones are situated.
Kidney stones refer to hard deposits of salts and minerals lodged in the kidney or elsewhere in the urinary system. The urinary system mainly consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. Kidney stones can get lodged anywhere from the kidney to the urethra. They won't cause permanent damage, but passing them can be difficult and painful.
Kidney stones are formed from substances that are naturally present in the urine. When urine becomes highly concentrated, the minerals present in them may crystallise and stick together, giving rise to small stones. If not treated on time, these small stones can grow and cause urinary obstruction, leading to severe complications.
One of the main functions of the kidney is to filter and absorb nutrients needed in the body. As most of these nutrients come from the diet, the role of diet in kidney stone patients becomes vital.
The minerals that can give rise to kidney stones are:
As these minerals are ubiquitously present in the diet of most people, modifying the diet can immensely help in the treatment and prevention of kidney stones. Therefore, doctors widely recommend diet charts for kidney stone patients. The diet of a kidney stone patient revolves around including and avoiding certain food items.
An Indian diet is a constellation of many flavours and tastes. It includes a variety of dishes consisting of many nutrients and chemicals. As the kidney filters these nutrients and chemicals, any discrepancy in their intake or removal can lead to kidney stone formation.
For example, lower calcium consumption can cause an increase in the risk of the formation of kidney stones. But it is less commonly observed in people residing in the stone belt region of India as their diet is rich in calcium-rich cereals like ragi, soybeans, and rajma. Hence, Indian food habits have been considered a significant risk factor in the formation of kidney stones.
A well-balanced Indian diet chart for kidney stone patients should involve the following elements:
Foods to include in Indian diet chart for kidney stone patients | Foods to avoid in Indian diet chart for kidney stone patients |
Lemons, Amla, Oranges, Bananas | Salty food like pickles |
Cereals like Ragi, Soybean, Rajma, Brown rice, Oats |
Red meat, Eggs, Chicken, Pork |
Bitter gourd, Kidney beans, Chickpeas | Sugar, Refined carbohydrates, Sugar syrups |
Green vegetables like Broccoli and Kale | Tomatoes and Spinach |
Milk, Cheese, Yoghurt | Carbonated drinks and Alcohol |
Diet plays a crucial role in preventing and treating kidney stones. Overall, the diet chart for a kidney stone patient should be rich in:
Some doctors may also recommend a DASH diet as a part of a diet chart for kidney stone patients. The DASH diet is usually recommended to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It is also recommended in some cases of kidney stones as it reduces the content of stone-forming minerals in the urine.
The components of the DASH diet for kidney stone patients include:
Please note: Stones differ in mineral composition; therefore, the diet for each type of stone might vary accordingly. Hence, it is advisable to talk to a doctor before changing one’s diet.
Some food items, when consumed with kidney stones, can lead to worsening of the symptoms. Hence, it becomes crucial to remove certain food items from the diet chart for kidney stone patients. These restrictions are as follows:
Kidney stone pain is excruciating, but it can be treated by dietary modifications in some cases. These modifications encourage increasing the intake of certain food items and reducing others.
If you have kidney stones and are not getting better despite following the Indian diet chart for kidney stones, consult a doctor immediately. Get in touch with us right now! We have an excellent team of expert doctors at HexaHealth who will guide you every step of the way!
Avoid these food items if you have kidney stones:
Foods rich in calcium and citrate are good for kidney stones. Calcium is found in milk, cheese, broccoli, and soybeans. Citrate can be found in citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and amla.
Fruits rich in citrate are best for kidney stones as citrates prevent the formation of stones. These include lemons, amla, and oranges.
Vegetables like kale, broccoli, lettuce and cabbage are great for kidney stones as they are good sources of calcium and protein. Other vegetables include bitter gourd.
Yes, rice is good for kidney stones. It is low in oxalates which help prevent kidney stone formation.
Yes, bananas are good for kidney stones. They're low in oxalates and rich in other healthy nutrients like vitamin B6, magnesium, and potassium.
Carbonated and sugary drinks cause kidney stones due to their high phosphate content. Drinks containing sucrose and fructose can also lead to kidney stones. Hence, they should be avoided while following the diet for kidney stone patients.
Yes, milk is good for kidney stones as it is rich in calcium. Calcium, although a component of kidney stones, lowers the level of oxalates. Hence, calcium can be great, especially for oxalate-containing kidney stones.
Yes, yoghurt is a good alternative to animal protein. It's rich in calcium which helps modulate the oxalates level in the body.
Drinking plenty of water is the cornerstone of the diet for kidney stone patients. Besides that, you can try citrus-rich fruits and a low-protein diet to prevent the formation of kidney stones.
Yes, a high sugar diet can cause kidney stones. Processed food items contain high amounts of refined sugar, which can harm your health and cause kidney stones. Foods rich in sucrose and fructose can also result in kidney stones.
Avoid eating eggs while following the diet chart for kidney stones patients, as they are a source of animal protein. Increased protein intake increases the level of uric acid in the body.
A 7-day kidney stone diet chart involves drinking plenty of water. It also includes consuming a low protein, high citrate, high calcium diet across seven days. Following this diet will help decrease the size of the stones and eventually get rid of them completely.
No, eggs are a source of animal protein which increases the level of uric acid in the body. High uric acid levels promote kidney stone formation. Hence eggs in any form should not be included in the diet for kidney stones patients.
The worst food items for kidney stones are:
Avoid eating vegetables like beets, rhubarb, and spinach in excess, as it might lead to kidney stone formation. If you're eating these vegetables, make sure you drink a lot of water to dilute the stone-forming minerals.
Last Updated on: 12 December 2023
MBBS, DNB General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery, FIAGES
12 Years Experience
Dr Aman Priya Khanna is a well-known General Surgeon, Proctologist and Bariatric Surgeon currently associated with HealthFort Clinic, Health First Multispecialty Clinic in Delhi. He has 12 years of experience in General Surgery and worke...View More
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