Do you know the fact that from every ten people around you, one will have kidney stones in his/her lifetime? You or your relatives could have kidney problems and not knowing. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the rate of kidney stones in the US is rising. A few misconceptions and bad habits cause the problem. However, you can prevent it with some small changes. As you will see, the best way is to drink enough water. So take your hydration a bit more seriously.
Tahoe Springs Water provides you a few preventive measures to decrease the risk of kidney problems.
Kidney stones symptoms
The signs and symptoms of kidney stones depend on the size of the stone. You often might suffer from kidney stones and not knowing. Your body could eliminate it without noticing.
In case the stone gets bigger in size, you could suffer the following symptoms:
- Pain while visiting the bathroom, the severity is different.
- Vomiting or nausea
- Pain in your back or stomach
- Irregular or frequent using the bathroom
- Feeling to use the bathroom all the time
- A burning sensation when you use the bathroom
In case you are suffering severe pain, you should visit health care right away.
How to prevent kidney stones?
Providing that you have suffered from kidney stones or have seen someone doing so, you know it’s really painful. “Prevention is better than cure” is true with kidney stones. So you would better set up constrictive habits for yourself so as to avoid pain.
Stay well hydrated
According to Harvard Medical School, the best way to prevent kidney stones is to drink enough water every day. How much water should you drink depends on your:
- Age
- Gender
- Job
- Physical activity
- Season
How much water should you drink? When you feel thirsty? What if you feel thirsty only once a day? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says that men should drink 15.5 cups of water and women 11.5 cups per day. You need to drink enough until your body works properly. Bear in mind that there is no harm in drinking more water.
You can drink coffee, tea, and fruit juice, and they count as your fluid intake. Yet, remember that water is the healthiest option you can have. You would better not replace the mentioned beverages with water. Your kidneys will appreciate you 100 times when you drink that glass of water.
During the hot and humid season, you will need more water. If you do exercise or work out, ensure you drink enough water afterward. You need to drink water before, during and after the exercise.
There is no point in losing water and not replacing it if you think about losing weight. It will have other bad effects.
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Try different water options
Tap water may not taste very good, particularly in areas like Las Vegas. It could be a primary reason not to drink enough water that ends in dehydration.
You could also have an outdoor job. Having access to pure water could be a problem. So a reliable water company can help you to ensure hydration.
Alkaline water
Alkaline water aids you in balancing the pH level and neutralizes the acid in your body. Your kidneys are not fond of unbalanced pH levels. Alkaline water can ease the elimination process a bit easier. The result is a balanced state that can prevent the formation of stones.
Read this article and learn to make Alkaline water.
Include calcium-rich food in your diet
Experts say that calcium oxalate stone is the most common type of kidney stone. It leads people to avoid eating more calcium—however, the lower your calcium intake, the higher risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones.
Calcium-rich food options include but not limited to:
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Green leafy vegetables
- Seeds
- Cheese
- Sardines and Canned Salmon
- Beans and Lentils
- Almonds
- Whey Protein
- Tofu
- Kale
- Broccoli
You are more likely to form oxalate stone or have a history; avoid/decrease food:
- Sweet potatoes
- Soy
- Nuts
- Chocolate
- Brewed tea
- Colas
- Beets
- Spinach
- Many types of berries
Bear in mind that taking calcium supplements can increase the risk of kidney stones. You would better take them with your meal, so decrease the risk factor.
“Too much of a good thing won’t be good anymore.” So is taking calcium. Try to be cautious with having calcium. If kidney stones run in your family, take advice from your family doctor or a health expert about how much calcium to take. Natural calcium food could be a healthier option for you.
Try to decrease sodium intake
The more salt you have in your diet, the higher the risk of kidney stones. You get less salt in your diet; your calcium level will decrease. As explained, high calcium ends in kidney stones.
Read the food labels when purchasing food. Try to have a food group that is low in sodium. The following foods are well known for being high in sodium:
- Processed foods
- Condiments
- Meat
- Canned vegetables
- Buttermilk
- Bread and rolls with salted tops
- Foods that contain:
- sodium bicarbonate
- sodium nitrate
- monosodium glutamate
You could take advice from a health expert on what food group to avoid.
Less animal protein
You have a balanced animal protein diet, the risk of kidney stones will decrease. As meat and other animal protein contain purines, they can encourage the formation of uric acid stones. In case you have already suffered from kidney stones, eating meat in a balanced way can reduce disease risk.
Experts recommend eating no more than six ounces of animal protein per day.
Follow a prescribed diet
Do kidney stones are common in your family or do you have a history? You would better take a diet plan from a health expert. He/she will inform you what to eat and what to avoid. It’s not that you have to avoid all the things you like. You can enjoy your favorite food on a well-balanced diet.
The food you will have to decrease or avoid is up to you:
- Age
- Physical condition
- Gender
- Job
- Medical history
- The area you live in
- Whether you have had stones or not.
The three types of kidney stone areas come as follows. Depending on each one of them, you might have to avoid the food that comes after them.
Calcium oxalate stones
- Animal protein (meat, eggs, and fish)
- Grapefruit juice
- Alcohol
- High-oxalate foods
- Cola
- Tea
- Chocolate
- Spinach
- Rhubarb
- Wheat bran
- Peanuts
Uric acid stones
- High-purine foods
- Mushrooms
- Peas
- Beans
- Anchovies
- Meat
- Poultry
- Shellfish
- Organ meats
Cystine stones
- High-methionine foods
- Fish
- Eggs
- Meat
When to get medicine?
When your situation is serious, and it doesn’t get better by drinking water or home remedy, visit a doctor. The type of medicine they provide depends on the stone.
Some medicine decreases the risk of forming sone in your blood. Others help you to have a normal acid balance.
Bottom Line
You could have seen a friend or colleague who suffers from kidney stones. The pain is unbearable and awful. You would do anything to avoid it. But you don’t have to do an extraordinary thing. Ensure your hydration and have a balanced diet.
The article provided the signs and symptoms of kidney stones and useful, practical information on preventing them. The good point is that you don’t have to get out of your comfort zone.
As explained, drinking enough water is the best way to make sure to avoid stones. In case tap water doesn’t taste very good in your area like Las Vegas or you don’t like it, try a reliable water company.
Tahoe Springs Water has been providing water services in Las Vegas since 1994. We provide alkaline, Spring Mountain, and purified water to the residents. Call us now at +702-433-4545 to order water now.
