Kidneys are small in size, but they play a vital role to keep you healthy. These organs filter more than 200 quarts of blood and 2 quarts of waste products daily before it is flushed out of the body via urine.
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Needless to say, healthy kidneys are essential for proper detoxification. However, certain foods can cause kidney stones and keep these organs from functioning optimally. And then there are foods that prevent the formation of kidney stones in our body. Let’s know a bit more about kidney stones.
Kidney stones are made of salts and other minerals in the urine that stick together to form small "pebbles." These stones can form in the kidneys, the ureters, or the bladder. Stones may cause sudden, severe pain as they travel from the kidneys to the bladder. They can block the flow of urine and cause bleeding.
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Foods Causing Kidney Stones
Caffeine
Too much caffeine, in the form of coffee, tea, and soda, can stress out the kidneys and lead to the development of kidney stones due to higher calcium levels in the urine, and even kidney failure due to the stimulant qualities that can cause organ exhaustion.
Meat
Animal proteins are also linked to kidney stones and organ damage. Those who consume a high-protein diet put particular stress on their kidneys because protein waste is difficult to eliminate form the body efficiently. Meat is also high in uric acid, a common cause of kidney stones.
Salt
A healthy amount of sodium in your diet is necessary for healthy fluid levels. However, adding salt to your diet—via the salt shaker or processed foods—encourage water retention retaining water, meaning excess sodium isn’t flushed out of the body and the kidneys and blood pressure are put in jeopardy.
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Carbonated Drinks
Carbonated drinks (i.e., soda, energy drinks, and certain bottled juices) will heighten the risk of developing kidney stones and even put you at risk for kidney disease. Alternatively you may use frozen berries, slices of citrus, or a splash of natural cranberry or pomegranate juice or just plain water.
Dairy Foods
We eat dairy products because they are high in calcium to build strong bones. However, for those prone to kidney stones, calcium is not a friend. In fact, it increases the excretion of calcium in the urine, making waste elimination more difficult and encouraging kidney stones to form.
Processed Foods
Most processed foods, like that bag of chips you are eating, contain genetically modified ingredients—such as corn, soy, rice, and canola—to protect crops from pests resistance and herbicides. However, these products impair healthy kidney and liver function, encouraging kidney stones to form.
Spinach
Spinach is a green vegetable which is very healthy for the body but in case of kidney stones, it surprisingly is not. Since it contains minerals like oxalate, it encourages the formation of kidney stones rather than reducing them. Therefore, when a person is suffering from kidney stones, he should avoid consuming spinach for a while to help the body flush out the painful stones.
Foods To Prevent Kidney Stones
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are very helpful in breaking down kidney stones. Citric acid binds with calcium in the urine, thus preventing the formation of calcium oxalate which leads to oxalate kidney stone formation. Citrus fruits such as lemons should be perfectly included in kidney stones prevention diet.
Potato
Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates. Eating foods that contain high amount of carbohydrates is good for the body as it helps in the prevention of kidney stone formation. So, a potato a day can help keep kidney stones away stones
Kidney Beans
Kidney beans are supposed to be an excellent remedy for flushing out the kidney stones from human body. You must make it a point to eat one cup full of kidney beans on a daily basis. Always eat freshly soaked and boiled kidney beans – avoid the canned food as much as possible because it contains excess sodium which is unhealthy for the kidneys.
Apple
Apple is one of the easiest home remedies for kidney stone removal. It is believed that consuming fresh apple every day will help dissolve the kidney stones without any trouble. This is the reason why you must eat an apple every day if you are suffering from kidney stones.
Basil
Basil is a herb that is used widely in our everyday cooking. This herb is also a natural tonic for our kidneys and it helps to dissolve the kidney stones naturally. All you have to do is squeeze fresh basil juice, add honey and consume this for the next six months on a daily basis.
Grapes
Grapes are also considered as a great remedy for curing kidney stones. This is because it contains a high quantity of water and potassium which are vital ingredients for dissolving the stones in kidneys. This fruit is also considered best during such a time because it contains low quantity of sodium chloride and albumin.
Watermelon
We know that watermelon contains the highest amount of water. This is a fruit that must be eaten everyday if you are suffering from stones in kidney. It will help in flushing out the stones easily without causing much pain.
Asparagus
Asparagus contains the compound asparagine that helps in breaking the stones in kidney. This compound helps make the stones small in size and easier to pass through urination. Eating this vegetable will also increase the activity within the kidney and increase the flow of urine. Thus, it helps in flushing the stones out completely from the system.
Water
You must drink lots of water. Make a goal to drink three liters of water every day. Water will help removing the stones from the body through urine. It will also wash away the toxins and acidity of your body. Drinking water will help diluting the uric acid content in your body and will thus, curb further collection of the chemical compounds that lead to stones.
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Image courtesy: onetainment.com , precisionnutrition.com , beachbody.com
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