{"id":3257,"date":"2019-01-24T07:17:13","date_gmt":"2019-01-24T07:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=3257"},"modified":"2021-05-03T13:37:03","modified_gmt":"2021-05-03T13:37:03","slug":"20-everyday-foods-that-cause-kidney-stones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/20-everyday-foods-that-cause-kidney-stones\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Everyday Foods That Cause Kidney Stones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Calcium <\/a>binds to oxalate in the body and starts to form calcium oxalate. Foods containing high levels of oxalates exacerbate this process, especially in people that have a sensitivity to oxalates. In 75-percent of kidney stone cases, oxalates are responsible for the condition.
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When concentrations of calcium oxalate in the blood become higher than usual, our kidneys become overwhelmed and, as a result, they fail to excrete all of the particles. The leftover crystals begin to form kidney stones, and after a few weeks or months, you\u2019ll start to experience the symptoms of this condition, which include throbbing pain in the middle to the lower area of the back.
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Medical science recommends we lower our intake of foods containing oxalate, with guidelines stating that the recommended daily intake be between 40 to 50-milligrams. People who develop kidney stones are typically at risk of developing new stones within 10-years after passing them through urine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Nuts and Nut Butter
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Nuts <\/a>contain healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, providing us with a slow-burning energy source. Almonds, macadamias, walnuts, brazil nuts, and pecans are rich in vitamins, Omega-3 essential fatty acids, trace minerals, oils, and lecithin. Add some to a trail mix and take it on the road for a quick, healthy snack.
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However, nuts are naturally high in levels of oxalates that form kidney stones as well. This fact doesn\u2019t mean that nuts can\u2019t have a place in your diet \u2013 but you need to be careful about the amount you eat. Many people on a low-carb diet choose to eat nuts due to their high-fat content and calorie-dense source of healthy nutrition. Unfortunately, many people lack variety in their food and often eat way too many nuts throughout the day.
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As a result, excess oxalates combine with calcium to form kidney stones. Anyone who\u2019s experienced the pain of passing a stone will tell you that going low-carb isn\u2019t worth the hassle if you have to worry about developing kidney stones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Peanuts
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Hang on, didn\u2019t we cover nuts in the previous section? Well, it may surprise you to learn that peanuts <\/a>aren\u2019t a nut \u2013 they\u2019re a legume. Legumes are another significant source of oxalates that form kidney stones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, peanuts are so widely produced by the food industry, in a variety of food products, that we often experience cross-contamination of these legumes in other products on the supermarket shelf.
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Make sure you check the labels of all the foods you purchase for a warning that the food comes from a factory that works with peanuts. Cross-contamination is a real issue in the food industry, and it affects thousands of foods that we eat on a daily basis.
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While eating a peanut butter sandwich for lunch today, isn\u2019t going to give you kidney stones overnight, we recommend that you limit your intake of this legume to a couple of times a week at most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Rhubarb
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During the summer months of April through June, it\u2019s a treat to enjoy a rhubarb <\/a>pie with a serving of custard for dessert after a meal. Most people consider rhubarb a fruit, but you may be surprised to learn that it\u2019s a vegetable. While the stems make a fantastic filling for a pie, you had better leave the leaves alone, and they contain a toxin that\u2019s dangerous to your health.
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Rhubarb comes loaded with parietin, a potent polyphenol antioxidant that fights off the development and spread of cancer cells in the body. The vegetable also contains a significant amount of fiber in the sweet stems, as well as a healthy dose of vitamin C, manganese, and iron.
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However, you might want to reconsider your options if you have a sensitivity to oxalates. While its sweet and tasty, rhubarb is naturally high in oxalates that develop kidney stones. The next time you visit a friend for a barbeque, go easy on the rhubarb pie when dessert lands on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Cranberry Juice
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People suffering from frequent urinary tract infections swear by cranberry juice<\/a> as a natural means of clearing up the infection and reducing healing time. For this reason, it\u2019s understandable why people think cranberry juice is a natural elixir that\u2019s terrific for your health.
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Unfortunately, cranberry juice contains plenty of oxalates from kidney stones. Most varieties of cranberry juice include sugar additivities that will increase the symptoms of urinary tract infections, as well as increase the frequency at which they occur in people susceptible to developing the condition.
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When manufacturers combine cranberry juice with sugar, it increases the oxalate value in each serving. Many cocktails contain cranberry juice as well, and when mixed with sugar, increase the occurrence of both UTIs and kidney stones.
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If you must drink cranberry juice, make sure you increase your intake of water throughout the day. Water helps detoxify your renal system, cleaning out your kidneys of excessive oxalates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Soda
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There\u2019s nothing as refreshing as a cold soda <\/a>on a hot day. Unfortunately, it’s terrible for your health. There are around seven teaspoons of sugar in every can of Coca-Cola. Sugar increases your blood glucose levels and leads to the onset of diabetes. Consuming too much sugar in your diet also leads to an accumulation of inflammation in the intestinal walls of the digestive tract.
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This toxic inflammation spreads to every other system in the body, exacerbating symptoms of inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis. Soda also contains high amounts of uric acid and oxalates, which lead to the formation of kidney stones.
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To make matters worse, sugar-free sodas with artificial sweeteners aren\u2019t much better for your kidney health. Artificial sweeteners reduce kidney function, making it harder for the organ to clear oxalates from surrounding tissues. The kidneys struggle to process these synthetic chemicals found in diet soda, so it\u2019s best to leave them alone and increase your water intake instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Sodium
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Take a walk through the convenience and snack food section of your local supermarket, and you\u2019ll notice the nutritional labels state an abundance of encumbered sodium in almost all of the products on the shelf. Sodium <\/a>adds flavor to food and helps to preserve its shelf life.
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However, overeating sodium in your diet leads to a host of health problems. These adverse conditions include severe disorders such as elevated blood pressure, also known as \u201chypertension.\u201d People in a hypertensive state have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications that lead to events such as a heart attack or stroke.
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Besides the danger of developing complications with cardiovascular issues, overeating sodium also increases the number of oxalates you\u2019re consuming as well. Cut down your consumption of fast food and convenience items that have substantial amounts of sodium listed in the ingredients, and eat healthier snack options such as trail mix and fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Animal Protein
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Protein <\/a>is an essential nutrient responsible for new cell generation and cell maintenance. After a hard workout at the gym, you need to eat a meal consisting of protein to heal the tiny tears in your muscles that occurred during your exercise.
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However, overeating protein is a bad idea if you\u2019re sensitive to oxalates and the development of kidney stones. Medical professionals state that we should consume between 0.3 to 0.5-grams of protein every day, per pound of body weight, to ensure optimal levels of nutrition.
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Overeating protein leads to the accumulation of oxalates in the blood and the kidneys, where they can form stones. Limit your intake of protein sources from chicken, beef, pork, shellfish, and organ meats. Organ meats, like liver, are excellent sources of protein, but they contain high levels of oxalates. Make sure you stay away from shellfish and eggs as well; these protein sources all include large quantities of oxalates as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Beets
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Nutritional advisors recommend individuals suffering from high blood pressure, (hypertension,) to include beets in their diet. The naturally occurring polyphenols in beets dramatically reduce blood pressure readings, returning previously hypertensive people to a state of good health.
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Beets <\/a>have an impressive nutritional profile, rich in folate, vitamin C, potassium, and manganese. Beets are also an excellent source of inorganic nitrates and pigments, as well as plant-based polyphenols that have remarkable effects on human health.
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Beets come loaded with polyphenol pigments called \u201cbetalains,\u201d which have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, people who suffer from an inflammatory disease, such as arthritis or IBS, should include beet juice in their diet to benefit from the advantages of this vegetable.
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Beets also come loaded with oxalates as well, and they contain more of this compound than any other fruit or vegetable. If you\u2019re a high risk of developing kidney stones, then it\u2019s probably a good idea to leave them off your menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Milk<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Milk <\/a>is a substance that has a huge number of health benefits. Unfortunately, though, it is also high in calcium which in this case is not a good thing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other problem is that milk is quite acidic. While it isn\u2019t agreed on by all experts, it is possible that this actually prevents the body from absorbing the calcium and using it in the bones the way that it should be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what this might mean, is that the calcium is actually roaming free around the body where it can potentially lead to kidney stones. Keep in mind as well that milk is an animal protein, and is high in saturated fats. All these things mean that it might be a culprit when it comes to exacerbating this condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Tea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tea <\/a>is at least partly responsible for increasing the number of kidney stones because it contains milk (in many cases at least). However, the reason that tea causes kidney stones actually goes beyond this. You see, it is also due to the caffeine itself, which can exacerbate or cause kidney stones directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue is that caffeine places stress on the kidneys. The job of the kidneys is to try and remove things that shouldn\u2019t be there, including calcium in high quantities. Because caffeine is also something that needs to be removed by the kidneys, you will find that by drinking lots of tea, you can actually \u2018overload\u2019 them and thereby find yourself developing the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Chocolate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chocolate <\/a>is something that many of us look forward to as a treat and a pick-me-up. It is almost cruel needing to tell someone that they can\u2019t have chocolate without risking harming their health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But unfortunately, that is certainly true for anyone who is suffering from kidney stones. That\u2019s because chocolate contains those damaging oxalates once more. Not only that, but chocolate is also high in sugar and normally has a lot of calcium due to the added milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a shame as chocolate does actually have some impressive health benefits as well. Chocolate can trigger something called vasodilation, meaning that it opens up the blood vessels to help it travel more easily around the body. Not only that, but it\u2019s also a brain food thanks to the content of theobromine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Broccoli<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might normally think of broccoli as being something very good for you, that you should try and eat as much of as possible. Perhaps you have memories of your Mum telling you to eat all the broccoli <\/a>on your plate before being allowed dessert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this is true, some of the very things that make broccoli so good for us normally, are also responsible for making it bad <\/em>for us when we have a tendency toward kidney stones. Specifically, the issue here is with calcium which can build up and therefore provide the building blocks of those kidney stones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Coffee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve seen that caffeine in tea is not so good for kidney stones, and so it only follows that it should also be problematic when you consume it in coffee <\/a>\u2013 which typically contains more caffeine than the same amount of tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And this also gives us a good opportunity to describe some of the other <\/em>ways in which caffeine can be harmful to your kidney stones. The issue here is that caffeine also actually leaches the calcium from the bones and deposits it inside the blood. In other words, consuming calcium is one thing \u2013 but combining it with chocolate will severely exacerbate the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, is that coffee also often gets topped off with milk once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a shame because caffeine actually has a number of very beneficial health effects. Not only can it increase short term focus, attention, memory, and mood, but it can also be protective against neurodegenerative disorders and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Alcohol<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already seen that consuming a lot of caffeine <\/a>can increase your likelihood of developing kidney stones, and we know that this is because of the large amount of pressure that caffeine places the kidneys under as they try to remove the excess substances out of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about alcohol? We know that alcohol is tough on the liver, but actually it can also be extremely tough on the kidneys, and this is why you should avoid drinking it in large amounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there are actually lots of very good health reasons to limit your intake of alcohol. Alcohol will reduce your ability to absorb nutrients, it will lower your testosterone, it will add calories, and it will kill brain cells. That\u2019s before we even consider the short term negatives such as falling over and making fools of ourselves!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Artificial Sweetener<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Artificial sweetener is something that many of us consume in order to try and reduce sugar and thereby improve <\/em>our health. What you might not realize though, is that these sweeteners can cause problems in themselves and in some cases might be even worse than a little bit of extra sugar<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem with artificial sweeteners is that once again, the body is going to need to drive the substance out of the blood, and this will, in turn, require the use of the kidneys to do so!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweeteners like stevia or honey work a lot better and are therefore favorable. However, honey still contains a lot of actual sugar, while stevia can still cause another problem associated with sweeteners \u2013 making the body believe <\/em>it has absorbed a large amount of sugar than it actually has. This then results in a spike in insulin, which absorbs what little sugar is there, and leaves you feel shaky and craving more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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16. Sardines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sardines <\/a>are a great source of lean protein. They can help you to build muscle, and they\u2019re actually extremely good for your brain too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, while they might have a lot of great uses, they aren\u2019t <\/em>so hot when it comes to your kidney stones. This is due to another substance called purines, which are chemical compounds that boost aroma and are also linked to the formation of gout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purines are found in all living things, so eating any meat or protein source will increase them \u2013 but they vary from one source to another. The term purines alludes to the type of molecule made from carbon and nitrogen atoms found in DNA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you don\u2019t normally need to worry about purines, if you are prone to stones, then you would do well to avoid extremely high sources such as sardines at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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17. Salmon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We have just seen that sardines contain the substance known as purines which can also increase the likelihood of developing kidney stones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, though, this is not a crime that is confined simply to sardines \u2013 rather it affects a lot of types of fish!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another one that is going to put you at greater risk is salmon<\/a>. Unfortunately, that means you won\u2019t be able to benefit from the numerous different health advantages of salmon. For one, salmon is a fantastic source of lean protein again. At the same time, salmon is also rich in omega 3 fatty acids \u2013 which is one of the very best foods when it comes to improving your general health. That\u2019s because omega 3 is able to improve cell membrane permeability, actually helping nutrients and energy to pass through the cell walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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18. Beer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already discussed that alcohol can be bad for you if you suffer from kidney stones<\/a>, but there are actually even more ways that this can be a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, if you drink large amounts of beer, then you might find that you actually lower your testosterone. This happens because you are consuming hops, which actually come from the female part of the plant and contain something called phytoestrogens. These are \u2018plant hormones\u2019 and they can alter your levels of hormones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing to keep in mind is that beer and any other form of alcohol can cause dehydration. This is a problem, seeing as dehydration is one of the primary causes of kidney stones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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19. Tuna<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, another fish that is unfortunately off-limits due to the high content of purines. And again, this means that you\u2019re missing out on the excellent omega 3 fatty acid which we\u2019ve seen is excellent for improving the absorption of nutrients <\/a>and the transmission of signals in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, omega 3 fatty acid is also effective at reducing inflammation, thereby reducing joint pain and other problems. It increases DHEA too and is all-in-all a great option. Perhaps consider supplementing if you aren\u2019t able to get it from salmon anymore!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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20. Green Tea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lot of people are under the impression that black tea<\/a> is responsible for a host of different ills, while green tea is just this magic substance that is packed full of excellent nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, you are half right. It is certainly true that green tea is packed with nutrients and it is especially high in antioxidants. These help to combat cancer and can even slow down the natural aging process!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BUT you shouldn\u2019t completely let green tea off the hook. For starters, black tea has just as many antioxidants! At the same time, green tea comes in a wide range of different varieties, many of which contain just as much caffeine as black tea!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of this, green tea is also a diuretic, meaning that it is liable to cause urination, and will thereby likely lead to dehydration which can cause the build-up of minerals yet again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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21. Supplements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many of us will take a vitamin and mineral supplement and this can be fantastic for our health on the whole. There is some debate as to whether vitamin and mineral supplements are actually effective. A common complaint is that the body doesn\u2019t absorb those nutrients as well as absorb them from natural sources (like vegetables <\/a>and fruits).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is some truth in this. However, it is also important to recognize that supplementation can be an effective tool for boosting health nevertheless. There are people out there who believe it or not who get all of their nutrition from supplements! The fact that these people aren\u2019t dead tells us that you can get at least some <\/em>benefit from those foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this is also why supplements like these can be bad news <\/em>for those of us with kidney stones. That\u2019s because we are likely to absorb the large amounts of calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients that can add to the bulk of stones. Be very careful when using these if you have the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, keep in mind that a lot of medications can also increase your likelihood of getting kidney stones \u2013 so speak with your physician if you think this might be at least partly responsible.
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