Diet and Food Guidance for Kidney Stones

Diet plays a big role in stopping stones from forming and returning.

Drink plenty of fluids

Water is the most important step. Aim for a urine output above 2 to 2.5 litres a day, spread through the day. Drink extra in heat and exercise. Plain water, lemon water and coconut water are good choices.

Salt

A high-salt diet raises urine calcium. Aim for less than 5 g of salt a day. Limit pickles, papad, packaged snacks and processed food.

Calcium

Do not cut calcium. Normal dietary calcium from milk, curd and other foods binds oxalate in the gut and lowers stone risk. Avoid calcium supplements unless your doctor advises.

Protein

Limit large amounts of red meat, poultry, fish and eggs, which raise urine acid and calcium and lower citrate.

Oxalate

• If you form calcium oxalate stones, your doctor may advise limiting high-oxalate foods such as spinach, beetroot, rhubarb, nuts, chocolate and strong tea
• Eat these with calcium-rich food, not avoid all of them
• Do not follow strict elimination diets without advice

Fruits and vegetables

Citrus fruits, such as lemon and orange, add citrate. Eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruit, unless your doctor limits potassium.

Sugar and sweet drinks

Limit sugary drinks and fructose-rich cold drinks.

Supplements

Avoid high-dose vitamin C and vitamin D supplements unless advised.

Uric acid stones

Limit alcohol, red meat and organ meat. Your doctor may advise medicines to make urine less acidic.

Ayurvedic dietary advice

Ayurveda suggests plenty of water, horse gram, barley, ash gourd and cooling foods, and less salty, heavy and fermented food. Evidence is limited.

Key point

Drink plenty of water, reduce salt and animal protein, and keep normal calcium intake.

Before your appointment

Note when the pain began, where it is, and whether you have noticed blood, fever, nausea or burning in your urine. Record how much you drink and pass urine in a day. List medicines and supplements, especially vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium and herbal products. Mention previous stones, gout, bowel surgery, urinary infections and family history. Bring earlier scans and reports. If you pass a stone, save it for analysis. Ask about tests, the stone type and a prevention plan. Call 112 for fever with pain or if you pass no urine.