Kidney stones are basically deposits of minerals that accumulate together in your kidneys. They hinder the process of removing waste substances from the body, and in extreme cases, require medical intervention. It leads to an incredible amount of pain and causes symptoms such as fever, blood in the urine, pain spreading throughout the lower side of your back, or even nausea and puking. It causes a lot of distress and is affected by both genetics as well the kind of lifestyle that you follow.
Natural Ways To Prevent Kidney Stones- 5 Ways To Follow!
While there is no fool-proof way to prevent this condition, there are some steps that you can take which would reduce your risk of developing kidney stones in the near future.
Here is a look at some of the natural ways of doing so.
1. Keep yourself hydrated:
Not only is water a natural antidote to kidney stones, but it also plays a major role in preventing them. If your water intake is not up to the required standard, then the amount of urine that your body produces will be below. This means that the body has less water to dissolve any residual minerals, which in turn increases the likelihood of the development of kidney stones. Drinking at least eight glasses of water every day is good enough to keep kidney stones at bay. You may even choose to hydrate yourself through the consumption of fruit juices and food items which have a high amount of water, such as cucumbers and watermelons. The color of your urine is also a helpful indicator of whether or not you need to consume more water. A clear and transparent stream of urine is what you should strive for since it signals adequate water levels in the body.
2. Reduce your sodium intake:
Following a diet with a high amount of salt in it can up your chances of developing kidney stones. Studies reveal that having too much sodium in your diet prevents the calcium from being reabsorbed from the urine, which leads to high amounts of calcium in the urine and eventually causes kidney stones. Steer clear of canned and processed foods as they contain extremely high amounts of salt, and read the labels of other packages of foods so that you can pick the alternative with the least amount of salt in it. Avoid flavoring your foods with any salt, and instead, switch to fresh herbal alternatives that make your food equally tasty.
3. Consume more calcium-rich foods:
Since calcium is the most common mineral deposit in kidney stones, there is a common misconception that it should be avoided. The truth is that you should actually include calcium in your diet since an absence of it not only increase the odds of your developing kidney stones but also opens you up to the risk of bone disorders. Avoid taking calcium supplements, since they might increase the risk of kidney stones. Instead, derive your calcium from natural foods such as low-fat dairy products, green leafy vegetables, as well as some seafood like sardines.
4. Avoid animal protein:
Animal proteins often have a high level of acidity, and may thus increase the amount of uric acid in the body, which is a source of kidney stones. Limit your intake of foods such as beef, poultry foods, pork, fish, et cetera, and try to find vegetarian alternatives instead. If you do consume them, then do so in a moderated manner and limit your portions to small servings.
5. Steer clear of vitamin C supplements:
Fulfilling your vitamin C requirements with the help of medical supplements may increase your risk of developing kidney stones. This holds true especially for men, who should try to take in the maximum amount of vitamin C from natural foods rather than supplements. Citric fruits, broccoli, strawberries, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, et cetera are all foods with high amounts of vitamin C, that you should definitely include in your diet.
The bottom line is, kidney stones are definitely something that can be avoided with a few lifestyle changes. While there is no 100% guarantee of prevention, it does reduce the risk to a large extent. The important thing to remember is to fulfill your daily water requirements since water proves to be an important weapon in the battle against kidney stones. Follow the above natural methods in order to prevent kidney stones without exposing your body to any chemicals as well as keeping the painful kidney stones at a safe distance from you.
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