What should not be eaten with kidney stones

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on March 10, 2025
00:00
00:00

Patients with kidney stones do not have absolute dietary prohibitions. However, it is advisable to consume less food high in calcium, oxalates, and purines. Foods high in purines are mainly found in seafood, animal offal, beer, and beverages. High-calcium foods are primarily found in soy products and dairy products, such as soy milk, tofu, and cow's milk. Foods high in oxalates include celery, spinach, etc. These foods can be consumed in moderation in daily life, but should not be used in large amounts over a long period to avoid further growth and increase of stones. It is also important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and engage in appropriate physical exercise to effectively prevent the occurrence of kidney stones. Additionally, for patients who have already developed kidney stones, it is necessary to timely decide on conservative stone expulsion or surgical treatment based on the size of the stones.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
46sec home-news-image

What should you not eat if you have kidney stones?

Since the main component found in kidney stones is calcium oxalate stones, it is necessary to eat less food high in calcium and oxalates in our diet. Common foods that are high in calcium include soy products such as tofu, soy milk, and dairy products like cow's milk and cheese, which should be consumed in moderation. Additionally, it is advisable to eat fewer foods high in oxalates, such as celery, spinach, strawberries, and chocolate. Moreover, if the stones are uric acid stones, it is important to consume less seafood, animal organs, beer, and other foods high in purines. It is best to drink more water every day and urinate frequently to dilute the urine, which can reduce the formation of stones.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
41sec home-news-image

How are kidney stones caused?

There are many causes leading to the formation of kidney stones, related to daily water and food intake, lifestyle habits, living environment, genetics, and certain diseases. For example, patients with hyperuricemia and those with hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands are prone to the formation of kidney stones. Additionally, individuals who often stay in high-temperature environments and neglect to drink water frequently and urinate regularly, can easily experience concentrated urine, which also promotes the formation of kidney stones. Furthermore, people who consume large amounts of calcium and oxalate-rich foods over long periods are also commonly at risk of developing kidney stones.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Feng
Urology
55sec home-news-image

How can kidney stones be expelled from the body?

The method of expelling kidney stones from the body is related to the size of the stones. If the diameter of the kidney stone is less than 0.6 centimeters, it can generally pass smoothly through the ureter and urethra to the outside of the body. This can be facilitated by drinking plenty of water and performing physical activity to naturally expel the stones. If a stone gets stuck in a physiologically narrow part of the ureter during expulsion, conservative treatment methods can be used to dilate the ureter, allowing the stone to pass on its own. If the kidney stones are relatively large but do not cause obstruction within the kidney, they can be observed temporarily without treatment. If larger stones get stuck in the ureter or urethra and cannot be expelled on their own, surgery is generally required to remove the stones. After surgery, it is also important to drink plenty of water and urinate frequently.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Lin
Nephrology
2min 5sec home-news-image

Causes of Kidney Stones

The causes of kidney stone formation include the following: One reason is the increased amount of stone-forming components in the urine. Various factors that cause an increase in the concentration of salts, uric acid, oxalates, and cystine in the urine can exceed their solubility. This results in the precipitation and crystallization from the urine, which further grows into stones. For example, hyperuricemia can lead to an increased excretion of urinary uric acid, making it easy to form urate stones. Secondly, the reduction in urine substances that inhibit stone formation, including decreases in citrate and magnesium, can promote stone formation. Third, urinary tract obstruction and infection can lead to stone formation. In cases of urinary tract obstruction and poor urine flow, small crystals formed in the urine can easily adhere to the epithelial cells of the urinary tract, becoming the nucleus of the stone. Urinary tract obstruction may also lead to urinary tract infections where bacteria, pus, and damaged, necrotic epithelial cells can also form the core of stones and gradually develop into larger stones. Fourth, diet and hydration play significant roles. Long-term, high intake of high-protein, high-sodium, high-sugar foods can cause increased excretion of urinary calcium and uric acid, while reducing citrate levels, thus promoting stone formation. A decrease in water intake can also cause urine concentration, further promoting stone formation. Fifth, environmental factors and genetic factors are considered to be related to the formation of kidney stones. It is believed that the hardness of water and genetic factors also have certain relationships with kidney stone formation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
39sec home-news-image

How to relieve the pain of kidney stones

Kidney stones, if mobile within the kidney, can cause intense pain in the patient's lumbar and abdominal area, clinically referred to as renal colic. Patients often experience unbearable pain, heavy sweating, along with symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. In such cases, it is crucial to seek timely treatment at the hospital's urology department. Doctors will use medications to alleviate pain and spasm. If there is nausea and vomiting, antiemetic drugs will also be used to relieve symptoms. Once diagnosed with kidney stones, patients are advised to seek treatment at a hospital as soon as possible.