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Diet for Kidney Stone Prevention - National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Diet for Kidney Stone Prevention

On this page:

How does diet affect the risk of developing kidney stones?
What are the types of kidney stones?
Why is knowing which type of stone a person has important?
How does a doctor determine the type of kidney stone?
How much fluid should a person drink to prevent stone formation?
What fluids protect against kidney stone formation?
What fluids should be avoided?
How does salt in the diet affect kidney stone formation?
How can a person limit sodium intake?
How does animal protein in the diet affect kidney stone formation?
How does calcium in the diet affect kidney stone formation?
How does oxalate in the diet affect kidney stone formation?
How can a person limit oxalate in the urine?
How does alcohol affect kidney stone formation?
How do supplements affect kidney stone formation?
How does a person's weight affect kidney stone formation?
Can a dietitian help a person prevent kidney stones?
Questions to Ask the Doctor
Points to Remember
Hope through Research
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How does diet affect the risk of developing kidney stones?

Diet is one of several factors that can promote or inhibit kidney stone formation. Other factors include heredity, environment, weight, and fluid intake. The body uses food for energy and tissue repair. After the body uses what it needs, waste products in the bloodstream are carried to the kidneys and excreted as urine. Certain foods create wastes that may form crystals in the urinary tract. In some people, the crystals grow into stones. For people who have had a kidney stone, preventing another will be a priority. In addition to dietary changes, a person may need medicine to prevent kidney stones. The first step in preventing kidney stones is to learn what kind of stones a person's body typically makes.