There are few things in life more painful than kidney stones. These particles, as tiny grains of sand, will slowly pass through the narrow tubes between the kidneys and the bladder declaring their progress every inch of the way.

Main Types

The majority of kidney stones have calcium as a key ingredient. Calcium Oxalate and Calcium Phosphate are the typical stones identified. Uric acid stones and magnesium ammonium phosphate stones can also be found.

Contributors to Stone Formation

Lifestyle factors that contribute to stone formation include:

1) High sugar intake Consuming lots of sweets results in a higher amount of calcium released into the blood stream resulting in more calcium passing through the kidneys. As more calcium is excreted through the kidneys, the increased concentration can easily form into stones. Those who are managing diabetes may have a greater risk of developing kidney stones. High sugar intake can include - fruit juices, soda drinks, cookies, and candy.

2) High protein intake Consuming a high protein diet can also cause an increased amount of calcium to be released into the blood stream. High protein diets can promote an acidic response in digestion that the body will neutralize by drawing out calcium from bone tissue. The Atkins diet, and some Paleo diets will not be recommended for individuals who easily form kidney stones.

3) Factors promoting gout Gout is the formation of uric acid crystals that lodge in joints of the feet and hands resulting in painful inflammation. These crystals will also form in the kidneys as uric acid stones. Uric acid production is increased with high consumption of meat and beer. Increased consumption of vegetables can greatly reduce the production of uric acid.

Relief from Kidney Stones

Relief from Kidney stones can be increased with these practices:

1) Increased Magnesium Magnesium is an essential mineral that many adults do not get enough of each day. Magnesium can reduce the formation of calcium oxalate crystals and can increase the release of citrate in the urine, which also helps to stop stone formation. A daily dose of 350 mg to 450 mg of magnesium can be helpful to reduce stone formation and is not an excessive amount for an adult.

2) Increased Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) Vitamin B6 supplement each day has been shown to reduce the formation of calcium oxalate stones. Vitamin B6 is required for an enzyme which changes an oxalate compound to an amino acid, resulting in a decrease of oxalate for stone formation. Vitamin B6 is an important vitamin for many functions in the body. If any medications are taken regularly, these medications should be reviewed for any nutrient depletion that might result.

3) Increased Citrate intake Potassium citrate is often recommended as a supplement because citrate is an inhibitor of stone formation. Magnesium citrate can be another source of citrate, as well as providing extra magnesium as noted above. Lemonade can also be a great source of citric acid, which has shown effective results in reducing kidney stone formation. Make sure the lemonade is not too sweet. Lemon water may be more effective.

4) Increased Water intake Make sure to consume more than 8 cups of pure water each day for effective cleansing of the kidneys. The general recommendation is to take your body weight and cut that number in half. The number represents the minimum fluid ounces you should drink each day. 8 fluid ounces = 1 cup. 150 pound person = 75 ounces = 9+ cups of water.

Finally, Vitamin C does not increase the risk of kidney stones. In multiple research papers, increased Vitamin C did not cause an increase in kidney stones. In some of the studies, a decrease of kidney stones was observed. Doses ranged from 1,500 mg / day up to 10,000 mg/day and some studies used intravenous Vitamin C. (Gaby, 2011 Nutritional Medicine. Fritz Perlberg Publishing).

One of the best ways to promote kidney health is to learn a balanced lifestyle with the proper amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fats that will support healthy kidney activity without producing stress on the kidneys. A personalized Metabolic Balance plan can provide the details you need to live this balanced lifestyle. Contact Dr. Aldrich today to learn more about how you can get your personalized plan.