Is the Kidney Stone Diet Right for You?

"Passing stones" is not a pleasant experience, and for many people, the pain can be excruciating. This event occurs when a solid clump of matter forms in your kidneys and must pass through your ureter to exit your body. This is most common in men, with up to 80 percent of stones believed to be diagnosed in male patients, and it is a problem that often occurs initially in the person's 30s or 40s. However, after passing one stone, a person is more likely to pass stones repeatedly. So, clearly, a look at the kidney stone diet is in order as preventive measure.

Two Causes

Before you can determine if the kidney stone diet is right for you, you first need to consider what causes these stones to develop. There are two known causes of stone development in the kidneys, and these include diet and low water intake. With regard to diet, there are some trigger foods that can increase the risk of stone development, and these include a high prevalence of grapefruit or apple juice, animal fat or protein, refined sugars, soda, and sodium in your diet.

What the Diet Is

The kidney stone diet first looks at what type of stones you have. There are three different types of stones, each made of a different material, and you can determine the type of stone you have through medical laboratory testing. This is important to know so that you can cater your diet to prevention of the type of stones you commonly develop. Some people will develop different types, but most people will be prone to the development of just one type.

Learning About the Diet

You can find information about the kidney stone diet online, and there are some great recipes available that provide you with a healthier way to cook. There are also numerous books available, too. The diet generally involves decreasing the trigger foods described earlier so that your risk for development of stones decreases. The diet also is designed to improve your overall kidney health so that your kidneys can operate in a higher functional capacity and further decrease the risk of stones.

Other Options

If you are considering the kidney stone diet, your doctor may have already spoken to you about prevention measures. There are some other preventive measures that your doctor may recommend as well such as dialysis, urine alkalinization, and allopurinol. Considering that some stones may be too large to pass naturally through your body and may require surgery, prevention is clearly the key. These other prevention measures are in-depth, so often a person prone to developing stones will want to give the dietary changes a chance to work first. Stones are incredibly painful as they pass through your body, and if you have already passed one or two, you are at a higher risk for the development of more unless you begin to make some changes such as increasing your water intake and following a diet that works to prevent the development and improve kidney health.

Sophia Dillard is a writer and researcher on products for households such as a comprehensive guide on the kidney stone diet. Save time and money by getting a FREE in-depth review of this product, including discounts and best prices, at this blog: KidneyDiseaseAndKidneyStoneDiet.com.com

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert