How do you prevent kidney stones? Looking for advice

@codyspack
I’ve had 8 kidney stones.
My Urologist once told me to eat an orange everyday, then said lemondade was good. I suppose lemon water would work too. At one point he gave me a prescription for potassium citrate which keeps your urinary pH at 6.5-7.0 and that helps dissolve the stones and helps prevent more. I had calcium oxalate stones and I don’t know if the treatments recommended for me would work on other types of stones.
Of course drink lots of water. One doctor recommended 2 liters another 3 liters. Make sure your urine is always very light in color.
Also if you have calcium oxalate, stones you need be careful how many oxalates you eat.
Best of luck to you,
Jake

Hope all of you find this useful and informative:
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneystones_prevent

Beware of using Turmeric/curcumin as a seasoning:
https://healthmatch.io/kidney-disease/is-turmeric-bad-for-kidneys

Avoid excessive use of alcohol:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/kidney-stones
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8065818/
Other home remedies:
https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-health/home-remedies-for-kidney-stones#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

Start with diet. One size does not fit all, what works for you may not work for everyone. I have gout and was warned it could lead to kidney stones, so I have drastically reduced foods that break down into purines. My first attack occurred after eating restaurant turkey. I was later told turkey becomes purines and that it was probably highly salted. Beef, shrimp, organ meats create purines. So do certain vegetables, but not as bad I was told. For me, the safest proteins are chicken and fish. I prefer sushi over cooked fish, because it's less processed. Lean beef on occasion. Stay away from the saltshaker. You can usually taste it if the food is salty. I was told by a hypertension nurse that you can actually eat anything in moderation. Be proactive with your health. Do your own research with Dr. Google, search the Mayo website, look carefully online, but watch out for deceptive ads. Tart cherry juice concentrate has worked for lots of people and can be purchased through Amazon. I get Cherry Bay Orchards Montmorency cherry concentrate through Amazon. Drink lots of water to keep hydrating your kidneys. Better many minor trips to the bathroom than one major trip to the hospital. If you have a good doctor, work with her or him. If not, keep looking until you find one.
Good luck.

@codyspack
Just curious, what type of stones do you have.
Jake

I’ve had kidney and Bladder stones, my urologist said to get THERALITH XR and it’s not a prescription either. The doctor said to take one pill around breakfast time and one pill around dinner time. So far in the last two years I have not had a kidney or bladder stone since taking it:)

I was diagnosed with kidney stones in November 2024 and was told to drink more water. Long story short, I had the stones (calcium oxalate) removed at the end of February but was given very little guidance on diet changes: less than 2,000 mg of sodium, 1200 mg. calcium, less than 45 mg oxalates. 24 urine test was abnormal in February. Within days of the surgery, I got what I thought was stomach flu. Lost 10 lbs, was very weak, and could not gain weight. Naturopath diagnosed low acid stomach that prevents proper digestion of nutrients. I made many changes to encourage gut health and believe that issue is under control. After much research, I track all fluids and food. Average sodium: 1000 mg, average calcium: 1100; average oxalates: 28. Average water: 70 ounces daily. (age 72, current weight 118 lbs, have osteoporosis) Dr. prescribed a diuretic but have trouble with side effects so am declining to take it. All bloodwork and last 24 hour urine test within normal range except potassium which is at the lowest normal threshold. One cause of that could be the diuretic.

@janh72 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Here is a link to some information from the National Kidney Foundation, about kidney stones, and the types seen most frequently: https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/kidney-stones As you can see, hydration is a crucial factor.

I take a diuretic daily, 120mg furosemide twice a day, due to my kidney condition and dialysis. And because of that, I take a potassium supplement. My lab tests show that even with the supplement, my potassium level is low normal. Natural sources of potassium include bananas, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes.

What diuretic did your doctor prescribe that had side effects you were uncomfortable with?
Ginger

@janh72 I too see a nephrologist who monitors labs such as calcium, oxalates, potassium etc. He prescribes a diuretic for me, Torsemide. He also prescribes blood pressure meds for me. I have never had problems with kidney stones, thank God! But I am diabetic and have a history of hypertension (high blood pressure). I have chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3. My nephrologist referred me to a renal dietician who also has experience with diabetes nutrition. I am blessed to get the dietary information I need for both diabetes and CKD.