Tips for Preventing Kidney Stones
Dr. Lee Niemeyer from Group Health, a TriHealth Physician Partner, answers a Local 12 viewer question on how to prevent kidney stones.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones form from minerals founds in foods such as milk and meat, known as uric acid and calcium.
“Basically, what happens, is through our diet and other things, these substances get concentrated in the urine and kidneys, and sometimes those can form out in crystals, which can become stones and cause problems,” Dr. Niemeyer tells Local 12’s Liz Bonis.
Preventing Kidney Stones
While some people may be genetically predisposed to kidney stones, a few dietary changes may help lower the risk.
“If you’re too high on sodium, that can cause issues,” he says. “If you’re too high on sugar or carbohydrates, that can cause problems. Too much animal proteins in one form or another can be an issue.”
In order to lower your risk for kidney stones, Dr. Niemeyer suggests:
- Aiming for a diet higher in plant foods, and lower in higher fat protein foods, like meats and dairy products
- Staying hydrated with water
Learn more about kidney stones and how to prevent them in the TriHealth.com Health Library: