3. Limit foods with high oxalate content
Oxalate is a nutrient found in many plant foods, including leafy vegetables and fruits, and your body produces large amounts of oxalate. High oxalate intake may increase the excretion of oxalate in the urine, which can be a problem for people who tend to form calcium oxalate crystals. Oxalate can bind calcium and other minerals to form crystals that can lead to kidney stone formation.
However, foods high in oxalate are often healthy as well, so a strict ban on foods high in oxalate is not recommended for all people with stones. A low-oxalate diet is recommended only for people with hyperoxaluria, a condition characterized by very high levels of oxalate in the urine.
Before changing your diet, consult your doctor or dietitian to see if you could benefit from limiting your intake of oxalate-rich foods.
4. Do not take high doses of vitamin C
Studies have shown that vitamin C supplementation increases the risk of kidney stones. Elevated amounts of vitamin C supplements may increase the excretion of oxalate in the urine because vitamin C can be converted to oxalate in the body.
A Swedish study of middle-aged and older men suggested that those who supplemented with vitamin C were twice as likely to develop kidney stones as those who did not supplement with vitamin C. Note, however, that vitamin C from food sources (e.g., lemons) is not associated with an increased risk of stones.
Overview
