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Kidney stones are 10 times as common
now than at the turn of the twentieth century. This parallels
the dramatic increase in the consumption of animal proteins
and with it the rise in heart
disease, gallstones,
high blood pressure and
diabetes associated with the standard North American diet. More
than 10% of males and 5% of females experience a kidney stone
during their lifetime.
Kidney stones are usually composed of calcium oxalic acid. Less
commonly, stones are made of uric acid and other mixed minerals
and amino acids.
Most kidney stones are preventable. Once you have a stone, no
diet or supplement can reverse the problem, but there are still
ways to prevent the problem from worsening and reocurring.
Studies indicate that diet
and nutritional supplement therapy can reduce acute attacks
of kidney stone pain. Kidney stones can cause excruciating pain
if they become lodged in the passage leading from each kidney
to the bladder. Although the pain overrides all other symptoms,
usually urinary problems also exist. There is a repeated urging
to urinate and urine may contain sediment or blood.
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When minerals collect in the kidneys
and crystallize, stones develop. This is more likely to occur
if the urine is highly concentrated, since it contains more
substances capable of crystallizing. Drinking
too little fluid forces the kidneys to work harder and
leads to more concentrated urine. Drinking plenty of fluids
is an important course of action to prevent kidney stones.
A diet high in animal protein can also increase urine concentration.
Studies show that vegetarians are less likely to suffer from
kidney stones. It is also important to remember that any infections
which interfere with the flow of fluids (such as a urinary
tract infection) will increase susceptibility to recurring
stones.
Although there is a connection between calcium
and kidney stones, eating high-calcium foods does not always
cause stones. There are even times when calcium helps prevent
them. What makes the difference between a calcium-friendly
food and one that is not is how well
the body absorbs the calcium.* If calcium absorption from
the diet is adequate then the body does not need to dissolve
calcium in the bone, which then raises the calcium level in
the blood. When this blood gets filtered through the kidneys,
calcium deposits form.
Kidney stones are liable to reoccur if steps are not taken
to improve
your diet. There are certain minerals
and herbs that can improve kidney functions and subsequently
lower the chances of future reoccurences of kidney stones.
The mineral magnesium is very effective at protecting the
kidneys from calcium deposits. There are many different herbs
which are used for strengthening and protecting the kidneys.
Many of these herbs are present in our kidney cleanse (for
a complete list of helpful herbs visit our kidney
cleanse page).
People suffering from kidney stones and those wishing to prevent
them can benefit from a high-fiber,
low meat and high vegetable diet. Eating too much meat produces
metabolic by-products of animal proteins such as uric acid
and oxalic acid, both of which are involved in kidney stone
formation. Red meat, in particular, is very high in phosphorous
and causes the body to excrete more calcium into the urine.
This is why people with low meat, high vegetable diets have
a forty to sixty percent less chance of forming kidney stones,
compared to people who have high meat diets. Herbal Care Direct's
colon
and kidney
cleanses are very effective in the promoting the overall health
of the kidneys.*
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