𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗞𝗜𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦

 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗞𝗜𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦

Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and acid salts that stick together in concentrated urine. They are usually extremely painful when passing through the urinary tract, but usually don't cause permanent damage. The bigger the stone, the more pain it causes. 

To reduce pain when stones are passed in urine, they are broken down in a process known as External Shockwave Lithotripsy. This procedure is quite expensive to carryout. It is therefore wiser to take steps to prevent this painful condition. 

𝟭) 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿: Drinking enough water ensures that your urine is dilute enough that the minerals can't stick together to form a stone. Aim for 3 litres a day. You can use your urine to know if you are drinking enough. 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝. 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙝𝙮𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 

𝟮) 𝗘𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀: these fruits include lemons, oranges, limes and tangerines. They contain citrate which has been proven to prevent the formation of stones. You can add fresh lemon juice to your drinking water. 

𝟯) 𝗘𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗶𝘂𝗺: Calcium Oxalate is often the mineral that causes Kidney stones. This makes people to believe they should eat less calcium. Eating less calcium causes Osteoporosis which is treated with Calcium supplements. Calcium supplements have been found to increase your risk of Kidney stones although eating calcium rich foods doesn't. 

𝟰) 𝗘𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘁: Excess salt increases sodium levels in the body. This means more sodium is excreted in urine. When sodium is present in urine, it prevents the reabsorption of Calcium. More calcium in urine = greater chance of kidney stones.

𝟱) 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲: Chocolate is very rich in Oxalate, a compound responsible for most stones. Other foods rich in Oxalate include Coffee, Groundnuts, Soya beans, spinach and sweet potato. 

𝟲) 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝘁 𝗖 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: This supplement has been found to considerably increase the risk of stones, especially in men. Get Vitamin C from natural sources such as Citrus fruits, potatoes, liver, peppers and strawberries.

𝟳) 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲: Regulate meat and fish intake to about 90g per day, especially for red meat. Uric acid is a waste product formed when meat is digested and it greatly increases your risk of kidney stones. It also increases your risk of Gout. 

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Kidney stones are extremely common, affecting about 10% (1 in every 10 people) of the population, most of who are between 30 and 60 years. Practicing the preventive methods above will greatly reduce your risk of developing them. 

𝑵𝑮𝑶𝑵𝑮 𝑳𝑨𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑨 𝑨𝑱

𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉