Home Remedies For Treating Kidney Stones

Reduce Salt In Diet

Individuals affected by kidney stones can stop the stones from becoming larger if they reduce salt in their diet. Foods high in salt will increase the amount of sodium in an individual's body. Sodium leaves the body through the sweat and is removed by an individual's kidneys. The more sodium that is consumed, the higher the amount of sodium will be removed from the blood by the individual's kidneys will be. An elaborate mechanism links sodium to calcium and drives the process of which levels of both are managed. The amount of sodium an individual's kidneys filter from the blood is what determines how much calcium will be present in their urine. The amount of sodium removed from the blood by the kidneys is determined by the state of the water balance in the body and if any adjustments need to be made. However, the consumption of an excessive amount of sodium is not required for this process to run smoothly. Excess sodium ends up in the kidneys when it is not needed, resulting in more calcium concentration in the urine. The more calcium in the urine, the greater the chance kidney stones will form or existing stones will grow larger.

Reduce Consumption Of Animal Protein

Individuals affected by kidney stones can benefit if they make an effort to reduce their consumption of animal protein. This protein is found in foods like cheese, poultry, fish and other seafood, red meats, and eggs. Animal proteins have shown to alter an individual's kidney structure when consumed excessively. These proteins cause an increase in the acidity level of an individual's urine, which can lead to the formation of uric acid based stones. Another substance animal proteins interfere with inside the kidneys is citrate. Citrate stops the crystallization mechanism of calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate. Both substances are found in kidney stones. Animal proteins cause a reduction in citrate levels in the kidneys, removing the antagonist to the solidification of elements that form kidney stones.

Animal proteins have also been proven to cause the production of ammonia to increase in an individual's urine. While other compounds cause the majority of stones, around ten percent of all kidney stones are struvite stones. Struvite stones are comprised of an ammonia and calcium phosphate mixture. In addition, animal proteins are known to cause damage to the kidney cells and result in hyperfiltration, both increased risk factors for kidney stones.