Calcium is very vital for the human body. Not just to maintain a healthy bone density but also for kidney health. Studies have been done to determine what effect calcium has on kidney stone formation.
You can find calcium in dairy products or take calcium supplements. One of the most common types of Kidney Stones, Calcium oxalate stones, have high levels of calcium, Oxalates, cystine, phosphate and liquid. Because of its name ‘Calcium Oxalate stones’, people tend to mistake calcium to be the culprit for the formation of Calcium Oxalate stones.
Here you’ll read about the 5 ways in which Calcium affects Kidney Stones.
1. Calcium binds Oxalates in the stomach
The Oxalates from food bind with Calcium present in the digestive tract, preventing the Oxalates from entering the bloodstream and the urinary tract. This prevents the Oxalates from forming stones in the kidney.
2. 800 mg of Calcium every day
Consuming 800 mg of calcium every day is ideal for preventing the formation of stones in the kidney. To hit the calcium goal, dairy products low in fat are recommended by doctors. A cup of low-fat milk contains 300 mg of calcium. Hence having a cup every day would help in hitting the calcium goal for the day.
3. Calcium with dietary Oxalates
To prevent stone formation in the kidney, Calcium from foods are advised to be taken with dietary Oxalates. The combination of calcium and dietary Oxalates helps binding of the Oxalates in the stomach an easier process.
4. Consumption of Calcium supplements
Various studies have shown that calcium supplements could cause calcium oxalate stone formation. A solution to this is by having calcium supplements with meals to ensure that the binding process takes place in the stomach.
5. Excess calcium could form new stones
Anything too much is bad. The same goes for calcium. Calcium, when it exceeds the required limit, creates new stones and weakens the bone density. Staying within the nutritional limit is vital to ensure that you do not let kidney stones form new ones.
The takeaway is to ensure you’ve calcium with Oxalate and meals while maintaining the proper calcium requirement. Consulting a doctor is important to determine your calcium requirements and overall kidney stone prevention plan.
