When we talk about kidney stones, the first thing we get asked by doctors is if we drink enough water and have a good urine passage. Drinking enough fluids is important to ensure a smooth urine passage that could excrete all the minerals from our body to prevent kidney stone formation.
The amount of water a person needs to drink depends on the weather conditions they live in and their activity level. The amount of sweat they produce is also a factor to increase the amount of water they need to consume. Fluids keep the urine diluted and help in preventing materials that are harmful to the kidney.
Top 5 Fluids you should avoid to prevent kidney stones:
1. Dark colas and other carbonated drinks
Colas are made of chemicals and high amounts of sugar. Drinking flavoured carbonated drinks can increase dehydration as well. To prevent kidney stones, hydration is important. Dehydration is increased with the consumption of caffeine, and most colas contain caffeine.
2. Store-bought fruit juices
Fruit juices that you can get from stores are packed with bleached sugar and syrups that are extremely unhealthy for your kidneys. This doesn’t let the kidney filter the fluids in your body properly hence leading to the formation of kidney stones.
Natural homemade fruit juices like orange juices could replace these store-bought fruit juices.
3. Coffee
Coffee is rich in caffeine that causes dehydration in our body. Consuming coffee has been shown to increase oxalate in the body leading to the formation of kidney stones.
4. Black Tea
Tea is one of the most consumed beverages globally, and unfortunately, consuming tea is bad for the kidney. Black tea creates oxalates in the body that form kidney stones. Consuming it in moderate amounts would be okay as long as you keep a check on your intake.
5. Alcohol
Alcohol is a big NO if you want to prevent kidney stones. The myth that beer is good for the kidney does not have sufficient evidence to back it up. Rather alcohol has been shown to increase the risk of kidney stones and kidney-related diseases. Alcohol creates dehydration in the body and also leads to weight gain—both aiding to form kidney stones.
One thing to note is that most fluids that cause kidney stones are problematic when consumed in excess. Hence limiting these drinks to the limit advised by your doctor could help prevent kidney stones. Consult with your doctor to get the perfect consumption limit.
