You hear about kidney stones and can just feel the awful pain of somebody that has suffered through this terrible health condition. This is one of those ailments that you hope to never live through because it causes such a huge burden and such immense pain to the individual suffering from the condition. So how does it happen? Did the individual just not plan for and take on a healthy diet? Did they make wrong choices within their lifestyle that lead to the development of kidney stones?
There are some rather obvious and poor behaviors such as improper fluid intake that can of course cause the problem. These bad habits and lifestyle choices often account for a variety of health conditions, but they are not the only reasons that an individual may develop kidney stones. Believe it or not, there are some foods which you would assume are actually good for you that can lead to the problem. This is where people need a good amount of education in this area of health.
How Kidney Stones Develop
Many people are unaware of just how kidney stones develop in the first place. It can be quite confusing as there are different types and different magnitudes of kidney stones out there. If an individual is to develop kidney stones, it is usually because they are prone to them. This can be due to genetic factors or even other medical conditions, but there is a greater likelihood that they will develop kidney stones within their body.
Additionally, there is the fact that a substance called oxalate is what causes kidney stones to form in the first place. Truthfully oxalate that is found in the urine is actually made by the body directly, and this is usually at normal and healthy levels. However there are certain substances, particularly foods that happen to be high in oxalate. If consumed in excess, these can cause the oxalate levels in the urine to rise. In turn, this can then combine with calcium in the body and form what is known as calcium oxalate stones. There we have the problem!
Watching the Foods That We Eat
Amongst the foods with the highest oxalate levels you will find spinach and rhubarb. These are not the only foods that are high in oxalate levels, but they are the top two on the list. So what does this mean? Does it mean that you can’t ever enjoy spinach or rhubarb? If you happen to be prone to kidney stones, then you may want to avoid these two vegetables. If however you are not, then it may just be a good idea to limit your intake of spinach and rhubarb. Though they do offer some excellent vitamins, minerals, and nutritional benefits overall, they do pose a risk. So if you are worried about kidney stones, then these two foods are ones to watch and ensure that you don’t overindulge in at any point in time.
How Does This All Work?
So if you eat foods that happen to be high in oxalate levels such as spinach and rhubarb, it increases your overall oxalate levels in the urine. This is what causes the basis of the problem. If you avoid them, and particularly if you combine this initiative with the notion of increasing your calcium, you dramatically cut your potential risk of kidney stones. Calcium helps to bind oxalate in the digestive tract so that it is not excreted into the urine, and this is a big help. If you combine increased calcium intake with decreased oxalate intake, you are putting yourself at far less of a risk of kidney stones ever developing.
More articles:
- Foods That Contribute to Kidney Stone Development
- Dietary Changes Can Squelch Kidney Stones
- Balancing Calcium Intake Against Kidney Stone Prevention
- The Connection Between Meat and Kidney Stones
- Reduce Salt Intake To Prevent Kidney Stone Recurrence
- Skipping Stones – Kidney Stone Prevention Advice
- Rhubarb – The Secret Chinese Super Food
- The Dangers of Decaf
- The Dangers of a Fat-Free Diet