Dietary Changes for Kidney Stones

| Modified on Feb 15, 2024

Making dietary changes can help to eliminate kidney stones and also prevent future stone formation.

Excess of anything is not a wise dietary approach. High amounts of protein, sodium, sodas have all been associated with stone formation for some individuals.

Plenty of quality liquids, including water and herbal tea is important unless a person is experiencing renal failure.

Read on to see how our readers have used dietary changes to eliminate or prevent stones in the kidneys.




6 User Reviews


Posted by Stella (Evansville, KY) on 03/28/2022
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Research for current day has now discovered that excess calcium buildup is likely due to phosphates in processed foods (deli meats, frozen foods and fast foods) and meat injections of mostly chicken and turkey. Perhaps Chanca Piedra works by regulating phosphorus or removing excess phosphorus from the veins arteries and organs in the body.

Please if you have kidney stones, atherosclerosis or CKD, watch consumptions of these foods and learn about phosphates added to your foods.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Mitzy (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) on 05/19/2013
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Just wanted to let you know how much we value this site!!

My husband has suffered from Kidney Stones off and on - and this spring the problem resurfaced. So I got on this site and started applying some of the suggestions. The suggestions that really worked for him were - the Apple Cider Vinegar, Chanca Piedra (Capsules), lots and lots of water, Warm Lemon Water first thing in the morning, Marshmallow tea, Magnesium Citrate Potassium and Vit. B6 (as recommended on bottle), lots of hot baths, hot water bottle, and a herb tea combination Corn Silk, Gold Coin Grass & Eucommia Bark. It works well - made a batch a day for awhile - all the diruetics you have to take potassium! Plus a kind Indian man told us the the benefits of Barley Water that is used in Ayervedic medicine and worked for him (the water from cooking plain Barley berries/pot barley I mixed it with honey and freshly sqeezed lemon- some people find beer helps - barley is used to make beer! ). The worst of the pain was about 5-7 days(after about 3 days it started to improve), however the Alleve from the Drug store helped a lot with hot baths and hot water bottle - however created problem with constipation - my husband is never constipated so the pressure from the constipation plus the pain from the Kidney Stones was bad. We looked into stool softeners - took too long - up to 3 days! So back to EarthClinic - decided to try- 1ounce of EV Coconut Oil, followed by 1 ounce of fresh lime juice, followed by 1 ounce of apple cider vinegar. It worked extremely well!! We constantly monitored him to make sure he was urinating and that he had no fever.

My husband kept urinating in a bottle - saw lots of dust in the bottom so we concluded that the Chanca Piedra was crushing the stone/stones. Time went by few weeks no pain just a bit of discomfort on left side. Then some discomfort on the right side!! Within three days 3 stones came out from the right side measuring 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm. Within a minimum of discomfort. The pain from the right completely disappeared. Still used protocol not as vigorous though. From the beginning of the ordeal till then it was about 3-4 weeks.

My husband had still little twinges on his left side - but concluded it was getting better all the time. The other day he started complaining of some pressure feeling in his bladder. Within a day or two the original "problem" popped out!! We were shocked!! It was a Kidney Stone measuring 12mmX5mm (looks like an olive or date pit)(from beginning to end of big stone was about 7-8weeks).

After the initial pain (which typically was bad) - the Aleve really helped. He only had some discomfort. Another thing that seemed to help is he bounced on a rebounder at times which seemed to help him. I messaged the bottoms of his feet where the kidney reflex is that helped too. At the beginning of this ordeal he did not really like Apple Cider Vinegar at all. At the end it is now his best friend! He found that when he was in pain a good swig of the Apple Cider Vinegar would make the pain disappear almost instantly. He carried it around with him at first like a baby bottle! He is now completely fine and has no residual anything!

From my research, the big problem for my husband was salted nuts - he LOVES cashews and peanuts and was drinking almond milk. These things along with ice cream are major triggers for him. Interesting point in talking to people lately who are sufferers of Kidney Stones - they are nut eaters who especially LOVE cashews! ?

Thanks so much for all your great posts they really helped us tremendously! I hope this helps someone else!


Dietary Changes
Posted by Steve (Smithfield, Pa) on 09/11/2011
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A magnesium deficiency probably contributes to forming kidney stones but it is my belief that too much animal protein is one of the biggest causes. That along with a nutrient poor diet from not eating enough vegetables and fruit. Since I have adopted a plant-based diet and been eating very little animal protein I have not had a problem with kidney stones for years and before that I had my share on a regular basis.


Dietary Changes
Posted by A1aweb (Bunnell, Fl, Usa) on 01/11/2010
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Starting on 1/1/10 I drank 2 oz of lemon juice w. 2 oz extra virgin olive oil 2 times per day for 3 days in a row...it relieved the symptoms of a 4 mm kidney stone stuck in my urethra. I also drank alot of lemon juice in water for 9 days...I passed the kidney stone painlessly that looked about the size of 3/4 of a grain of rice on the morning of the ninth day.

I also supplemented my diet with B6 complex and magnesium as I had read that a body lacking in these things creates kidney stones. I will continue to use alot of lemon juice in my water and drink watered down lemonade as I still have 3 more stones to pass.

I would also like to add that I drank alka-seltzer at times when I felt the lemon juice was wearing off and the urgency to urinate came back as that would offer some releif. Be sure when drinking alot of water to give your body enough salt because I did have a problem with ear ringing which I attributed to not enough salt.

I also quit drinking coffee, all sweets and dairy products during this cleansing process. I ate just oatmeal w.molasses & banana for breakfast, homemade & canned soups for lunch & dinner, oranges & apples.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Tim (Los Angeles, USA) on 09/08/2007
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Took Morton's Lite Salt in a little water during the heavy nausea phase (vomiting, cramps etc) of having the stone and the nausea was gone immediately. Stone passed a few hours later. Saved another trip to the ER! Have also used to assist calcified stones through the urethra. In my experience, better than potassium citrate alone (get runs with PC alone).


Dietary Changes
Posted by Don (Los Angeles) on 02/20/2006
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Water only. Fast until stone passes. No pain after 3 hours. Not easy but it works. Will try other remedies.