Ways To Treat And Prevent Kidney Stones

3. Consuming Oxalate-Rich Foods with Caution

Oxalates are a natural compound found in some foods. When they bind to calcium during digestion, they are excreted through stool. Otherwise, they become a waste product that travels to the kidneys to be excreted through urine. If they bind to calcium while in the kidneys, there is a greater risk of developing calcium oxalate stones, which is the most common type of kidney stones.

While cutting down on oxalate-rich foods might lessen the chance of getting these stones, doing so may deprive us of the benefits these foods can give us. A better way to prevent calcium oxalate stones is to consume oxalate-rich foods and calcium in a meal together to increase the chance of oxalate and calcium binding to each other while they are still in the stomach or intestines. Some foods high in oxalate include nuts, grains, legumes, spinach, okra, sweet potatoes, beets, raspberries, and cocoa powder.