Diseases & Conditions
The kidney stone diet: Not as restrictive as you may think
Reducing but not eliminating oxalate, salt, and animal protein in your diet can help keep kidney stones from recurring.
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
When you get a kidney stone, a change in diet is in order. You'll need to avoid foods that are high in certain substances — such as oxalate — that can lead to the formation of more kidney stones. But watch out for exhaustive lists of foods to avoid. There is a lot of misinformation on the Internet regarding the relationship between the consumption of certain foods and risk of developing kidney stones.
Types of kidney stones
Stones develop in the kidneys when high concentrations of chemicals form tiny crystals in urine and then start sticking together to form a growing stone. The vast majority of kidney stones are made of one or more of the following:
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.