#1 Kidney Stone Nurse
Since 1998
Prevent kidney stones once and for all
Join the #1 global kidney stone community of 48,539 who have taken their life back and reduced their kidney stone risk since 1998
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Attend 156 group coaching calls/year from the comfort of home
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Discover how you can reduce your kidney stone risk by 80%
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Stay on track with done-for-you daily meal plans
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Meet new people who know what you’re going through
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Connect with fellow Kidney Stoners and find your community
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Everything KSD in one simple membership
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PLUS 20% OFF one-on-one coaching sessions
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Become a yearly member and get 2 months free! ($480/yr)
I understand why you’re here and I can help.
You are near your wit’s end. Whether you’ve had one kidney stone or many, you’re here because you never, ever want to go through that pain again.
You woke up in the middle of the night writhing in pain, thinking you’re not long for this world. After suffering alone, you wake up your spouse—“It’s time to go to the ER.”
Once there, the doctor gives you some relief with an IV of pain medication. Next comes the ultrasound or CT—the diagnosis will be that YOU HAVE A KIDNEY STONE.
You leave the ER with a strainer, a prescription for pain meds, and hopefully, a referral to a urologist.
After speaking with your urologist, you’re given a low-oxalate food list and instruction to “drink a gallon of water per day.”
“What the heck is oxalate?” you mumble under your breath. And, “how am I supposed to drink that much water when I’m a teacher/pilot/trucker?” “How did this happen when I eat so healthy?”
Does this sound like you?
There is a solution to your kidney stones.
Drawing from my work with world-renowned University of Chicago nephrologist, Dr. Fred Coe, and the thousands of patients I’ve taught over the past 25 years, I created a simple, self-guided online video course, meal plans, ebooks, and group coaching to help you stop making kidney stones for good.
All-Access Pass Includes
Kidney Stone Diet®
Prevention Course
Group Coaching Calls
with Jill
Kidney Stone Diet®
Meal Plans
Kidney Stone Diet®
Safe Smoothies Ebook
Kidney Stone Diet®
Safe Snacks & Desserts Ebook
20% OFF Discount
One-on-One Coaching
Includes everything Kidney Stone Diet® for as long as you’re a member!
$48/mo
cancel any time
Become a yearly member and get 2 months free! ($480/yr)
Who is Jill Harris?
Jill Harris is the Kidney Stone Prevention Nurse who, with her mentor Dr. Fred Coe, created the kidney stone prevention guidelines now known as the Kidney Stone Diet®.
She started her nursing career in 1998 at the University of Chicago. The time spent there was invaluable, but she soon found she wanted to prevent disease, not manage it.
After 12 years at Litholink, Jill started her own private practice. Since 2013, she has been working privately and in small groups to help patients understand how to implement the Kidney Stone Diet®. She also continues to work closely with Dr. Fred Coe. Together, they are on a mission to educate doctors and patients on the importance of testing, diet, and fluids in the prevention of kidney stones. In her practice she’s helped thousands of patients across the globe prevent kidney stones.
What is the Kidney Stone Diet®?
Drawing from my work with world-renowned University of Chicago nephrologist, Dr. Fred Coe, and the thousands of patients I’ve worked with over the past 25 years, the Kidney Stone Diet® is the set of goals that can reduce your kidney stone risk by up to 80%.
Kidney Stone Diet® Goals
KSD Goal #1
Increase Fluid Intake
Increasing your fluids is one of the most important aspects of the Kidney Stone Diet®. When we drink more fluids, we are able to dilute the substances that lead to kidney stones. We drink more, we produce more urine volume per day.
It is recommended that kidney stone patients drink at least 2.5 – 3 liters per day so that they can produce 2.0-2.5 liters of urine/day.
I understand that this can seem like a monumental task. You’re busy at work, carpooling, weekend soccer games, etc. I get it. But starting out small and adding a cup of water a day until you reach your goal will help you and your bladder adjust to the new workload.
Buy an All-Access Pass and the Kidney Stone Prevention Course is included! (Or buy the course.)
KSD Goal #2
Reduce Sugar Intake
Many of you reading this will think, “I was not aware that eating too much sugar would increase my stone risk. But it’s true. Americans eat way too much added sugar—almost 60 pounds per year! Surprising right?
What isn’t surprising is that the high quantities of food we eat combined with our sedentary lifestyles means the obesity epidemic continues to grow in our country. Much of that increased obesity rate has to do with eating too much sugar.
Two hundred years ago, the average American ate only 2 pounds of sugar a year. In 1970, we ate 123 pounds of sugar per year. Today, the average American consumes almost 152 pounds of sugar in one year. This is equal to 3 pounds (or 6 cups) of sugar per week!
I hear from my patients all the time that they are “addicted to sugar.” The more sugar we eat the more sugar we crave. However, once you start lowering your sugar intake you will crave it less. Hard to believe right now, but trust me, it’s true.
Buy an All-Access Pass and the Kidney Stone Prevention Course is included! (Or buy the course.)
KSD Goal #3
Reduce Sodium Intake
On average Americans consume over 3,400 mg of sodium/day. We should be eating about 1,500mg/day though you should check with your physician to make sure this is right for you. Too much sodium causes calcium from your bone to spill out into your urine and increases your risk for bone AND stone disease. When too much calcium appears as a result of your urine collection, your physician may instruct you to lower your sodium consumption.
Salt is sneaky. It hides in foods unbeknownst to you. Olives, cereals, pickled foods, pizza, sauces, dressings, breads, condiments, and, of course, eating out! Look at every nutrition label to see how much sodium you are eating per portion.
One of the reasons your urine collection results may indicate your urine volume is low is because you are eating too much sodium. Lower sodium, increase urine volume. Lower sodium and LOSE weight. Lower sodium, and in most cases, you will lower your stone risk.
Buy an All-Access Pass and the Kidney Stone Prevention Course is included! (Or buy the course.)
KSD Goal #4
Increase Dietary Calcium
Most adults do not get enough calcium through their food and haven’t for years. Kidney stone formers must pay close attention to their calcium intake for two reasons.
- You need to nourish your bones and ward off osteoporosis.
- Getting enough calcium will help lower your urine oxalate.
Eating foods that supply your body with enough calcium is just as important as lowering your intake of high oxalate foods. The reason it is important for you is because the only way oxalate can leave your body is to bind with calcium in your colon and leave as waste through the stool. If you have not eaten any calcium-rich food or beverage along with the higher oxalate food then the excess oxalate has nothing to bind to and must be reabsorbed into the blood. This will create higher oxalate levels on your next urine collection.
Buy an All-Access Pass and the Kidney Stone Prevention Course is included! (Or buy the course.)
KSD Goal #5
Eat Moderate Amounts of Protein
Many of our modern-day diets promote eating high amounts of animal protein. And even if the diet isn’t a specifically high protein diet, (Keto, I am looking at you) my patients don’t always understand how to implement certain diets and, therefore, still end up eating too much protein.
When we take away one food group—carbs in this case—we tend to overeat the foods we are “allowed” to eat. Personal trainers, the diet industry, celebrities, etc., all espouse the benefits of a high-protein diet. But we in the kidney stone prevention world and many other health professionals will tell you to eat the right amount for your healthy weight.
Eating too much meat protein can promote uric acid and calcium oxalate stones. If you eat a large amount of seafood and meat, you can decrease your urine pH and increase your uric acid levels, causing an increased risk of kidney stone formation.
Buy an All-Access Pass and the Kidney Stone Prevention Course is included! (Or buy the course.)
KSD Goal #6
Lower High Oxalate Foods
I hear it all the time from my patients, “Jill, there is nothing to eat.” This is the single most common myth among patients, and I can be heard exclaiming throughout the day, “There is plenty to eat!” Many patients are given an oxalate list from their urologist with little or no direction on HOW to use that list to lower oxalate levels. This is where the confusion starts.
Dr. Coe and I, and many other health professionals, use the oxalate list published by Harvard. We trust it because we’ve found our patients do lower their urine oxalate by following it when they understand HOW to use it.
Buy an All-Access Pass and the Kidney Stone Prevention Course is included! (Or buy the course.)
Kidney Stone Diet®
Prevention Course
All-Access Pass
Includes the Kidney Stone Prevention Video Course and everything Kidney Stone Diet® for as long as you’re a member!
$48/mo
cancel any time
Become a yearly member and get 2 months free! ($480/yr)
Low Oxalate Recipes
Kidney Stone Diet®
Meal Plans
All-Access Pass
Includes Kidney Stone Diet® Meal Plans (28 recipes every week!) and everything Kidney Stone Diet® for as long as you’re a member!
$48/mo
cancel any time
Become a yearly member and get 2 months free! ($480/yr)
Kidney Stone Diet® Podcast
Watch on YouTube, listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Latest Episode
Recent Blog Posts
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Tips and Tricks for Lowering Sugar
Last week, I gave 100 tips for lowering sodium, so let’s tackle sugar for all my sweeties. It’s not quite 100, but it’s pretty close. This week, I organized them…
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100 Tips for Lowering Sodium
This week and every week, my private patients tell me how difficult it is to lower their sodium on the Kidney Stone Diet®. I’ve written blog posts explaining how to do this,…
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Kidney Stone Diet Safe Seeds and Nuts List
Upon first meeting, many of my patients have already given up all nuts and seeds for fear of the high oxalate content. However, there are only a few nuts you should…
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Kidney Stone Diet, where to start
Welcome to a day in my life filled with private consults. I find it a true joy and privilege to help you navigate your kidney stone journey. Whether reviewing 24-hour urine…
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An Open Letter to All Kidney Stone Patients
Dear You, I have been thinking a lot about illness this week. You might think, “Well, that makes sense. People are calling you all week talking about illness.” While this is…
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Nephrologist vs. Urologist: Understanding the Difference
A common topic on my private Facebook page for kidney stone formers is, “Should I see a urologist or a nephrologist for kidney stone prevention?” This article will explain the role each…
Download the Oxalate Food Lists!
Enter your email to download the Second Edition Harvard Oxalate List as well as the Original Harvard Oxalate List for FREE.
Find the searchable oxalate list here!