Blog - Kidney Stone Diet with Jill Harris

MSK and Kidney Stones: The Diagnosis You May Never Hear

MSK is a condition you’re born with. It affects the tiny tubes inside your kidneys that help carry urine out of your body. In MSK, the inner part of the kidney (called the medulla) forms small pouch-like sacs that look a bit like a sponge. These little sacs slow down…
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What’s the Deal with Oxalate Dumping?

More and more, I have patients coming to me wondering if they will experience crystals in their eyes or rashes all over their body if they lower their oxalate consumption. I’ve always been frustrated by the misinformation about oxalate and how so many of my kidney stone patients give up…
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Electrolyte Drinks—Do You Need Them?

Electrolyte drinks are having their moment—especially with all the powders, packets, and glow-in-the-dark bottles marketed to “keep you hydrated.” However, the truth is that most kidney stone patients don’t need them. These drinks often come with high sodium (which you’re trying to keep under 1,500mg a day) and added sugar…
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Menopause and Kidney Stone Risk

When women go through menopause, estrogen levels naturally decline—and that shift impacts more than just hot flashes or mood swings. Estrogen plays a significant role in how your body handles calcium—in your bones, blood, and, ultimately, your urine. Here’s what’s happening: This change is normal, but it means your kidneys…
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Are Your Loved Ones Sabotaging Your Diet?

Suddenly, your health changes feel weird. You feel like the odd one out. And the comments start rolling in: Oof. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve coached thousands of people through the Kidney Stone Diet, and I can tell you—this is one of the most challenging aspects of…
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The Ultimate Guide to Restaurant Eating

Going out to eat doesn’t have to be something you give up to prevent kidney stones. I’ve helped people stay stone-free for nearly 30 years, and not once have I told them to stop living their lives. That’s not the point of prevention. The only way to make lasting changes…
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The #1 Stone Prevention Goal You Should Be Focused On

When starting the Kidney Stone Diet® goals, I am often asked which goal should be the priority. My response is always fluids. You must drink enough fluids to produce 2.5 – 3 liters of urine daily. Below are common reasons people have low urine volume: Fluid Intake Issues Physical &…
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50 Food Myths

Think you’re doing everything right? These common myths might be raising your kidney stone risk. When trying to prevent kidney stones, there’s nothing more frustrating than hearing conflicting advice. Should you stop dairy? Is lemon juice a cure-all? Does spinach count as a superfood or a stone-maker? I’ve spent the…
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Idiopathic Hypercalciuria—What It Is and How to Manage It

Have you ever been told you have too much calcium in your urine, but your blood calcium is totally normal? Then, you may have something called idiopathic hypercalciuria, or IH for short. Idiopathic means there’s no clear medical cause like a tumor or gland issue. Hypercalciuria means your body is…
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The Hidden Stone Risks No One Talks About

We talk a lot about diet and fluids when it comes to preventing kidney stones (because they matter!), but many people don’t realize that certain medical conditions can also make stones more likely. If you have any of the conditions below, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get a stone—but…
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The Silent Stone Maker

If you’ve had a 24-hour urine test that shows high calcium, and you’re still forming stones despite following the Kidney Stone Diet®, you need to know about Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).
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Uric Acid Stones: What They Are, Why You’re Making Them, and How to Stop Them

These stones are different from the more common calcium-based ones. But here’s the great news: uric acid stones are one of the most preventable stones.
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How to Manage Calcium Phosphate Stones

Why Am I Making Calcium Phosphate Stones? You may feel frustrated and confused if you’ve been told you have calcium phosphate stones. Most kidney stone advice is for calcium oxalate stones, which are more common. Calcium phosphate stones are different and don’t always respond to the same prevention strategies. In…
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The Silent Weight of Care

I lost my mother a couple of years ago, and I’m lucky enough to have my father still. I also have other people in my life who I regard as parents and who are well into their 80s. Some of these loved ones are well, and some are not. I…
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The Pros and Cons of Protein Powders

Many plant-based protein powders can contain ingredients like spinach, beetroot, and other high oxalate ingredients. They are a hard no. Look at the one you are using and check your oxalate list.
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Potassium Citrate: Miracle Stone Stopper or Medical Myth?

Potassium citrate—many are on it, many more might benefit from it. To see if this little pill is a good addition to YOUR kidney stone prevention tool kit, get a 24-hour urine collection—it’ll tell you everything you need to know. What does potassium citrate do? When you take potassium citrate,…
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Kidney Stone Prevention: What Most People Get Wrong

Oxalate. A word you’d never heard before your kidney stone encounter. It is such a small word, but boy does it bring about a lot of confusion and anxiety with my patients. I understand. But here is some excellent news… Oxalate is the LEAST important part of the Kidney Stone…
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Who Is Nurse Jill?

If you’re new here, allow me to introduce myself… I’m Jill Harris—Your Kidney Stone Prevention Nurse I’ve been a nurse since 1998, starting my career at the University of Chicago. Early on, however, I realized I wanted to do more than care for patients AFTER they landed in the hospital—I…
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