with Jill Harris, LPN, CHC
Despite the cold temps we’re experiencing in the midwest, summer will be here any minute. And that means different fruits and veggies will be in season. You may think I need to get a life, but I am very excited about this upcoming event! Many of us have a sweet tooth and have a hard …
Here’s a fun little fact. The average American only gets around 15 grams of fiber per day though we’re supposed to get between 21-38 per day (21-25 grams for women and 30-38 grams per day for men). You might be asking yourself, “What the heck does this have to do with my kidney stones, Jill?” I’ll tell …
What are the most important discussion points to have with your doctor when you are newly diagnosed with a kidney stone? Let’s get right to it! Give your doctor a complete history of your kidney stone(s). Alert your doc if there is a family history of kidney stones or bone disease. If you have imaging …
I am a firm believer in “what you believe is what you become,” even if you don’t wholeheartedly believe what you’re telling yourself in the moment. Let me explain. On most days—even before the pandemic—I have been known to wear gym clothes. People ask me why? The answer is I dress the way I feel …
After 21 years in the stone prevention sector, I feel blessed and grateful that I continue to have a gratifying career. As a nurse, it is one of my greatest passions to help patients understand that diet and lifestyle choices make a difference in maintaining a healthy body and mind. But what about the patients …
In all my years of talking with patients and students about kidney stone prevention, not one of them has said to me, “Oh Jill, don’t worry. I get plenty of calcium each day.” Most adults don’t get anywhere near the amount of calcium they need. The National Osteoporosis Foundation “recommends that women aged 50 and …
This article is for you, my dear vegan and vegetarian stone formers. I know you’ve been using soy, tofu, beans, and nuts to meet your daily protein goals. In the meantime, however, you unknowingly overate some of the highest oxalate foods, which in turn led to your kidney stone(s). I can hear many of you …
Well, we all know what time it is, don’t we? It’s that time of year when the diet industry starts promoting all its weight loss programs. Diets that don’t work long-term because they simply aren’t sustainable—they’re not designed to be sustainable. After all, how could the marketers create a new diet for you to buy …
The year is nearly over, and I think, for the most part, we can all agree that we are ready for 2021. I am. I’m pretty busy these days with private clients, more than usual. It’s no surprise that many of them are calling me for weight loss help as staying home and being stressed …
In these posts, I like to address the topics I hear about most frequently from patients and Facebook Group Members. The common topic in the group this week has been eating while away from home (or ordering take-out food). This is a common dilemma for so many of my patients. What can we do to …
Over the years, I’ve had many patients confide in me about their daily diet habits. I always feel so honored that people trust me and feel safe enough to discuss their routines – this can be difficult. One typical unhealthy pattern I find people stuck in is the binge-purge cycle. Now, I’m not talking about …
The first thing I want to tell you about 24-hour urine collections is that they are vital in determining what is causing your stones. Your results will show diet issues and/or other medical conditions that could be the culprit. Many doctors don’t order them initially and will say, “let’s just wait for the second episode …
Let’s talk about smoothies and the role they play in your stone formation and overall health. Of course, there are many dietary reasons that we form kidney stones. Today, however, we’re going to narrow our focus to smoothies because they are a popular option for stone formers. Smoothies and Kidney Stones. I am not about …
If you’re a member of my Facebook page, you know that exercise is crucial to my well being and so I want to share some tips to get you started on your own fitness journey. Being in good health starts with diet. This is a must, but incorporating physical activity is essential for keeping your …
A common question from patients is, “what snacks can I eat on the Kidney Stone Diet?” Paying attention to sodium, sugar, and oxalate limits can make snack time a little challenging but it’s important to treat yourself here and there in order to stay compliant with a healthy lifestyle. Deprivation works for some, but not …
Every year nearly one million Americans suffer through the severe pain of kidney stones, yet most kidney stones are completely avoidable. The Kidney Stone Diet will not only decrease your likelihood of taking a ride in an ambulance due to a kidney stone, but it may also help you with other medical conditions such as …
From my personal experience, I can tell you that most of my patients do not understand the role that sugar plays in their kidney stone disease. There are two reasons sugar is a problem. One reason is that too much sugar can leach calcium from the bone and into the urine. And the second is …
I have a secret that I need to share with you. I am nearly 56 years old and just started cooking less than 2 years ago. I was always lucky enough to have my partners prepare the meals. I did the dishes. I thought it was a great deal for me as they were terrific …