with Jill Harris, LPN, CHC
Eating Habits
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Oxalate-Friendly Food Swaps
The focus on oxalate pushes so many kidney stone patients to stop eating fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, potatoes, and other nutritious foods because they’re afraid of eating too much oxalate. But the goal is not to remove every food that contains oxalate. The goal is to make smarter choices, keep…
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The Herbs and Spices Mistake Almost Everyone Makes
When people first learn about oxalate, it often becomes the center of everything. Every food gets judged by a number. Every meal starts to feel like a math problem. And before long, people are avoiding foods that were never the issue in the first place, like herbs and spices. This…
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Why Added Sugar Matters for Kidney Stone Formers
Before we talk about sugar, we need to understand how kidney stones form in the first place. There are always new people here, and it helps to remember the basics! Also, here are the goals of the Kidney Stone Diet®. Kidney stones form when there is too much “stuff” in…
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Chew Your Vitamins: Immune-Supporting and Gut-Healthy Foods for Kidney Stone Formers
Walk into any pharmacy, and you will see shelves full of “immune support” supplements—vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D, elderberry, antioxidant blends, and powders that promise to strengthen your immune system. It can make immunity seem complicated. In reality, the immune system does not run on one miracle nutrient. It works…
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How long does it take to form a kidney stone
How Kidney Stones Form Your kidneys are filters. All day long, they clean your blood and make urine. That urine carries out extra minerals your body does not need—including calcium, oxalate, uric acid, and others. Most of the time, these minerals dissolve in your urine and leave your body without any problem.…
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Hidden Salt Bombs
One of the most common exclamations I hear during patient consults is, “I never use the salt shaker!” I wish it were as easy as putting down the salt shaker. The other common issue I hear is that patients really struggle to keep their sodium intake down each day. It…
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How to Manage Diabetes and Kidney Stones
What’s going on inside your kidneys Your kidneys don’t just make urine, they remove extra acid from your body and keep things balanced by using natural helpers called buffers. Buffers work like baking soda in your fridge. They soak up extra acid so things don’t get too sour inside your…
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Why High Protein Diets Cause Kidney Stones (And Who’s at Risk)
Why Some People Can Eat More Meat (and Why Others Make More Stones) One of the most confusing aspects of kidney stones is that two people can eat the same amount of meat, yet only one develops stones. The difference isn’t willpower, metabolism, or doing something “wrong.” The difference is…
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Vitamins and Kidney Stones: What You Need to Know
First, most vitamins don’t increase the risk of kidney stones. Two do: vitamin C and sometimes vitamin D. Everything else? Usually harmless at normal doses. Here’s what stone formers actually need to know. Vitamin C In food, great. In supplements over 200 mg/day? A hard no. Excess vitamin C can…
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The Hidden Mineral Behind More Kidney Stones
Why Salt Matters in Kidney Stone Disease Your body runs on balance. The right amount of sodium, calcium, and water in your bloodstream keeps everything working smoothly—your nerves, muscles, and kidneys all depend on that balance. When you eat too much sodium, that balance tips too far in one direction.…
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Popular Diets and Kidney Stones
Keto, paleo, carnivore, and low-carb diets can help with weight or blood sugar—but they also shift your body chemistry in ways that quietly raise your kidney stone risk. Not always, not for everyone, but often enough that you should know what’s going on. Especially if you are a past kidney…
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Meal Prepping Like A Pro
Here’s the thing: life will always get in the way. Always. In the summer, it’s BBQs, vacations, summer homes, and “oh sure, let’s just grab something on the way to the beach.” In September, it’s back-to-school chaos—new schedules, endless activities, and dinner sneaking up on you like a pop quiz.…
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The Truth About Your “Sugar Addiction”
The Truth About Control You do have control. Always. The craving is your brain talking, but you get to decide what to do with it. Every time you say, “I’m powerless,” you hand over your authority to sugar. But it’s your responsibility to take it back. Here’s one trick: name…
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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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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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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…
“The Kidney Stone Diet is far more than just a diet; this plan is life-altering!”
“The group calls will transform you physically and emotionally. Once you start this journey, your health naturally improves. I have lost a total of 40 pounds and have consistently kept it off. The group calls are such support; this is more like family than a zoom meeting to stay accountable. Jill is far more than a nurse; she is a life coach. Her platform is invaluable.”
Kim J. | Kidney Stone Prevention Course
“The best decision I’ve made has been to join this group.”
“I have been working on weight loss for many years. This group has kept me on track and has helped my continued success with my weight loss.”
Kate L. | Group Calls with Jill
“I have been following the Meal Plan for about 6 weeks and I feel amazing.”
“Eating healthy has also encouraged me to go to bed earlier, so I am also getting more sleep. Because of that, I have been able to get up before work and exercise! So yes, the positive effects are spilling over into all areas of a healthy lifestyle.”
Jerry T. | Meal Plan Subscriber
“I have been a part of the group calls with Jill for the last 14 months, and they are essential to being so successful with the Kidney Stone Diet Prevention Plan.”
Sarah B. | Group Calls with Jill
“These calls are the gold of this program!!”
“I can’t say enough about how Jill knows just the right questions to ask us or how she prods us to think about what is going on in our lives.”
Monica K. | Group Calls with Jill
“I took the course with Jill, and my second 24 hour urine was MUCH better than the first.”
“She gives very practical information, and it WORKS. I was totally overwhelmed at first. I got very poor diet information from my doctors. Jill made it easy for me to understand, and I took it one day at a time. I still watch her videos when I need a tune-up. Jill is the best, and she really cares about all of us. Take the course—it will help you!!!”
Mark J. | Kidney Stone Prevention Course