with Jill Harris, LPN, CHC
A friend of mine in the Facebook group asked if she was supposed to count all the salt that occurs naturally in foods like fruits and veggies. She also mentioned that she was dealing with a lot of stress and that the thought of counting salt in produce was overwhelming. In response to this common …
Let’s talk about how to stay compliant with your Kidney Stone Diet goals over the holiday season, because I don’t expect you to forgo your favorite treats. What would the holidays be without your customs and favorite family festivities? I want you to enjoy your favorite foods because the only way to stay compliant with …
When people ask me what the kidney stone diet is, I tell them the goals and share my thoughts about diet in general. There is much more to this lifestyle than just paying attention to the goals. Lifestyle change is more about the mind than it is the food. And changing the way we think about healthy …
Let’s talk about the meat protein part of the kidney stone diet—it has always confused people, so let’s see if I can clear this up. The first thing patients usually say to me is, “I don’t eat red meat, Jill!” But, when we ask you to lower your meat protein, we’re also talking about ALL meat and seafood. …
Whether on social media or speaking with private patients and students, I hear these words everyday—“I am overwhelmed and have no idea where to start!” I’ve compiled this list of resources that will make you feel better and provide you with a foundation on which to start your path to prevention. How Your Healthy Diet Caused …
I wrote this post because I get some form of this question every single day. “Jill, I have been drinking lemon water, but I’m still making stones. Why is this happening?” First off, those of you who have been with me a while will know what my first question will be? Has your doctor ordered …
Today I want to make snacking easier with some new “grab-and-go” snacks and recipes that any kidney stone patient can safely throw in their backpack or purse on the way out the door?
This is a quick but essential update on milk. Plant-based milk, that is. A new study takes a look at the oxalate content in various brands of milk—you can see the results in the pretty little graph that we created below.
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 …
Hi! I write this from the hospital while waiting to get my six-month CT scan done to see if my cancer has returned. Needless to say, these scans always put me on edge. For those of you who don’t know, I was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer in 2016. It has been an arduous …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Passing a kidney stone is one of the most painful health experiences a person can go through in their lifetime. There are many pills, powders, and potions sold each year to patients who will do anything to avoid that hell ever again. These “remedies” promise patients that they will break up present stones and/or …