Kidney Stone Diet

  • How Meat Protein Fits Into the Kidney Stone Diet.

    How Meat Protein Fits Into the Kidney Stone Diet.

    Let’s discuss the meat protein part of the kidney stone diet—it has always confused people, so let’s see if I can clarify this.  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 also talk about ALL…

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  • Where Do I Start?

    Where Do I Start?

    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. …

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  • Using Lemons to Prevent Kidney Stones

    Using Lemons to Prevent Kidney Stones

    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…

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  • A new shortlist of grab-and-go snacks

    A new shortlist of grab-and-go snacks

    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?

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  • Oxalate Content of Plant-Based Milk

    Oxalate Content of Plant-Based Milk

    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. 

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  • 16 Non-Dairy Calcium Sources for Kidney Stone Formers

    16 Non-Dairy Calcium Sources for Kidney Stone Formers

    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…

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  • Protein Sources for Vegan and Vegetarian Kidney Stone Formers

    Protein Sources for Vegan and Vegetarian Kidney Stone Formers

    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 leads to your kidney stone(s). I…

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  • Doing What You Can To Stay in Control of Your Health

    Doing What You Can To Stay in Control of Your Health

    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.…

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  • Focus On Wellness, Not On Weight Loss

    Focus On Wellness, Not On Weight Loss

    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…

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  • Fixing the Binge-Purge Cycle

    Fixing the Binge-Purge Cycle

    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.…

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  • Are Your Smoothies Causing Kidney Stones?

    Are Your Smoothies Causing Kidney Stones?

    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…

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  • What Is The Kidney Stone Diet?

    What Is The Kidney Stone Diet?

    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…

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  • How to Prevent Kidney Stones by Lowering Your Sugar Intake

    How to Prevent Kidney Stones by Lowering Your Sugar Intake

    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…

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  • How to Cook for the Kidney Stone Diet

    How to Cook for the Kidney Stone Diet

    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…

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  • False Promises: Why Kidney Stone Pills and Potions Don’t Work

    False Promises: Why Kidney Stone Pills and Potions Don’t Work

    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…

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  • How To Calculate Your Meat Protein Needs On The Kidney Stone Diet

    How To Calculate Your Meat Protein Needs On The Kidney Stone Diet

    Often, patients come to me after being on a high-protein diet for weight loss or to control their diabetes. They lost weight or controlled their blood sugar better but gained a kidney stone as a result of eating too much meat protein. Most of my patients got a stone because…

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  • Is the Kidney Stone Diet a Fad Diet?

    Is the Kidney Stone Diet a Fad Diet?

    I am not a fan of fad diets. I am the ultimate party pooper when it comes to Keto, Paleo, cleanses, juicing, or any other diet that promises quick results. As a matter of fact, my friends have stopped bringing the topic up as they know I will do a…

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  • How to Get More Calcium and Prevent Kidney Stones

    How to Get More Calcium and Prevent Kidney Stones

    Did your doctor tell you to stop all dairy once you formed a stone? If so, you are not alone. Many doctors tell their patients to stop eating foods that contain calcium. The problem with this advice is that eliminating calcium from your diet can lead to stone formation. Most…

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