with Jill Harris, LPN, CHC
Reduce your kidney stone risk and live your best life.
Each week, Nurse Jill Harris—Kidney Stone Prevention expert and creator of the Kidney Stone Diet®—answers your questions about kidney stone prevention.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Watch on YouTube.
In this episode, Jill answers a listener’s question about kidney stones. She discusses the importance of lifestyle management in preventing kidney stones and the lack of attention given to this aspect in the medical field. She emphasizes the need for urine collection to understand the causes of stone formation and…
Marie, a plant-based diet patient, asks about getting enough calcium without supplements. Jill advises against calcium supplements and recommends getting calcium through food sources. She suggests using supplemented plant-based milks like coconut milk, flax milk, and pea milk. Jill also emphasizes the importance of doing a urine collection to determine…
In this episode, Jill discusses the difference between nephrologists and urologists and when to see each. She explains that urologists are surgeons who specialize in diseases of the bladder and kidneys, including kidney stone removal. Nephrologists, on the other hand, are medical doctors who manage kidney-related diseases and can also…
A listener asks if she should adjust her Kidney Stone Diet while taking medication for kidney stones. She has high urine calcium and has been prescribed a diuretic to lower it, but she’s concerned about her low blood pressure. Jill discusses the options for adjusting the diet and medication, including…
Before doing a 24-hour urine collection for kidney stone prevention, there are three important things to know. First, you should eat like you did when you were forming kidney stones to see how those foods affected your urine chemistry. Second, stop taking vitamins that have not been prescribed by a…
This week, Jill and Jeff celebrate their 200th episode and discuss five common misconceptions about kidney stones. They address the belief that there is nothing left to eat when trying to prevent kidney stones, emphasize that people can still go out to eat and enjoy their lives while managing their…
In this conversation, Jill discusses oxalate and the Kidney Stone Diet. She addresses common misconceptions and fears surrounding oxalate and gives advice on how to eat a wide variety of foods while still managing oxalate levels. Jill emphasizes the importance of getting calcium needs met and highlights the need to…
Jill Harris, your kidney stone prevention nurse, shares tips on how to pass a kidney stone. She discusses the importance of drinking more fluids to flush out the stone and suggests methods for pain relief. Jill also mentions the benefits of movement, such as walking, jumping, and even riding a…
This week, Jill discusses the topic of sweet potatoes and their relation to kidney stone prevention. She addresses the misconception that sweet potatoes should be avoided. Jill explains that sweet potatoes can be safely consumed as long as calcium needs are met. She emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet,…
In this episode, Jill discusses whether or not it is necessary to stop eating meat to avoid kidney stones. She emphasizes that giving up meat is not required, but it is important to eat it responsibly and not overeat. She also highlights the importance of maintaining a balanced diet and…
Sherry has a renal leak that causes her to absorb too much calcium, leading to hypercalciuria. She wants to know if the Kidney Stone Diet® will help her. The Kidney Stone Diet® focuses on getting enough calcium, avoiding excessive salt and sugar, and not overdoing meat protein. While a Mediterranean…
In this episode, Jill discusses the importance of portion sizes in preventing kidney stones and provides guidance on how to calculate and determine appropriate portion sizes. She emphasizes the concept of portion not perfection, where individuals should focus on portion control rather than striving for perfection in their diet. The…
In this episode, Jeff and Jill discuss the potential link between Tums (calcium supplements) and kidney stones. Jill emphasizes that taking excessive amounts of calcium supplements, such as Tums, can increase the risk of kidney stones. The importance of getting calcium from natural food sources is highlighted, and the need…
In this episode, Jill discusses whether almonds can be eaten on a low oxalate diet. She explains that almonds are typically restricted on the Kidney Stone Diet due to their high oxalate content. Overeating almonds can lead to an excessive intake of oxalate, which increases the risk of kidney stones.…
In this episode, Jeff and Jill discuss the importance of oxalate in kidney stone prevention. They address the fear and anxiety that often comes with eating foods high in oxalate and provide guidance on how to incorporate a variety of foods into a healthy diet. They emphasize that while oxalate…
Harvard has updated its Oxalate list, providing new information on the oxalate content of various foods. The list includes six new pages of information, including foods that have never been studied before. While the values may differ depending on factors such as growing conditions and measurement methods, the overall advice…
In this episode, Jill discusses the topic of eating spinach on a low oxalate diet. Jill dives into the issue of spinach and its high oxalate content, which can increase the risk of kidney stones. She explains that spinach is often overeaten and recommends taking it off the table to…
In this episode, Jill discusses whether vegan diets cause kidney stones. She debunks the myth that vegan diets are inherently problematic and explains that it’s not the diet itself but how it is approached that can lead to kidney stones. Jill emphasizes the importance of portion control and getting enough…