Tips Archives - Kidney Stone Diet

Tips

The Stone Is Gone. The Fear Isn’t.

Everyone understands that kidney stones are painful. What is harder to see is what can happen after the pain stops. The stone may pass or be removed, but for many patients, the fear does not leave with it. They begin doubting every ache, every meal, and every decision. Travel feels…
+ More
Kidney Stone Myths Debunked

I wish I could tell you that kidney stone myths eventually disappear, but they do not. The same home remedies keep showing up online year after year, usually with a confident promise that one food or drink can dissolve a stone, flush it out, or cleanse the kidneys. Some of…
+ More
Ten Common Mistakes that Increase Your Stone Risk

You already know about spinach and almonds. Most of the people who follow me are well past the beginner-kidney-stone advice. You know water matters, sodium matters, and oxalate is only one part of the story. But there are other mistakes I see all the time, and they are easy to…
+ More
Calcium and Oxalate: The Rule Most Stone Formers Get Wrong

If you are a calcium oxalate stone former, you have probably heard that calcium can help lower how much oxalate gets into your urine. That part is true, but this is also where people start to panic. Patients often ask these same few question: This is where kidney stone prevention…
+ More
Can You Dissolve a Kidney Stone?

Kidney stone patients all ask the same hopeful question: “Can I dissolve this stone!?” An understandable question. If you have ever passed a kidney stone, had surgery, worn a stent, or sat in the ER scared and uncomfortable, of course you want a gentler answer. Of course, lemons sound better than…
+ More
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…
+ More
Hair Loss, Brittle Nails, and Collagen

Hair thinning. Brittle nails. More breakage than you remember from ten years ago. Many kidney stone formers are at an age when these changes start showing up. For women especially, postmenopausal hormone shifts can quietly alter hair texture, growth patterns, and nail strength. It’s frustrating, it feels visible, and it…
+ More
Will My Kidney Stone Pass?

If you’ve ever been told you have a kidney stone, you probably asked the same question everyone asks: “Will it pass on its own?” The honest answer is that it depends. Most people know stone size matters, but fewer realize that kidney stone location can be just as important. Where…
+ More
Kidney Stone Stents: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and How to Stay Comfortable

What Is a Ureteral Stent? A ureteral stent is a thin, soft, flexible tube that sits between the kidney and the bladder. Its job is simple: keep urine flowing while the drainage tube from the kidney, called the ureter, heals after surgery. It’s temporary, and it’s placed to protect your…
+ More
Water Tips and Tricks for Kidney Stone Prevention

For those of you who have a hard time getting in your water, slowly increase your intake week by week until you get used to it. Your bladder is a muscle; it will need to adjust. You want to drink enough water to produce at least 2.5 liters of urine…
+ More
Back-to-School Snacks for Teachers!

50 Snack Ideas for Teachers (or anyone on KSD) COLD SNACKS SHELF-STABLE SNACKS THROW-IT-IN-THE-BAG SNACKS One small action Print this list. Tape it inside your snack drawer. Or stick it on the fridge. Circle your favorites. Even better—grab my snack guide eBook for more recipes, bars, and smart combos. And…
+ More
Urine pH and Its Role in Kidney Stone Prevention

Why Too Low a pH is a Problem A lower urine pH (below 5.7) indicates that your urine is more acidic than it should be. That acidic environment increases the risk of uric acid stones, and it often accompanies low urine citrate, which also increases the risk of calcium oxalate…
+ More
How to Read a Nutrition Label

First, let’s talk about the fine print on those nutrition labels—you know, the part where it says something like: “Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.” Sound familiar? If your eyes usually glaze over when…
+ More
Tips and Tricks for Lowering Sugar

Last week, I gave 100 tips for lowering sodium, so let’s tackle sugar for all my sweeties. It’s not quite 100, but it’s pretty close. This week, I organized them for you into categories. Breakfast Swaps Beverage Adjustments Snacks Desserts Baking Substitutions Dining Out Sauces & Condiments Sweet Tooth Satisfaction…
+ More
100 Tips for Lowering Sodium

This week and every week, my private patients tell me how difficult it is to lower their sodium on the Kidney Stone Diet®. I’ve written blog posts explaining how to do this, but lowering sodium remains a big challenge so let’s review the many ways we can reduce our intake. While we…
+ More
When to go to the ER for kidney stones

Hi! Here is an essential post on when to go to the ER during a kidney stone incident. Believe it or not, some stones pass without incident. But for many of you, there were clear warning signs that something was wrong in your body. Running off to the emergency room…
+ More
Kidney Stone Pain Tool Kit

Here is a list of recommended items from kidney stone patients to have on hand when traveling if you have current kidney stones.
+ More
What Tests Exactly Should My Doctor Order for the 24-Hour Urine Collection?

This is a common question for stone formers and, frankly, many doctors are unsure of what exactly to look for—below I list the values most typically ordered. Remember to read this article to understand the importance of getting a urine collection ordered.
+ More