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Diet and Kidney Stones

By Dr. Pawan Kesarwani in Urology , Nutrition And Dietetics

Nov 18 , 2025 | 3 min read

The incidence of urolithiasis (kidney and ureteric stones) is on the rise in a few states of India. This problem usually affects the young population.

The chances of its recurrence are 7% per year meaning that the chances of reforming the stone are 35% at the end of 5yrs and more than 50% at the end of 10yrs.

The treatment of urolithiasis is not only surgical or endoscopic removal of the stone but also prevention of further stone formation. By making changes in lifestyle and dietary modification one can reduce the chances of recurrence.

The most common type of kidney stones results from too much calcium and oxalate in the urine. These minerals bind together as crystals, forming stones.

Diet Plan to Prevent Kidney Stones

The following dietary guidelines can help to prevent kidney stones.

Drink plenty of fluid

Drink more fluid, especially water
Drinking water helps to flush out the kidneys and dilute stone-forming substances, making stones less likely to form.
Drink at least 3 litres, or 12 cups, of fluid daily. At least half of this should be water (soda, mineral, spring or plain tap water).
Have a cup of fluid (250ml) each hour during waking hours, and a large glass of water before going to bed. Drink a glass of water if you wake up during the night.
Spread out your fluid intake during the day.
Avoid strong black tea and orange juice, as these are high in oxalates.
Avoid grapefruit juice, cranberry juice (if more than 500ml/day) and sugary drinks. Drinking large amounts of sugary drinks (soft drinks, cordial) can lead to weight gain. Choose diet or low joule drinks to limit weight gain.
Lemon juice is a good source of citrate which helps to prevent stones from forming.
Drink 100ml of lemon juice daily (could be added to water).

Limit salt intake

Salt (sodium) increases the amount of calcium in your urine. Limit sodium intake to less than 2300mg per day.

To reduce salt /sodium:

Buy fresh food, or foods without salt - fruit, fresh vegetables, fresh meats, chicken, fish, eggs, porridge, rice, pasta
Most sodium (75%) comes from processed foods. Limit processed foods high in salt e.g. soup, sauces, gravy, crisps and snack foods.
“low salt” or “no added salt” foods are the best choices. Look for sodium content of less than 150 mg per serving as a guideline. Note that some “reduced salt” products can still contain high levels of sodium.
Do not add salt at the table or in cooking.

What can I use instead?

freshly ground pepper, dry mustard powder
lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar
a sprinkle of dried herbs or chopped fresh herbs
garlic, curry, chilli, onion, fresh ginger, spring onions

Limit foods high in oxalate

Reducing oxalate in your diet helps to reduce the amount of oxalate in your urine.
Limit intake of rhubarb, spinach, silverbeet, beetroot, eggplant, sweet potato, celery, and leeks
nuts, peanut paste
strong black tea, orange juice chocolate
wheat bran and wheat germ
berries (eg strawberries, blackberries), dried figs

Include adequate calcium in your diet

Dietary calcium is important for your bones and teeth. Adequate dietary calcium intake is recommended.
Include at least 2-3 choices daily from the following list
250ml milk (eg trim, skim, full cream, calcium-fortified soy milk)
200ml high calcium milk eg Physical 200g (small tub) yoghurt
40g cheese (2 slices) 3 scoops ice cream

Include only a moderate amount of animal protein

Limit protein from meat, seafood, fish, chicken, and eggs to a moderate serve (120 -150g) daily (cooked) (note 60g meat = 2 eggs)

Vitamin supplements

Do not take Vitamin C supplements (also known as ascorbic acid, calcium ascorbate)
Do not take Vitamin D supplements or cod liver oil

Choose wholemeal and wholegrain foods

Eating foods higher in fibre can decrease the risk of stone formation by reducing the amount of calcium and oxalate you absorb
Choose wholemeal and wholegrain breads, flour, cereals, pasta, biscuits and crackers