A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral structure that is present either in the kidney or the urinary tract. The symptoms of kidney stones include severe abdominal pain while urinating, urine that appears cloudy or smells differently, and a desire to urinate more often than normal.
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Kidney stones are formed due to a number of causes, one of the major ones being high concentrations of uric acid. It is known that cellular metabolism of purine leads to the formation of uric acids. Sometimes due to malfunction of kidneys, there is an excessive accumulation of uric acid in the form of abnormal crystals. Too much uric acid can lead to several health problems, including kidney stones and gout.
Not everyone can adopt a rigid dietary regimen to lower uric acid levels, but avoiding foods that are rich in purines may help. Here are some tips to keep your purine consumption under check:
Foods to avoid: The foods that must be excluded from the diet are red meat, organ meat, shellfish, and sugar-sweetened foods and drinks high in fructose.
Foods to choose: The foods that must be included in the diet are green vegetables, fruits, whole grains and dairy products with low-fat content.
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Include calcium in your diet: It is said that calcium, when it is taken in correct amount helps to block substances that aid in the formation of the kidney stones. It is always best to add calcium in the diet from the plant-based foods such as calcium-fortified juices, bread, cereals, certain vegetables and a few kinds of beans. However, before adopting a particular diet, it is best to consult a doctor or a dietician.
Include flavonoids in your diet: Cherries, mulberries, blueberries, blackberries, lemons and limes, cranberries, dark-coloured beans, green and red vegetables, red and green onions are foods that are rich in flavonoids and make up a low-purine diet. These fruits contain bioflavonoids and antioxidant like anthocyanin, therefore exhibiting anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. They also contain potassium that helps to regulate kidney functions and blood pressure. Add fish oil supplements and folic acid supplements to your low-purine diet for getting better results.
You can add fish oil supplements and folic acid supplements to your low-purine diet for getting better results.
A low purine diet must contain:
1. Daily 2 servings of dairy products having low-fat content.
2. Daily 3 servings of vegetables. You can choose mushroom, spinach, and asparagus.
3. 6 ounces of animal products such as meat, chicken, poultry, fish, peas, eggs and cheese.
4. Limited and measured amounts of fats, condiments, drinks, snacks, sweets, and desserts depending on the health condition.
It is always best to seek the help of a medical practitioner and a nutritionist before you begin to follow any diet.
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