What to eat for kidney stones?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on May 08, 2025
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Patients with kidney stones do not have particular dietary prohibitions, but it is generally advised to avoid long-term, large consumption of foods that promote stone growth. For instance, one should not regularly consume foods high in calcium, such as dairy products like milk and cheese, or soy products like tofu, soy milk, etc. These foods should be consumed in smaller quantities. Also, it is advisable to eat less food high in oxalates, such as celery, spinach, and others. If the stones are uric acid stones, it is recommended to reduce the intake of foods high in purines, such as seafood, as well as beer, beverages, and animal offal. These foods have high purine content and should be limited to prevent or reduce the formation of uric acid stones.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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Which department should I go to for kidney stones?

Kidney stones should be treated by a urologist. For kidney stones, a urology department will perform an ultrasound of the urinary system to examine them. The symptoms of kidney stones mainly depend on the size, shape, and location of the stones, as well as the presence of any obstructions or complications such as infections. Smaller kidney stones often do not cause any symptoms in patients unless the stone falls into the ureter, which can cause acute renal colic, severe lumbar and abdominal pain, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, urgency, and hematuria. If kidney stones are accompanied by a urinary obstruction or infection, patients may experience persistent high fever. If the kidneys have multiple columnar stones, it can lead to impaired renal function and cause renal insufficiency. Therefore, kidney stones should be taken seriously. If the stones are relatively large, consider surgical treatment or lithotripsy.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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Kidney stone symptoms

The symptoms of kidney stones depend on the size and shape of the stone, as well as its location in the kidney, whether there are infections, obstructions, and other factors. Smaller kidney stones, which are smooth, can be expelled with the urine without causing noticeable symptoms. Stones lodged in the lower part of the renal pelvis or in the calyces can be asymptomatic. If the kidney stones are larger, located in the calyces or the renal pelvis, they can compress the kidney and cause back pain or dull pain because the stones can lead to the dilation or obstruction of the renal pelvis or kidney. Patients may experience back pain, fever, and if there is an infection, localized fever may occur. Additionally, kidney stones can scratch the mucous membrane of the ureter or kidney, causing bleeding.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What to eat for kidney stones?

Patients with kidney stones do not have particular dietary prohibitions, but it is generally advised to avoid long-term, large consumption of foods that promote stone growth. For instance, one should not regularly consume foods high in calcium, such as dairy products like milk and cheese, or soy products like tofu, soy milk, etc. These foods should be consumed in smaller quantities. Also, it is advisable to eat less food high in oxalates, such as celery, spinach, and others. If the stones are uric acid stones, it is recommended to reduce the intake of foods high in purines, such as seafood, as well as beer, beverages, and animal offal. These foods have high purine content and should be limited to prevent or reduce the formation of uric acid stones.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
49sec home-news-image

Is kidney stones serious?

Whether kidney stones are serious depends on the specific size and location of the stones, and whether there is accompanying kidney hydronephrosis or infection. If it is just a small stone inside the kidney, such as one with a diameter of about five millimeters, this situation is not serious. By drinking more water, urinating frequently, exercising more, and combining with medications like stone expulsion granules and stone expulsion solutions, the stones can generally be expelled from the body. If the stones are large and cause kidney hydronephrosis, or even lead to pyelonephritis or renal abscesses, this situation is more serious. It requires anti-inflammatory treatment and timely surgical intervention to remove the stones, relieve the obstruction of the urinary system, and protect kidney function.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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How to relieve the pain of kidney stones

Kidney stones, if mobile within the kidney, can cause intense pain in the patient's lumbar and abdominal area, clinically referred to as renal colic. Patients often experience unbearable pain, heavy sweating, along with symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. In such cases, it is crucial to seek timely treatment at the hospital's urology department. Doctors will use medications to alleviate pain and spasm. If there is nausea and vomiting, antiemetic drugs will also be used to relieve symptoms. Once diagnosed with kidney stones, patients are advised to seek treatment at a hospital as soon as possible.