What should not be eaten with kidney stones

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on March 10, 2025
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Patients with kidney stones do not have absolute dietary prohibitions. However, it is advisable to consume less food high in calcium, oxalates, and purines. Foods high in purines are mainly found in seafood, animal offal, beer, and beverages. High-calcium foods are primarily found in soy products and dairy products, such as soy milk, tofu, and cow's milk. Foods high in oxalates include celery, spinach, etc. These foods can be consumed in moderation in daily life, but should not be used in large amounts over a long period to avoid further growth and increase of stones. It is also important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and engage in appropriate physical exercise to effectively prevent the occurrence of kidney stones. Additionally, for patients who have already developed kidney stones, it is necessary to timely decide on conservative stone expulsion or surgical treatment based on the size of the stones.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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How can kidney stones be expelled from the body?

The method of expelling kidney stones from the body is related to the size of the stones. If the diameter of the kidney stone is less than 0.6 centimeters, it can generally pass smoothly through the ureter and urethra to the outside of the body. This can be facilitated by drinking plenty of water and performing physical activity to naturally expel the stones. If a stone gets stuck in a physiologically narrow part of the ureter during expulsion, conservative treatment methods can be used to dilate the ureter, allowing the stone to pass on its own. If the kidney stones are relatively large but do not cause obstruction within the kidney, they can be observed temporarily without treatment. If larger stones get stuck in the ureter or urethra and cannot be expelled on their own, surgery is generally required to remove the stones. After surgery, it is also important to drink plenty of water and urinate frequently.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Are urinary stones the same as kidney stones?

Urinary stones and kidney stones are not exactly the same. Urinary stones refer to stones in the urinary system, including kidney stones, ureter stones, bladder stones, and urethral stones. Therefore, kidney stones are just one type of stones in the urinary system, and urinary stones include kidney stones. If kidney stones occur, one should promptly visit the hospital's urology department for examinations such as ultrasound or CT scans. This facilitates understanding the specific size, location, number of stones, and whether there is accompanying hydronephrosis or infection, allowing for targeted treatment. If the stones are small, drinking plenty of water, urinating frequently, and exercising can help expel the stones from the body. If the stones are large, or there is hydronephrosis, it is advisable to consider surgery as soon as possible.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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How are kidney stones caused?

There are many causes leading to the formation of kidney stones, related to daily water and food intake, lifestyle habits, living environment, genetics, and certain diseases. For example, patients with hyperuricemia and those with hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands are prone to the formation of kidney stones. Additionally, individuals who often stay in high-temperature environments and neglect to drink water frequently and urinate regularly, can easily experience concentrated urine, which also promotes the formation of kidney stones. Furthermore, people who consume large amounts of calcium and oxalate-rich foods over long periods are also commonly at risk of developing kidney stones.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

The symptoms of kidney stones vary depending on the size and location of the stone, and whether there is associated hydronephrosis. If the stone inside the kidney is relatively small, most patients experience no discomfort, and it is generally discovered during an ultrasound examination at physical check-ups. However, if such a small stone falls into the ureter, it can irritate the ureteral walls and cause ureteral spasms, resulting in renal colic and, in some cases, hematuria. If the kidney stone is relatively large and causes kidney hydronephrosis or even pyonephrosis, the patient will experience sour swelling and pain in the waist on the side of the stone. If an infection occurs, symptoms such as chills and high fever may also appear.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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How big must a kidney stone be to require lithotripsy?

If the kidney stone is between 0.5 and 1.5 centimeters in size, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is required. After the treatment, patients should drink more water, urinate frequently, and exercise more, such as running, jumping rope, and playing basketball, to facilitate the expulsion of the stones. Then, one week later, a follow-up visit to the hospital for an ultrasonic examination of the urinary system should be done to check the status of the stone expulsion. If the kidney stone is larger than 1.5 centimeters, minimally invasive surgery is required for stone disintegration, primarily using percutaneous nephrolithotomy with Holmium laser lithotripsy.