Kidney Stones on a Summer's Day

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

18 Aug 2006 03:23 PM

Kidney stones may actually be more common in the summer than any other time of year! That's because kidney stones are linked to water consumption. If you aren't drinking enough water during the summer months, you may be giving your body a chance to develop kidney stones.

Kidney stones are made of salts and other minerals in urine that stick together. The stones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. They may stay in your kidneys or travel out of the body through the urinary tract. You may or may not experience pain as the stone travels out of your body.

What can you do to decrease your risk of developing kidney stones?

• Drink between thirty-two and sixty-four ounces of water daily, all year round. That's between four and eight glasses.
• Drink double the water you normally would in hot weather.
• Cut back on the meat. Yes, summer is cookout season... but you can grill vegetables just as easily as meat! The more animal protein you consume, the higher your risk of kidney stones. Skipping meat just two days a week can make a big difference.
• Cut back on the salt. Food you prepare yourself tends to be much lower in salt than prepared, pre-packaged, and take out foods.
• Cut back on the caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic that can steal water from your body and leave you dehydrated. Try to switch to decaf... at least some of the time.
• Eat plenty of citrus fruits, or put lemon slices in your water or iced tea. The acidic nature of citrus fruits can help inhibit the development of kidney stones.
• Eat plenty of watermelon during the summer -- it's full of water!

Want to get rid of your kidney stones naturally? The Remedies section at Families.com has plenty of tips for you to treat your kidney pain and kidney stones.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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