7 Dietary Changes to Prevent Kidney Stone Recurrence 

Dietary Changes to Reduce Kidney Stone Risk

While a low-oxalate diet alone may not help prevent kidney stones, there are other ways you can modify your eating habits to reduce your risk.

1. Increase Water or Fluid Intake

Drinking more fluid increases the amount of urine you make and decreases the risk of dehydration, a risk factor for kidney stones.

2. Eat Calcium-Rich Foods

3. Follow a Low-Fat Diet

Eating too many fatty foods makes it easier for oxalates to form kidney stones. Reducing dietary fat is especially important if you have risk factors for kidney stones, such as intestinal malabsorption due to surgery or bowel diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, Pearle says.

Unfortunately, research suggests this includes healthy unsaturated fatty acids, too.

4. Reduce Sodium

However, keep in mind that most packaged and restaurant foods already have sodium added to them, so you’ll have to account for that, too.

5. Limit Added Sugars

Limiting added sugars can help prevent kidney stones by reducing the amount of calcium excretion in the urine, Pearle says.

While this may not have as big an impact as other preventive measures, it can still play a role in kidney stone formation, Pearle adds.

6. Cut Back on Animal Protein

You can reduce your risk by limiting your meat intake, including red and processed meat as well as poultry and fish, to no more than 8 ounces a day.

7. Avoid Vitamin C Supplements