Kidney stones

Chances are you or someone you know has had kidney stones at some point. And if you have, you know it is a most unpleasant experience. In fact, I have heard that the pain can be worse than child bearing. And so we should do everything we can to prevent this from happening. Doing so will also help to maintain a healthy balance in the urinary  system of the body.

Functions of the kidneys

The kidneys are a filtration and excretory organ. They assist the liver in filtering the blood of toxins such as urea, which result from the breakdown of amino acids. At the same time, the kidneys ensure the resorption from the filtrate of potentially useful organic substances, such as minerals. Normal kidney function can continue only as long as the processes of filtration, resorption, and secretion occur without disruption.

Kidney stones

An estimated 10 percent of Canadians develop kidney stones (urinary tract stones) at some point in their lives. They are most common in white men between the ages of thirty and fifty. Men are more likely than women to suffer from this ailment (four out of five cases are in men) and there is a 50 percent rate of recurrence in adults.

Stones can range in size from microscopic specks to the size of a fingertip. There are four kinds of kidney stones: calcium stones composed of calcium oxalate; uric acid stones; struvite stones composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate; and cysteine stones. Knowing the type of stones can tell us something about the cause.

Causes

About 80 percent of all stones are calcium oxalate. High blood calcium levels lead to hypercalciuria – excessive absorption of calcium from the intestine – which increases the level of calcium in the urine. This excess calcium eventually forms a stone. The consumption of refined carbohydrates, especially sugar, can precipitate kidney stones, because the sugar stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, which in turn causes extra calcium to be excreted in the urine. Mild chronic or recurrent dehydration can also be a factor in kidney stones because it concentrates the urine, increasing the likelihood of stone formation.

Kidney stones are due to a deficiency of magnesium, not an excess of calcium. Magnesium keeps calcium soluble. When there is an imbalance in the kidney/bladder it is a good idea to ensure there is a proper ratio of calcium/magnesium maintained in the diet. Sugar and excessive consumption of calcium containing antacids may foster stone formation in those who are prone to stone formation. 

Calcium stones often run in families because the tendency to absorb too much calcium is hereditary.

People who have a genetic predisposition for developing kidney stones tend to absorb more oxalate from their diets or metabolize greater amounts of oxalate percursors (compounds that form oxalates once they are ingested). People who have Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome, or who eat diets high in oxalic acid, may have an increased risk of stones as well, as these conditions can cause the excretion of oxalate in the urine to increase.

Other risk factors for kidney stones include low urine volume, low bodily pH, living in a tropical climate, and reduced production of natural urinary inhibitors of crystal formation.

Kidney stones are ten times more common now than they were at the start of the twentieth century. Even though the consumption of high oxalate foods (especially fish, eggs, and certain vegetables) has declined markedly since that time, the amount of animal fats and protein in the average North American’s diet has increased significantly. The ratio of plant to protein in the typical diet a century ago was 1 to 1. This ratio has since changed to 1 to 2 - that’s double the protein! The consumption of animal protein is strongly associated with oxalate absorption.

Symptoms

Lower back pain, fatigue, and joint pains are common signs of overworked kidneys. Blood in the urine, nausea and vomiting may indicate the presence of kidney stones.

Prevention

Drink two liters of pure water daily. Replace tea and coffee with herbal teas that are beneficial to the urinary tract and restrict intake of alcohol.

Consume a vegetarian diet high in dietary fiber. Foods high in oxalates such as beans, cocoa, instant coffee, parsley, rhubarb and raw spinach can aggravate existing kidney problems due to a lack of good bacteria in the intestines. Recent studies have found that a naturally occurring gut bacterium, Oxalobacter formigenes prevents the formation of oxalates and can help prevent stones. Fermenting these foods will also prevent the formation of oxalates.

Stay active. Exercise helps pull calcium from the blood into the bones, where it belongs.

If you suspect you might have or be at risk of developing kidney stones, do not hesitate to contact your physician.