Drinking Lemon Juice May Aid in Preventing Kidney Stones

Your kidneys play a crucial role in keeping your body functioning properly and maintaining overall health.  Kidney stones are a fairly common problem, about 1 in every 10 people will have a kidney stone at some point in their lifetime, and it is slightly more common in men than women.  The condition can cause extreme pain; in fact, kidney stones account for as much as a half million emergency room visits each year.

Kidney stones are a small hard deposit that has formed in the kidney from minerals and acid salts that have not dissolved in the urine and stick together.  The most common type of kidney stone forms from a combination of calcium and oxalate.  If the stone is not able to pass from the body on its own, you may require a procedure that uses shock waves to break up the stone into smaller pieces in order to pass more easily. In some circumstances, surgery may be required in order to remove the stone.  

There are some things you can do in order to prevent kidney stones from developing.  First and foremost, stay well hydrated. Having enough fluids in your system can help to flush any buildup away before it can form into a solid stone.  Also, limit your salt intake, and avoid foods with oxalates; such as spinach, nuts, beets and chocolate.  (). Now lemon juice can be added to the list according to a UC San Diego study.

In a study by Dr. Roger L. Sur, director of UC San Diego Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center,

“Drinking lemon juice mixed with water showed a significant reduction in kidney stone formation.”  

This is due to the fact that lemons contain a high concentration of citrate, which naturally prevents kidney stones from forming.

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References

‍Health Digest

‍WebMD

‍UC San Diego Health

Harvard Health publishing

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About the Author

Monica McCarthy has bachelors in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Central Washington University.  A majority of her career was spent as a political consultant.   She currently works at KidneyLuv as a staff writer.

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Patient Education Disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. KidneyLuv makes every effort to provide information that is accurate and timely, but makes no guarantee in this regard. You should consult with, and rely only on the advice of, your physician or health care professional.

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