12 glasses of fluids per day (at least 6 glasses of water)
In addition to implementing a special diet program according to the type of kidney stone, a correct and healthy diet program can be implemented against kidney stones. The first step in protecting kidney health is to drink plenty of water. Water helps dissolve the chemicals that form kidney stones. If your urine is light yellow and odorless, this indicates that you have enough water in your body. Consuming 10-12 glasses of fluids per day (at least 6 glasses of water) increases the amount of urine and ensures that the chemicals are dissolved and excreted in the urine before they turn into kidney stones.

Be friends with citrus fruits
Citrus fruits help prevent and reduce the formation of stones. Be sure to consume oranges, fresh lemons and lemon juice when they are in season.

Get calcium and vitamin D
If calcium intake from food is low, the amount of oxalate in the body increases. Increased oxalate increases the likelihood of kidney stones. To prevent this situation, make sure to include plenty of calcium and vitamin D-rich foods in your diet. While milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables and figs are rich in calcium, salmon, sardines, haddock, egg yolk and cheese are also rich in vitamin D. Also, 15 minutes of sun exposure per day increases vitamin D levels (vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium in the body).

Reduce animal protein
Protein sources such as meat, chicken, fish, and eggs cause uric acid accumulation in the body. Frequent consumption of these foods reduces citrate, which prevents the formation of kidney stones in the body. Instead of animal protein sources, protein intake can be met with more yogurt and legumes for a while.

Limit oxalate-rich foods
Oxalate-rich foods (tomatoes, okra, beets, spinach, chard, rhubarb, potatoes, hazelnuts, peanuts, almonds, sesame seeds, tahini, chocolate, ice cream, etc.) are likely to increase the risk of kidney stones. People with kidney stones should reduce or eliminate oxalate-rich foods. If you consume a food containing oxalate, make sure to eat it with a food rich in calcium, such as yogurt/cheese. This helps the oxalate bind to calcium during digestion before it reaches the kidneys.

Avoid alcohol
Avoid any food or drink that dehydrates your body (alcohol, excessive amounts of tea, coffee, more than 5-6 glasses a day, etc.).

Reduce salt
A high amount of sodium in the body can cause calcium stones to accumulate in the urinary tract. No more than 1 level teaspoon of salt should be consumed per day. Consumption of foods with high salt content such as pickles and ready-made foods should be avoided.

Don’t skip your check-ups
Have your kidney functions checked regularly. Don’t neglect early and effective treatment of diseases that pose a risk factor.

Stop smoking
Smoking, which is life-threatening and invites many diseases, is also one of the biggest enemies of the kidneys. It should not be forgotten that smokers are among those at risk of chronic kidney disease.

Nutritional therapy against calcium oxalate stones
Calcium oxalate stones are the most common form of kidney stones. Oxalate is found in many foods. The body uses nutrients that are beneficial, while those that are not beneficial are removed from the body through urine. High levels of oxalate in urine can lead to kidney stone formation.

Vitamin C supplements should not be used
When ascorbic acid is taken in excess, urinary oxalate excretion may increase. Daily vitamin C intake should not exceed 1000 mg.

Sufficient amount of protein should be taken
Consuming more than 120-150 grams of meat / chicken / fish per day can increase the formation of kidney stones.

Nutritional therapy against uric acid stones
Excessive accumulation of uric acid in the urine and urine pH below 5.5 cause the formation of uric acid stones. Excessive consumption of animal-based foods (meat, chicken, fish, eggs, organ meats, etc.) can cause the formation of uric acid stones. However, uric acid formation does not occur in everyone who eats a high-protein diet. The risk of stone formation is higher in obese, diabetic patients, patients receiving chemotherapy, and people who are sensitive to uric acid than in other individuals.

Those with uric acid stones:

– Frequent and excessive consumption of purine-rich foods (fish, beef, chicken, offal, mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, chard, purslane, bulgur, legumes) should be avoided. Only one of these foods can be chosen and eaten as a portion per day. For example, 2 meatballs of meat / chicken / fish or 8 tablespoons of chard / spinach / purslane / cauliflower / legumes or 4 tablespoons of mushrooms / asparagus.
– Red meat and seafood (anchovies, sardines) consumption should be reduced. Purine-rich foods should be replaced with plenty of vegetables, sufficient amounts of fruit, low-fat yogurt and whole grain foods.
– The ideal weight for the person should be maintained.
– Crash diets that increase the amount of uric acid in the blood should be avoided.

Nutritional therapy against struvite stones

Struvite stones (magnesium ammonium phosphate) are stones caused by infection that form in the urinary tract. It is more common in women. B6 and magnesium deficiency, hot weather, thirst and inadequate fluid consumption increase the risk of stone formation.

Those with struvite stones should pay attention to the following warnings:

– Struvite stones dissolve in acidic environments. High amounts of vitamin C (e.g. orange juice) are effective in preventing infection and dissolving stones.
– Care should be taken to ensure adequate intake of vitamins B1 and B6.
– Since struvite stones are caused by infection, the infection must first be eliminated with different methods under the supervision of a doctor. Diet therapy alone is not very effective in removing stones.

Nutritional therapy against cystine stones
Cystine stones are very rare. Excessive amounts of cystine in the urine leads to the formation of cystine stones. Cystine is formed from methionine, one of the essential amino acids.

Points to consider for those with cystine stones:
– A diet low in methionine prevents stone formation by reducing the amount of cystine. However, the applicability of this type of nutrition is low. Because it is necessary to reduce the consumption of protein-rich meat, milk and dairy products.
– Making urine alkaline is also effective in dissolving cystine stones. Increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables while decreasing your intake of animal-based foods helps your urine become alkaline.
– Adequate calcium intake (2-3 bowls of yoghurt per day, etc.) and 30 grams of fibre consumption per day (shelled fruits, vegetables, whole grains and oilseeds) are important.