Eat Lemons to Avoid Kidney Stones

This post was originally published as Eat Lemons to Avoid Kidney Stones  by Laurel on Health Food blog.

I thank my stars that I’ve never had any problems with kidney stones, but I’ve heard they are just terrible to deal with. If you’re prone to get them, I have some good news for you. Natural News recently reported that lemons and other citrus fruits can help prevent kidney stones from developing. John Milner, a urology expert at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, says “lemons are very high in citrates, which inhibit the growth of kidney stones.”

Milner says its very important for people to drink lots of water because “insufficient fluid intake” is the most common cause for stones. He says you can drink lots of water with slices of lemons to help protect yourself.

What foods or drinks should you avoid if you have kidney stones? Stay away from iced tea because it contains a chemical called oxalate which can actually promote kidney stone growth. Yipes! Also limit your intake of chocolate, nuts, rhubarb, and spinach (all high in oxalates).

I once heard from a nutritionist on the radio that the best thing you can do when you first wake up is to have a big glass of water with lemon. It seems like a great habit to start.

On a separate note, LOHF is on another blog carnival. This time my “Orange Veggies Cut Heart Disease Risk” blog is featured on the Carnival of Healing #167. Look fot it under the Healthier Nutrition category.