Kidney stones are one of the most painful conditions a person can have. Simply trying to pass an over sized object through a much smaller structure sounds bad enough, but kidney stones also often have sharp spiky projections that make the experience utterly excruciating. Needless to say, figuring out how to avoid the development of kidney stones is a worthwhile venture.
By far, the most common cause of kidney stone formation is dehydration, especially during the hot, summer months. Chronically failing to keep your body properly hydrated with adequate fluids can instigate the formation of kidney stones, which are generally made up of calcium oxalate. In normal circumstances, our body is able to prevent excess calcium build up by flushing it out through our urine. When a person is dehydrated, however, the calcium can become highly concentrated and form into a crystallized “stone.”
Another common instigator of kidney stone formation is eating excessive amounts of foods such as nuts, spinach, and chocolate. What do these foods all have in common? Oxalates. As referenced above, calcium oxalate is the main component of most kidney stones. It goes without saying, therefore, that eating foods that are high in calcium oxalates is not a great idea if you are prone to developing kidney stones.
In related news, it has been found that drinking excessive amounts of iced tea can lead to kidney stone formation. Once again the culprit is the oxalates, which are present in iced tea. The frustrating part of this news story is the fact that drinking iced tea on a hot summer day should be a great way to NOT become dehydrated and develop kidney stones. Unfortunately, the new research shows that this is not the case, so to be on the safe side it may be wise to limit your intake of iced tea.
Instead, it has been shown that drinking “good old fashioned” water with freshly squeezed lemon juice is a much better way to stay hydrated and prevent kidney stones. The citric acid in the lemon juice can actually inhibit kidney stone formation, as well as providing you with a valuable vitamin C boost.
Now that summer is here, it’s time to protect your biggest investment: your body!
Cedar Park Chiropractor Doctor Thomas Bynes has over 11 years of clinical experience in providing gentle Chiropractic care, Trigger Point muscle pain relief, nutritional counseling, dieting advice, and exercise training. In 2009, Dr. Bynes published the detailed weight loss and wellness book “Sinner to Thinner,” a one-stop resource for healthy living, available at Amazon.com.
Dr. Bynes specializes in light, non-force muscle and tendon treatments, which are wonderful for kids with pain and women with pregnancy pain. Each week at The Crossings Wellness Spa in Austin, Dr. Bynes presents a nutrition and weight loss lecture, as well as bi-weekly lectures at Fit 4 Life Wellness Center. For more information, or if you are trying to find a Chiropractor in Cedar Park, please visit www.Fit4LifeCenter.com or call 512-250-8118.
