Can you really keep Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones away one sip at a time? Staying properly hydrated is essential if you’re someone who suffers from Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. In fact, dehydration is one of the top risk factors for developing Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. However, what you drink matters. What drinks are good for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? Is milk bad for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? This rundown of the best drinks for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones will satisfy your thirst for relief!
Here's Why Staying Hydrated Is Important for Preventing Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones
What do drinking liquids have to do with Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? When we’re properly hydrated, our urine is diluted. This is significant because urine that is concentrated with minerals and other substances is more likely to produce Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones form when oxalate and calcium levels become concentrated enough to bind together to create crystals, sometimes even very large crystals that some of you are probably all too familiar with!
“Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones tone formation has been directly associated with a lack of fluid intake and is by far one of the most common causes of stone formation,” according to a systematic review on the role of fluid intake in the prevention of stone disease that was published in 2020. That’s why it’s recommended that adults drink a minimum of 8 six ounces glasses of water spread throughout the day. When we drink plenty of fluids, the molecules in our urine are not as concentrated. This reduces the likelihood of those molecules bonding to form Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. What drinks are good for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? Keep reading to learn about some delicious, refreshing beverages that might surprise you!
The Best Drinks for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones
Not all liquids are equal when it comes to sipping to avoid Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones! What drinks are good for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? Is milk bad for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? Keep reading to get all your questions answered.
1. Water
It should come as no surprise that water is considered the best thing to drink to prevent Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. Tap, sparkling, mineral, or well water will all be fine. The reason why water reigns is because it provides generous hydration without added sugars or additivities that could potentially trigger Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. It’s also simply a healthy, calorie-free option that can help people to maintain overall health without even factoring in the kidney benefits!
2. Sparkling/Carbonated Water
Is carbonated water okay for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? Yes, sparkling, and carbonated water drinks are both considered among the best drinks for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. The benefit of these drinks is that they are often more satisfying than plain water. That means that you’ll be more likely to hit your fluid target for the day! Of course, you need to be careful about avoiding sparkling beverages that contain hidden sugars. Both plain varieties and drinks with natural flavors should be enjoyable enough on their own without additives.
3. Citrus-infused Water
When researchers looked at the role of consuming liquids in reducing kidney stone formation, they found that grapefruit and orange juices both helped to reduce calcium oxalate (CaOx) saturation in urine. Researchers also noted that this led to a reduction in subsequent stone formation. The verdict? Squeezing some fresh lemon or grapefruit into your water can enhance its flavor while also making every sip more powerful in the battle against stone formation!
4. Apple Juice
In the same study mentioned above, researchers also found that consuming fluids with apple juices led to reduced urine CaOx saturation that resulted in a reduction in stone formation. This makes all-natural apple juice one of the best drinks for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. While apple juice can be a sweet and healthy treat, it’s important to avoid making apple juice your primary drink of the day due to the negative impact that all the sugar in apple juice can have on your teeth, weight, overall health as well as too much sugar is not good for those facing stone challenges
5. Lemonade or Lemon-lime Soda
Some brands of diet lemonade have high levels of citrate in them. As you may already know if you’ve spoken to doctors about Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones before, citrate is a powerful inhibitor of the formation of Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. In fact, citrate is sometimes prescribed to treat Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. While diet lemonade or lemon drinks shouldn’t be replacements for water, they can offer tasty ways to get more liquid into your diet with the added benefit of citrate.
6. Coffee
While coffee isn’t one of the best drinks for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones, it is considered a neutral factor when it comes to stone formation. That means that you’ll be fine as long as you consume coffee in moderation. Is milk bad for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? That may be your next question after hearing that coffee is cleared for consumption if you like to put milk or cream in your cup. The answer is coming up next!
Is Milk Bad for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones?
It’s impossible to skip over milk when discussing what drinks are good for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. This is a topic that’s shrouded in misinformation. Is milk bad for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? With calcium oxalate Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones being the most common Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones, most people assume that milk and other high-calcium foods are horrible for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones.
In reality, calcium-rich foods actually decrease your risk of developing Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. That’s because calcium binds to oxalate before reaching the kidneys to help prevent stone formation. Is milk bad for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? Not at all! The high calcium content in milk places it firmly on the list of the best drinks for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones! Better yet, it is best to consume high calcium containing foods at the same time when consuming those containing oxalates.
Is Milk Bad For Kidney Stones?
Milk is one of the best calcium sources and hence it shouldn’t be avoided by those who have kidney stones. To know about how milk helps with kidney stones, read the complete blog.