Calcium and Water, The Right Combination to Prevent Kidney Stones

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Calcium which was originally considered to cause kidney stones, is now known to have the opposite effect. Recent studies show that calcium may protect the kidneys, especially when combined with drinking more water.

Kidney stones are formed due to excess urine crystals forming minerals such as calcium, uric acid and oxalate compounds. It causes the kidneys to dilute and remove hard minerals from the body, so it settles in the kidneys and form kidney stones.

Someone need to increase your water intake so that the kidneys have enough fluids to help thin the stack minerals that cause kidney stones. You can also reduce the risk of kidney stones by limiting intake of salt, because sodium is too much salt can increase the levels of calcium in the urine.

Because calcium is a mineral that can cause kidney stones, have a perception that reduces calcium intake can keep you from the risk of kidney stones, but calcium is needed by the bones.

But the studies that have been conducted in recent years suggests that eating foods rich in calcium such as milk can actually protect the kidneys. The findings are published in the Journal of Urology, Medical Science Body as reported on Thursday (08/11/2012).

The study was conducted for 8 years by scientists from the University of Washington School of Medicine in the United States, which involved 78,293 women. From the study it was found that about 2.5 percent or 1 in 40 people diagnosed with high risk of kidney stones.

Results showed that women who meet calcium needs for bone health, the risk of kidney stones are about 28 percent lower than women who consume less calcium. The average woman needs to meet the needs of about 800 milligrams of calcium per day.

In addition, the group drinking adequate water also has 20 percent lower risk for kidney stones than women who drink less water. Average water intake that the body is about one and a half liters per day.

Meanwhile, higher sodium intake can increase the risk of kidney stones by 61 percent compared to those who received a lower sodium intake. High sodium foods such as fast food, processed meats, and canned food.

Based on these results, one needs to meet the needs of calcium and water to reduce the risk of kidney stones. Meet the needs of dietary calcium with calcium foods such as milk, orange juice, soybeans, broccoli, yogurt, almonds and cheese.

Consult your physician first if you are going to take calcium supplements, because calcium content is very high and may be harmful to the kidneys. You also need to drink more water to the kidneys get enough liquids to dilute calcium.

Source:  Medical Science Body