Food for gall kidney stone

Food to alleviate pain from gall stones?
(October 11, 2010)

Kidney stones can be a painful experience. Most kidney stones have the ability to pass out of the body without medical guidance. An effective kidney stones diet can help eliminate kidney stones naturally. But it is also likely that certain stones may increase in size and not be able to pass out of the body naturally. Kidney stones are solid substances that form in the kidney out of urine substances.


A kidney stone can either settle in the kidney or travel down the urinary tract. Kidney stones that are smaller in size can pass out of the system without causing much pain. Larger stones get stuck in the bladder, ureter or urethra causing urine blockages, pain and discomfort. Kidney stones are broadly classified into four types: calcium, struvite , uric acid and cystine. Calcium and uric acid stones can be prevent and treated with the help of diet changes.

Dietary regulations alone can work as an effective treatment to eliminate kidney stones. The kidney stones diet or diet for people with kidney stones is a precautionary mechanism. This process helps avoid certain foods that can aggravate a kidney stone condition. Gall stones can also be treated with the help of a diet for gall stones. The key focus of the diet revolves around maintaining the acid-alkali balance of the urine. Increasing the intake of fluids also reduces the risk of concentration of minerals in the urine. It is advisable to drink more than 3 liters of water a day. Fruits and vegetables provide a wide variety of nutritional benefits. Citrus fruit juices are popularly known natural alternatives to treating a kidney stone condition. Orange juice is also known to reduce the crystallization of calcium oxalate and uric acid.

Certain foods that must be avoided as part of the kidney stones diet are alcoholic beverages, pickles, carbonated beverages and condiments. Vegetables such as radishes, tomatoes, spinach, watercress, rhubarb, beans, onions, cabbage and cauliflower must also be avoided. Intake of non vegetarian foods must also be avoided or limited. In case of calcium phosphate stones intake of milk, vitamin D and alkalis must be in moderation. Diet for kidney stones differ with the type of kidney stone and diet changes need to be made accordingly.

For example, the foods to be avoided for the following type of kidney stones are:
Calcium Phosphate stones: Eliminating such stones require a low calcium and phosphorus diet. Avoid intake of spinach, carrots, pea, soybean, whole wheat flour, chickpea, almonds and coconuts. It is advisable to have milk, curd, cottage cheese, groundnuts and lentils as the ideal source of calcium and phosphorus.

Uric Acid stones:  A low protein diet is suggested to eliminate uric acid stones. Foods that must be avoided are: sweet breads, kidney, livers, radishes, soybeans, brown bread, cherries, chocolates, peanuts, hazelnuts, asparagus, beans and potatoes. High protein foods can cause crystallization of salts in the urine. Meat, fish and poultry are high protein foods and must be limited in quantity or avoided.

The Gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ located behind the liver. Its main function is to store bile and to release it (into the liver) to aid digestion. Bile contains (among other things) acids which help in breaking down food while digestion. Sometimes (most often due to a dietary problem or too much cholesterol) gallstones may form.

The major symptom of gallstones is pain: in the right side of the ribcage (where the gall bladder is located). Some sufferers complain of excruciating pain, others of radiating pain which spreads to the entire back and chest. The duration of such "attacks" of pain also varies from one hour to twelve hour episodes. It generally gets worse at night. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating and belching soon after a meal.

Since gallstones are a digestive malady, treatment mainly entails dietary changes. A severe attack may also warrant hospitalization and surgery to remove the gallbladder. But in most cases rest, combined with a special diet helps in combating the pain from gallstones.

• When having a gallstone attack, be sure to avoid eggs, pork, milk, nuts, and alcohol, citrus fruits like grapefruit and oranges and caffeine in all forms. These foods are all difficult to digest and aggravate the gallbladder malfunction and worsen discomfort.
• Instead, try and eat easy to digest foods with low acidic levels and plenty of fiber like fresh vegetables, fruits like avocado, apricot, berries, apples, guavas, currants, pears, prunes and figs.
• Drink plenty of water to balance the digestive juices.
• Turmeric and root ginger have long been known to help with digestive maladies. Try and consume a teaspoon of each a day.
• Aloe Vera juice is also said to alleviate gallbladder pain as is cucumber and cucumber juice.
• Boil a tablespoon of flax seeds in a pint of water and let stand for 10 minutes. Strain and drink a few sips throughout the day for relief.
• Grate a beetroot and add the juice of a lemon and a tablespoon of olive oil and eat a little at least six times a day.

Please remember that pain or discomfort of any sort in the chest must first be reported to your doctor. He/she will first conduct a number of tests and scans to confirm the diagnosis and rule out appendicitis or liver malfunction. Only follow the above measures after you are certain of your diagnosis. If the problem persists for over two weeks, you need to go back to your doctor. An alternative treatment, possibly surgery may then be advised.