Kidney Stones questions

#1

Is there a link between kidney stones and a Keto/fasting WOE. I need to know if I have to tweak what I’m doing.

(Ron) #2

A little lemon juice in a drink daily will stop any chance of kidney stones with any way of eating.:+1:

Lemon juice contains high levels of citric acid, not to be confused with ascorbic acid (vitamin C). While lemon juice contains both, citric acid seems to contribute to reducing the chances of developing calcium oxalate stones. In clinical studies, citric acid from lemon juice has been shown to reduce urine acidity, thereby reducing kidney stone incidence. Vitamin C may also provide protection, yet it is unclear whether or not this protection is as significant as citric acid. Regardless, the bottom line is that lemon juice offers a complementary approach to supporting kidney function and, depending on the type of stones in question, possibly halting formation before it starts.

(Brian) #3

I have heard that there is a risk of kidney stones when a person eats keto and then goes back to eating high carb again. I’m sure someone can fill in the proper reference, maybe Taubes??

I would second the idea of lemon juice being a good thing.

(Crow T. Robot) #4

I’ve had kidney stones (while eating SAD, nothing after switching to LCHF), so I pay attention to this issue.
I’ve heard all the things “people say”, and it’s a lot of contradictory nonsense. I have not seen that there is any greater risk of kidney stones eating keto. If anything, it’s the opposite.

It might just be coincidence, but both times I precipitated kidney stones, I was drinking beer quite heavily in the previous weeks. Obviously, I don’t do that now. For some reason, I “feel” that there could be some link, but can’t say for sure. No/very little beer on keto, obv.

Don’t get dehydrated, but that’s just good advice in general.

(bryan vandyke) #5

There is some info out there about epileptic children and their version of keto increasing kidney stones. They give them potassium citrate and that brings their stone rate back to normal.

Personally I think there’s a lot about SAD that contributes to them. Lack of K2 for proper calcium transport proteins. Sugar does things with ph. Fructose does really bad things with calcium, oxcilates, uric acid. Insulin changes uptake balance of sodium in kidneys Maybe causing more calcium to be excreted in the kidneys. And so on.

#6

The general info that Ive found is that dehydration is a major contributing factor. So Ill make sure to hydrate well. Thanks for the input. Also thanks for the lemon juice advice, y`all. I’ll add that to my water

(Nicole Sawchuk) #7

I can confirm this as I have been keto for years. I just got back from holidays where I had just let loose and ate whatever and voila! I have my first kidney stones! Definitely will never stray again. I should mention that I have “cheated” before with small amount - like a piece of cake in those years, but this was the first time where I went straight off for 7+ days.

I think between the sugar, the booze intake and heat (dehydration) and it should not shocking. I really thought the worst thing that would happen was weight gain…in fact my body did not gain any weight just something worse!

Funny everyone points immediately to how being keto contributed to that, but they can’t accept the fact that sugar can be that detrimental! How come when someone says they are giving up meat or fat because they don’t like how it makes them feel, no one bats an eye and seem to agree with it, but the moment you say that sugar and processed foods make you ill, everyone thinks you are crazy and the kidney stones are due to the my keto eating? Its so backwards! There is no doubt in my mind that the crap food I ate is what led to my kidney stones!

(karen) #8

IMO, it’s because people are addicted to eating sugary, fake, chemical loaded, carby crap, and our “medical” (marketing) establishment has been telling them for years that not only is it perfectly ok, it’s a great idea. And conversely, that fat, salt, eggs, coconut oil, heavy cream, red meat and who knows what other innocuous natural foods produced by a competing market share will kill them. Who wants to hear the foods they love and have been stuffing themselves with for decades have made them sick?! Not only is it disappointing, it’s kinda scary, not something most people want to think about or accept. (If I have to play devil’s advocate, I think ketoans can be accused of the same thing when it comes to bacon. It’s Gotta be good for me, BECAUSE I LOVE IT!)