Diet switch reduces stones - kidney stones - Brief Article

Men's Fitness, April, 2002

Men who develop kidney stones can lower their recurrence by switching to a diet low in salt and animal protein. In a five-year study at the University of Parma in Italy, subjects on such a plan had a 20 percent chance of a relapse, compared to a 38 percent chance among those on a traditional low-calcium diet. The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Once considered to be a cause of kidney stone formation, calcium is now thought to help control it, according to the American Dietetic Association. Consumed in adequate amounts, calcium is actually kept in the bones instead of being excreted in the urine, where it combines with other compounds to produce deposits. Drinking large quantities of water is also recommended for those at risk.

About 10 percent of Americans suffer from kidney stones at some point in their lives.