Increase fluid intake: This is the most important preventive measure for all the patients who develop kidney stones. It decreases the formation of stones by diluting the urine. It is recommended to consume 8-10 glasses of water.

Calcium: Men are advised to limit calcium intake to 800 mg per day. Prior to menopause, women should limit calcium to 1000 mg per day and after menopause women should have 1200 mg of calcium a day. Avoid excessive calcium in diet. Calcium stones are the most common type of kidney stone. Foods rich in calcium are milk and dairy products.

Oxalic acid or oxalate: It is found mainly in foods from plants. Calcium combines with oxalate in the intestines. This reduces the calcium’s ability to be absorbed. Sometimes oxalate or calcium oxalate stones form because there is not enough calcium in intestines. Then excess oxalate goes to kidneys for excretion. In these cases oxalate intake should be reduced with slight increase in calcium. It is recommended in these individuals 50mg of oxalate per day in diet.

Foods which are high in oxalate are beans, legumes, beets, chocolates, dark green leaves, spinach, fruit cake, egg plant.

Sugar, sodium and animal protein:

These are found to increase the development of calcium or calcium oxalate stones. People with kidney stones benefit from avoiding packaged foods with large number of added sugars and from reducing sugars added in food preparation. In uric acid stones, diet low in animal proteins is recommended. Foods that are high in purines, contribute to uric acid stones include poultry and red wine.Reducing the sodium in the diet appears to reduce the amount of calcium excreted in the urine.

A diet high in animal protein affects certain minerals in the urine which promote the formation of kidney stones. People who tend to develop kidney stones should avoid eating more protein than the body needs each day.

Insoluble fiber: The insoluble fiber found in wheat, rye, barley and rice help to reduce calcium in the urine. It combines with calcium in the intestines, so the calcium are excreted with the stool instead of through the kidneys. Insoluble fiber also speeds up movement of substances through the intestine, so there is less time for calcium to be absorbed.

Vitamin C: When vitamin C is used by the body, oxalate is produced. Hence taking vitamin C should be avoided