Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : May 13, 2016 3:56 PM IST
Milk and milk products: Most CD patients are also lactose intolerant and milk and milk products like cheese could be your worst enemy because they cause a lot of gas and bloating.
This is one of the most common concerns for those who suffer from kidney stones. Since milk and other dairy products are rich in calcium, the general perception is it can increase one s chances of suffering from kidney stones, especially, calcium stones (calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate). However, the reverse is true. If you lack calcium in your diet, it can increase your chances of suffering from kidney stones.
In the digestive tract, calcium binds with oxalate from food sources and prevents it from entering the blood and the urinary tract where the stones are formed. For people suffering from kidney stones who are under treatment, a normal intake of milk say, one glass of milk or a cup of yoghurt or other dairy products might not do any harm. The idea is to have dairy products in moderation,' says Dr Anup Ramani, Uro-Oncological & Robotic Surgeon, Lilavati, Breach Candy, Saifee Hospital.
What exactly causes kidney stones is not completely known by medical experts and doctors. However, reduced water intake and humid climate do contribute to kidney stones. Sodium rich diets make the kidneys excrete calcium from the body into the urine. This increases the risk of calcium binding with oxalate or phosphorus to give rise to kidney stones. In fact, people who have a tendency to develop calcium oxalate stones should increase calcium intake through diet and reduce sodium intake. Milk and other dairy products are a good source of dietary calcium. According to the Food and Nutrition Board and Institute of Medicine of National Academics, US, the required dietary calcium intake for an adult approximately ranges between 1000-1300 mg per day. For people who are lactose intolerant calcium from other food sources and fortified breakfast cereals are a good alternative. If you lack in calcium in your diet, your doctor might also prescribe calcium supplements for you. But remember if you had stones in the past (calcium oxalate stones) have them with your meals as in this way calcium will bind with your food and not end up being a waste material in your kidneys. Else, calcium supplements can increase one's risk of having kidney stones.
However, despite all the precautions it is essential to start treatment to get rid of kidney stones. Kidney stones smaller than 4 mm may pass out by themselves with the help of medications, stones bigger than 7 to 8 mm might need a procedure to be pulled out. Kidney stones are now treatable with a variety of minimally invasive and non-invasive techniques. Most procedures to remove a kidney stone are now endoscopic laser procedures which take about an hour and patients go home either the same evening or next day morning, informs Dr Ramani.
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