This parallels the dramatic increase in the consumption of animal proteins and with it the rise in heart disease, gallstones, high blood pressure and diabetes associated with the standard North American diet. Kidney stones are usually composed of calcium oxalic acid. Less commonly, stones are made of uric acid and other mixed minerals and amino acids. Determining the type of stone and its cause leads to a better-designed prevention program.
Most kidney stones are preventable.
Once you have a stone, no diet or supplement can reverse the problem, but there are still ways to prevent the problem from worsening and reocurring. Studies indicate that diet and nutritional supplement therapy can reduce acute attacks of kidney stone pain. Kidney stones can cause excruciating pain if they become lodged in the passage leading from each kidney to the bladder. Although the pain overrides all other symptoms, usually urinary problems also exist. There is a repeated urging to urinate and urine may contain sediment or blood.