INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Add more popsicle sticks until the tower has attained the average height of a pencil holder (you can decide how high to make it).

SUMMARY: Repeat the above steps to add a second layer of popsicle sticks to the structure. Continue the building process. Allow the structure to dry.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: One of the most important things to do when passing a kidney stone is to drink lots of water. Your urine should look light yellow or clear. If it looks dark yellow or brown, then you are not drinking enough water. Try adding a squeeze of lemon juice to your water to add some flavor. Drink 8-10 glasses of water every day if you have kidney stones. Drinking cranberry juice can also be beneficial for kidney health. Its tannins can prevent infection and promote overall health. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen are often recommended to help relieve pain caused by kidney stones. If you can, try to take Motrin, which is preferred by doctors over other NSAIDS for relieving kidney stone pain. Check with your doctor if you are not sure about which type or how much you should take. Make sure that you read and follow the product instructions as well. Drinking a glass of fresh celery juice may help because celery has antispasmodic properties. That means that celery juice can help to relieve any pain that is caused by spasms in the tissues in and around your kidneys. If you have a juicer, then you can make your own fresh celery juice with a few stalks of celery. If you do not have a juicer, then try to find a local juice bar and ask them to make you a cup of celery juice. Eat some celery seed, too. Celery seed is a good tonic and urine promoter. Green tea may help to treat kidney stone pain and it has also been shown to play a role in preventing kidney stones. Drink two to four cups of green tea per day. You can drink regular or decaffeinated green tea. To make a cup of green tea, place 1 teaspoon of dried tea leaves into a tea infuser or teabag, place the tea in a mug, and then pour a cup of boiling water over the tea. Let the tea steep for about 5-10 minutes, then remove the infuser or teabag. White willow bark contains the same active ingredient as aspirin and it may even provide the same pain relieving effects. Try drinking a cup of white willow bark tea to get some relief from kidney stone pain. Keep in mind that white willow bark tea may cause stomach irritation for some people. Do not give white willow bark tea to children under the age of 16. To make a cup of white willow bark tea, place 1 teaspoon of dried herbs into a tea infuser or teabag and place in a mug. Then, pour one cup of boiling water over the herbs. Steep the tea for 5-10 minutes, then take out the infuser or teabag. Drink one cup and then wait for a few hours to see how the tea affects you. Some studies indicate that white willow bark is as strong as aspirin. There are some homeopathic medicines that may help to ease pain caused by kidney stones. These remedies are often available in health food stores and well-stocked grocery stores. You can take three to five pellets of one of these remedies labeled 12X to 30C. Repeat the dosage once every one to four hours. Some homeopathic remedies to try include: Berberis. Try this remedy for pain that is mainly in your groin area. Colocynthis. Try this remedy for pain that eases up when you lean or bend forward. Ocimum. Try this remedy for pain that is accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. Phyllanthus niruri is a plant that may help to treat kidney stones and relieve kidney stone pain as well. Phyllanthus niruri works by relaxing the ureters, which makes it easier to pass kidney stones. This plant may also help the kidneys to excrete kidney stone forming substances such as calcium.

SUMMARY: Drink plenty of water. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Juice some celery. Sip on some green tea. Try some white willow bark tea. Look into homeopathic remedies. Try Phyllanthus niruri .

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Long-term dehydration can prevent your kidneys from functioning properly. Drink whenever you feel thirsty, and drink enough to keep your urine colorless or pale yellow. It's a myth that additional water beyond this baseline will help flush your kidneys, but it will help prevent kidney stones in at-risk groups. The foods you eat are very important to your kidney health. When you are trying to flush your kidneys, pay particular attention to your diet. You should always aim to eat healthfully, but it is especially important when you are cleansing a major organ like your kidneys. A healthy, balanced diet will help prevent high blood pressure and diabetes, the two major causes of kidney damage. Watermelon is a great food to add to your diet. It contains a lot of water, and acts as a diuretic, which will help flush the toxins from your kidneys. Eat more berries. Cranberries and raspberries in particular can help rid your kidneys of unwanted substances. Pumpkin seeds contain a lot of powerful antioxidants that can help improve kidney function. Consider adding them to your diet as a healthy snack. Diets that are high in sodium lead to a greater risk of high blood pressure. This can result in extra strain on the kidneys. Reducing the sodium in your diet is an excellent way to promote overall health, especially for your kidneys. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh varieties contain lower amounts of sodium than the canned options. Read labels. Start scanning ingredient lists to make sure the foods you purchase do not have high sodium content. Canned soups are an obvious one to avoid. Compare products to make sure you buy the one with the lowest amounts of sodium. Look for products that are advertised as low-sodium. Because your kidneys are your body's filtration system, they can collect some build up. Drinking natural juice with no added sugars is a good way to stay hydrated while delivering nutrients to your body. Cranberry juice is one of the most effective choices for kidney cleansing, because it helps reduce the amount of calcium oxalate, which can cause kidney stones. Look for juices that are all natural and do not have any added sugar. Beet juice is also a great juice. It contains betaine, which can help remove buildup of many substances. The natural acidity in lemon juice helps flush your kidneys. Add water to cut the sharp taste. Many herbs are traditionally used to treat kidney problems, but overusing them or taking them in combination with other herbs or medication can end up causing more harm than good. Always talk to your doctor before beginning any dietary supplement. Milk thistle and grapefruit seed extract are all examples of naturopathic kidney treatments. Herbal products are usually best taken as a tea, made by steeping the herb in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Dietary supplements are especially risky if you have a kidney disease, or if you are taking other medication. Even beneficial supplements such as vitamin C or cranberry tablets can backfire if taken in large amounts. To avoid contaminated products, look for supplements with a seal of approval from an independent organization, such as Consumer Lab, NSF International, or U.S. Pharmacopeia. A kidney cleanse is a good way to "reset" your body and begin new, healthy habits. Consistent healthy changes are safer and more effective than extreme changes, so don't feel the need to design a strenuous cleansing challenge. A few days or even just one day of cleansing can have good results. When you are doing a cleanse, you will only eat specific foods and liquids. These includes fruits, such as cranberries, and herbs, such as marshmallow root. Look for recipes that will allow you to integrate these foods into your meals. Cleansing means that you also need to avoid certain foods that stress your kidneys, notably alcohol and caffeine. If you are at risk for kidney stones, also avoid chocolate, nuts, tea, wheat bran, beet greens, strawberries, rhubarb, and spinach.

SUMMARY:
Stay hydrated. Balance your diet. Reduce your sodium intake. Drink natural juice. Take herbal supplements with caution. Try a cleanse.