Kidney Stones and Diet

One other nice thing about low oxalate diets: They often help those experiencing chronic vulvar pain, interstitial cystitis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and genetic oxalosis. BB

I've heard that diet is important to preventing kidney stones. In particular experts recommend a low oxalate diet if a urine test reveals elevated levels of oxalic acid. The idea is that certain foods (esp. plants) that are otherwise good for you (spinach, rhubarb, some teas) are high in oxalic acid which forms a salt called oxylate (which inhibits calcium absorption because it forms a tight complex with calcium which is highly insoluble, and can precipitate out as calcium oxalate kidney stones.) Checking for oxalic acid levels ins important for those who have a personal or family history of forming kidney stones (as mine does-- just the males in our case, though). In the case of risk, besides a low-oxalate diet experts recommend drinking plenty of fluids. Apparently, a low oxalate diet is not always effective in reducing urinary oxalic acid levels because most oxalate found in urine is made in the body and does not come from the diet. So, if you're predisposed to stones drink plenty of fluids, preferrably water! (3–4 quarts [liters] per day).