Should I cut calcium out of my diet if I develop calcium oxalate kidney stones?

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Should I cut calcium out of my diet if I develop calcium oxalate kidney stones?

If you develop kidney stones composed of calcium, you may be tempted to stop eating foods that include calcium. However, this is the opposite of what you should do. If you have calcium oxalate stones, the most common type, it’s recommended that you have a diet higher in calcium and lower in oxalate.

Foods that are high in calcium include:

  • Cow’s milk.
  • Yogurt.
  • Cheese.
  • Broccoli.
  • Kale.
  • Calcium-fortified juices.
  • Dried beans.
  • Salmon.
  • Calcium-fortified hot cereal.

Foods that are high in oxalates include (reduce these in your diet):

  • Spinach.
  • Rhubarb.
  • Strawberries.
  • Tea.
  • Dried peas and beans.
  • Nuts and nut butters.
  • Wheat bran.

It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids to dilute the substances in your urine.

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