< previous page page_44 next page >

Page 44
lion and shepherd's purse, along with tonics for anabolic stress and changes in diet.
Preventing Kidney Stones Through Lifestyle Changes
A simple and most important lifestyle change to prevent stones is to drink more liquids. Water is best, although some of the safe diuretic teas listed above can be substituted periodically. A recurrent stone former should try to drink enough liquids throughout the day to produce at least two quarts of urine in every 24-hour period. This varies with body weight.
As a stone maker myself, this simple regimen of increasing fluid intake has stabilized my condition to a single stone every couple of years, passed with minimum discomfort using some fresh Lobelia inflata tincture. During the heat of the summer and when I sweat heavily, I increase my water intake accordingly. It makes a big difference.
Folks with too much calcium or oxalate in the urine may need to eat fewer foods containing calcium and oxalate. Although there is much emphasis given to calcium in our diet, those of us with a history of kidney stones generally need to back down a bit.
Not everyone will benefit from a low-calcium diet, however. Some who have high levels of oxalate in their urine may benefit from extra calcium in their diet. It may help to avoid food with added vitamin D and certain types of anticids that have a calcium base.
Those with kidney stones who take heavy regimens of nutritional supplements, with an emphasis on amino acids and glandulars, may find that these can contribute to the problem as well, since "one size fits all" is a philosophically bankrupt approach to health. Megavitamin approaches may be fine for those coming out of the long

 
< previous page page_44 next page >

If you like this book, buy it!