Kidney Stone Prevention — Patient Advice
Kidney stones are becoming more common. While effective surgical treatment is important to become stone‑free, reducing the risk of future stones requires changes in lifestyle and diet. Recurrence after a first stone is estimated at about 20–50% within five years, so prevention matters.
Quick checklist for all stone formers
Maintain a healthy weight (aim for a normal BMI). Overweight people have higher risk and tend to produce more acidic urine, which promotes some stones.
Drink enough fluids to keep urine dilute. Aim for at least 2.0 L of urine output daily — this generally requires drinking about 2.5–3.0 L of fluids per day (more if you sweat or exercise heavily).
Follow a low‑salt (low sodium) diet. High salt increases urinary calcium and raises stone risk.
Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. These increase urinary pH (less acidic) and generally reduce stone risk.
Limit high animal‑protein intake. Excess meat raises urinary acidity and can increase stone risk.
Maintain a normal dietary calcium intake. Both very low and very high calcium intakes can paradoxically increase stone risk; get calcium from dietary sources rather than routine high‑dose supplements unless advised by your clinician.
Individualise prevention. Advice should be tailored by frequency of stones, stone type (analysis), medical history and any relevant medications.
Practical tips
Carry a water bottle and sip throughout the day; include extra fluids around exercise and hot weather.
Reduce processed foods and restaurant meals (high in salt).
Include a fruit or vegetable with each meal; try citrus (lemon/orange) which can provide citrate, a natural inhibitor of some stones.
If you eat meat regularly, balance with plant‑based meals several times per week.
Discuss calcium supplements with your clinician — do not start or stop them without advice.
When to seek specialist advice
Recurrent stones, stones in both kidneys, a stone at a young age, a family history of stones, or if you have other medical conditions (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, chronic diarrhoea, recurrent urinary infections, metabolic disease).
If stone analysis is available, use that result to guide specific dietary or medical prevention strategies.
Note: This information is general. For personalised prevention strategies (including 24‑hour urine testing, blood tests, and tailored medications), please discuss with your urologist or nephrologist.