If you have had a kidney stone surgery, what you eat and what you avoid eating can play a big role in your overall health. Your diet after kidney stone surgery will also help to determine whether or not you are at risk of getting kidney stones again. There are various types of kidney stones, so do ask your doctor what type you had, as sometimes you may need to make slight changes to your diet based on the same.
Ask the doctor to prepare a kidney stone diet chart for you and also note down what all foods to eat in the post kidney stone surgery diet. However, even if you are not aware of what type of kidney stone you have, or do not have any idea about what to be included in after kidney stone surgery diet, you can still follow the diet tips mentioned below.
1. Have A Good Amount Of Fluid Intake
Fluid Intake – Diet After Kidney Stone Surgery
- Make sure you have a lot of fluids on a daily basis, especially water. Drinking enough water will immediately reduce your risk of getting affected with kidney stones.
- Have at least 10 to 12 cups of water a day, if not more. In case you had cysteine stones, you should try and have around 16 cups of water a day.
- If you are not used to drinking so much water and find that it makes you uncomfortable, increase your water and fluid intake one glass at a time. You can also go for naturally flavored or infused water as well as fresh juices and soups. Avoid tea and coffee as well as sodas, sugary drinks or caffeinated beverages as much as possible.
2. Limit Your Consumption Of Animal Products
Animal Products – Diet After Kidney Stone Surgery
- Having too many animal-based foods on a regular basis, such as meats, fish and eggs, can make it hard for your system to digest, especially after the surgery.
- Limit your animal-based food consumption to not more than once a day, and that to try not to have it each day. If you are eating eggs one day, try and have some meat-based meal the next day and fish the other day. Avoid having all types of animal products the same day.
- You can also alternate your meat, fish and egg-eating days with fresh plant produce. Go for fresh vegetables, lentils, fruits, beans, tofu, peas and such that will give you the required amount of nutrition without adding stress to your kidney.
3. Eat Foods Rich In Calcium
Rich In Calcium – Diet After Kidney Stone Surgery
- Go for foods that are rich in their calcium content, such as milk and dairy products.
- You can also have foods that are calcium-fortified, such as calcium-fortified cereals, rice, as well as calcium-fortified tofu.
- Orange juice is also a great option here, so try and have fresh orange juice instead of the store-bought ones, as they are loaded with preservatives and sugar.
4. Limit Your Salt Intake
Salt Intake – After Kidney Stone Surgery Diet
- Cut down on eating processed and packaged foods, as these contain a high amount of sodium that can cause a lot of damage to your kidney.
- Instead of adding extra salt to your food, go for different types of fresh seasonings that will make the food flavorful without the need of adding more salt. Choose from a variety of choices such as lime or lemon zest, chilies, garlic or ginger flavors, herbs, black pepper, Indian spices and such.
- For snacks such as nuts, go for the unsalted variety.
5. Focus on protein
Proteins – Post Kidney Stone Surgery Diet
- Eat a well-balanced diet after pcnl surgery with a couple of special dietary considerations. Protein is especially important to help build muscle and recover weight. A doctor or a dietician can help you figure out how much protein you want. It is likely to overdo it, however. To avoid excessive protein consumption, we don’t typically suggest that you take protein supplements.
