A diet widely recommended for lowering blood pressure may also curb people's risk of developing kidney stones.
A diet widely recommended for lowering blood pressure may also curb people's risk of developing kidney stones.
Most kidney stones are made up of calcium in combination with a compound called oxalate, the food sources of which include certain fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes and often people with a history of kidney stones avoid oxalate-containing foods.
The diet, known as dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH), promotes eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and moderate amounts of low-fat dairy and lean meat and fish. This diet is mainly recommended to individuals with high blood pressure.
Researchers studied 2,34,037 men and women in America to find out the impact of the DASH diet on kidney stone formation. All the participants were followed for an average of 14 to 18 years. During that time, participants periodically completed detailed questionnaires on their diets and other lifestyle habits.
It was found that adults with the most DASH-like diets had a 40 to 45 percent lower kidney stone risk despite consuming more oxalates. The link held even when the researchers weighed other factors that affect kidney stone risk, such as body weight, high blood pressure and fluid intake.
The researchers suggested that it might make sense for people with a history of kidney stones and very high oxalate levels in their urine to avoid certain foods particularly high in oxalates - like spinach and almonds. Since many people with kidney stones also have high blood pressure, DASH may be an especially valuable diet for them.
The findings also suggest that stone formers should not strictly limit fruits, vegetables and other generally healthy fare in their diets.
Most kidney stones are made up of calcium in combination with a compound called oxalate, the food sources of which include certain fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes and often people with a history of kidney stones avoid oxalate-containing foods.
The diet, known as dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH), promotes eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and moderate amounts of low-fat dairy and lean meat and fish. This diet is mainly recommended to individuals with high blood pressure.
Researchers studied 2,34,037 men and women in America to find out the impact of the DASH diet on kidney stone formation. All the participants were followed for an average of 14 to 18 years. During that time, participants periodically completed detailed questionnaires on their diets and other lifestyle habits.
It was found that adults with the most DASH-like diets had a 40 to 45 percent lower kidney stone risk despite consuming more oxalates. The link held even when the researchers weighed other factors that affect kidney stone risk, such as body weight, high blood pressure and fluid intake.
The researchers suggested that it might make sense for people with a history of kidney stones and very high oxalate levels in their urine to avoid certain foods particularly high in oxalates - like spinach and almonds. Since many people with kidney stones also have high blood pressure, DASH may be an especially valuable diet for them.
The findings also suggest that stone formers should not strictly limit fruits, vegetables and other generally healthy fare in their diets.
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