7-Day Kidney Stone Diet Chart: Why is it Important?

A 7-day kidney stone diet chart (w/pdf) offers a practical method or guide of preventing kidney stones, which are painful. It is done through healthy food and fluid choices. It works by dealing with common factors that contribute to stone formation.

Key Takeaways

• Hydration is important, at least 8-12 cups of water daily, as it dilutes your urine and helps prevent all forms of kidney stones

• Calcium-rich foods help reduce the risk of kidney stone formation by binding oxalate in the gut

• Limit high-sodium foods to decrease calcium excretion in the urine

• The DASH-pattern diet can reduce the risk of kidney stone by 40-45%

• Different types of kidney stones may need specific dietary adjustment

How Does Diet Affect Kidney Stone Formation?

Your diet can affect kidney stone formation. The food that you eat has more power than you imagine, especially when it comes to kidney stone formation. What you eat and drink has a direct impact on whether crystals will form in your kidney or not. Specific nutrients that affect the risk of kidney stones.

Calcium plays a role in kidney stone formation and it is tricky for the most part. While calcium stones are common, eating meals rich in calcium actually prevent the formation of stones. The reason being is because calcium binds oxalate in the gut, keeping it from being absorbed. When it is bound in the gut instead in the kidneys, fewer stones form.

Oxalate is a naturally-occurring substance present in many foods. Your body also makes oxalate but when it becomes too much it binds with calcium in your urine to become the calcium oxalate stone. If you take in high sodium (salt), it increases calcium in the urine, which also increases stone formation.

Protein, especially meat protein, can increase your risk, too. So increasing protein intake like poultry, seafood, and eggs can make your urine more acidic. The acidity promotes stone formation. Also, animal proteins also increase uric acid levels, which can also result in another type of stone formation.

Sugary products like sweetened drinks and foods can also increase stone risk. A prospective study found that there was 23% and 33% higher risk of developing kidney stones for sugar-sweetened cola and non-cola drinks, respectively.

Purines can break down into uric acid in the body, which is found in some foods. Like mentioned, too much uric acid can form stones. It is present in foods like organ meats, some fish, and shellfish.

Citrate works as your body’s natural way of fighting stone formation. It prevents crystallization of stones. It is present in fruits like limes, lemons, and oranges.

What Foods Should I Eat to Prevent Kidney Stones?

How do you prevent kidney stones from forming through the food that you’re eating? Here are examples of foods to eat:

• Calcium-rich foods such as cheese, milk, and yogurt. Aim for 1,000 to 1,300 mg of calcium per day.

• Potassium-rich foods can help balance the acidity of your urine. The recommended daily intake differs for male and female at 3,000-3,400 mg and 2,300-2,600 mg, respectively. Foods rich in potassium include banana, sweet potatoes, white potatoes with skin, orange juice, and tomatoes.

• Whole grains offer fiber and other nutrients without extra protein. These foods keep your digestive system in check so stone forming products do not build up. Foods like brown rice, oatmeal, and wheat bread are good choices.

• Plant-based proteins lessens the acid stress put on your kidneys. It helps prevent build up of crystals.

• Water-rich fruits and vegetables are a good alternative source of fluid and help you stay hydrated.

What Foods Should I Avoid if I Have Kidney Stones?

There are also some foods that can accumulate and increase risk of kidney stones. Knowing what to avoid will help you preserve your kidney health and function.

• High oxalate foods (e.g., spinach, almonds, rhubarb, and beets)

• High sodium foods (e.g., processed foods like canned soups, fast food, and frozen meals)

• Animal protein (e.g., red meat, seafoods, poultry, and eggs)

• Sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g., sodas, fruit punch, sports drinks, and sweet tea)

• Alcoholic beverages

These foods and drinks should be minimized if not eliminated entirely in your diet.

How Much Water Should I Drink Daily to Prevent Kidney Stones?

Water works wonders when it comes to fighting kidney works. There is no fixed consensus as to how much you should drink. But, there are certain guidelines you can follow to make sure you are well hydrated. 8-12 cups a day is usually the recommended amount.

When you don’t drink enough, your urine becomes too concentrated. Crystals form easily in this environment. With water, it allows your urine to be diluted and flowing, which washes away stone-forming molecules before they even crystallize.

How to know if you’re drinking enough water?

The color of your urine will tell if you’re drinking enough water. Light yellow, like the color of the lemonade, is nearly the perfect color. Dark yellow or amber urine tells you that you need to drink more water. Too transparent or clear urine means you’re drinking water too much.

The best way to do this is to ensure you drink at a good pace. Set up a schedule if you’re struggling to drink water. Drink water when you wake up, before you take a meal, and between meals — whatever is convenient for you. Some would drink water after they urinate because it serves as a reminder. Carry water bottles if you’re out of the house and ensure that the water bottle has a time marker.

Can Specific Diets Like DASH Help with Kidney Stones?

Yes, DASH-diet plans can help with kidney stones. A study showed that consumption of DASH-diet plans significantly reduces the risk of developing kidney stones. Apart from this, it can also lower your blood pressure. This means you should increase your intake of the following foods:

• Fruits

• Vegetables

• Nuts

• Legumes

• Whole grains

• Low fat dairy

Mediterranean diet plans, on the other hand, offer a kidney-friendly diet. As such, it also decreases the risk of stone formation by approximately 13-41%. Adherence to such diet plans improves urinary function by increasing citrate levels. It also reduces excretion of calcium in the urine. Both of these things can reduce your risk of kidney stone development. This diet approach is best for hydration by incorporating fruits and vegetables that are water-dense.

Both of the mentioned diet methods are great if you want to keep your kidneys functioning well. It also helps in hydration thus your entire body benefits from it.

Sample 7-Day Kidney Stone Diet Chart

A sample 7-day kidney stone diet chart is included in this post. 

Day 1

• Breakfast: Oatmeal made with low-fat milk, topped with berries and a sprinkle of ground flaxseed 

• Snack: Apple with 1 ounce of low-fat cheese 

• Lunch: Quinoa salad with chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, and olive oil lemon dressing 

• Snack: Homemade smoothie with yogurt and banana 

• Dinner: Baked fish, brown rice, steamed broccoli 

Daily hydration: 10-12 cups, including water, herbal tea, and a glass of lemonade

Day 2

• Breakfast: Whole grain toast with scrambled egg whites and low-sodium salsa 

• Snack: Orange and a handful of unsalted almonds 

• Lunch: Bean soup with fresh vegetables and a side of whole grain bread 

• Snack: Low-fat yogurt with fresh peach slices 

• Dinner: Grilled chicken breast (small portion), roasted sweet potato, green beans 

Daily hydration: 10-12 cups, including water and citrus-infused water

Day 3

• Breakfast: Whole grain cereal with low-fat milk and sliced banana 

• Snack: Pear with string cheese 

• Lunch: Tuna sandwich on whole grain bread with lettuce and tomato (minimal mayo) 

• Snack: Carrot sticks with hummus 

• Dinner: Vegetable stir-fry with tofu and brown rice 

Daily hydration: 10-12 cups, including water and herbal tea

Day 4

• Breakfast: Fruit smoothie made with yogurt, strawberries, banana, and ground flaxseed 

• Snack: Rice cake with 1 tablespoon almond butter 

• Lunch: Greek salad with feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumber (light on the dressing) 

• Snack: Fresh grapes and a few unsalted walnuts 

• Dinner: Lean pork tenderloin (small portion), barley pilaf, roasted cauliflower 

Daily hydration: 10-12 cups, including water and sugar-free lemonade

Day 5

• Breakfast: Vegetable omelet with whole grain toast 

• Snack: Apple with 1 tablespoon peanut butter 

• Lunch: Lentil soup with fresh vegetables and whole grain roll 

• Snack: Low-fat cottage cheese with pineapple chunks 

• Dinner: Baked salmon, quinoa, asparagus 

Daily hydration: 10-12 cups, including water and herbal tea

Day 6

• Breakfast: Whole grain pancakes topped with fresh berries and yogurt 

• Snack: Orange and a small handful of unsalted pistachios 

• Lunch: Whole grain wrap with hummus, vegetables, and a sprinkle of feta cheese 

• Snack: Celery sticks with 1 tablespoon cream cheese 

• Dinner: Turkey breast, wild rice, steamed zucchini 

Daily hydration: 10-12 cups, including water and cranberry juice diluted with water

Day 7

• Breakfast: Greek yogurt parfait with granola and fresh berries 

• Snack: Peach and a string cheese 

• Lunch: Vegetable and bean chili with a side of cornbread 

• Snack: Homemade trail mix with unsalted nuts, dried cranberries, and whole grain cereal 

• Dinner: Vegetable lasagna made with low-fat cheese 

Daily hydration: 10-12 cups, including water and citrus-infused water

You can download it from the link below to follow through a comprehensive sample plan, which you may adopt in your daily practice for seven days:

7-Day Kidney Stone Diet Chart PDF

The meal plan that you are going to get balances out nutrients as well as water. It helps in preventing stone formation. This is a downloadable PDF version of the chart that you can keep on your refrigerator as a daily guide.

Are There Different Diet Plans for Different Types of Kidney Stones?

Dietary plans change according to lifestyle and these vary slightly in different types of kidney stones. A general guideline helps everyone but some specific stones need a special type of diet approach.

The sample plan mentioned above can help both for calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones. The main focus is to reduce crystal-forming nutrients and control of the urine acidity. For calcium oxalate, you may need to balance calcium-rich and oxalate-rich foods as they bind together and reduce stone formation. For calcium oxalate, you may need to modify the plan to limit foods that will make your urine less acidic as these stones form in an alkali (less acidic) environment.

Uric acid stones require diets with low purine. Purines break down as acidic products that will form stones so you may need to modify your diet to consume lower purine-containing foods.

However, certain types of stones don’t stem from the diet, such as:

• Struvite stones — these forms during infection, which need medical intervention more than dietary changes

• Cystine stones — these stones are the result of a genetic condition called cystinuria, for which you need to drink more fluids of up to 4 quartz on a daily basis. This condition would need both dietary changes and medications as part of its management

For any stone type, you need to consult your doctor for professional advice. The sample plan mentioned above is general advice only. You may be referred to a dietician for a more comprehensive approach.

How Can I Incorporate This Diet into My Daily Routine?

Knowing what to eat is different from actually eating it. To incorporate a diet plan, follow these practical tips to change your daily diet and keep kidney stones from developing.

• Prepare your meals and snacks for the week. Meal preparation often takes but if you do it ahead of time, the upcoming meals would save you time and keep you on the right track.

• Plan your shopping list around the 7-day chart. Play around with the ingredients but don’t deviate too much. It is important that if you replace something, it must be of about the same nutritional value as the original one. Skip your shopping from processed foods to avoid excess sodium.

• Healthy snacks prevent hunger, which may lead to poor choices. Keep cut vegetables, fresh fruits, unsalted nuts, or yogurt available, as these can also help in keeping kidney stones from forming.

• Keep track of your water intake. You can download apps that are designed for hydration monitoring as they can notify you throughout the day.

• Map out a hydration schedule that works best for your routine. Keep your water bottle always near you so you can drink when the schedule comes.

• If you plan on eating out with family or friends, review restaurant menus ahead so you can plan what to eat that does not deviate from the diet approach you are using.

• Share and invite your friends and family to follow the same kidney-friendly diet. Having a strong support system could also help in keeping your diet approach.

Remember to be consistent with your diet. Big deviation from the plan could sabotage your kidney-friendly diet and will bring you back to square one. If you cannot follow it the first time, start small — like tracking water intake then work your way from there.

If you want to keep track of your kidney health, Ribbon Checkup offers kits that you can conveniently use at home. Get started today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink coffee on a kidney stone diet?

Yes, you can. But in moderation only. Some people enjoy moderate amounts of caffeine in their kidney stone diet.

How quickly will dietary changes affect my kidney stone risk?

Some of the benefits can be experienced just days after the dietary changes. Increase in water intake won’t take weeks to have an effect. However, other benefits could take a week so you need to follow the pattern for at least several weeks to see real change in urine composition.

Can children follow this 7-day kidney stone diet?

While the diet plan is a general guideline, it is designed for young adults and adults. Children would need specialized forms of diet and they usually have different recommended dietary intake (RDI) for their nutritional needs. Always consult with their pediatrician to ensure safety.

Written by Jaclyn P. Leyson-Azuela, RMT, MD, MPH
Jaclyn P. Leyson-Azuela, RMT, MD, MPH, is a licensed General Practitioner and Public Health Expert. She currently serves as a physician in private practice, combining clinical care with her passion for preventive health and community wellness.

References

Ferraro, P. M., Taylor, E. N., Gambaro, G., & Curhan, G. C. (2013). Soda and Other Beverages and the Risk of Kidney Stones. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 8(8), 1389–1395. https://doi.org/10.2215/cjn.11661112 

Karki, N., & Leslie, S. W. (2022). Struvite And Triple Phosphate Renal Calculi. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568783/ 

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2019, October 14). Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Kidney Stones | NIDDK. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-stones/eating-diet-nutrition 

National Institute of Health. (2024, July 24). Calcium. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/ 

National Institutes of Health. (2022). Office of Dietary Supplements - Potassium. Nih.gov. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Potassium-HealthProfessional/ 

Rodriguez, A., Curhan, G. C., Gambaro, G., Taylor, E. N., & Ferraro, P. M. (2020). Mediterranean diet adherence and risk of incident kidney stones. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa066 

Taylor, E. N., Fung, T. T., & Curhan, G. C. (2009). DASH-Style Diet Associates with Reduced Risk for Kidney Stones. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 20(10), 2253–2259. https://doi.org/10.1681/asn.2009030276