Kidney stones, the name sounds chilling. Not only is it inexcruciatingly painful, but it can even threaten our kidney health if not handled properly. In recent years, with the change of dietary habits, more and more people are bothered by kidney stones. What many people don't know is that some seemingly healthy foods, especially certain fruits, may actually increase the risk of kidney stones.

As a doctor, I have come into contact with many patients with kidney stones in the hospital, and some of them have a condition that is often closely related to their eating habits. In particular, some fruits, which may seem harmless and are even recommended as a health food by most people, have found in my long-term clinical experience that they may make the condition worse for some patients with kidney stones.

Strawberry: Sweet "Hidden Killer"

Strawberry is a nutritious fruit, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, but it is also a fruit high in oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is a substance that easily combines with calcium to form calcium oxalate stones. I once saw a 30-year-old young woman who ate a big bowl of strawberries almost every day, especially during the strawberry season, and was a big fan of strawberries. However, she was admitted to the hospital with persistent kidney pain, and after examination, it was found that she had multiple calcium oxalate stones in her right kidney.

Through further questioning and analysis, I found that this patient's kidney stones were the result of the "secret manipulation" of the oxalic acid component in the strawberries. Although the oxalic acid content in strawberries is not particularly high, if you consume too much, especially if you eat a large amount of strawberries for a long time and regularly, oxalic acid can accumulate in the body, which can trigger or aggravate calcium oxalate stones. Therefore, for people with a history of kidney stones or at risk of forming kidney stones, fruits rich in oxalic acid such as strawberries should really be eaten in moderation.

Grapes: the "sweet burden" of fructose

Grapes are one of the most popular fruits in summer, and many people consider them to be an ideal fruit due to their high nutritional value, vitamin C and antioxidants. However, the main problem with grapes is not oxalic acid, but that it is rich in a component called "fructose". One of the metabolites of fructose is "uric acid", which is another major culprit of kidney stones.

I once saw a middle-aged male patient who had been working in foreign trade for a long time, traveled frequently, had a heavy eating habit and often ate fruits, especially grapes. During a physical examination, it was found that he had multiple small stones in his kidneys. Upon further analysis, it was found that his eating habits were the culprit. Studies have shown that excessive intake of grapes and fructose will increase the production of uric acid, and in the long run, uric acid will gradually accumulate in the kidneys, which may form uric acid stones.

Although moderate amounts of grapes are not a threat to the kidneys for healthy people, for those who are already at risk of uric acid stones, excessive intake of grapes may increase the burden on the kidneys and exacerbate the formation of stones.

Oranges: The "double-edged sword" of vitamin C

Oranges are rich in vitamin C and are often seen as a good helper for replenishing immunity and improving immunity. However, excessive vitamin C intake, especially in people with weakened kidney function, may also have some effects that should not be overlooked.

I once saw a middle-aged male patient in his 40s who had been doing manual labor for a long time, and he often drank orange juice to replenish energy and vitamin C. During a routine physical exam, doctors found signs of increased burden on his kidneys and also found several small kidney stones. Upon further inquiry, I found out that his kidney stone problem was precisely because of his excessive intake of vitamin C in orange juice, which led to the accumulation of oxalic acid and increased the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation.

Vitamin C itself is good for health, but one of its metabolites is "oxalic acid", and the accumulation of oxalic acid in the body may combine with calcium to form calcium oxalate stones. Therefore, for people with a history of kidney stones or at risk of developing kidney stones, fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges should really be eaten in moderation.

Dietary recommendations for patients with kidney stones

Fruits are understandable as part of a healthy diet, but for people with kidney stones or those with a predisposition to kidney stones, the ingredients of certain fruits can indeed aggravate the formation or development of kidney stones. Strawberries high in oxalic acid, fructose-rich grapes and high-vitamin C oranges are all common fruits in our daily diet, but some of their components may bring invisible damage to kidney stone patients.

Through my years of clinical experience, I know that the formation of kidney stones is not only related to calcium, oxalic acid and other components in food, but also closely related to our dietary structure, intake and personal health status. Therefore, understanding the potential hazards of these fruits and controlling their intake is essential to keep your kidneys healthy and avoid getting worse.

Proofread by Zhuang Wu