People who are inflicted with kidney stones rate it as the most painful experience of their lives. If you’ve had a problem with kidney stones then this will serve as a preventative guideline. It is estimated that 10% of males and 5% of females will develop a kidney stone in their lifetime. There are four types of kidney stones: calcium salts (75-85% of stones), struvite (10-15%), uric acid (5-8%), cystine stones (1%). Calcium stones consist of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate, and are formed from having too high of a blood calcium level. Struvite stones are also called infection stones because they are formed from bacteria in the urine that produces ammonia. These stones usually require surgical removal because of their large size. Uric acid stones are common in men who suffer from gout or have very acidic urine (<0.5). Cystine stones are formed due to a hereditary disorder where the amino acid cystine, which doesn’t dissolve in water, concentrates in the kidney. A stone forms by a concentration of sediment in the kidney. It is usually painless in the kidney, but when it moves into the ureter (a small duct from the kidney to the bladder) it elicits pain. Stones usually travel into the bladder and are then passed out of the body via urination. In order to determine stone type your doctor may have you urinate through a fine sieve. Common treatment of stones includes pain relief in conjunction with increased hydration to urinate more frequently and pass the stone. For larger stones, a procedure called a lithotripsy can be done. This involves administering ultrasound waves externally to the site of blockage, which breaks up the stone enabling easier passage of the pieces.

Renal colic: pain in your mid to lower back.
Fever with bladder infection.
Blood in the urine.
Nausea or vomiting.
Diarrhea.

Lifestyle Changes:

Exercise 1-hour everyday.
Stop smoking.
Avoid alcohol.
Estrogen replacement therapy increases the urinary excretion of citrate.

Dietary Changes:

Increase purified water intake to 10 ounces every hour. You should always drink 10-12 glasses of water daily to ensure a healthy urinary tract.
Avoid sugar. Sugar increases urinary calcium and oxalate excretion.
Dietary intake of calcium is not directly associated with excreting more calcium. Increased calcium secretion is due to a high animal protein diet. Dr. Metcalfe recommends a 24-hour urinalysis to determine if you are excreting excessive calcium. A standard blood chemistry will determine if your blood is high in calcium. If you are a hyperexcretor of calcium, then your intake should be monitored.
No caffeine.
Low sodium diet (<2500mg/day).
No dairy products: vitamin D may increase oxalate secretion.
Avoid foods high in oxalates: beans, cocoa, instant coffee, parsley, rhubarb, spinach and black tea.
For uric acid stones: avoid Vitamin C as it competes with uric acid in the kidney for excretion.
For uric acid stones: avoid purine rich foods. Beans, organ meats, lentils, and herring.
Increase fiber to 30 grams a day.
Avoid carbonated beverages, as they are high in phosphates.
Eat more Magnesium rich foods. Magnesium deficiency increases the deposition of calcium in the kidneys. Foods rich in magnesium: bran, barley, corn, buckwheat, soy, rye, oats, rice,

Kidney Stone Management Protocol:

Cal-Mag-K Chela-Max: 3 capsules before bed.
Multi-B Complex: 2 capsules with breakfast.
Multiplex I Multivitamin: 3 capsules twice a day with meals.
Multiplex I Multivitamin w/o Iron: Men should take 3 capsules twice a day with meals.