The best way to prevent kidney stones is to drink enough water each day. This reduces your risk of dehydration.
Do
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drink plenty of fluids so your pee is pale
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drink water - but drinks such as tea and coffee also count
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add fresh lemon juice to your water
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avoid fizzy drinks
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avoid salty foods
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eat the right amount of protein - how to eat well
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eat foods with enough calcium - do not take calcium supplements unless your GP recommends them
What fluids to drink
Water is the healthiest option. It helps prevent kidney stones from developing.
But drinks such as tea, coffee and fruit juice can count towards your daily fluids.
Aim to drink up to 3 litres (5.2 pints) of fluid throughout the day, every day.
You need to drink more when you sweat. For example, when the weather is hot or during exercise.
Diet
Depending on the type of stones you have, your GP may advise you to cut down on certain types of food. For example, if you develop calcium oxalate stones, they may recommend avoiding grapefruit juice.
Talk to your GP before you make any changes to your diet.
Colour of your pee
You can tell how diluted your pee is by looking at its colour. The darker your pee is, the more concentrated it is.
Your pee is usually a dark yellow colour in the morning. It contains a build-up of waste products that your body produced overnight.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
