Kidding (mostly). Here's what you need to cut out...
Rhubarb (I know, that'll be tough (NOT))
Beets and Beet tops (OK, some weirdos will cry)
Sorrel
Swiss chard (Gosh, no nasty bitter leaves. How will I survive?)
Citrus peel (OK, gotta me more creative with flavors)
Parsley (Who actually EATS parsley? I thought it was entirely decorative)
Dried figs (Not my thing, but this is starting to get worrisome....)
Poppy seeds (Oh, my scones! This is starting to hurt)
Lamb (I eat very little, but now my worry meter is ticking up)
Ground pepper (OK, I can cut back, but still....)
Most nuts (I avoid them because they're expensive, but this really hurting...)
Tea (Dang it! Now things are getting real...)
Coffee (I don't drink it, but this would be The End of the World for some)
Chocolate and Cocoa (OK, that's it! Now life is no longer worth living)
The above are all foods high in oxalic acid, which forms oxalates, which are a key component in calcium oxalate kidney stones (the most common kind).
To be fair, one doesn't necessarily have to completely eliminate such foods. Kidney stones which actually cause problems take years to form, so the occasional lamb curry or MochaFrappaLattaChino probably won't cause significant problems. But these are the dietary restrictions recommended for people prone to kidney stones.
Can you handle it?
No. I would die. I would probably try to drink lots of water or something to counteract those things, but I couldn't give up coffee. Period. End of discussion.
I suspect a majority of caffeine addic...er, coffee drinkers would be as resolute as you are....;-D...
lol For me, it's not just the caffeine. It's a lifestyle. I know that makes it sound even more like I'm an addict, but my mom was a coffee drinker (and drank copious amounts while pregnant with me) and all the adults while I was growing up drank coffee. I probably started drinking it when I was 7 or 8. It's very much a cultural and ingrained thing with me.
Well, stay hydrated, make sure you have some calcium in your diet, and limit your salt and animal protein intake (and, of course, don't eat rhubarb...;-D...). I'm sure my bad diet (lots of protein, lots of salt, lots of chocolate) was influential in my difficulties, so I'm trying to address it on multiple fronts.
I am going to help you any time you ask me to. I am pretty sure this is mostly about cleaning up your system so you don't have any kidney stones in the future.
I will not push you to do anything.
I have studied every diet known to mankind.
You know I know how to lose weight. And keep it off. But I also learned how to do wonders for the body by doing certain diets. If you adhere to this diet for a few months, say? You might find other things clearing up as well, like your skin issues. Your intestines will be happier. Your kidneys will be happier. Therefore? You will be happier.
And there is life after craving certain foods. You will get into it. You are ready.
You like positive results and you will feel so much better.
(I am good for something. USE me BRO LOL)
OLD SCHOOL. I just started seeing the other posts. I guess you do not need my priceless advice after all. Holy moly.
You are on the Diet for health information highway here on Answer Mug.
https://www.davita.com/recipes/index.cfm?utm_source=msn&utm_med...
I am finding letting go of some of my previous habits surprisingly easy. After the pee pee doc (note, there's a street in Honolulu called Lipeepee St.) gave me the list of Food to Avoid, I decided to have a Phuket weekend and eat all the things I'm not supposed to (before I go "back on the wagon"). I'm finding it a little underwhelming.
In the end, I'll probably eat chocolate less and enjoy it more (because it will be a special treat), and the rest of the stuff I either didn't eat all that much, or I can work around it (the tea thing is a bit of an inconvenience because I like making big tankards of iced tea from powder mix, but I'll figure out something).
These are just little food changes actually. That is very good. It will encourage you to see how easily this works if you don't force it. Kind of like when we agreed (I THINK WE DID) about how to work out. Some people think it is smart to lift heavy weights, and I think you and I agreed that it is far better to go slow and take it easy and gradually increase the weight.
Well, same with changing your diet. This may seem overwhelming, but if you get into it and actually do it? That will open doors for you to keep going at your own pace.
And if you don't? It is not life-threatening. But I really, sincerely hope you do, because of the health issues, that just may clear up this problem forever.
I can easily do without all of what you've mentioned because I can't stand most of those items, but being without coffee would be the straw that breaks my back, it would leave me no choice.
Seems like it would be easier to just change doctors.
Fortunately, coffee is actually on the "consume in moderation" list, not the "avoid as much as possible list." Otherwise, we'd have an epidemic of caffeine addict/kidney stone sufferers.
Alas, the medical community seems fairly united in their belief that cutting down on high-oxalate foods is a good way to prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones. My urologist seems like (ahem!) a straight shooter, so I don't feel like going doctor shopping at this point.
I could handle all but the lamb and ground pepper (any specific kind of pepper?). Lamb is pretty lean red meat and we have it about once a week. We put pepper on so many things. But .. neither my husband or I have ever had a problem with kidney stones .. so at our advanced age .. we're probably OK.
I like all these foods. That would be hard! And they are nutritious. I would just try to increase exercise and eat more salads which usually cures everything under the sun.
