A Diet Soda a Day Keeps the Kidney Stones Away?

As surprising as it may sound, citrus-based diet sodas may help in preventing the formation of kidney stones. Standard brands such as Diet Sprite, Diet 7-Up, and Fresca contain a compound called citrate (in the form of potassium citrate). Citrate is a known inhibitor of calcium oxalate kidney stones.

Kidney stones are little crystals developed in the kidneys that travel through the urinary tract into the bladder causing extreme pain. Side effects of a kidney stone can include nausea and vomiting as well as added kidney pressure depending on the size and length of time it stays within the body blocking the flow of urine. Kidney stones affect about 10 percent of the population and while women aren’t immune, men are four times more at risk of developing them.

Kidney stones have a higher concentration during summer months when heat and humidity are at their highest. Because dehydration is common when it’s hot out, the kidneys don’t have enough fluids to cleanse out of the body and the kidneys start slowing down causing deficiencies and a buildup of chemicals within the kidneys due to dehydration can form painful stones. Water is the best way to stay hydrated, but there are other fluids that can rehydrate and work on preventing the kidney stones, namely citrus-based diet soft drinks—non-diet citrus-based sodas also fall into this category but are high in both sugar and calories—and fresh lemonade

By Susan Brady
www.healthnews.com