The old advice: If you are prone to kidney stones, restrict calcium-rich foods.
New evidence says the opposite: Eat more high-calcium foods (milk, cheese, tofu, kale) to discourage stone formation. A new Harvard study shows women ages 27-44 who ate the most dietary calcium cut kidney stone risk 30%, compared with women who ate the least. Drinking lots of fluids also cut odds 30%. On the other hand, a high-sugar diet upped stone formation 30%.
Other kidney stone-deterrents: whole grains, B-6 supplements (at least 40mg a day), coffee, tea, wine. Strangely, you might want to avoid grapefruit juice: It hyped stone risk 44% in one study.
Copyright 2004 Jean Carper. Printed first in USA Weekend. All rights reserved.
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