In this conversation, Jeff Sarris and Jill Harris discuss the impact of salad dressings on kidney stone formation, addressing a listener's question about dietary choices. They explore the importance of understanding oxalate levels in foods, the role of sodium and sugar in salad dressings, and the significance of meal plans in managing kidney stone health. The discussion emphasizes the need for balance in dietary choices and the value of support systems for individuals dealing with kidney stones....
Dec 17, 2024•12 min•Ep. 223
In this conversation, Jeff Sarris and Jill Harris discuss the impact of oxalates in vegetables, particularly focusing on the common practice of boiling vegetables to reduce oxalate levels. Jill emphasizes the importance of retaining nutrients in vegetables and explains that while oxalates can be a concern for a small population, most people can safely consume them without drastic measures. The discussion also touches on dietary choices related to kidney stone prevention and the balance between h...
Dec 10, 2024•11 min•Ep. 222
In this episode, Jill Harris discusses the relationship between diet, particularly the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and kidney stone prevention. She addresses misconceptions about microwaves, emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet, and provides practical tips for incorporating more nutritious foods into daily meals. Did the microwave cause my kidney stones? Takeaways Microwaves are not harmful if they help you eat vegetables. A balanced plate should consist of fruits, vegetables, ...
Dec 03, 2024•17 min•Ep. 221
The critical steps in preventing kidney stones. Jill emphasizes the necessity of a 24-hour urine collection to understand the underlying causes of stone formation. She critiques generic advice like 'sucking on a lemon' and stresses the importance of personalized medical guidance. The conversation also covers the Kidney Stone Diet and lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of stones. You NEED to do this after passing a kidney stone Takeaways You must start with having your doctor order a...
Nov 26, 2024•9 min•Ep. 220
In this episode, Jill Harris discusses the relationship between quinoa and kidney stones, focusing on oxalate content and dietary choices. She emphasizes the importance of portion control and balanced nutrition for kidney stone prevention, while also addressing common misconceptions about dietary restrictions. Jill shares insights on meal planning and the benefits of incorporating various foods, including quinoa, into a kidney stone-friendly diet. How much oxalate is in quinoa? Takeaways Quinoa ...
Nov 19, 2024•12 min•Ep. 219
This conversation delves into the role of potassium citrate in kidney stone prevention and management, particularly focusing on its effectiveness for uric acid stones. Jill Harris emphasizes the importance of medical consultation before taking potassium citrate, the necessity of urine tests to determine citrate levels, and the impact of diet on kidney stone formation. The discussion also highlights the potential side effects of potassium citrate and the benefits of incorporating fruits and veget...
Nov 12, 2024•12 min•Ep. 218
In this conversation, Jill Harris discusses the reasons behind low urine output despite adequate fluid intake. She emphasizes the roles of sodium and sugar in hydration and kidney health. She explores dietary adjustments that can enhance urine production and prevent kidney stones, highlighting the importance of fruits and vegetables, and the complexity of kidney stone disease management. You're not peeing enough, here's why Takeaways You're drinking enough fluids, but you're not peeing enough. L...
Nov 05, 2024•13 min•Ep. 217
This week, Jill Harris discusses the necessary dietary changes to prevent kidney stones. She emphasizes the importance of gradual changes in habits, practical steps to improve diet, and navigating grocery shopping for healthier choices. Jill shares her personal experiences and insights on emotional eating, encouraging listeners to be kind to themselves during their journey of change. 00:00 Understanding Dietary Changes for Kidney Stone Prevention 02:49 The Importance of Gradual Change in Habits ...
Oct 29, 2024•14 min•Ep. 216
In this episode, Jill Harris discusses the critical role of calcium in kidney health, emphasizing the importance of balanced intake to prevent kidney stones. She explores common misconceptions about calcium consumption, the risks of excessive intake, and the significance of community support in managing kidney stone prevention. The conversation highlights the need for moderation in dietary choices and the impact of marketing on health decisions. Takeaways - Calcium is essential for kidney health...
Oct 22, 2024•11 min•Ep. 215
This week, the importance of understanding oxalate in relation to kidney stones including common questions about oxalate levels in foods, the significance of portion control, and how prioritizing health can lead to weight loss. Oxalate Q&A for preventing kidney stones Takeaways Oxalate levels depend on where the plant was grown. Eat all foods within normal portion sizes. Prioritizing health can lead to weight loss. A 24-hour urine collection is essential for diagnosis. It's never just about ...
Oct 15, 2024•14 min•Ep. 214
In this episode of the Kidney Stone Diet podcast, Jill Harris discusses the importance of understanding nutritional deficiencies and their impact on preventing kidney stones. She explores how deficiencies in hydration, calcium, and other nutrients can increase the risk of kidney stones, particularly in individuals with malabsorption issues or those who have undergone bariatric surgery. She emphasizes a balanced diet and gives practical strategies to reduce kidney stone risk, while also encouragi...
Oct 08, 2024•12 min•Ep. 213
Jill Harris shares her journey from not knowing how to cook to becoming a confident chef and advocate for healthy eating, particularly for kidney stone prevention. She discusses the importance of meal planning, overcoming cooking anxiety, and the benefits of cooking at home. Jill emphasizes that anyone can learn to cook with the right motivation and resources, and encourages listeners to embrace cooking as a priority for a healthier lifestyle. Takeaways Jill started cooking after her divorce, re...
Oct 01, 2024•13 min•Ep. 212
In this episode of the Kidney Stone Diet podcast, Jill Harris discusses the importance of understanding oxalates in foods, particularly Brussels sprouts, and how they fit into a Kidney Stone Diet. Jill emphasizes that most people can safely consume up to 100 milligrams of oxalate daily, and that portion control and adequate calcium intake are crucial for managing oxalate levels. She also highlights the benefits of meal plans designed for kidney stone prevention, which provide a variety of delici...
Sep 24, 2024•9 min•Ep. 211
In this conversation, Jill Harris discusses the misconceptions surrounding electrolyte and mineral water, emphasizing the importance of understanding sodium content and reading nutrition labels. She argues that many marketed products are unnecessary for the average person and highlights the need for consumers to be informed about what they are consuming. The discussion also touches on the implications of high sodium intake, particularly for individuals with specific health conditions like kidney...
Sep 17, 2024•9 min•Ep. 210
A low oxalate diet alone does not prevent kidney stones. It is important to pay attention to other goals of the kidney stone diet, such as getting enough fluids, calcium, and reducing salt and added sugar intake. The order of importance for these goals is: fluids, sodium, added sugar, calcium, meat, and oxalate. Following these goals can help lower the risk of kidney stones. The Kidney Stone Diet website provides resources and information to help individuals follow the diet. Takeaways A low oxal...
Sep 10, 2024•8 min•Ep. 209
Jill Harris explains that weight loss itself does not cause kidney stones, but rather the diets people follow to lose weight. Diets like Keto, Paleo, and Low Carb can increase the risk of kidney stones if not followed properly. Jill emphasizes the importance of getting enough calcium to counteract the oxalate intake and avoiding overeating high oxalate foods. She also mentions the role of sodium in kidney stone formation. Overall, the key takeaway is that it's not the diets themselves that cause...
Sep 03, 2024•9 min•Ep. 208
In this episode, Jill discusses the importance of drinking fluids to prevent kidney stones. Jill emphasizes that water is the number one thing to prevent kidney stones and shares success stories of patients who have reduced their stone production by drinking more water. She also advises on how to gradually increase fluid intake and manage expectations. Jill highlights the significance of understanding why these dietary changes are necessary and encourages listeners to be patient with themselves....
Aug 27, 2024•13 min•Ep. 207
In this episode, Jill discusses the potential link between the weight loss medication Ozempic (semaglutide) and kidney stones. While there is no direct scientific evidence on this topic, she analyzes the known side effects of Ozempic and how they could increase the risk of kidney stones. Dehydration, caused by side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite, can lead to an increased risk of kidney stones. She emphasizes the importance of staying hydrated and consulting with ...
Aug 20, 2024•12 min•Ep. 206
In this episode, Jill answers a listener's question about kidney stones. She discusses the importance of lifestyle management in preventing kidney stones and the lack of attention given to this aspect in the medical field. She emphasizes the need for urine collection to understand the causes of stone formation and the importance of the Kidney Stone Diet which includes goals beyond just low oxalate intake. She also provides specific advice on tomato consumption and the importance of variety in on...
Aug 13, 2024•14 min•Ep. 205
Marie, a plant-based diet patient, asks about getting enough calcium without supplements. Jill advises against calcium supplements and recommends getting calcium through food sources. She suggests using supplemented plant-based milks like coconut milk, flax milk, and pea milk. Jill also emphasizes the importance of doing a urine collection to determine urine calcium levels and to check for any underlying issues like bone disease or parathyroid hormone imbalance. She encourages Marie to follow up...
Aug 06, 2024•12 min•Ep. 204
In this episode, Jill discusses the difference between nephrologists and urologists and when to see each. She explains that urologists are surgeons who specialize in diseases of the bladder and kidneys, including kidney stone removal. Nephrologists, on the other hand, are medical doctors who manage kidney-related diseases and can also help with kidney stone prevention. Most kidney stone formers do not need both specialists, but may consider seeing a nephrologist if they have recurrent stones or ...
Jul 30, 2024•10 min•Ep. 203
A listener asks if she should adjust her Kidney Stone Diet while taking medication for kidney stones. She has high urine calcium and has been prescribed a diuretic to lower it, but she's concerned about her low blood pressure. Jill discusses the options for adjusting the diet and medication, including lowering the dose, trying a different diuretic, or increasing sodium intake. She emphasizes the importance of following the Kidney Stone Diet and the positive impact it can have on overall health. ...
Jul 23, 2024•13 min•Ep. 202
Before doing a 24-hour urine collection for kidney stone prevention, there are three important things to know. First, you should eat like you did when you were forming kidney stones to see how those foods affected your urine chemistry. Second, stop taking vitamins that have not been prescribed by a doctor three to five days before the collection, as some vitamins can interfere with the test. Third, make sure to follow the instructions for the urine collection and submit it on time. It is also im...
Jul 16, 2024•15 min•Ep. 201
This week, Jill and Jeff celebrate their 200th episode and discuss five common misconceptions about kidney stones. They address the belief that there is nothing left to eat when trying to prevent kidney stones, emphasize that people can still go out to eat and enjoy their lives while managing their condition, clarify that there is no solution to dissolve kidney stones except for uric acid stones, debunk the myth that all calcium should be eliminated from the diet, and encourage listeners to not ...
Jul 09, 2024•13 min•Ep. 200
In this conversation, Jill discusses oxalate and the Kidney Stone Diet. She addresses common misconceptions and fears surrounding oxalate and gives advice on how to eat a wide variety of foods while still managing oxalate levels. Jill emphasizes the importance of getting calcium needs met and highlights the need to focus on other aspects of the Kidney Stone Diet, such as reducing salt and sugar intake. Takeaways Oxalate is often a misunderstood and feared aspect of the Kidney Stone Diet. While i...
Jul 02, 2024•11 min•Ep. 199
Jill Harris, your kidney stone prevention nurse, shares tips on how to pass a kidney stone. She discusses the importance of drinking more fluids to flush out the stone and suggests methods for pain relief. Jill also mentions the benefits of movement, such as walking, jumping, and even riding a roller coaster, in helping pass a kidney stone. Takeaways Drinking more fluids can help flush out a kidney stone and prevent it from getting stuck in the urinary tract. Using a heating pad can provide pain...
Jun 25, 2024•15 min•Ep. 198
This week, Jill discusses the topic of sweet potatoes and their relation to kidney stone prevention. She addresses the misconception that sweet potatoes should be avoided. Jill explains that sweet potatoes can be safely consumed as long as calcium needs are met. She emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet, portion control, and getting the right information to prevent kidney stones. Takeaways Sweet potatoes can be safely consumed as part of a kidney stone prevention diet. It is important to ...
Jun 18, 2024•13 min•Ep. 197
In this episode, Jill discusses whether or not it is necessary to stop eating meat to avoid kidney stones. She emphasizes that giving up meat is not required, but it is important to eat it responsibly and not overeat. She also highlights the importance of maintaining a balanced diet and not focusing solely on one nutrient. She provides resources for determining the appropriate amount of meat protein and total protein intake based on individual needs. Takeaways Giving up meat is not necessary to ...
Jun 11, 2024•12 min•Ep. 196
Sherry has a renal leak that causes her to absorb too much calcium, leading to hypercalciuria. She wants to know if the Kidney Stone Diet will help her. The Kidney Stone Diet focuses on getting enough calcium, avoiding excessive salt and sugar, and not overdoing meat protein. While a Mediterranean diet is generally recommended, Sherry should be cautious about consuming foods high in oxalate, such as spinach, due to her renal leak. The diet can help lower her risk of kidney stones, but she should...
Jun 04, 2024•16 min•Ep. 195
The conversation discusses the importance of portion sizes in preventing kidney stones and provides guidance on how to calculate and determine appropriate portion sizes. It emphasizes the concept of portion not perfection, where individuals should focus on portion control rather than striving for perfection in their diet. The conversation also highlights the confusion surrounding portion sizes and the limitations of nutrition labels. It concludes by emphasizing the need for individualized portio...
May 28, 2024•19 min•Ep. 194
