add lemons to reduce kidney stones

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	American Medical Association More info on kidney stones Is that a Banana or are you just Happy to see me! Bananas for health and happpiness! Keep your cool with Watermelon Agua Fresca Recipe Watermelon is also well-known as a kidney cleanser. Learn how to keep your cool and make a light, refreshing drink that's healthy too.

Kidney stones are more prevalent in summer because they're linked to water consumption, and many people don't drink enough water to compensate for hotter temperatures, says Dr. Andrew Sambell, a Baylor Medical Center urologist.

Kidney stones are mineral deposits made up of calcium, uric acid or the amino acid cysteine. Medical experts believe that these stones result from an accumulation of unused calcium, and lack of exercise is generally thought to be a factor. Medical experts agree that diet and lifestyel is a contributing factor.  Obesity and repeated kidney infections and diets higher in meat and processed foods are also risk factors.

He offers the following tips for reducing the risk of kidney stones:

Drink water! Drink at least four to eight glasses of water a day and double that amount in hot weather.

Reduce your meat intake. A diet high in animal protein increases the risk of kidney stones. Sambell recommends eating a vegetarian diet two days a week or cutting your meat intake by 30 percent.

Cut back on the salt. Most of the salt in our diets comes from prepared foods, not from salt we add at the table, Sambell said. If you're eating fast food more than twice a week, you're getting a lot of salt in your diet.

Lower your intake of caffeine, Caffine is a diuretic that can leave you dehydrated. Try to switch to decaffeinated beverages.

Food is medicine! Put slices of fresh lemon in your water or tea. Lemons are high in citrate, which helps to inhibit kidney stones.

In warmer climates, such as india and the Philipines, traditional diets include Plantains (banana) which is high in potassium (helps balance the calcium/potassium levels in the body) and are known to help with kidney stones

While these steps can help reduce your risk of kidney stones, there are some uncontrollable factors that increase risk. These include: recurrent urinary tract infections; certain medical conditions; and a family history. People with recurrent kidney stones should talk to their doctor, Sambell said.

More information: While prevention is always the best cure, The American Medical Association has more about kidney stones. Traditional Medicine also includes teas and plants for kidney stones.  See related links.