The Kidney Dietitian

03/27/2026

ANY content that even HINTS that water might not be that important to prevent kidney stones could harm the kidney stone community.

I will simply not stand for that. Dr Evanlevine- you should be too.

Of COURSE I'm all about personalized kidney stone prevention and pushing for effective strategies. And of COURSE water isn't the whole story. Have you met me!? 🙃 BUT, drinking more fluid to dilute your urine is literally the ONLY constant that works WONDERS to prevent kidney stones for everyone.

This study doesn't tell us ANYTHING about IF water prevents stones. We already know it does. It highlights how HARD it is for patients to drink more - which is why having a solid support system to HELP you actually make these changes is SO important.

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03/26/2026

Who loves hot sauce!? 🙌 Hot sauce can be a GREAT way to add a TON of flavor on a low sodium diet - but there are HUGE differences in sodium content in different hot sauces. Learn more at the blog!

Hot sauce is a great way to add tons of flavor to food - especially if you love spicy food like I do! Hot sauce can absolutely be a part of a healthy diet. But, hot sauce can easily put you over your sodium budget for the day if you don't pay attention to portion size and the type of hot sauce you u...

03/26/2026

It is an exciting time in kidney stone nutrition. We are learning SO much more about all of the GOOD things we can eat to prevent stones. There (slowly!) a shift from fousing on all the things you "can't" eat (👁️lookin' at you "high" oxalate foods), to things that are packed with things that make it HARDER for kidney stones to form.⁠
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One of these things is magnesium! Magnesium is becoming QUITE trendy these days ....and it can also help prevent oxalate kidney stones!⁠
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Learn more about magensium at the blog: https://www.thekidneydietitian.org/magnesium-kidney-stones/

03/25/2026

No matter WHAT you do - DO NOT stop eating fruits and vegetables for kidney stone prevention.

Chalk this up to yet ANOTHER piece of well-meaning advice that is going to BACKFIRE significantly!

🎙️Comment 42 to get link to listen to my podcast all about calcium phosphate kidney stones!

03/24/2026

DYK beans, nuts and whole grains might just be some of the BEST foods for people with kidney disease!? Unfortunately, many of these are "off limits" because of "high" phosphorus - yet our bodies only absorb 30-50% of the phosphorus in these plant based foods! Learn more at the blog about what people with kidney disease should REALLY focus on when it comes to phosphorus!

New research and recommendations from the National Kidney Foundation have changed what a healthy low phosphorus diet looks like.

03/24/2026

I hear time and time again. "I got a kidney stone and the doctor told me I can't eat any more nuts".⁠
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I call B.S!⁠
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Yes, SOME nuts are higher in oxalate. But this doesn't mean you can't have them.⁠
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First, most of the time that doctor hasn't done their due diligence to see if high urine oxalate is a cause of your stones. MOST of the time the cause of calcium oxalate kidney stones is high urine calcium, NOT high urine oxalate. ⁠
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Only 20% of people with calcium oxalate kidney stones have high urine oxalate AT ALL. A simple stone analysis isn't enough - you need that 24-hour urine test!⁠
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Second, there are HUGE differences in how much oxalate is in different TYPES of nuts. Almonds are pretty high, but walnuts and pistachios are on the lower side. Nuts are a WONDERFUL source of fiber, plant based protein, heart healthy fat and so many other nutritious things. I actually WANT you to eat nuts!⁠
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Lastly, there isn't any evidence a low oxalate diet prevents kidney stones ANYWAY! For most people, simply getting in enough CALCIUM with meals is enough to bring urine oxalate down to normal levels. The goal is NEVER a "zero oxalate" diet. This would be hugely unhealthy and unnecessary. Instead, it is all about learning how to incorporate those higher oxalate foods in a healthy eating pattern!⁠
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➡️Comment ROADMAP to get my FREE roadmap to personalized stone prevention for you!⁠
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03/23/2026

Here is our LAST installment with the amazing team at the University of Chicago Kidney Stone Program for National Kidney Month!

Supplements - for stones or not - seem SO enticing. They often offer HUGE promises...with little data backing up that promise. Unfortunately, kidneys are one of the most vulnerable organs to supplements.

No matter WHAT supplement you are taking, no matter how "natural" it seems, ALWAYS remember to tell your doctor and dietitian what you are taking!

Make sure to follow along with for more SOUND kidney stone information!

03/20/2026

I couldn't help but share ONE more clip from my interview with on the Eat Away Kidney Stones Podcast.

It was truly an honor and a highlight of my career to talk with Dr. Nestle about all things food politics and public health.

➡️ Comment 138 to get the link to listen to the whole episode of the Eat Away Kidney Stones Podcast!

03/19/2026

Nutrition plays a HUGE role in helping slow the progression of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), as well as reduce the risk of common complications like stroke or kidney stones. Learn more at the blog!

What does healthy eating for Polycystic Kidney Disease actually look like? Understand the science behind the PKD diet and how that translates to food you eat!

03/19/2026

Did you know that sandwiches alone contribute nearly a 1/2 of ALL the salt we eat in the United States!?⁠
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Lunchmeat (yep! even turkey!) are the main reason why sandwiches are so salty. Add salt from the bread (which has a surprising amount of salt!) and toppings like pickles or banana peppers and you easily have a sandwich with 1,000mg of sodium!⁠
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Here are my top tips to making a lower sodium sandwich:⁠
🥪Skip the deli meat. Go with egg or tuna salad instead. Or, try a veggie!⁠
🥪 Be choosy with bread. Make sure to check the sodium content of your bread and find one as low in sodium as possible. Less than 120mg sodium/slice is a good realistic goal.⁠
🥪 Add flavor with veggies! Onion, tomato, cucumber and avocado are my favorite ways to make a sandwich more exciting, without those pickles!⁠
🥪 Make it at home (if possible!). Sandwiches from restaurants will usually be higher in sodium than what you can make at home. If you find yourself at a restaurant, just check the nutrition facts for sodium before you order!⁠
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Comment GUIDE to get your FREE Guide to Low Sodium eating!⁠
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03/18/2026

There is actual evidence for EVERYTHING you find here at The Kidney Dietitian!

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03/18/2026

Breakfast is one of the HARDEST meals to figure out what to eat for many people. Here are some of my GO TO ideas for people with kidney stones (plus, my thoughts on if you NEED that low oxalate qualifier 😉)

Are you struggling to come up with healthy low oxalate breakfast ideas that are healthy for kidney stones? Check out my top 10 favorites here!