Eliminate Kidney Stones With Lemons – Kidney Stone Causes & Lemon Benefits – Dr.Berg

Dr. Eric Berg DC
21 Mar 201907:11
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script discusses a natural remedy for kidney stones using lemons. It explains that most kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones and that factors like dehydration, high oxalate intake, acidic urine, high blood calcium, and low citrate levels contribute to their formation. The speaker suggests that consuming lemon juice, which is rich in citrates, can help prevent and dissolve these stones, as well as alkalize the body. The recommended regimen includes drinking a cup of pure lemon juice in the morning and a mixture of lemon juice and water throughout the day. The video also addresses common questions about using lemon juice from a jar or fresh lemons and the potential benefits of vitamin C from lemons. It concludes with a reminder to consult with a doctor before trying any new remedies and to use a straw when drinking lemon water to protect teeth.

Takeaways
  • 🍋 Lemon juice is a natural remedy for kidney stones due to its high citrate content, which can help dissolve stones and prevent their formation.
  • ⚖️ Calcium oxalate stones are the most common type of kidney stones, making up 59%, followed by calcium phosphate stones at 10%, and uric acid stones at 17%.
  • 💧 Staying hydrated is crucial in preventing kidney stones, as a lack of fluids can lead to their development.
  • 🚫 High oxalate foods can contribute to kidney stone formation, so it's important to monitor and limit their intake to less than 50 milligrams per day.
  • 🧀 Consuming a small amount of calcium citrate or certain types of cheese with meals can help reduce the absorption of dietary oxalates.
  • ⚠️ Several factors increase the risk of kidney stones, including low urine volume, high oxalate levels, acidic urine, high blood calcium, and low citrate levels.
  • 🧪 Citrates have three beneficial effects: they inhibit stone formation, help dissolve stones, and prevent calcium oxalate from sticking to kidney tissue.
  • 🍹 Drinking lemon juice straight in the morning and mixing it with water throughout the day can help maintain high citrate levels in the body.
  • 🚫 Cranberry juice, despite being beneficial for the kidneys, is not effective for dissolving kidney stones.
  • 🍊 Grapefruit contains citric acid and can help dissolve calcium oxalate stones, but lemons are more potent and effective for both calcium oxalate and phosphate stones.
  • ❗ Always consult a doctor before starting any new remedy, especially if you are on a medical program, to ensure it's safe and appropriate for your condition.
Q & A

  • What are the most common types of kidney stones?

    -The most common types of kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones, which account for 59%, followed by calcium phosphate stones at 10%, and uric acid stones at 17%.

  • How do oxalates contribute to kidney stone formation?

    -Oxalates combine with calcium in the kidney to form razor-sharp crystals that can irritate the kidney, joints, and other tissues, leading to the development of kidney stones.

  • What are some factors that increase the risk of developing kidney stones?

    -Factors that increase the risk of kidney stones include decreased fluid intake leading to dehydration, high levels of oxalates in the body from diet, too acidic urine, increased blood calcium, and low levels of citrate in the body.

  • Why is it recommended to limit oxalate intake to less than 50 milligrams per day?

    -An average person consumes about 200 or more milligrams of oxalates daily, which can contribute to the formation of kidney stones. Limiting oxalate intake helps prevent excessive buildup and potential issues.

  • How can consuming calcium citrate or certain types of cheese help with kidney stones?

    -Consuming a small amount of calcium citrate or certain types of cheese can help because the calcium combines with oxalates in the digestive system, reducing their absorption into the blood and kidneys, thus lowering the risk of stone formation.

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  • What role do citrates play in preventing kidney stones?

    -Citrates perform three key functions: they inhibit the formation of stones, help dissolve existing stones, and prevent the stickiness of calcium oxalate to kidney tissue, allowing stones to pass through the body more easily.

  • Why is lemon juice considered a good remedy for kidney stones?

    -Lemon juice has a high concentration of citrates, which are beneficial in preventing and dissolving kidney stones. Additionally, it helps to alkalize the body, despite being acidic in nature, which can be beneficial for overall health.

  • What is the recommended method for consuming lemon juice to treat kidney stones?

    -The script suggests drinking one cup of lemon juice straight in the morning, followed by mixing one cup of lemon juice with ten cups of water to sip throughout the day to maintain high citrate levels in the body.

  • Why is it advised to use a straw when drinking lemon water throughout the day?

    -Using a straw helps to minimize contact between the lemon water and the teeth, which can help prevent potential dental issues due to the acidic nature of lemon juice.

  • What are the differences between using lemon juice from a jar and fresh lemons?

    -Both options can be effective, but fresh lemons offer additional benefits such as more vitamin C, which can help with inflammation often associated with kidney stones. However, organic lemon juice is also a good alternative, especially if fresh lemons are more expensive.

  • What is the stance on using cranberry juice or grapefruit to treat kidney stones?

    -Cranberry juice is not recommended for dissolving stones, although it may have other benefits for the kidney. Grapefruit contains citric acid and can help dissolve calcium oxalate stones, but lemon juice is more effective as it dissolves both calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones and can also help with uric acid stones.

  • Is there any conflicting data on the effects of vitamin C from food sources like lemons on kidney stones?

    -There is conflicting data on the effects of synthetic vitamin C and kidney stones, with some studies suggesting an increased risk and others a decreased risk. However, these studies do not apply to vitamin C from food sources like lemons, which are not believed to worsen kidney stone conditions.

Outlines
00:00
🍋 Understanding Kidney Stones and Their Remedies with Lemons

This paragraph introduces the topic of using lemons to treat kidney stones. It explains that most kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones and discusses how oxalates from food can combine with calcium in the kidneys to form irritating crystals. The paragraph also covers factors that increase the risk of kidney stones, such as dehydration, high oxalate intake, acidic urine, high blood calcium, and low citrate levels. Citrate is highlighted as a compound that can inhibit stone formation, help dissolve stones, and prevent calcium oxalate from sticking to kidney tissue. The speaker emphasizes the effectiveness of lemon juice due to its high citrate content and suggests a daily regimen of drinking lemon juice to maintain high citrate levels and potentially dissolve existing stones. The advice is to consult a doctor before starting any new remedy, especially if on medication.

05:05
💧 Implementing Lemon Juice as a Kidney Stone Remedy

The second paragraph provides a detailed method for using lemon juice to treat kidney stones. It suggests drinking a cup of lemon juice straight in the morning and then mixing one cup of lemon juice with ten cups of water for consumption throughout the day to keep citrate levels high. The paragraph addresses common questions about the remedy, such as whether to use fresh lemons or lemon juice from a jar, with a preference for fresh and organic options. It also discusses the role of vitamin C in inflammation associated with kidney stones and clarifies that natural vitamin C from lemons is beneficial and not linked to increased stone risk, unlike synthetic vitamin C. The speaker recommends using a straw when drinking lemon water to minimize tooth exposure and concludes with a reminder to share the information with those who may benefit.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Kidney stones
Kidney stones are solid masses made of crystals that separate from the urine and can vary in size. They can cause severe pain when they move through the urinary tract. In the video, the discussion revolves around how to alleviate and prevent kidney stones, particularly focusing on dietary and lifestyle changes.
💡Lemons
Lemons are citrus fruits rich in citric acid and vitamin C. The video suggests using lemon juice as a natural remedy for kidney stones due to its high citrate content, which can help dissolve stones and prevent their formation.
💡Citrates
Citrates are compounds that can inhibit the formation of kidney stones, help dissolve them, and reduce their stickiness to kidney tissue. The video emphasizes the importance of maintaining high citrate levels in the body to prevent kidney stones, with lemon juice being a rich source of citrates.
💡Calcium oxalate stones
These are the most common type of kidney stones, formed when calcium and oxalate combine in the kidney to create sharp crystals. The video discusses how lemon juice can help dissolve these types of stones due to its citrate content.
💡Hydration
Staying well-hydrated is crucial for preventing kidney stones. The video mentions that not consuming enough fluids can increase the risk of developing kidney stones, as it can lead to a higher concentration of stone-forming substances in the urine.
💡Oxalates
Oxalates are substances found in certain foods that, when consumed in excess, can contribute to the formation of kidney stones. The video provides a list of foods high in oxalates and suggests keeping daily oxalate intake below 50 milligrams to reduce the risk.
💡Calcium citrate
Calcium citrate is a dietary supplement that can help bind with oxalates in the digestive system, reducing their absorption into the bloodstream and thus lowering the risk of kidney stone formation. The video suggests consuming a small amount of calcium citrate with meals as a preventative measure.
💡Uric acid stones
Uric acid stones are less common and are formed when there's too much uric acid in the urine. The video mentions that while lemon juice is effective against calcium-based stones, it can also help with reducing the risk of uric acid stones.
💡Fructose
Fructose is a type of sugar found in many fruits and added to various processed foods. The video points out that high fructose intake can increase the risk of kidney stones, particularly uric acid stones, and highlights that lemons have very low amounts of fructose.
💡Cranberry juice
Cranberry juice is often associated with urinary health, but the video clarifies that while it may have benefits for the urinary system, it is not effective for dissolving kidney stones. The focus remains on lemon juice as a preferred remedy.
💡Grapefruit
Grapefruit contains citric acid, which can help dissolve calcium oxalate stones. However, the video suggests that lemon juice is more potent due to its higher citrate content and its ability to dissolve both calcium oxalate and phosphate stones.
💡Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that can provide additional benefits when dealing with kidney stones, particularly in reducing inflammation. The video notes that while there's conflicting data on synthetic vitamin C and kidney stones, natural vitamin C from lemons is beneficial and not a risk factor.
Highlights

The video discusses natural remedies for kidney stones, focusing on the use of lemons.

Most kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones, making up 59% of cases.

Dehydration and high oxalate intake increase the risk of kidney stones.

Oxalates can come from food and are part of the body's defense mechanism against plant consumption.

A daily oxalate intake exceeding 50 milligrams is advised against, with an average person consuming about 200 milligrams.

Consuming calcium citrate or goat/sheep cheese with meals can help minimize dietary oxalates.

Factors increasing kidney stone risk include low urine volume, high body oxalates, acidic urine, high blood calcium, and low citrate levels.

Citrates help prevent stone formation, dissolve existing stones, and reduce calcium oxalate stickiness to kidney tissue.

Lemon juice has the highest concentration of citrates among foods and can help alkalize the body.

Lemon juice can be used as a remedy for kidney stones, with a recommendation to drink it straight in the morning.

Mixing one cup of lemon juice with ten cups of water is suggested for daytime consumption to maintain high citrate levels.

It is advised to consult with a doctor before trying any new remedies, especially if on a medical program.

Both jarred lemon juice and fresh lemons can be used, with fresh lemons providing additional vitamin C benefits.

There is conflicting data on vitamin C's impact on kidney stones, but natural vitamin C from lemons is less concerning than synthetic forms.

When drinking lemon water, using a straw is recommended to minimize exposure to teeth.

The video provides a food chart ranking items by oxalate content, available through a link in the description.

The video emphasizes the importance of not exceeding daily oxalate intake and the role of citrates in preventing kidney stones.

Transcripts

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Kidney HealthLemon RemedyStone PreventionCitrate BenefitsHydration TipsOxalate FoodsCalcium StonesUric AcidHealth GuideNatural TreatmentVitamin CHealthcare Advice