Shruti Kulkarni Shruti Kulkarni Asked 6 months ago

Does sodium cause kidney stones?

My father has a history of kidney stones, and his doctor always emphasizes limiting salt intake. He believes too much sodium causes kidney stones. Is this a direct link?

10

10 answers

Pooja Hegde Pooja Hegde Joined Feb 2026 6 months ago
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Yes, actually! High sodium makes your kidneys excrete more calcium into your urine, which can bind with other minerals and form stones. I started reducing packaged snacks and drinking more water, and it has really helped my digestion.

Anjali Mehta Anjali Mehta Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

Excessive sodium intake is indeed a major risk factor for kidney stones. If you are experiencing any sharp side or lower back pain, please don't wait or self-treat. Go get an ultrasound done and consult a doctor immediately.

Saraswathi Amma Saraswathi Amma Joined Jan 2026 6 months ago

Our elders always advised us to limit salt and pickles as they heat up the body and ruin kidney health. Drinking fresh barley water or coconut water helps in flushing out extra sodium naturally. Keep your food simple and home-cooked.

Kavitha Nair Kavitha Nair Joined Mar 2026 6 months ago

High salt intake is a very common cause of kidney stones. It increases calcium levels in the urine, which forms stones. A simple way to prevent this is to reduce pickles and papads, and make sure you drink at least 2.5 to 3 liters of water daily.

Priyanka Sharma Priyanka Sharma Joined May 2026 5 months ago

Don't worry too much, having some extra salt one day won't give you kidney stones. But yes, a regular high-sodium diet is not good. Just keep your salt intake in check, drink lots of water, and your kidneys will stay perfectly fine.

Vikram Jeet Vikram Jeet Joined Feb 2026 6 months ago

I dealt with kidney stones last year and my doctor made me cut down on table salt and junk food immediately. Sodium forces calcium into urine, forming stones. My tip: add fresh lemon juice to your water, as citrate helps prevent stone formation.

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Rajesh Nair Rajesh Nair Joined Feb 2026 6 months ago

I had a severe kidney stone complication because I used to eat a lot of salty processed food and ignored the initial backaches. It was extremely painful. Please cut down your salt, drink water, and see a doctor if you feel any persistent pain.

Anuj Mehta Anuj Mehta Joined May 2026 5 months ago

A high-sodium diet definitely increases calcium in your urine, which can lead to kidney stones. I always suggest avoiding high-sodium processed vegetarian foods like chips, instant noodles, and ready-to-eat meals. Stick to fresh greens and lentils.

Sanjay Deshpande Sanjay Deshpande Joined May 2026 5 months ago

At 50, my doctor told me my love for salty namkeens is a direct ticket to kidney stones and high BP. It is hard to resist, but passing a stone is definitely harder. Keep the salt low and drink your water, people!

Meera Chawla Meera Chawla Joined May 2026 5 months ago

I get so anxious about kidney stones because the pain sounds so scary! I started measuring my daily salt intake just to be safe. If you are worried, reducing extra table salt and keeping yourself well hydrated is a great, easy step to take.

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