Kidney Stone Passed

...and hopefully the last post about this subject! Last night about 11:30, it finally happened. It wasn't too painful. I had been adding lemon juice to my distilled water, and I believe the juice broke it down some and made it easier to pass. It was almost a soft stone and somewhat difficult to get out of the strainer. I'm just so glad that is behind me, and I hope I never have to go through that again! I also hope none of your ever get one. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!

Now I must change my diet. I was given an informational packet and one thing on it said 'people who eat foods high in oxalate may be at higher risk of developing kidney stones.' It goes on to say that if you eat nuts (check), chocolate (check), coffee (check), tea (check) and green leafy vegetables--especially spinach (check) you are at higher risk. I also read somewhere online that blueberries (check) are on the list too. Meat and salt are on the list, but I eat very little meat and hardly ever add salt to anything, except potatoes. Now let me tell you about my heart healthy diet that most likely contributed to the kidney stones.

I had been buying large bags of raw almonds for years, and eating them for snacks. I had read that they help control cholesterol, which I used to have a problem with that too. I guess I had just been eating too many of the almonds.

I saw on tv about a year ago about people adding handfuls of raw walnuts to their breakfast berries. Well, I have been doing that too. About every other day I have a large bowl of mixed berries (mostly blueberries) with walnuts for breakfast along with a bowl of old fashioned oatmeal. I liked the walnuts so much, that I also started adding them to the oatmeal (along with organic ground cold milled flax seed). On the days I didn't eat the fruit and nuts, I would have a banana with oatmeal for breakfast.

I don't eat a lot of chocolate, but I do always stock up on dark chocolate, especially cheap at Trader Joe's. I never eat any kind of chocolate except the very dark 71% or more. I suppose I have just been eating too much at a time.

I have drank coffee since I was a teenager. I didn't think I drank that much though in the last few years--two to three big cups a day; sometimes half a pot. I drink coffee for the caffeine in the mornings, then I'm done with it for the day unless I need a pick me up in the afternoon, which is not very often.

Tea is something I have drank all my life and is my favorite drink. The only difference now is that I don't like it sweetened. I buy big jugs of green and white unsweetened tea with mint from Trader Joe's, and try never to run out. I also love iced Jasmine Green Tea. I like a hot cup of herbal tea, like chamomile most anytime.

And fresh spinach is something I have been eating probably three or more nights a week. It has been my favorite salad for quite sometime. Sometimes I even make a meal of just a large salad.

I have been taking a multivitamin and quite a few supplements too. Now I wish I had all that money I spent on them. Needless to say, I won't be taking all the supplements that I had been taking, especially not calcium.

So for me, I had off the chart numbers on a lipid profile a few years ago and was even put on a statin drug for awhile. I did not like taking the drug and was determined to lower my numbers with diet and exercise. And I succeeded! Who would've ever thought at the same time a whole new health problem was arising.

I think I've learned my lesson and it is a simple one--everything in moderation.

I have always been drinking lots of water, which helps eliminate these stones. I should also vary my diet more and I think I will do that by eating out more often and trying new things. I'm also learning some unique dishes on the Food Network's Top Chef and other shows. Another new cooking show called "The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck" starts next Tuesday on the Oxygen Channel. It looks to be a really good show--lots of good food, reality comedy and drama!