The Best Beverages To Drink To Pass A Kidney Stone Quickly

Kidney stones can wreck your daily life when they're trying to pass out of your system. You could feel extreme pain on one side of your lower back, or you could experience flu symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fever, or chills. While some people might not experience any symptoms, other people's kidney stone symptoms could be extreme if the kidney stone is blocked or causes irritation.

Some kidney stones can be extremely large, so it might be more difficult for these to pass quickly. According to Baptist Health, larger kidney stones can take up to 45 days to pass. While some kidney stones might need to be treated by a urologist, Dr. Scott Noorda, a Longevity Physician with Resolve Medical, says hydration is key in helping to flush out a kidney stone quickly.

"A general recommendation is to drink 2-3 liters a day of water to help flush out a stone," Noorda said in an exclusive interview with Health Digest. "It's important to drink frequently and not just all at once." Noorda gives his suggestions about the best beverages to drink if you have a kidney stone.

Noorda says that kidney stones often develop due to a lack of hydration. Excess salt, too much sugar, and certain foods can lead to kidney stones. When your urine has a lot of waste and not enough fluid, chemicals form into small crystals. Fluids will lower the concentration of these chemicals in your urine.

Noorda suggests adding a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to your water. Both can make your urine less acidic and help break up some types of kidney stones. He added, "Some herbal teas like dandelion root, nettle, and horsetail can act as a diuretic which can increase the frequency and volume of urination and help move stones along."

If you just prefer to drink water, Noorda advises using a clean, sugar-free electrolyte powder in your water to keep your body's electrolyte balance. "Coconut Water is also a great way to maintain electrolyte balance while hydrating," he said.

To prevent kidney stones and improve your urinary health, Noorda advises drinking cranberry juice.

While drinking plenty of fluids will help flush the stone from your system, don't feel like you have to stop exercising if you have a kidney stone. Arkansas Urology says that a light jog or some cardio exercise can help move the stone along. Be sure to listen to your body. If you're feeling any pain from your kidney stone, you can take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or enjoy a hot bath to relieve the pain. Your doctor could also prescribe medications such as calcium channel blockers or alpha blockers to reduce pain by relaxing the ureter.

Some kidney stones can cause more problems and might require a procedure to either break up the stone or remove it entirely, Noorda said. Whether you pass the stone on your own or you require a medical procedure, your doctor will want to send the stone to the lab to see what type of stone you have. You might also need to provide a urine sample 24 hours after the stone has passed to check the minerals in your urine.