Japanese foods/drinks and kidney stones?
Hi all, serious question here for those who read this blog and have spent a goodly amount of time in Japan. I don't normally post personal topics but this may tie into Japan...
Less than a year ago I began having problems with kidney stones. I think it began in February of this year. I was diagnosed with Cystine stones which aren't caused by calcium but by my body's inability to filter out the excess amino acids which in turn produces extra cystine which hardens into stones over a very short amount of time. Cystine stones are the rarest type of stones. Though this form of kidney stones is hereditary, (My Grandma had them too) doctors and dieticians believe that regular amounts of animal protein in the diet can accelerate stone growth. Since I was diagnosed in February I've had 4 uteroscopic surgeries and three or 4 stents. My largest stone was only 6mm but it hurt like hell. The rest of my stones have been around 4-5mm and I always have multiples up in there.
So my question/comment is this. I've never had kidney problems before arriving in Japan. My diet over the years hasn't really changed much. I don't over-eat and I was never one to live only on steak, eggs and bacon. I have however started drinking coffee rather regularly - about 3 grande coffees at Starbucks a week for the past two years now. My doc said I've always had this condition because you are born with it but for some reason my kidneys either don't handle it as well or I'm taking in more protein. Could it be the milk in the coffee? I know Japanese milk is processed differently than American milk because it tastes like baby formula and not fresh milk. Maybe all of the milk in those coffees is causing the stones?
So in my last hospital stay almost two months ago my urologist (Dr. McAdams at Lester - he rocks!!) had a dietitian speak with me before being discharged. She suggested I quit all forms of animal protein cold-tofu-turkey and begin a strict vegan diet. Well that lasted for a whopping two weeks. When I went back to my urologist he said I really needed days without any meat or dairy products but if I decided to take a day off that's okay as long as I drink ungodly amounts of water for 24 hours following my meal. So I only half stayed on my diet after that but a couple weeks later I realized that, omigosh!, I'm not in pain! No stones to speak of. But by then I was back at Mamma's Cafe pigging out on BLTs, potato salad sandos and who knows what else, but only during lunch time. While I was on my diet, my coffee intake was zero! We already know my stones aren't composed of calcium so maybe it is all that milk in the coffee?
Even stranger is that my co-worker also has stones. He too has a rare type of stone although it's not as rare as cystine. We both eat at the same places and drink coffee. I don't know if he had stones before arriving in Japan. I guess I should ask sometime. Anyway, has anyone out there has problems with stones since being in Japan?
Less than a year ago I began having problems with kidney stones. I think it began in February of this year. I was diagnosed with Cystine stones which aren't caused by calcium but by my body's inability to filter out the excess amino acids which in turn produces extra cystine which hardens into stones over a very short amount of time. Cystine stones are the rarest type of stones. Though this form of kidney stones is hereditary, (My Grandma had them too) doctors and dieticians believe that regular amounts of animal protein in the diet can accelerate stone growth. Since I was diagnosed in February I've had 4 uteroscopic surgeries and three or 4 stents. My largest stone was only 6mm but it hurt like hell. The rest of my stones have been around 4-5mm and I always have multiples up in there.
So my question/comment is this. I've never had kidney problems before arriving in Japan. My diet over the years hasn't really changed much. I don't over-eat and I was never one to live only on steak, eggs and bacon. I have however started drinking coffee rather regularly - about 3 grande coffees at Starbucks a week for the past two years now. My doc said I've always had this condition because you are born with it but for some reason my kidneys either don't handle it as well or I'm taking in more protein. Could it be the milk in the coffee? I know Japanese milk is processed differently than American milk because it tastes like baby formula and not fresh milk. Maybe all of the milk in those coffees is causing the stones?
So in my last hospital stay almost two months ago my urologist (Dr. McAdams at Lester - he rocks!!) had a dietitian speak with me before being discharged. She suggested I quit all forms of animal protein cold-tofu-turkey and begin a strict vegan diet. Well that lasted for a whopping two weeks. When I went back to my urologist he said I really needed days without any meat or dairy products but if I decided to take a day off that's okay as long as I drink ungodly amounts of water for 24 hours following my meal. So I only half stayed on my diet after that but a couple weeks later I realized that, omigosh!, I'm not in pain! No stones to speak of. But by then I was back at Mamma's Cafe pigging out on BLTs, potato salad sandos and who knows what else, but only during lunch time. While I was on my diet, my coffee intake was zero! We already know my stones aren't composed of calcium so maybe it is all that milk in the coffee?
Even stranger is that my co-worker also has stones. He too has a rare type of stone although it's not as rare as cystine. We both eat at the same places and drink coffee. I don't know if he had stones before arriving in Japan. I guess I should ask sometime. Anyway, has anyone out there has problems with stones since being in Japan?
Comments
So, it is up to you, maybe you just have to avoid coffee and milk altogether...and concentrate on your vege diet...better yet, just drink water and juice...
hereditary cystinuria is very rare, so i'm sorry that you've had all these problems with kidney stones..*hugs*..I tried to do some research because i can't really remember much and don't have my books with me, but this is what i found online...
Cystine is more soluble in alkaline solution, so sodium bicarbonate or sodium citrate (or similar medications) may be used to alkalinize the urine. Other medications (penicillamine) may be used to increase the solubility of cystine.
There are apparently some other medication, but their side effects are said to be quite serious.
And i found that cow's milk is acidizing, but goat's milk is alkanizing...so it might be good to drink lots of water, but lay off the milk?
here's more on acidic and alkalinic food
# Alkaline Foods -- 75% of diet
Vegetables -- Sea vegetables, burdock, lentils, onion, daikon, taro, sweet potato, kohlrabi, parsnip, garlic, kale, endive, mustard greens, ginger root, broccoli, potato, bell pepper, mushrooms, cauliflower, eggplant, pumpkin, collard greens, brussels sprouts, chives, cilantro, okra, squash, lettuce
Fruit -- Limes, nectarines, persimmons, raspberries, watermelon, tangerines, grapefruit, cantaloupe, honeydew, citrus, olives, loganberries, mango, lemons, pears, avocado, pineapple, apples, blackberries, cherries, peaches, papaya, oranges, apricots, bananas, blueberries, currants, raisins, grapes, strawberries
Nuts, seeds, oils -- Pumpkin seeds, poppy seeds, chestnuts, pepper, primrose oil, sesame seeds, almonds, sprouts, avocado oil, flaxseed oil, coconut oil, olive oil, other seeds
Grains -- Oats, grain coffee, quinoa, wild rice
Condiments -- Baking soda, sea salt, mineral water, umeboshi plums, spices, cinnamon, molasses, soy sauce, herbs, green tea, rice syrup, apple cider vinegar, ginger tea, umeboshi vinegar, ghee
Dairy -- Buttermilk, cheeses and yoghurt.
# Acidifying Foods -- 25% of diet
Dairy -- Processed cheese, ice cream, soymilk, cow's milk, aged cheese, soy cheese, cream
Animal meat -- All meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood. Beef, pheasant, pork, veal, squid, lobster, chicken, lamb, boar, shellfish, goose, turkey, eggs, gelatin, organs, venison, duck
Grains -- All foods made from cereal grains including breads, breakfast cereals, crackers, pasta and rice. Barley, barley groats, corn, rye, oat bran, buckwheat, wheat, kamut, spelt, teff, semolina, white rice, millet, kasha, amaranth, brown rice. Avoid all refined flour products such as white bread, pasta, cakes, pies, cookies.
Legumes -- Legumes including beans, peas, lentils and peanuts.
Nuts, seeds -- All nuts. Hazelnuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, pistachio seeds, pecans, palm kernel oil, almond oil, sesame oil, safflower oil, pumpkinseed oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, pine nuts, canola oil
Vegetables -- Soy beans, carob, green peas, peanuts, snow peas, carrots, chickpeas, tofu, pinto beans, white or red beans, azuki beans, lima beans, kidney beans, string beans, rhubarb
Fruit -- Fruits containing benzoic or oxalic acid including prunes, plums, cranberries, rhubarb and sour cherries.
Condiments -- Jam, jelly, table salt, yeast, sugar, chocolate, cocoa, white vinegar, nutmeg, coffee, saccharin, vanilla, black tea, alcohol, balsamic vinegar, curry, honey, maple syrup, rice vinegar. Also avoid chocolate milk, sodas, wine, alcohol.
Tips on alkalinizing your diet
1. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit
2. Squeeze lemon or lime into water as a beverage
3. Try to eat 1 cup of alkalinizing greens daily, such as kale, mustard greens, or broccoli
4. Eat millet or quinoa as an alternative to wheat
5. Choose fish and lamb over beef
6. Use olive oil instead of vegetable oils
7. Try a greens powder
8. Learn to make a miso broth. Dissolve one teaspoon of miso into a cup of hot, not boiling, water.
http://www.essense-of-life.com/info/foodchart.htm
hope it helped..otherwise, i've just been rambling..LOL
Ya, I stopped counting how many stones I passed at 60 and that was only after my second surgery! I start my new job tomorrow and it gives me a great excuse to get back on a good vegan diet.
My doc told me about some of those medications but I was hesitant because I'm super-sensitive to meds that make you nauseous. Like I'm one of those people who avoids general anesthesia and narcotics because I will be sick for literally days with no relief, even with zoforan and benedryl! Wow. I'm exhausted just thinking about it! That plus I want to do this naturally if possible. I haven't given up yet and your info will help put me back on the right track.