Kidney stones form when urine gets concentrated enough for minerals to crystallize - and the single biggest driver is not drinking enough water.
Most stones are calcium oxalate, and dietary calcium is usually not the villain: the big dietary risks are excess salt, heavy animal protein, and high-oxalate foods in susceptible people, while normal food calcium protects by binding oxalate in the gut. Other types track other causes: uric acid stones with gout, struvite stones after urinary infections, cystine stones genetic. Risk multipliers: family history, prior stones, obesity, diabetes, gut surgery, hot climates, and sweaty jobs. If you pass a stone, get it analyzed - the type names your prevention lever. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you map your risk.
What to do
Common questions
What causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones form when urine becomes concentrated enough for waste minerals to crystallize and clump - and the single biggest driver is not drinking enough water. The most common stones are calcium oxalate, and contrary to instinct, dietary calcium is usually not the villain - the big dietary risks are too much salt, too much animal protein, and high-oxalate foods in susceptible people, while normal food calcium actually protects by binding oxalate in the gut. Other stone types track other causes: uric acid stones go with gout and heavy meat intake, struvite stones follow urinary infections, and cystine stones are genetic. Risk multipliers: a family or personal history of stones, obesity, diabetes, gut diseases or bariatric surgery that change absorption, hot climates and sweaty jobs, and some medicines. If you have passed one stone, ask for it to be analyzed - the type tells you exactly which prevention lever matters for you. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you understand your risk and what to ask for.