Ah, summer. The sun, the sand … and kidney stones.
August is peak season for developing kidney stones. Doctors have seen a sharp increase in patients with stones in general — a rise by as much as 30 percent in the past decade — likely tied to diets high in refined sugars, salt and animal protein. (More on this below.)
But the primary reason for the summertime kidney blues is dehydration. As the mercury rises, we sweat more. Without proper hydration, the body’s fluids become more concentrated with dietary minerals, such as calcium. This increases the risk that the minerals will concentrate into stones.
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