Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (272 page)

Quinoa, mung beans, water chestnuts, adzuki beans, and kidney beans are all thought to be beneficial to the kidneys.

Fiber to slow the movement of food and to bind calcium to the digestive tract. A lack of fiber will send more calcium into the bloodstream.

Grated radish.

Watermelon juice. Juice the rind, too.

Black bean juice before you eat.

Cranberry juice. This will help to reduce urinary calcium.

AVOID

Carbonated drinks. The phosphoric acid in them could increase kidney-stone formation.

Salt. Too much salt increases urinary calcium and you are then at greater risk of kidney stones.

Overly spicy foods, foods with added sugar, or red meat, as these all put added pressure on the kidneys.

Dairy products, chocolate, and black tea, as they contain oxalic acid.

Spinach and rhubarb are high in oxalates, which may combine with calcium to form insoluble crystals in the kidneys, a common form of kidney stones.

Peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and white potatoes may promote congestion in the kidneys due to the release of solanine.