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OUT, OUT, Darn Kidney Stone!
by Alice Osborne
 It seems like we’ve had a rash of kidney stone issues in our neighborhood the past few months. So concerning has this issue been, that our neighbor, Kristen, who is a nurse, sent an email around apprising folks of what they ought to consider in the hopes of avoiding any further problems with the little buggers.
Here’s Kristen’s advice:
Drink more fluids! 8-10 glasses of water a day!
Increase your fiber
Eat less beef, pork and poultry
Eat a moderate or high amount of calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products. Getting your recommended amounts of calcium, combined with a diet low in sodium and protein, may decrease your risk of kidney stones.
Try not to drink grapefruit juice. Drinking grapefruit juice may increase your risk for developing kidney stones.
Avoid foods that are high in oxalate, such as dark green vegetables, nuts, and chocolate. (Bummer! Sorry about the chocolate!!)
Try not to add salt when you cook or eat. Try removing the salt shaker from your table.
I really like the idea of eating more calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products, being the ice cream maniac that I am. But for me the bummer isn’t the advice to avoid chocolate, it’s the part about dark green vegetables. I’m the morning green smoothie girl, so this could be a hardship.
Now, here’s a recipe for a preventative measure, a kidney cleanse in the form of a tea—watermelon seed tea to be exact. Who thought we’d find a good use for those seeds, besides spitting contests, I mean?
Watermelon seed tea is a diuretic recommended in the Cayce readings, particularly as a stimulant to cleanse and purify the kidneys and bladder.
Watermelon Seed Tea
 1 pint boiling water
1-2 Tbsp watermelon seeds (ground or cut)
At least once a day, three days a week, take watermelon seed tea prepared by pouring boiling water over watermelon seed and allowing it to steep. Let it cool, then strain and drink. If practical, the tea should be made fresh for each use.
 Download this recipe.
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