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Kidney stones are a common urinary tract disorder.

Caused by a buildup of minerals in urine, kidney stones are pieces of stone-like material that form on the walls of the kidney.

Some people have kidney stones made from calcium oxalate (OX-uh-layt). For these people, cutting back on salt and following a low-oxalate diet may help prevent kidney stones.

Who’s at Risk for Kidney Stones?

In the United States, about 1 million people get kidney stones every year. Most stones are so small that they pass through the urinary system without pain.

However, a large enough stone can cause extreme pain or urinary blockage. This requires treatment or surgery.

Kidney stones usually affect:

• People between the ages of 20 and 40.
• Men more often than women.
• People who have a family history of kidney stones.

RELATED: How Can I Avoid Getting Kidney Stones?

A Low-Oxalate Diet Plan

Many foods contain oxalate. On a low-oxalate diet, you should limit your oxalate to 40 to 50 mg each day. This may help prevent kidney stones.

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. People likely to get kidney stones should drink 8 to 13 cups of fluid each day.

Your body may turn extra vitamin C into oxalate. Avoid high doses of vitamin C supplements (more than 2,000 mg of vitamin C per day).

The following charts will help you eat foods low in oxalate and avoid foods high in oxalate. Food and drink serving sizes are 3.5 ounces (100 grams), unless otherwise noted.

Enjoy these low-oxalate foods and drinks

Eat as much of these low-oxalate foods as you like. Low-oxalate foods have less than 2 mg of oxalate per serving.

Limit these moderate-oxalate foods and drinks

You should have no more than two or three servings of these foods per day. Moderate-oxalate foods have between 2 and 10 mg of oxalate per serving.

Avoid these high-oxalate foods and drinks

High-oxalate foods have more than 10 mg of oxalate per serving.

For more help and information on a low-oxalate diet, contact UPMC Nutrition Services.