Eat Away Kidney Stones
Registered Dietitian and kidney stone specialist, Melanie Betz MS, RD, CSR, FNKF, FAND shares science-based ways to prevent kidney stones with food!
099 Don't Forget! Drink Water This Summer!
Kidney stones are more common in the summer. Melanie dives into some interesting research about kidney stones and temperature, and shares some tips to stay out of the ER with kidney stones this summer.
Fakheri RJ, Goldfarb DS. Ambient temperature as a contributor to kidney stone formation: implications of global warming. Kidney International. 2011;79(11):1178-1185.
Tasian GE, Pulido JE, Gasparrini A, et al. Daily Mean Temperature and Clinical Kidney Stone Presentation in Five U.S. Metropolitan Areas: A Time-Series Analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2014;122(10):1081-1087.
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098 Am I Doomed If I Have A Family History Of Kidney Stones?
It is common for kidney stones to "run in families", but does this mean you are destined to be a stone former? Melanie dives into kidney stones, genetics and what you CAN do to prevent stones despite your family history of kidney stones.
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advi...
097 Why Do Dietitians Endlessly Talk About Fruits and Veggies For Your Kidneys? [with Emily Campbell RD, CDE, MScFN]
In this episode, fellow kidney dietitian Emily Campbell RD, CDE, MScFN and Melanie chat about why the boring advice to "eat more fruits and vegetables" is so important for kidney health and their favorite tips to actually eat more! Connect with Emily, Owner of Kidney Nutrition at her website, on Instagram @kidneynutrition and in her Facebook group!
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096 How Does Sugar Cause Kidney Stones?
The data is clear that people who eat more added sugar tend to have more kidney stones. But why? Melanie breaks down the science of sugar and kidney stones, along with how much sugar you should be eating.
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from a medical professional.
<...095 No! You Don't HAVE To Be Peeing All The Time! [w/ Bianca Gallub MS, ORT/L]
One of the biggest barriers to drinking all of that water to prevent kidney stones is needing to go to the bathroom all the time! We were thrilled to welcome Bianca Gallub, a pelvic floor physical therapist to talk about what "normal" bathroom habits look like, and what you can do if you find yourself frequently visiting the bathroom to pee.
West Town PT website & Instagram pages
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<...094 Can Ozempic Cause Kidney Stones?
Can ozempic and the other popular GLP1 agonist medications cause kidney stones? Melanie gives an update on with the research says, as well as her advice for people with kidney stones who want to start one of these medications.
References:
Feghali K, Li X, Maalouf NM. Changes in 24-Hour Urine Chemistry in Patients with Nephrolithiasis during Weight Loss with GLP-1 Peptide Therapies: Kidney360. 5(11):p.1706-1712.
Zhao, Kelley; Shkolnik, Brian; Lu, Jennifer; Miller, Joshua; Schulsinger, David. MP10-05 LITHOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF GLP-1 AGONISTS IN DIABETIC STONE FORMERS. The Journal of Urology 209(Supplement 4):p e115...
093 Diving into plant protein for kidneys [with Lindsay Ducharme RD, CSR, LDN]
Melanie chats with Lindsay Ducharme RD, CSR, LDN, Owner of Vital Kidney Nutrition about what plant proteins EVEN ARE, why they are so good for kidneys, and some of their favorite plant protein meals.
Connect with Lindsay & Vital Kidney Nutrition at her website, Instagram & Facebook.
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used...
092 Review of the 2025 National Kidney Foundation Meeting in Boston
In this episode, Melanie shares some reflections of her time at the National Kidney Foundation's sping meeting for healthcare professionals. She gives a summary of the educational sessions she gave, moderated and some other highlights from this high profile national kidney health meeting for professionals.
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place...
091 What If I Can’t Drink Milk?
Most of us know by now how important calcium is for people with calcium kidney stones. But what if you don't drink milk? Melanie shares what she recommends to non-dairy consumers.
Blog: The Best Calcium Sources for Kidney Stones
Borghi L, Schianchi T, Meschi T, et al. Comparison of two diets for the prevention of recurrent stones in idiopathic hypercalciuria. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(2):77-84.
Food Sources of Calcium (USDA)
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090 An Honest Analysis of Kidney Stone Care
Once you have one kidney stone, there is a 75% chance you'll have another in your life. Melanie dives into the healthcare system and why that percentage is so high - and most importantly, what YOU can do to not be a part of that statistic.
Wertheim ML, et al. Current Practice Patterns of Urologists Providing Nutrition Recommendations to Patients with Kidney Stones. Journal of Endourology. 2014;28(9):1127-1131.
Pearle MS, et al. Medical Management of Kidey Stones: AUA Guideline. J Urol. 2014;192:316-324.
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Co...
089 Mental Health & Kidney Stones [with Michelle Rowlett MSW, LICSW]
The impact of kidney stones on mental health is a significant and often overlooked aspect of living with kidney stones. In this episode, Melanie chats with Michelle Rowlett, a social worker who specializes in kidney health about why dealing with chronic disease can be so tough, and her top tips for managing it.
Michelle's LinkedIn Page
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All information in this podc...
088 Should I Boil My Vegetables To Get Rid Of Oxalate?
Should people with kidney stones boil their veggies to cut down oxalate? Melanie weighs in with a short and sweet answer.
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from a medical professional.
087 Do I Need Medicine To Prevent Kidney Stones?
Melanie dives into when and how medicine can help you prevent kidney stones, and how medications should work in tandem with diet changes.
Survey to see if you are eligible to help improve the lives of people with kidney disease
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from...
086 How Much Fat Should I Eat For Kidney Stones?
Ever wonder if fat matters for kidney stones? In this episode, Melanie talks about how fat fits into a healthy dietary pattern for kidney stones and the types of fats that are best.
WIN FREE VIP Enrollment to Kidney Stone Nutrition School! Leave a review of the Eat Away Kidney Stones Podcast, take a screenshot and email it to us at hello@thekidneydietitian.org by 3/31/25.
Podcast: Dr. Adrian Chavez & Dr. Idz on seed oils
Siener R. et al. Effect of n-3 fatty acid supplementation on urinary risk factors for calcium oxalate stone formation...
085 How Your DOCTOR Can Help You Prevent Kidney Stones [with Dr. Paul Dreyer MD]
In this episode, Melanie chats with a fellow kidney stone prevention enthusiast, Dr. Paul Dreyer. Dr. Paul is passionate about helping people with kidney stones stop the vicious cycle and get kidney stone free!
Work with Dr. Paul: Kidney Stone Prevention Clinic
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084 Is the Diet for Kidney Stones and Kidney Disease the Same?
Many people are trying to balance nutrition for BOTH kidney stones and kidney disease. In this episode, Melanie dives into some of the similarities - and differences - when it comes to optimal kidney nutrition.
What is a "Renal Diet" blog post
Phosphorus & CKD blog post
Potassium & CKD blog post
DASH and Mediterranean Diet Resources
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All...
083 How Can We "Make America Healthy Again?" [with Dr. Jessica Knurick PhD, RDN]
You will NOT want to miss this very special episode with Dr. Jessica Knurick, a dietitian that specializes in public health. She and Melanie dive into what the "Make America Healthy Again" (aka MAHA) movement is and what the science says about the movement's priorities and what changes we should be focusing on to truly improve the health of Americans.
Follow Dr. Knurick on Instagram and subscribe to her Substack newsletter.
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082 The Overlap of Heart and Kidney Stone Nutrition [with Patricia Kolesa MS, RDN]
At first glance, healthy eating for heart health and kidney stones can feel COMPLETELY opposite. But, I promise that when you start to focus on what REALLY matters, they really align perfectly! In this episode on honor of Valentine's Day, Melanie chats with fellow dietitian Patricia Kolesa, Founder for Dietitian Dish LLC, about how food can help your heart stay healthy!
Check out Patricia's website and find her on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok!
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081 Reflections From the 2025 R.O.C.K Society Scientific Meeting
In this episode, Melanie shares what she learned from the premiere kidney stone research conference this month. She covers what type of kidney stone research is going on, future directions and a snapshot of data she presented at the meeting.
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from a medi...
080 Vitamin C, Multivitamins & Kidney Stones
Ever wonder if it is ok to take a multivitamin with kidney stones? In this episode, Melanie tackles this big question and gives advice for the specific nutrients you might what to look out for in a multivitamin, and why!
Prentice RL. Clinical trials and observational studies to assess the chronic disease benefits and risks of multivitamin-multimineral supplements. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jan;85(1):308S-313S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/85.1.308S. PMID: 17209216.
Macpherson H, Pipingas A, Pase MP. Multivitamin-multimineral supplementation and mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Feb;97(2):437-44. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.049304. Epub 2012 Dec 19. P...
079 YES! Food DOES Make A Difference For Kidney Stones [with Terrie Holewinski MS, RDN]
In this episode, Melanie chats with Terrie Holewinski MS, RDN about how important kidney stone PREVENTION is, and how this is different than standard care for people with kidney stones, and how nutrition plays a role. Terrie is a Senior Dietitian University of Michigan and Founder and Owner of KidneyIntel, LLC, a platform dedicated to providing reliable, accessible resources to help patients better understand their kidney disease and make informed decisions about their nutrition.
Find Terrie at www.KidneyIntetl.com
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Connect w...
078 The Mental Side of Dealing with Kidney Stones [with Maggie Pollard]
Melanie chats with kidney stone patient, Maggie, about how dealing with multiple stones, surgeries and restrictive diets took a serious toll on her mental health and how working with Melanie has improved her quality of life.
Check out Kidney Stone Nutrition School
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of a...
077 Can You Prevent Kidney Stones With Medullary Sponge Kidney Disease?
In this episode, Melanie talks about a rare congenital condition called medullary sponge disease (MSD) or medullary sponge kidney (MSK) and how people with the disease CAN still prevent kidney stones!
Garfield K, Leslie SW. Medullary Sponge Kidney. [Updated 2023 May 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470220/
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076 How To Make Your 2025 New Years Resolutions STICK [with Laura Koller MS, MSEd, RD, LDN, CDCES]
Happy New Year! If you made ANY resolutions to kick off 2025, you won’t want to miss this amazing episode with behavior change specialist Laura Koller MS, MSEd, RD, LDN, CSCES, Founder of Transform RD! Laura is a dietitian who has a passion for helping people actually MAKE CHANGES to improve their health. She has a unique spin and refreshing take on what it takes to make change STICK.
Connect with Laura at her website, Instagram and on LinkedIn!
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Conne...
075 Reflections From 2024 At The Kidney Dietitian
If you can believe it, 2025 is right around the corner. In this episode, Melanie reflects over how The Kidney Dietitian has grown in 2024 and shares her thanks for being a valued listener of the Eat Away Kidney Stones Podcast.
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from a medical prof...
074 Mexican Food & Kidney Stones
In this episode, Melanie breaks down traditional Mexican food (yum!) and how it can fit in any kidney stone friendly diet.
Chen W, Hong Y, Man S, Xu T. Association between dietary fiber intake and kidney stones: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2018). Nutr Res Pract. 2024;18(4):534-543.
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073 What Do Race & Poverty Have To Do With Kidney Health? [with Vanessa Connolly RDN, CSR, LD]
Melanie chats with fellow dietitian Vanessa Connolly RDN, CSR, LD, Owner & CEO Grain and Green Kidneys, about healthcare disparities, why they exist and why they are so prevalent in kidney disease.
Connect with Vanessa & Grain and Green Kidneys at her website, Instagram, TikTok.
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072 Is The Zero Oxalate Carnivore Diet Good For Kidney Stones?
In this controversial episode, Melanie dives into the research and health claims behind the growing-in-popularity Carnivore Diet, including the claim it can help prevent kidney stones.
Blog: Why is Evidence Based Nutrition So Important? Blog: Can Too Much Protein Cause Kidney Stones?
Ermer T, Nazzal L, Tio MC, Waikar S, Aronson PS, Knauf F. Oxalate homeostasis. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2023 Feb;19(2):123-138.
Hu FB. Plant-based foods and prevention of cardiovascular disease: an overview. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2003;78(3):544S-551S.
Mohamadi A, Shiraseb F, Mirzababaei A, et al. Circulating In...
071 Is Rice Ok For Kidney Stones?
Is rice a good choice for people with kidney stones? What kind of rice is best? Melanie gives her recommendations in response to a listener question. "Blog: Is Rice Good For Kidney Stones?"
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from a medical professional.
070 Gut Bacteria, Probiotics & Kidney Health [w/ Annabel Birute PhD, RD, FNKF, FASN]
You will NOT want to miss this episode with dietitian researcher Annabel Birute PhD, RD, FNKF, FASN. She and Melanie talk about how gut bacteria can impact kidney health - both for the good AND bad and what you can do to support a kidney-friendly gut microbiome!
Connect with Annabel on LinkedIn and X.
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069 Is The TheraLith Supplement Legit?
Is there any evidence that the popular TheraLith supplement prevents kidney stones? Melanie dives into what is actually IN this supplement and if people with kidney stones should take it - or any other supplement for kidney stones.
Blog: Magnesium & Kidney Stones: The 411
Schulsinger et al. Evaluation of a Novel Nutritional Supplement to Improve Urinary Magnesium and Citrate Excretion. J Urol. 175(4). 2006.
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068 “Normal” 24-Hour Urine Test and High Urine Calcium
In this episode, Melanie talks about some of the nuances when looking at 24-hour urine collections. She also tackles a listener question about high urine calcium and high brushite.
Blog: Can Too Much Protein Cause Kidney Stones?
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from a medical prof...
067 The Most Common Misconceptions About Nutrition For Kidney Disease [with Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN]
In this episode, Melanie chats with fellow kidney dietitian Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN about the most common myths she hears about nutrition for kidney disease - and how eating for kidney stones really isn’t that different than kidney disease
Jen’s Plant Powered Kidneys Website, Instagram & Facebook and Facebook group pages.
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066 What Is A “Kidney Stone Friendly” Recipe?
In this episode, Melanie talks about what exactly a “kidney stone friendly” recipe is - and how to turn any recipe into healthful option for a person with kidney stones!
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from a medical professional.
065 “Studying” For Your 24 Hour Urine Collection
Melanie answers a listener question about how to make your 24-hour urine collection as accurate as possible and is it ok if you drink a lot more water, or eat differently, on collection day compared to your normal.
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from a medical professional.
<...064 How Your Childhood Can Shape The Food You Eat Now [with Dave Grotto MS, RDN, LDN, FAND]
Many people with kidney stones struggle with a fear of eating and an overall poor relationship with food and their bodies. Listen to this incredibly fun and engaging conversation with Dave Grotto and how our food preferences and relationship with food from very early in life.
Amazon: The Girl Who Lived in the Refrigerator*
The Girl Who Lived in the Refrigerator Website
David Grotto on Instagram
*Amazon affiliate link
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063 When Should You See A Dietitian For Stones?
In this episode, Melanie shares her thoughts about when and WHY people with kidney stones should work with a dietitian.
Work with a Kidney Stone Dietitian
Kidney Stone Training & Certification for Dietitians
October Masterclass https://thekidneydietitian.ck.page/masterclass
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062 The Genetics of Kidney Stones
Are kidney stones genetic? In this episode, Melanie breaks down the genetics of kidney stones and how that impacts prevention.
Howles SA, Thakker RV. Genetics of kidney stone disease. Nat Rev Urol. 2020 Jul;17(7):407-421.
Singh P, Harris PC, Sas DJ, Lieske JC. The genetics of kidney stone disease and nephrocalcinosis. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2022 Apr;18(4):224-240.
October Masterclass https://thekidneydietitian.ck.page/masterclass
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061 Help! I’m Losing Weight On A “Kidney Stone Diet”
Losing weight when you don’t want to is a big problem for many people just starting out trying to make diet changes for kidney stones. In this episode, Melanie shares her tips to make sure you are giving your body the energy it needs!
October Masterclass https://thekidneydietitian.ck.page/masterclass
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060 The Overwhelming Cost of Kidney Stones
Ever wonder how much kidney stones cost? In this episode, Melanie dives into the economic burden of kidney stones to people in the US.
Hyams ES, Matlaga BR. Economic impact of urinary stones. Transl Androl Urol. 2014;3(3):278-283.
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All information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of advice from a medi...
