Drink enough water to produce clear or pale-yellow urine
Spread fluid intake throughout the day
Include fluids with water as the main source; limit sugary drinks and excessive caffeine
Maintain a normal body weight and stay physically active
Limit sodium (salt) intake
Avoid excessive protein from meat; balance with plant-based foods
Ensure adequate dietary calcium from food (do not restrict calcium unless advised by a clinician)
Limit high-oxalate foods if you form calcium oxalate stones (e.g., spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, wheat bran, chocolate, tea)
Pair oxalate-rich foods with calcium-containing foods during meals
Reduce added sugar and refined carbohydrates
Avoid excessive vitamin C supplements unless advised by a clinician
If you have gout or high uric acid, follow a plan to manage uric acid (diet and/or medication as prescribed)
Follow clinician recommendations for targeted prevention based on your stone type (e.g., urine testing)
Take prescribed prevention medications if recommended (commonly thiazide diuretics, potassium citrate, or allopurinol depending on cause)
Don’t delay evaluation if you have symptoms of stones or recurrent stones
If you’ve had stones before, get metabolic evaluation (blood and 24-hour urine testing) to guide prevention