Guacamole & Kidney Stones

Guacamole is an ancient dish once prepared for Aztec kings, according to MexicoFile.com. Guacamole usually includes mashed avocados, lemon or lime juice, salt, peppers and sometimes tomatoes. It is used as a dip or as a topping for other dishes such as tacos, fajitas, salads and sandwiches. Avocados and guacamole are relatively low in oxalate, a substance that has been implicated in some types of renal calculi, or kidney stones.

KIDNEY STONES

Kidney stones are small, hard deposits made of mineral and acid salts that form inside your kidneys. They may form when the urine becomes concentrated, because of an infection or as a side effect of some medications. The initial treatment for a kidney stone is to increase fluid intake, either by drinking more water or with an intravenous infusion of fluids. A tiny kidney stone may cause only minimal pain and need only extra fluids, but sometimes the stone is large enough to require further treatment or even surgery.

SYMPTOMS AND RISKS

A kidney stone may cause no problems until it moves into the ureter, a narrow tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. Symptoms include severe pain in the side, back, ribs or groin, pain on urination, pink or bloody urine, and nausea and vomiting. If there is an infection, you may also have fever and chills. If you have a family history of kidney stones, you are more likely to develop a kidney stone yourself. Kidney stones tend to recur once you have had one.

AVOCADOS AND CALCIUM OXALATE STONES

The most common type of kidney stone is the calcium oxalate stone. Some foods are high in oxalate, and if you have had a calcium oxalate stone, you may need to eat a low-oxalate diet. Avocados are a good choice for a low oxalate diet, as they have little oxalate. Peppers, lemons and salt, which are often added to guacamole, are also low-oxalate foods. Tomatoes, which are included in some guacamole recipes, are moderate-oxalate foods, but they are usually added to guacamole in only small amounts.

AVOCADO AND OTHER KIDNEY STONES

Struvite stones form in response to an infection, uric acid stones tend to occur in people who eat high-protein diets or have gout, and cystine stones are caused by a genetic disorder. Uric acid kidney stones are affected by diet, in this case purines, which are found in animal proteins. If you have uric acid stones, you may need to be on a low-purine diet and get your protein primarily from plant rather than animal sources. Avocados and guacamole are not sources of purines.