11 Juices that Help Eliminate Kidney Stones

Keeping hydrated is essential for eliminating kidney stones more easily.

Reviewed and approved by the pedagogue in physical education and nutritionist Elisa Morales Lupayante.

Written by Daniela Echeverri Castro

Last update: 13 January, 2023

To eliminate kidney stones, it’s vital that you follow your doctor’s instructions. At the same time, you must take steps to improve your lifestyle habits – especially when it comes to diet and hydration.

Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. They can be of very varied sizes and their expulsion can be painful. But, in general, they don’t usually cause significant damage to this vital organ when they are treated correctly.

Drinking plenty of fluids is one way to help flush them out, which may be enough for some people. It is also possible to supplement with some juices, which help diuresis. We’ll tell you some of the most suitable below.

Kidney stones: symptoms and causes

Kidney stones form when there is a high level of minerals in the urine. These become crystals and, over time (weeks or months), end up coming together to form stones. Depending on the material that forms them, a distinction is made between different types of these stones: calcium, struvite, uric acid, or cystine stones.

There are some risk factors or conditions that favor its formation. For example, family history, dehydration, certain dietary aspects, obesity, or taking certain medications and supplements.

When they are small they pass through the urinary tract and are eliminated with little or no pain. However, a larger stone can get stuck, blocking urine flow, and cause severe damage or bleeding.

The main symptoms

The most common symptoms of this problem are:

• Intense pain in the sides and back, under the ribs. This can spread to the lower abdomen and groin. In addition, it is usually of variable intensity and appears in waves.
• The constant need to urinate, in small amounts or more frequently.
• Itching and pain when urinating.
• Cloudy urine with an unpleasant odor. It usually has a pink, brown or red color.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• If an infection is present, a fever and chills may develop.

If you present any of them or with a lot of intensity, it’s necessary to consult with the doctor. It’s not advised to take anything without a proper diagnosis.

According to experts from the National Institute of Health (NIH), depending on the type of stone, the doctor may prescribe one treatment or another. In some cases, it may be necessary to resort to certain medications, in addition to the intake of water and diuretics. In other cases, perhaps the most advisable thing is to resort to the elimination of stones through procedures such as:

• Shock wave lithotripsy
• Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

11 juices to help eliminate kidney stones

The manifestations in general, which indicate that there is an overload of toxins and that the body requires a cleanse, are, among others: halitosis, irritable bowel, foul-smelling stools, premature aging, chronic fatigue, acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

When it comes to detoxifying the kidneys, plenty of water is the first step. According to homeopathy specialist María Paula Cadena: “Juice fasts are a great way to help the kidneys rejuvenate. They provide a break for the kidneys and allow them to concentrate on eliminating accumulated toxins and repairing damaged tissues, while obtaining the necessary nutrients to carry out these tasks.”

The following drinks can help you complement the indicated treatment and diet. And above all, to avoid the consumption of industrial drinks, which are usually rich in sugar and sodium.

1. Grapefruit and aloe vera juice

This recipe was published in 2003 in the book The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine, as a good remedy for eliminating kidney stones.

While it’s not 100% effective, this hydrating drink can help keep your hydration levels up, and stimulate urination.

Ingredients

• Aloe vera gel (30 g)
• The juice of 2 or 3 grapefruits
• Honey (optional)

How do you make it?

• Extract the aloe vera gel and blend it with half a glass of grapefruit juice.
• Blend for a few minutes until smooth.
• Drink immediately. If you want, you can also add a touch of honey. 

2. Mango, cantaloupe, orange, and grapefruit Juice

The mix of mango, melon, orange, and grapefruit is not only very aromatic but also delicious. Therefore, if you want to treat yourself to a healthy taste while eliminating kidney stones, do not hesitate to prepare it.

Citrus fruits play a protective role against kidney stone formation to varying degrees. Orange is always a good option, while the results with grapefruit are less conclusive.

Ingredients

• 1/2 mango
• 1/4 cantaloupe
• The juice of 1 orange and 1 grapefruit

How do you make it?

• Wash and peel all the fruit. Extract the seeds and discard them.
• Squeeze the orange and the grapefruit to obtain the juice.
• Place everything in a blender and blend until well mixed.
• Drink immediately.

3. Carrot, apple, orange, and cucumber juice

Diuretic, digestive, and also suitable for eliminating kidney stones, this is this carrot, apple, orange, and cucumber juice.

Ingredients

• 1 cucumber
• 4 carrots
• 2 apples
• The juice of 1 orange
• Optional: 2 cloves of garlic

How do you make it?

• Wash, peel, and cut the fruit into slices (or cubes, depending on your preference) and then place everything in a blender.
• Blend them for a few minutes.
• If the mixture seems too thick, you can add a little water.
• Drink in moderation. 

4. Blueberry and lemon juice

If you’re a lover of contrast in drinks and the bitter touch of lemon, then don’t forget to prepare this delicious recipe with (blue) cranberry juice in summer.

Some data shows that cranberry juice could be taken into account in the management of calcium oxalate stones.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water (125 ml)
• 1 glass of blueberry juice (250 ml)
• 3 tablespoons of lemon juice (15 ml)

How to prepare it?

• Mix all the ingredients in a blender.
• Drink this juice as part of a snack or with breakfast.

5. Watermelon and lemon juice

Watermelon is special to hydrate. In addition, it acts beneficially on the immune system, preventing cell damage. Its diuretic effects are well known. Together with the lemon, it makes a wonderful pair.

Ingredients

• 3 cups of chopped watermelon
• 1 liter of water
• 6 lemons

How to prepare it?

• The 6 lemons are squeezed and the juice is added to the liter of water.
• Add the watermelon and blend everything together.

6. Pineapple juice to eliminate kidney stones

Pineapple juice is an exquisite drink for many, not only for its flavor but also for its tropical aroma. Now, did you know that you can prepare a different version with a little rice milk? Follow the next recipe for it.

Ingredients

• 1 pineapple, cut into pieces
• 1 cup of rice milk (250 ml)

How do you make it?

• Cut the pineapple into small pieces.
• Blend until the desired consistency is achieved.
• Drink immediately.
• If you want the drink to be a little thicker, add more pineapple than milk, or add a few tablespoons of oatmeal.

7. Carrot and celery juice

Carrots have a high content of water and fiber, so they fulfill purifying and detoxifying functions. Carrots are a diuretic and help in treatments against fluid retention. As for celery, the oils and water it contains are also diuretic and purifying.

In the latter, in addition, there is a flavonoid with specific properties to break down kidney stones. Although it must be taken into account that the data obtained comes from the extract, so fresh celery could have much lower activity.

Ingredients

• 2 sticks of celery
• 2 carrots
• 4 glasses of water

How to make it?

• Wash and cut the celery.
• Peel and chop the carrots.
• Put both ingredients in the blender with two glasses of water and blend for a couple of minutes.
• Add two more glasses of water and blend for a minute until you get a smooth mixture.
• Strain contents before refrigerating or consuming.
• If you want to improve the flavor, add the juice of a lemon.

8. Radish, cabbage, and celery juice

Next up it’s great to know the properties of radish, a root that detoxifies the liver, kidneys, and gallbladder.

Ingredients

• Two cups of chopped radishes.
• A stick of celery.
• A handful of shredded purple cabbage.

Preparation

• Take the ingredients to the blender with enough water to facilitate the process.
• Beat until all the elements are integrated.
• As with many of these drinks, it’s best consumed freshly brewed.

9. Celery and apple juice

Green apples contain a lot of water, which helps the kidneys to eliminate toxins and purify. Also, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows that apple juice can help reduce the risk of stone formation.

Ingredients for a liter of juice

• 3 green apples
• 2 sticks of celery

How to make it?

• Cut the apple into cubes and, as we have explained before, chop the celery.
• Add enough water to facilitate the process in the blender. Beat until smooth and try to make it a little thick.
• It’s advisable to drink immediately to take better advantage of its purifying properties.

10. Cucumber and parsley juice

This smoothie is a classic. Cucumber has powerful diuretic properties that, together with parsley, make up an ideal drink to cleanse the kidneys.

Ingredients

• Half a cup of chopped parsley, both the leaves and the stem.
• 1/4 of cucumber without shell, cut into pieces.

Preparation

• Put the ingredients into the blender, mix well with a little water if necessary, and blend and drink once ready.

11. Tomato juice: a juice to eliminate kidney stones that’s easy to prepare

This is an ideal vegetable to make juices that help people with a tendency to form kidney stones. The tomato can act at the same level as the citrus fruits, presented above.

Its positive effects are due to the high concentration of citrate and magnesium, together with a low presence of oxalates and sodium.

Ingredients

• Mature tomatoes
• Lemon juice
• Optional: basil, parsley

Preparation

• Wash, peel and cut the tomatoes into cubes. Put in the blender jar.
• Blend together with the basil or parsley if you want to give a different touch of flavor. It should produce a smooth mixture. If it’s very thick, add a glass of water.
• It can be served immediately, along with a splash of lemon juice.

What else should you take into account to help eliminate kidney stones?

To eliminate kidney stones, it’s very important to give priority to water consumption, since this is the liquid that can provide the most benefits to health.

The consumption of these juices should always be secondary. On the other hand, we must remember that it’s essential to avoid the consumption of soft drinks and caffeinated beverages since they interfere with kidney health.

As a last consideration, keep in mind that it’s not recommended to add sugar or other sweeteners to your drinks. Try to enjoy the flavor of food in its most natural form.