Kidney stones are clumps developed from solidified crystals in the kidney or urinary tract. The urine has all the ingredients that form the stone, but all these ideally pass through without our knowledge. When there is an imbalance in any of these substances, the crystals cluster together into stones. The size of the stone can be as small as a grain of sand to one as large as the size of a golf ball. The most commonly found kidney stone in humans is usually made of calcium oxalate. Other rare varieties of kidney stones include those made up of cystine, struvite (magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate), calcium phosphate, uric acid, etc.

Kidney stones are one of the most painful of urologic disorders. Men tend to be affected more frequently than women.

Certain foods may promote stone formation in people who are susceptible. This stone formation is enhanced when there is an increased intake of calcium, calcium oxalate, uric acid or salt in our diet, with an inadequate intake of fluids. A positive family history (genetic tendency) also makes a person prone to kidney stone formation.

Certain foods that increase the risk for kidney stone formation in susceptible individuals include Spinach, rhubarb, chocolate, peanuts, cocoa, beet, coffee, cola, nuts, strawberries, tomato juice, grapefruit juice, apple juice, soda (acidic and contains phosphorus), all types of tea, and berries.

Kidney stones can cause a range of symptoms, and the severity and nature of these symptoms can vary depending on factors such as the size and location of the stone. Common symptoms of kidney stones include:

1) Severe Pain: One of the most distinctive symptoms of kidney stones is intense pain, typically felt in the back, side, or lower abdomen. The pain may come and go and may radiate to the groin and lower abdomen. The severity of the pain can be compared to childbirth.