Diet for a person having renal calculi

Question
Hi,
My father aged 77,  has underwent a cystolithotripsy and a TURP last month. He still has a calculus in his left kidney. He is hypertensive, hence he is taking a low sodium, low fat diet. What should b his diet. What is allowed and how much, I have visited some websites and there are so many contradictions, plz help!  

Answer
Thanks for writing, Fatima!  We usually recommend a 4 gram sodium, caffeine restricted diet for hypertension.  A low-fat diet will also help with overall cardiovascular health; we usually recommend no more than 300mg cholesterol and less than 20% of calories from total fat with limited saturated fat from animal products.  As for the calculus in his kidney, we recommend reduced sodium and reduced animal protein (which he should already be following for his hypertension) as well as reduced oxalates, reduced calcium, and increased water intake.  Foods high in oxalates include: chocolate, instant tea and coffee, soy products, dried apricots, red currants, figs, kiwi fruit, rhubarb, dried beans, beets, chives, green leafy vegetables, okra, potatoes, rutabagas, tomato paste, water cress, zucchini, amaranth, barley, white corn, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, whole wheat products, graham, carob, marmalades, and nuts/seeds (including peanut butter and tahini).  That seems like a lot so I will also provide you with some examples of low oxalate foods: apples, fresh or canned apricots, avocado, bananas, cherries, cranberries, grapefruit, grapes, lemon, lime, melons, nectarines, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, oranges, fresh strawberries, tangerines, artichokes, asparagus, bamboo shoots, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, squash, chicory, yellow corn, cucumber, iceberg lettuce, fresh lima beans, mushrooms, onions, peas, radish, egg noodles, rye, white and wild rice, fish, egg whites, chicken, candy and cookies without chocolate or nuts, garlic, vinegar, and coconut.  

I hope that helps with meal planning.  It seems very restrictive, but I tell patients to focus on the foods they can eat rather than what they cannot eat in order to keep everything more positive.  Even after the calculus is cleared, a diet that restricts high oxalate and high calcium foods should help prevent them from reoccuring.

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