Is Lime Water Good for Kidney Stones?

Partly: lime water may help prevent some kidney stones when it contributes to adequate hydration, which dilutes stone-forming substances in urine.

Can lime water help prevent kidney stones?

Lime water can be a useful way to make drinking water more appealing. Its most reliable benefit for stone prevention is the water itself; it is not a proven treatment for an existing stone or a replacement for prescribed prevention.

Kidney stones have different compositions, and prevention depends on the type of stone and a person’s health. A clinician can help identify an appropriate plan, particularly after a stone has been analyzed. For a broader comparison, see the best drinks for kidney stones.

How might lime water work?

Drinking enough fluid increases urine volume. More diluted urine makes it harder for certain stone-forming substances to concentrate and form crystals. This benefit is not unique to lime water: plain water also supports hydration.

Lime contains citrate-related compounds. Citrate in urine can bind to calcium and help inhibit the formation of some calcium-containing stones. People with low urinary citrate may therefore need a prevention plan that addresses it.

However, the amount of citrate that reaches the urine after drinking lime water is uncertain, especially when lime slices are steeped rather than squeezed. The acidity of a drink does not by itself show how much it will change urine citrate or urine acidity. Do not assume a glass of lime water has the same effect as prescribed potassium citrate.

What does the evidence show?

A 2025 randomized controlled trial reported that a lime-based supplement reduced calcium oxalate stone recurrence compared with a placebo. It enrolled 173 people who had undergone stone removal and studied them over 24 months.

That result is promising, but the preparation was a lime-based supplement, not ordinary water steeped with lime slices. The trial does not establish how much citrate, if any, a homemade drink delivers to urine or whether that drink prevents stones. It also did not establish that lime water can replace potassium citrate.

Overall, direct evidence for lime water is limited. Hydration is the better-established reason to drink it, while any additional benefit from the lime remains uncertain.

How should you use lime water?

Use lime water as one option for meeting your fluid needs, rather than as a measured treatment. Your clinician can advise on a suitable fluid or urine-output goal based on your stone history and other health conditions. You do not need to drink lime water if you prefer plain water.

Simple lime water

Ingredients

• 1 lime, sliced (about 100 g; size varies)
• 1 liter water (about 4¼ cups)

Steps

1. Wash your hands and rinse the lime under running water.
2. Slice the lime and add it to the water in a clean pitcher.
3. Refrigerate for 2–4 hours to infuse.
4. Strain out the lime by about 4 hours to limit bitterness from the pith.
5. Keep the lime water refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for best flavor.

Discard infused water after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy, or sour-smelling. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours.

There is no established amount of this recipe that prevents stones. If you squeeze the lime into the water instead, the composition will differ from steeped water, and its effect on your urine still cannot be assumed.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

If you have kidney disease, heart failure, or have been told to limit fluids, ask your clinician how much fluid is safe before increasing your intake. Do not force large amounts of water in an attempt to pass a stone. Pregnant people and children with suspected stones should seek medical advice promptly.

Prescription potassium citrate is not interchangeable with lime water. It may require monitoring and can be unsuitable for some people with kidney disease or those taking certain medicines, including potassium-sparing diuretics and some blood pressure medicines. Do not start, stop, or change prescribed treatment without discussing it with your clinician.

Contact a clinician promptly if you have possible stone symptoms, such as pain in your side or blood in your urine. Seek emergency care if a suspected stone is accompanied by fever or chills, severe uncontrolled pain, repeated vomiting, or difficulty passing urine. These symptoms may need urgent assessment.

If stones recur, ask whether stone analysis or urine testing would help guide prevention. The results may identify low urinary citrate or other risks and help your clinician tailor treatment to your stone type.