Drinks to Avoid with Kidney Stones

Limit sugar-sweetened sodas, sugar-sweetened fruit drinks and spinach-heavy smoothies if you have kidney stones. Spinach is mainly a concern for people who form calcium oxalate stones, while sugary drinks are a broader concern. The right restrictions depend on your stone type and medical history; see the best drinks for kidney stones for hydration options.

Which 4 drinks should you limit with kidney stones?

1. Sugar-sweetened sodas

Regular sodas with added sugar are a sensible drink to limit if you have kidney stones. High sugar intake, particularly fructose intake, may affect substances in urine that contribute to stone formation. The concern is the added sugar, not proof that every ingredient in soda independently causes stones.

Check the label for added sugars rather than relying on the drink's color or whether it is called a cola. A large serving or frequent refills can make a sugary soda a regular part of your fluid intake. Cutting back is more useful than assuming that a small change in soda type will cancel out a high overall intake of sugar-sweetened drinks.

The evidence is relatively strong for an association, but not for a proven cause and effect. A 2024 umbrella review of meta-analyses found convincing observational evidence linking higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with kidney stones. It does not establish that soda caused an individual's stone or show exactly how much risk falls when someone stops drinking it.

A sugar-free label means a drink is not sugar-sweetened, but it does not make that drink a treatment for stones. If you already have a stone, changing your soda habit will not necessarily make it pass.

2. Sugar-sweetened fruit drinks

Fruit punches, fruit-flavored drinks and juice blends can contain added sugar even when their labels show fruit. Like sugary sodas, they belong to the broader group of sugar-sweetened beverages associated with kidney stones. Their fruit flavor does not remove that concern.

Look for the added-sugars line on the nutrition label and check whether the container holds more than one serving. Limit drinks with added sugar, particularly if you drink them frequently. A drink described as containing fruit juice is not necessarily the same thing as 100% fruit juice.

The observational evidence for sugary beverages supports this precaution, but it does not prove that every fruit drink has the same effect or that avoiding one particular brand prevents a stone. The amount consumed and the rest of a person's diet also matter.

A label showing no added sugar does not mean a drink contains no sugar: fruit juice naturally contains sugar. You do not need to start drinking juice to prevent or treat kidney stones, and questions about a particular juice are best discussed in the context of your stone type.

3. Spinach-heavy smoothies

Spinach is high in oxalate. In some people, higher oxalate intake can increase urinary oxalate, which can combine with calcium to form calcium oxalate stones. A smoothie made with a large amount of spinach can therefore be a concern for someone advised to reduce dietary oxalate.

If you have had calcium oxalate stones, ask your clinician or a dietitian whether you should limit spinach-heavy smoothies. This advice is less directly relevant to other stone types, so avoid assuming that every person with kidney stones needs the same oxalate restrictions. If you do not know your stone type, ask whether a stone analysis or urine testing would help guide your choices.

The evidence for this particular drink is indirect: high-oxalate foods can affect urinary oxalate, but the studies cited here do not test whether avoiding spinach smoothies prevents kidney stones. Blending spinach does not make its oxalate disappear.

Do not cut out dietary calcium on your own to try to prevent calcium oxalate stones. Calcium eaten with a meal can bind oxalate in the gut; your clinician or dietitian can advise how to meet your calcium needs and whether supplements are appropriate.

4. Sugar-sweetened energy drinks

Energy drinks with added sugar raise the same concern as other sugar-sweetened beverages. Their caffeine content is a separate consideration: an energy drink should not be assumed to cause kidney stones simply because it contains caffeine.

Check the label for added sugars and caffeine, and pay attention to the serving size. If you use these drinks regularly, discuss your intake with a clinician, especially if you have another condition or take medicines that make caffeine a concern. A sugar-free energy drink avoids the added-sugar issue but is not a kidney-stone treatment.

The evidence for limiting sugary energy drinks comes from studies of sugar-sweetened beverages as a group, not from a trial showing that cutting out this specific drink prevents stones. Likewise, caffeine alone is not a reason to conclude that every caffeinated drink must be avoided.

If an energy drink is replacing the fluids you would otherwise drink, consider your overall hydration plan rather than focusing on one ingredient alone. During an acute stone episode, follow your clinician's advice instead of trying to manage symptoms with energy drinks.

How can you identify drinks with added sugar?

The nutrition label is more useful than words such as “natural,” “fruit” or “energy” on the front of a package. Compare the serving size with the amount you actually drink, and check the added-sugars line. For a smoothie, check its ingredients as well: a spinach-heavy drink can be relevant to calcium oxalate stones even if it has no added sugar.

Are other drinks automatically off-limits with kidney stones?

No. Avoiding every drink with caffeine or any oxalate is not supported by the evidence cited here. A systematic review of tea and coffee studies found that the available literature generally suggested a potentially protective role for tea, while coffee might also have protective effects; these findings do not prove that either drink prevents stones.

Plain, unsweetened sparkling water is not the same as sugar-sweetened soda. Alcohol can contribute to dehydration, particularly with heavier use, and may be unsafe with some pain medicines; ask your clinician about your situation.

Hydration matters, but the goal is not to force down unlimited fluid. For adults who form kidney stones, American Urological Association guidance recommends enough fluid to produce at least 2.5 L of urine a day, about 10½ US cups. That is a urine-output target, not a fixed amount everyone should drink, and a clinician may recommend a different plan if you have a fluid restriction.

Who should get medical advice about kidney stones?

Seek emergency care if you have suspected kidney stones and a fever or chills, cannot pass urine, have uncontrolled pain, or are vomiting and cannot keep fluids down. A blocked urinary tract with infection can be dangerous and needs prompt assessment. Do not rely on a drink or home remedy in these situations.

Contact a clinician promptly about blood in your urine, persistent pain or a known stone that is not passing. Pregnancy, childhood, a single kidney, kidney disease and repeated stones also warrant individualized medical advice; children and pregnant people should not simply follow an adult fluid target.

Ask for a personalized plan if you have heart failure or kidney disease, have been told to restrict fluids, or take medicines such as diuretics. Do not stop prescribed medicine or make a major change to fluid intake without discussing it with your care team. Stone analysis and, when appropriate, urine testing can help identify which drink and dietary changes are most relevant to you.