CSMC advocates for better kidney health during the holidays

Christmas is not just a holiday for Filipinos - it is a time of celebration and revelry, of coming home and spending time with family, friends, and loved ones. That is usually done in a variety of ways, like throwing parties, singing karaoke, and of course, eating and drinking. A Filipino Christmas is not complete without a feast!

While Christmas is indeed the season to be jolly, it is important to keep oneself in check, especially when it comes to what we eat and how much. Delicious and savory meals might also be high in sodium or sugar content, which may actually increase the risk of developing kidney stones.

“Sometimes, even our favorite food can cause harm to our bodily functions if we eat too much of it,” said Cardinal Santos Medical Center’s (CSMC) Chief of the Section of Urology, Dr. Jason L. Letran. “An uptick in dietary sodium content increases the amount of calcium excretion in the urine, while an excess of sugar can cause increased urine calcium and decreased urine volume, a perfect scenario for urinary stone formation.”