High calcium foods to eat dinner when it is easy to get kidney stones?

Medical experts say: whether dietary calcium can form kidney stones, first look at each other's health. If the person is a kidney patient, you need to control the intake of calcium, especially in patients with high calcium index should be strictly controlled; there is to see is what causes the stones, if it is a result of the crystalline oxalate stones To focus on the control of vegetables and pasta in oxalic acid and phytic acid intake.

However, if it is healthy, then dinner in the calcium-rich foods and will not affect the body, can be a normal diet. Especially in menopausal women and the elderly, because more calcium loss, and osteoporosis are quite common in heart function under normal circumstances but also to increase calcium intake in the evening, the food and soy milk is the best the choice.

Milk contains natural vitamin AD, to promote calcium absorption. Experts said: lactose in milk, yogurt and lactic acid digestion of milk protein casein phosphopeptides can also be good for the absorption of calcium. Therefore, the calcium in milk is the utilization of a variety of natural foods in the highest.

We emphasize again: the evening with milk or yogurt calcium best.

First of all, we know that the biggest factor affecting calcium absorption is oxalic acid, phytic acid, calcium and phosphorus ratio, the ratio of calcium and magnesium and dietary fiber, drinking milk in between meals or three meals a day, more or less there will be factors in these disturbances. But if you drink milk before bed at night, these factors no longer exist, calcium absorption rate is relatively higher.

Secondly, in the morning when the body of calcium metabolism in the fastest time, this time at a low level of calcium, and there was no food intake within this time frame, so some elderly or developing because of calcium deficiency in children in the case of leg cramps at night appear. But before going to sleep at night if a cup of milk or yogurt, it will be on the day of blood calcium levels provide a good balance between the role of the body in the evening Furthermore basically at a standstill, but also greatly increased calcium absorption rate.

So, how to prevent kidney stones do?

Limit intake of carbohydrates, American scientists a new study results show that the intake of high-sugar foods, you can make to increase chances of developing kidney stones, therefore, to pay attention to eating sweets.

Drink lots of water to all components of urinary stones have a preventive effect, more water be diluted urine concentration of calcium and oxalate will be reduced, can not form calcium oxalate stones. More water and diet can make two-thirds of new students are no longer suffering from recurrent stones stones.

Reasonable calcium, particularly calcium diet on patients with kidney stones often "talk about calcium pale", mistakenly believe that the culprit is calcium kidney stones, it is not true, kidney stones patients also need calcium. The medical profession from two different angles to explain why patients with kidney stones calcium.

If you have any questions you want advice, you can contact us by E-mail: chinakidneyhospital@gmail.com or Tel: +8613633219293.

You ignore the five reasons for kidney stones

Health workers worrying too sedentary cervical spondylosis, poor diet have hemorrhoids, recently also a high incidence of kidney stones. Without attention to their own health workers, it will be lurking around the disease can take advantage of. Daily, workers should be aware of common sense kidney stones and other diseases, early precautions. Why workers prone to kidney stones? 5 is the cause of your kidney stones Know ignored.

1. Do not love to drink water

Many workers work pressure, work stress, many tasks, work late at night. Many people in order to complete the work on time, even to the toilet, are reluctant to drink. Because they think the toilet, water is wasted their precious time. Do not drink often harmful to the body, toxins can not be discharged, Hisatsumi kidneys can cause kidney stones.

2. Do not eat breakfast

Many office workers like to sleep late. In order to give yourself more time to sleep, a lot of people are not willing to get up early to buy breakfast. Over time, they develop a habit of skipping breakfast, especially on weekends. Weekend is the best time to sleep late, bother them, they will get angry. But in order to sleep late and do not eat breakfast, digestive capacity is weak, is not conducive to digestion and absorption of food. For their own health, workers should eat breakfast.

3. eat too plain

Most office workers moonlight month. Their low wages, but also to rent, but also entertainment, but also diet. To save even more money to entertainment, they generally do not eat expensive food. The cheap food meat shortage, no way to add the necessary human nutrition. Some women even do not eat meat to lose weight, or just a bite to eat. In fact, such a diet is very bad. Meat is rich in protein, it should be appropriate to eat.

4. Eat too oil

Either eat too plain, either eating too oil, which office workers eating characteristics. Some workers work pressure, more energy consumption, in order to replenish energy, will choose the meat. Some office workers often eat fast food, fast food oil quantity, is not conducive to good health. For their own health, we should not eat too much fast food, but it should not be at the party, meat and fish.

5. do not like sports

Exercise less is one of the reasons kidney stones. Exercise greater ability to digest, less accumulated waste kidneys. Exercise less in vivo long-term are not digested food, accumulate in the kidneys, easy to form kidney stones. For their own health, workers should exercise more, play badminton, table tennis, jogging and so on.

If you have any questions you want advice, you can contact us by E-mail: chinakidneyhospital@gmail.com or Tel: +8613633219293.

What are the early symptoms of kidney stones

Kidney stones, a urinary system diseases, the incidence of men than women, its large individual differences in clinical symptoms. Stone size, number, location, etc. are produced and the reasons the impact of their symptoms, if to a lesser extent, it may no obvious symptoms. However, if the patient is a serious condition that may lead to renal failure and toxic shock, and even death. Some of the more common early symptoms of kidney stones are the following.

1. renal colic. When the decline or ureteral stones in ureteropelvic junction site, there will be sudden like Daojiao like pain, very unbearable, which is renal colic. Pain may spread downward from the side of the abdomen or waist position to the bladder area, genitals and inner thigh area. Sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating and other symptoms.

2. The gross hematuria. The main reason is gross hematuria mucosal damage, because the stones will cause more severe damage to mucous membranes. More time in patient activity, pain and hematuria relatively easily induced. As with stones while concurrent infection, then there will be pus in the urine occurs. Urgency and dysuria symptoms may also occur, and so on.

3. fever, chills, etc. symptoms chills and body parts. These symptoms mainly in the kidney empyema or acute pyelonephritis when, to appear more obvious. The body will feel hot, but has been more afraid of the cold, occasionally shivering so. When the kidneys bilateral upper urinary tract calculi or kidney stones completely infarction, will produce no urinary symptoms. Therefore, patients who are able to drink some herbal tea Paishi conditioning.

If you have any questions you want advice, you can contact us by E-mail: chinakidneyhospital@gmail.com or Tel: +8613633219293.

The Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are a common kidney disease. Young people are a high-risk population: The peak age of onset is 20 to 50 years old, male female 2 to 3 times the child is very low incidence of kidney stones.

1, waist colic: renal colic is the typical symptoms of kidney stones, usually after exercise or at night suddenly side lower back pain, because the pain is too often described as a "knife-like", and can occur in the lower abdomen and thigh pain, nausea, vomiting, pale and so on. Patients feel restless, very painful.

Renal colic because of kidney stones in the discharge process of the renal pelvis or ureter cause clogged. Many patients showed lower back pain, pain. After the pain, some patients can be found in the urine of stones.

2, hematuria: about 80% of patients with hematuria stones, of which only a part can be found in the urine is red eye, most can be found only through urine tests.

3, asymptomatic: many patients in the examination stumbled kidney stones, without any symptoms.

4, hydronephrosis: stones blocking the renal pelvis, ureter, urine poor, causing hydronephrosis. Some may not have any symptoms of hydronephrosis. Long-term hydronephrosis, can cause ipsilateral renal impairment. Bilateral hydronephrosis severe cases may lead to uremia.

5, fever: Kidney stones can be caused by a bacterial infection (infection stones) can also be induced by bacterial infection, causing fever. Because the stones hindered discharge of urine, bacteria can not be discharged, in severe cases can lead to sepsis, life-threatening.


When such symptoms occur, it should be noted to the hospital, beware kidney disease caused us a more serious injury.

What Is The Point Of Kidney Stones Diet

Everyone should know that the incidence of kidney stones and our diet are closely related, many food elements can directly lead to disease. Therefore, in life, the patient should pay more attention to how friends, diet, reduce the pain caused by the disease.

1. Water: chronic dehydration and lack of drinking water and is closely related to the formation of urinary stones. Increase water can reduce the risk of urinary stone formation through a variety of mechanisms. Recognized as a reasonable amount of not less than two liters of drinking water per day. Special attention in the evening to drink some water is very important. Add enough sleep at night when the amount of liquid is very important.

2. Calcium: It is now confirmed that the implementation of the universal practice of limiting dietary calcium, not only can not reduce, but will increase the risk of kidney stone formation. Low calcium diet can promote intestinal absorption of oxalate and cause hyperoxaluria, thus promoting the formation of urinary stones.

3. oxalate: As most of urinary stones contain oxalate, thus reducing urinary oxalate is bound to reduce the incidence of urolithiasis. But most ordinary diet less oxalic acid content, and the absorption rate is not high, under normal circumstances, dietary oxalate, only 8-12% is absorbed.

4. Protein: urine Shifa Sheng and affluent life related to that and the high protein diet. Research has shown that high-protein diets may increase the incidence of urinary calculi. In contrast, the animal protein-free vegetable diet containing oxalate, although high, but the occurrence of a low risk of stones. So moderation in food protein, especially animal protein, for all patients with stones are beneficial.

5. Salt: Generally speaking almost no difference between patients and controls urinary calculi in the habits of salt. But studies suggest that high-sodium diet can increase the tendency of urinary calcium crystals. The amount of salt in the diet of less than 10g / d is appropriate.

6. Fat: urinary calcium excretion in patients with urinary stones refers to quality higher than normal, but nothing to do with diet. However, the incidence of coronary artery disease and kidney stones Eskimos are low, and their intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids and more non-relevant.

7. Wine: moderate alcohol consumption does not increase the risk of stone formation. Although the long-term drinkers hypercalciuria and high urinary phosphorus is more obvious, but the diuretic effect of alcohol-induced urinary concentration can be reduced.

8. citrate: citric acid is a natural inhibitor of urinary stones. The following fruits containing citric acid rich: orange, grapefruit, pineapple. Citrus commonly used as adjuvant therapy compared with low calcium citrate kidney stones. But high intake of fruits and vegetables containing citric acid can lead to hyperoxaluria and offset the benefits of the diet increased citrate.


In addition to the dietary needs attention, but if possible, should go to hospital for examination and treatment, to avoid aggravation of the disease.

Patients with Kidney Stones Do Not Drink Milk at Night

In recent years, advocates evening drink milk a lot of people, because the milk contains tryptophan, helps sleep. This is for the average healthy person is undoubtedly appropriate, but for patients with kidney stones or have been cured, it is different.

Because, man after sleep, decreased urine output, increased urinary tangible substance, can thicken the urine. Kidney stones are mostly calcium, the most dangerous factor is calcium stone formation in the urinary concentration of a sudden increase in a short time. Due to high calcium milk, 2-3 hours after the blues, it is excluded from the peak of calcium through the kidneys, so when you are in a sleep state, the urine concentration of calcium through the kidneys are more easy to form stones.

Therefore, patients with kidney stones do not drink milk at bedtime. To avoid this danger, you can go to bed at night, drinking four hours ago.

Bladder stones more often in children, mainly due to malnutrition, lack of drinking milk. So, in some areas for neonatal feeding surface gooey bad habits should be changed.

In addition, to the extent possible to improve the nutrition of pregnant women, so that there is enough high-quality post-partum milk-fed infants. Insufficient breast milk, infant milk should be given a sufficient amount of food, such as milk, etc., to prevent premature babies fed with a sugar content of foods.


The occurrence of kidney stones and animal protein intake too much, eating too much refined sugar and too little fiber diet related. Should be controlled so that the intake of animal protein. Because large amounts of animal protein can increase the acidity of the intestine to promote dissolution and absorption of calcium, increased urinary calcium oxalate salt. Reduce animal protein intake, can feed two risk factors for stone formation, namely urinary calcium and oxalate in urine high.

There are Four Types of Kidney Stones

Not only have a kind of kidney stones. Due to different causes, caused by the different components of kidney stones. As a result, have different types of kidney stones. The types of kidney stones on the basis of composition can be divided into four.

Calcium stones

Nearly 80 out of 100 kidney stones (80%) are made of calcium compounds, especially calcium oxalate.1 Calcium phosphate and other minerals also may be present. Conditions that cause high calcium levels in the body, such as hyperparathyroidism, increase the risk of calcium stones. High levels of oxalate also increase the risk for calcium stones.

Certain medicines may prevent calcium stones.

Uric acid stones

About 5 to 10 out of 100 kidney stones (5% to 10%) are made of uric acid, a waste product normally passed out of the body in the urine.1 You are more likely to have uric acid stones if you have:

Low urine output.
A diet high in animal protein, such as red meat.
An increase in how much alcohol you drink.
Gout.
Inflammatory bowel disease.
Certain medicines may prevent or dissolve uric acid stones.

Struvite stones

About 10 to 15 out of 100 kidney stones (10% to 15%) are struvite stones.1 They can also be called infection stones if they occur with kidney or urinary tract infections (UTIs). These types of kidney stones sometimes are also called staghorn calculi if they grow large enough.

Struvite stones can be serious, because they are often large stones and may occur with an infection. Medical treatment, including antibiotics and removal of the stone, is usually needed for struvite stones. Women are affected more than men because of their higher risk of urinary tract infections.

Cystine stones

Less than 1% of kidney stones (less than 1 out of 100) are made of a chemical called cystine.1 Cystine stones are more likely to develop in families with a condition that results in too much cystine in the urine (cystinuria).


Cystine stones may be prevented or dissolved with medicine, but this may be difficult and not very effective. If the stones cause blockage in the urinary tract or are too large, then the stone will need to be removed.

Patients with Kidney Stones Should Pay Attention to Diet

Kidney stone patient's diet is very important.If improper diet not only no benefit, it will lead to the deterioration of the symptoms of kidney stones, add in pain.So how do patients with kidney stones diet?

1, kick will send food and seafood. Kick cock, cattle, donkeys, sheep, dogs, pigs feet, tortoise, ginseng, deer antler, glue, gelatin, longan, litchi, bamboo shoots, Onions, mushrooms, class (including, bobo mushroom mushrooms, mushrooms, mushrooms, mushrooms food will send), betel nut, and all the animals of the fish, fresh water, sea water products, especially shrimp, crab and other seafood absolutely can't touch.

2, don't eat foods high in oxalate.About 60% of the belongs to calcium oxalate stones.Therefore, we should limit intake foods high in oxalate, including beans, sugar beet, celery, chocolate, grape, green pepper, cilantro, spinach, strawberries and cabbage vegetables.Also avoid alcohol, caffeine, tea, chocolate, dried figs, lamb, stone fruit, green pepper, black tea, poppy seeds, etc.

3, before sleeping to drink milk. Sleep bad to drink a cup of milk before sleeping can help sleep, but after sleep, reduced the volume of urine, urine all kinds of tangible material increase, and drink the milk calcium is 2 ~ 3 hours after renal excretion through peak, calcium through the kidneys a sudden increase in a short time, easy to stone formation, so patients with kidney stones should not be high calcium milk before sleep.

4, don't eat all repair, hair, heat of traditional Chinese medicine. Recover after three months to rid of the above products, in order to consolidate.This is surface treatment, pay attention to the body of Yin and Yang, according to the point, don't eat the food of adverse rehabilitation of prostate.Can eat meat meat, pig heart, pork loin, pig lung, pig, pig, duck tongue, the chicken or the hen's chicken, eggs, quail, pigeons, snake meat and cat meat, milk, etc.

5, avoid smoke and Fried, barbecue food. Kidney stones can't smoking (if not stop smoking less as far as possible), alcohol, spicy, such as pepper, ginger, garlic can never touch) and Fried, barbecue food.

6 don't overdose, cod liver oil. Cod liver oil is a rich source of vitamin D, have promote the function of the intestinal membrane phosphorus absorption of calcium, the sudden increase of calcium phosphate excretion in the urine, is bound to produce precipitation, easy to stone formation.


7, eat less foods high in oxalate content and less to eat soy products:  food containing high oxalic acid salt have tomato, spinach, strawberries, sugar beet, chocolate, etc., high oxalic acid salt intake is one of the leading cause of kidney stones.;Soy foods contain oxalic acid salt and phosphate are high, can with calcium in the kidney stone formation.

Eat Lemon Can Prevent Kidney Stones

To prevent kidney stones is very simple, men drink lemonade can prevent kidney stones.Kidney stone formation is the main chemical oxalic acid salt, lemon water containing inhibitors of oxalic acid salt formation, thus can prevent kidney stones.Lemonade is best, however, fresh lemon extract, try not to choose the artificial lemon powder mixing.The risk of kidney stones is four times that of women, and after the age of 40, this risk has soared, middle-aged men so more at ordinary times, should drink lemonade.

When low sugar or no sugar lemon juice, lemon juice increased the concentration of citrate in the urine, thus achieved the effect of inhibiting formation of kidney stones.It may lack the effect of citric acid potassium, but for patients with don't want to eat western medicine, the lemon juice is a good alternative.For those who are easy to formation of kidney stones, lemon juice also has the role of the other, it can help to urinate.

In addition, the oxalic acid salt is a major chemical formation of kidney stones, it in the cool tea concentration is higher, so kidney stones in high-risk groups should not drink cold tea.

To avoid eat the food of oxalate content is higher, such as spinach, chocolate, nuts, etc.;

The food shoulds not be too salty.

The eating of food to neutralize the body absorb calcium oxalate, drink more water;


Eat less animal protein, such as pigs, beef, etc., but eat less does not mean to completely don't eat, this will is not favorable for us to keep the energy as well as the muscles of the body.Advice when cooked the meat, add lentils, beans or peas, and at the same time also note less salt, lest the sodium salt can increase the calcium content of urine.

Good Food for Patients with Kidney Stones

The main reason is that the formation of kidney stones diet, it is by the formation of stones in the diet can be caused by excessive intake of about the ingredients. Therefore, patients with kidney stones in the diet is even more vigilant to avoid deterioration.

1, reasonable calcium: calcium, especially on the diet, kidney patients often "talk calcium pale", mistakenly believe the culprit is calcium kidney stones. In actual fact, patients with kidney stones also need calcium.

2, eat black fungus: black fungus is rich in minerals and trace elements, can produce a strong measure of home treatment of kidney stones on a variety of stones.

3, eat foods rich in vitamin A foods: foods containing vitamin A, can maintain a healthy urinary tract endometrium, also help to avoid the recurrence of stones, such foods include: carrots, broccoli, muskmelon, pumpkin, beef liver, but high doses of vitamin a toxic, best to consult a doctor before taking.

4, drink boiled water: more water can be diluted urine concentrations of calcium and oxalate will be reduced, not the formation of calcium oxalate stones. Studies have shown that a 50% increase urine output, can decrease 86% incidence of kidney stones.


The above points are usually patients with kidney stones diet can solve the problem, so they can reduce the pain of torture. If you have any questions, you can contact me via e-mail liu476qiang@gmail.com.

Kidney Stones: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Stones is due to the colloidal crystal body metabolic imbalance caused by infection, nutritional and metabolic disorders, urinary tract foreign bodies, urinary stasis and geography and climate and other factors. The stones are urinary stones is one of Urology common, according to where the different parts can be divided into kidney stones, ureteral stones, bladder stones and so on.
Kidney stones occur in middle age, more men than women.

Performance

1 pain: mostly in the upper abdomen or kidney area. Larger stones oppression local friction or cause hydronephrosis, can lead pain or pure pain, smaller stones cause colic when moving within the pelvis or calyces.
2, hematuria: often microscopic hematuria, hematuria may be more obvious after colic.
3, Other: infection and can significantly pyuria, stones cause hydronephrosis, palpable enlargement of the kidney, bilateral renal pelvis stones at the outlet obstruction can cause anuria or renal insufficiency.

Diagnosis is based on

1, occurred in stone endemic areas, while if significant renal colic and microscopic hematuria can be sure the diagnosis.
2, urinary tract X-ray showed positive kidney stones shadow area.
3, urography display stones shadow.
4, ultrasound examination revealed kidney area stones.

Current treatment

General treatment includes comprehensive measures, the cause of treatment, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, endoscopic stone removal, dissolution therapy, surgery, medicine treatment and prey therapy.


Suffering from kidney stones, bring patients life, economic and spiritual inconvenience, so we should actively prevent kidney stones from daily habits, eating habits and exercise to start.

Kidney Stones Patients Should Pay Attention to Diet

The main components of the control of the amount of protein intake of protein is the amino acid and the amino acid after human liver metabolism, can produce large amounts of ammonia. After the excess ammonia into the person's blood, the body can lead to increased uric acid, and even can cause hyperuricemia. And increased uric acid is an important factor to cause kidney stones. Therefore, patients with kidney stones should be a daily intake of high protein food control in less than 180 grams. Contain high protein foods including soy products, chicken and fish and so on.

Eat less salt. Salt will combine with a lot of free calcium after entering the human body, and the salt is excreted through the kidneys come. If a person who regularly eat a high-salt diet, can lead to kidney and urinary calcium concentrations. Therefore, be sure to patients with kidney stones daily salt intake to less than 3 grams.

Control of calcium intake. Clinical study found that more than 90% of kidney stones are made ​​of calcium or calcium substance is formed. Therefore, patients with kidney stones should eat soy, milk, seaweed, shrimp and sesame calcium-rich foods. In addition, if patients suffering from certain diseases, kidney stones must calcium, calcium should be used under a doctor's guidance.

Vitamin C intake restriction. Vitamin C into the human body, can produce large amounts of oxalic acid. Therefore, patients with kidney stones daily intake of vitamin C should be controlled within 400 mg.

Limit intake of vitamin D. Vitamin D can promote the body to absorb and store calcium effect. Therefore, patients with kidney stones daily intake of vitamin D should be controlled within 400 units.

Eat foods rich in oxalic acid in patients with kidney stones, about 60% of patients with kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones. Therefore, patients with kidney stones should eat foods rich in oxalic acid. Such foods include: soy, cocoa, celery, grapes, green peppers, parsley, spinach, strawberries and cabbage and so on.


If you have any questions, you can contact me by mail liu476qiang@gmail.com.

Diet to Prevent Kidney Stones for Kids

Improper diet for kids may cause kidney stones. Thus it is definitely necessary for parents to help kids to prevent kidney stones in diet.

1.Supple calcium reasonably

Over taking calcium randomly is one of the most important factors to cause kidney stones. The limit absorption of calcium will cause the sedimentation of calcium, and even brain calcification. Therefore kids should supple calcium reasonably based on their condition.

2.Supple vitamin C appropriately

Too much vitamin will cause the urine acidic. Much oxalate will result in the formation of kidney stones. Therefore, kids should take proper vitamin C.

3.Develop a reasonable diet construction

Try your best to avoid the diet with high protein, high calories and low fiber, such as KFC and MCD.

4.Improve the quality of the water intake


Kidneys of 4 years old kids are fragile, which can’t undertake too much minerals. Minerals in formula milk powder are enough for the growth of kids. If rinsing milk powder in hard water, much drinking this kind of milk will cause kidney stones. So improve the quality of the household drinking water. Sediment the tap water for a moment, and boil the water to rinsing the milk powder.

Summer- The High Time of Kidney Stones

The long, hot days of summer bring people out of doors to play in the sun. Most people think about vacations, sandy beaches, barbecues and pool parties. You probably don't think about kidney stones—but perhaps you should.

According to William Haley, M.D., heat, humidity and lack of proper hydration all lead to a higher prevalence of kidney stones. “In the summer or during hotter months, there is an increased incidence of kidney stones occurring in stone formers. The main reason for this is due to the amount of water we take in and use,” Dr. Haley explains. “Our bodies are made up of mostly water and we use it regularly. But in the heat, we may not be drinking as much as we should, or taking in the right types of fluids, so we become dehydrated, which can lead to the production of more stones.

Kidney stones are more prevalent in the summer since they are linked to water intake. Those high temperatures that make swimming at the beach so much fun tend to make the body lose more water than normal.William Haley says there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of kidney stones and stay healthier in the heat.

● Drink enough water

He recommends at least four to eight glasses a day, and double that in hot weather. Stay away from those ice cold beers and other alcoholic concoctions - drinks that tend to make you lose more water.

● Shake the salt habit

Most salt in our diets comes from prepared foods, not salt we add at the table. Dr. William notes that most fast food is high in salt. If you're eating fast food more than twice a week, you're getting a lot of salt in your diet. Cut down on the chips at your next barbecue and snack on watermelon or other juicy fruits that add fluid that your body needs.

● Cut down on caffeine

If you drink mostly colas, coffee or iced tea, try to switch to decaf at least some of the time. Caffeine is a diuretic which can leave you dehydrated even though you think you are taking in plenty of liquids.











● Buy some lemons


Lemons are high in citrate, which acts as a kidney stone inhibitor. Slice them up and put them in your water or tea. This may make your water more tasty if you don't normally like to drink plain water.