Preventing kidney stones from reoccurring should definitely be on your list of priorities if you've ever suffered the agony of this nasty little condition. Chances are, if you have had them in the past, you are very likely to get them again.

If you are lucky enough to have managed to avoid getting them up until this point in your life, believe me, you want to keep it that way.

Kidney stones are often the result of bad habits and neglecting your body. However, adopting these 5 painless lifestyle changes can spare you a lot of misery.

1. Drink plenty of water! A prolonged period of dehydration is often a major cause of kidney stones. Ideally, you should aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to help flush the stones out of your system. Distilled water is a great option as it is free from certain metals and impurities. A good indicator that you are drinking enough is when your urine is a clear colour, rather than dark yellow or orange.
2. Lemon Aid! Lemons have been shown to be an effective natural remedy for keeping kidney stones at bay. The citric acid contained in lemons helps to prevent the formation of problem stones. Squeeze a couple of slices of lemon in to all of those glasses of water you should be drinking. The more citric acid there is in your urine, the less chance there is of a kidney stone build up. Avoid carbonated drinks such as cola and lemonade.
3. Get Off Your Butt! Staying active and taking regular exercise has numerous wonderful health benefits. One of which is lessening your chances of getting these dreaded stones. There is no need to train like an Olympic athlete. Just make an effort to do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3 to 4 times a week.
4. Ditch The Salt! Does the food on your plate resemble a snow scene? If so, you're not doing yourself any favours. High salt and sodium intake is often responsible for many health problems, and is a definite no-no if you're trying to avoid kidney stones. Cut out adding salt to the food on your plate, and try to greatly reduce the amount you add to food during the cooking process. You would be surprised at just how much salt and sodium is already contained in food - particularly the processed variety.
5. Eat Those Greens! Eat as much fresh fruit and vegetables as you like, as they are a great source of fiber. Fiber is mainly responsible for pushing food through the digestive system to keep your body flushed and regular. The best type of fiber to combat kidney stones is soluble fiber as there is plenty of water in water soluble fiber.

Start to make these changes now, and not only will you greatly reduce your chances of falling foul of a kidney stone attack, but you will also feel a lot healthier too.