High Oxalate Foods

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Oxalates, which are salts or esters of oxalic acid, are natural compounds that are synthesized by plants, animals, and humans. Consuming food items that are rich in oxalates could make one susceptible to kidney stones. Here is a list of food items that are high in oxalate.

The term hyperoxaluria refers to a condition that is characterized by abnormal levels of oxalate in urine. Oxalate is a compound that is primarily found in plants, animals, and humans. It is not an essential molecule, and is excreted from our body in an unchanged form.

While it is produced by our body, it is also an end product of the metabolism of vitamin C. More often than not, it tends to accumulate in individuals who follow a high-oxalate diet. The oxalate present in the body is excreted in our urine as a waste.

While hyperoxaluria indicates the need to cut down on the intake of such food items, a high-oxalate diet also makes one susceptible to kidney stones.

To be more specific, such a diet could lead to the formation of calcium oxalate stones. Kidney stones, which are medically referred to as renal calculi, are stone-like deposits that form due to the crystallization of certain minerals (calcium, oxalate, struvite, cysteine, uric acid, etc.) are present in the urine.

In case of calcium oxalate stones, both urinary calcium and oxalate are highly concentrated. Thus, to prevent the formation of such stones, one needs to cut down on the intake of food items that are rich in calcium and oxalate. The following sections provide a list of foods that are rich in oxalate.

Foods High in Oxalate

Drinks

➻ Beer ➻ Chocolate milk ➻ Black tea ➻ Soy drinks ➻ Tangerine juice ➻ Juice of almost all berries ➻ Fruit cocktail ➻ Hot cocoa

Fruits

➻ Berries ➻ Rhubarb ➻ Currants ➻ Lemon ➻ Purple grapes ➻ Tangerine

Vegetables and Legumes

➻ Celery ➻ Leek ➻ Kale ➻ Green peppers ➻ Dandelion greens ➻ Eggplant ➻ Escarole

➻ Beets ➻ Swiss chard ➻ Chives ➻ Okra ➻ Sweet potatoes ➻ Parsley ➻ Spinach ➻ Rutabagas ➻ Beans ➻ Quinoa ➻ Soybeans

Cereals and Cereal Products

➻ Whole wheat bread ➻ Bran flakes ➻ Grits ➻ Popcorn ➻ Wheat bran ➻ Wheat germ ➻ Fruit cake ➻ Oatmeal ➻ White corn ➻ Soyabean crackers

Nuts and Seeds

➻ Cashew ➻ Peanut butter ➻ Sesame seeds ➻ Sunflower seeds ➻ Peanuts ➻ Almonds ➻ Pecans ➻ Walnuts

Miscellaneous

➻ Tomato soup ➻ Black pepper ➻ Cinnamon ➻ Dry cocoa powder ➻ Marmalade ➻ Soda (cola) ➻ Tofu

On a concluding note, you can lower your chances of having kidney stones by limiting the intake of the aforementioned food items. Also, other precautionary measures that can be taken include increasing one's fluid intake, following a low-fat diet, reducing the intake of vitamin C and sodium.

If you have developed calcium oxalate stones before, it is advisable to consult a nutritionist for learning about the dietary guidelines.

Disclaimer : The information provided here is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.