Did you know that certain foods promote the formation of kidney crystals? The reason why is because they are high oxalate foods. High oxalate foods bond with calcium to form kidney crystals or calcium oxalate is the kidneys. What's surprising about these high oxalate foods is that they are often known as healthy foods.
So you may be actually consuming these high oxalate foods thinking that you're taking care of your health. In reality, you're simply accelerating the formation of calcium oxalate in your system. Here is a handy list of high oxalate foods you must avoid as well as low oxalate foods you can consume as alternatives.
List of High Oxalate Foods to Avoid
Some of the high oxalate foods you must avoid are nutritious vegetables that are often recommended by nutritionists. This includes spinach, beets, okra, rhubarb, baked potatoes, and sweet potatoes. You may have been consuming several of these nutritious vegetables, especially since many of them in the list like beets, spinach, and sweet potatoes are used in many dishes.
From a health standpoint, limiting high oxalate foods like potatoes (in form of potato chips, french fries, hash browns, etc.) is a good thing. However, in addition to potatoes, you'll have to avoid nuts and nut butters. This includes peanuts, almonds, cashews, and walnuts. When purchasing snacks, make sure that they do not contain large amounts of nut products, as many processed foods contain fair amounts.
Other miscellaneous high oxalate foods include bran cereals, wheat cereals, stevia, grits, miso, and cocoa powder. This means that you'll have to be extra careful about what foods you eat for breakfast. You'll probably have to switch to a breakfast that consists fewer processed foods and more whole and natural foods.
Low Oxalate Foods that Make for Great Alternatives
Fortunately, there are plenty of low oxalate foods you can consume as alternatives. For vegetables, the list includes asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, romaine lettuce, radishes, and squash just to name a few. In the fruit category, low oxalate foods include apples, avocados, cherries, melons, and peaches.
For low oxalate foods in the carbohydrate category, you should stick to white and wild rice for your source of carbs. And while you'll be missing out on nuts, you can still consume coconuts, green peas, and flax seeds. These low oxalate foods can still offer that nutty and umami flavor that the other nuts often bring.
Reducing Salt Makes a Big Difference
You shouldn't just stop at consuming low oxalate foods. Low oxalate foods should be supported by reduced salt intake. Many people suffering from calcium oxalate crystals find that a high salt diet often leads to recurring issues. It's thought that sodium el Calcium Oxalate Crystalevates the calcium in urine. This leads to more calcium that sticks to oxalate to form calcium oxalate.
So if you have serious issues with calcium oxalate buildup in your kidney, you'll need to reduce sodium intake to see a big improvement in your condition. Some people also do a lot better by reducing sugar intake as well. Overall, a high protein diet combined with the right carbs and vegetables will work best.
These are the high oxalate foods you'll need to avoid to stop calcium oxalate from forming in your kidneys. Again, reduced sodium in the diet combined with the low oxalate alternatives will be necessary for people who struggle with regularly.
These are the high oxalate foods you'll need to avoid to stop calcium oxalate from forming in your kidneys. Again, reduced sodium in the diet combined with the low oxalate alternatives will be necessary for people who struggle with regularly.
