Low Oxalate Diet

Low Oxalate Diet- 

The low-oxalate diet is a meal plan that is low in oxalate(Chemical found in plant foods). Oxalate is a chemical found in plant foods. You may need to eat foods that are low in oxalate to help clear kidney stones or prevent them from forming. People who have had kidney stones are at a higher risk of forming kidney stones again.  In the body, oxalates come together with calcium and iron to make crystals. In most people, these crystals leave the body in urine. For some people, they can grow into kidney stones. This diet may lower the risk of certain types of kidney stones.   

Process- 

Food is eaten with oxalate, then it travels through the digestive tract and goes out in the urine.  When it passes through the intestines, oxalate can bind with calcium and excrete in the stool. However, when too much oxalate continues through to the kidneys, it can lead to kidney stones.   

What are the main causes of kidney stones?

  Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystals forming substances such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid than the fluid in your urine can dilute. At the same time, your urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.  What can reduce oxalate?  Drink water throughout the day Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods Choose a diet low in salt and animal protein  Continue eating calcium-rich foods, but use caution with calcium supplements.   

Oxalate measured by -

When foods are grown When the foods are harvested How their oxalate levels were tested  

High-Oxalate foods- 

Avoid- Fruits(berries,Kiwis,Figs,Puple grapes),Vegetables(potatoes,rhubarb,okra,leeks,spinach,beets,swiss chard),nuts,seeds,legumes,grains,almonds,peanuts and soy products.  It may seem that many foods contain oxalate. However, this does not mean that everything needs to be avoided.   

High-Calcium foods-

Increasing calcium intake when eating foods with oxalate can help lower oxalate levels in the urine. Take- broccoli, watercress, kale, okra, Kidney beans, chickpeas, baked beans, navy beans, Whitebait, salmon.    Increasing the amount of calcium in your diet(rich in calcium)   by your body helps to reduce the amount of oxalate being absorbed so stones are less likely to form. Eat calcium-rich foods and beverages every day (2-3 servings) from dairy foods or other calcium-rich foods.