| Since about 70 % of all kidney stones are made up by | | | | oxalate, that should better be avoided: Kiwis, black- |
| calcium oxalate, avoiding fruit and vegetables that | | | | and blueberries, star fruit, the peel of citrus fruit, grapes, |
| contain a high amount of oxalate might be part of any | | | | gooseberries, dried figs, raspberries, tangerines and red |
| strategy to avoid the build up of further stones. It | | | | currants. You see, the list is not too long, there is quite |
| doesn't mean however, that you have to avoid them | | | | a lot left to get your five a day! |
| altogether, as you will see later on. | | | | Here a list of fruit low in oxalate: peeled apples, |
| What exactly is oxalate? It is a substance that occurs | | | | avocado, canned cranberries, green seedless grapes, |
| naturally in plants, animals and the human body. | | | | lemon or lime juice, mangoes melons, cantaloupe, |
| Chemically speaking it belongs to the organic acids, the | | | | honeydew, watermelon, nectarines, papaya and raisins. |
| exact formula being C2O42−. There are two | | | | Fruit that contains a medium level of oxalate: apples |
| sources of oxalate for the human body. First of all it is | | | | with their peel, apricots, black currants, cherries, dried |
| produced within human cells, the body converts certain | | | | cranberries, grapefruit, grapes, oranges, peaches, |
| substances (like Vitamin C for example) to oxalate. | | | | pears, plums and prunes. |
| The second source are oxalate rich foods, like certain | | | | Whenever you eat something and get this funny furry |
| fruit and vegetable. Recent research has shown, that | | | | feeling in your mouth (think of rhubarb or raw |
| the oxalate intake has a relatively small impact, other | | | | blackthorn fruit) there is a good chance it has to do |
| factors, like intake of water, protein and calcium also | | | | with the oxalate in the fruit. |
| play and important role. Rather than strict diets doctors | | | | Following a diet low in oxalate is one stone in the |
| tend to recommend a diet reduced in oxalate, with "as | | | | mosaic that can help you prevent the development of |
| little oxalate as can be tolerated" without compromising | | | | new kidney stones. You should see your doctor |
| too much quality of day to day life. | | | | though before going on a special diet in order to |
| So if your doctor told you to avoid high oxalate food, | | | | determine if your kidney stones are actually caused by |
| here is a small list of some of the groceries that you | | | | too much oxalate in the urine. He also will tell you what |
| should use with moderation: rhubarb, buckwheat, black | | | | to do about your protein and calcium intake, which are |
| pepper, parsley, poppy seed, eggplant, green beans, | | | | two other factors of significance. Eating more fruit with |
| amaranth, spinach, chard, beets, cacao, chocolate (sad, | | | | a low oxalate content might help you in your quest to |
| but true), some nuts like almonds and soy products. | | | | avoid kidney stones, but they are just one part of the |
| What about fruit? First some fruit containing a lot of | | | | puzzle! |