High Oxalate Foods

When it comes to eating, we do not realize what we eat as long as it is delicious. Things can get worse, when the food we eat becomes the reason for our bodily dysfunction. A conscious effort should be taken to cut down foods that cause damage to our body. Have you checked the oxalate content of your food? If you haven't, it's time to wake up. Eating high oxalate foods exposes us to certain irregularities in some of the functions of our body. Consumption of such foods results in a disorder of the urinary tract, commonly known as kidney stones. So, if you have been binging on such foods, it's time for some reality check.

Oxalate is an organic acid, primarily found in plants, animals and humans. It is not an essential molecule and is excreted from our body in an unchanged form. Our body either produces it on its own or it converts other molecules like vitamin C to oxalate. External sources like the foods we eat also contribute to its accumulation in our body. The oxalate present in the body is excreted in our urine as a waste. Too much of oxalate in our urine, results in a medical condition called hyperoxaluria, commonly referred to as kidney stones.

Foods High in Oxalate

1. Drinks: Beer, chocolate milk, soy drinks, tangerine juice, juice of almost all berries and fruit cocktail, and hot cocoa.
2. Fruits: Rhubarb, currants, lemon, marmalade, purple grapes, tangerine and berries.
3. Vegetables: Cucumber, kale, green peppers, celery, eggplant, escarole, beets, chives, okra, parsley, spinach.
4. Grains: Whole wheat bread, popcorn, wheat bran, oatmeal, white corn and soybean crackers.
5. Legumes, Nuts and Seeds: Beans, baked beans, peanut butter, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, almonds, pecans, cashew and walnuts.
6. Condiments: Black pepper, cinnamon and ginger.
7. Starches: Fruit cake, sweet potatoes and grits.

You can lower your chances of having kidney stones by limiting the intake of these foods. Other precautionary guidelines are:

• A low-fat diet
• Reduced intake of vitamin C
• Drink plenty of water
• Reduce sodium intake
• Supplement your diet with high complex carbohydrates and low proteins
• Eat more potassium rich fruit and vegetables

Health is precious. No amount of food can tempt you to dilapidate your body. Stay clear and away from these foods. If the list overwhelms you, feel free to consult your medical practitioner.