Low Oxalate Diet

A recent study has revealed that 80% of kidney stones formed are primarily composed of calcium and oxalate. So, it won't be wrong to conclude that low oxalate diet can play a major role in preventing and treating kidney stones. As the name suggests, people following this diet should either exclude or eat high-oxalate foods in minimal amounts.

Dairy products also come in the list of foods that have low oxalate levels. Following are the dairy products:

• Milk
• Buttermilk
• Low-fat yogurt
• Cheese

People with kidney stone problems can include the following vegetables in their diet:

• Frozen green peas
• Peeled cucumber
• White cabbage
• Zucchini squash
• Alfalfa sprouts

However, people with a history of kidney stones need to avoid vegetables like potatoes, spinach, kale, and green peas as they are found to be high in oxalate levels.

As sardines are high in oxalate content, one should refrain from consuming this type of fish. Following are the meat choices that can be included in this diet:

• Chicken (lean)
• Eggs
• Lamb
• Turkey
• Pork (lean)

Certain restrictions have been put on the amount of sweets one can eat when following this diet. Although bakery products like cakes and pastries are popular, they cannot be included in this diet, as they are high in oxalate levels. Following are the sweets low in oxalate levels:

• Jams
• Jellies
• Honey
• Pure maple syrup

Keep in mind that the above sweets have to be consumed in limited amounts (not more than 1 tablespoon). One might be wondering why chocolate is not included in the aforementioned sweets list. Analysis of a sample of plain chocolate and cocoa dry powder has proved that they are high in oxalate levels.

Choices are plenty, when it comes to fruits that have low oxalate content. Some of them are given below:

• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe
• Mangoes
• Papaya
• Grapes
• Peeled apples
• Plums

Will it to be okay to have spaghetti, white rice, or white bread at breakfast? All these food items can be a part of this diet for kidney stones. One can also have cereals, noodles, and oatmeal during meals as they are low in oxalate levels.

So, besides drinking plenty of water, it is necessary to follow a low oxalate diet to keep kidney stones at bay. As calcium stones are also prevalent in young and adults alike, to be on the safer side, one should consume calcium rich foods (dairy products) in moderate amounts.

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