Low Oxalate Diet: Definition | classification| Benefits| Drawbacks

     

What is low oxalate Diet?

 

A low-oxalate diet is an eating plan that is low in oxalate, healthcare practitioners are recommended low oxalate diet in certain cases to relieve a number of diseases, including kidney stones.

Oxalate is a constituent that your body makes, commonly known as oxalic acid. It may also be found naturally in various dietary sources, including fruit, vegetables, nutrients and grains. But High oxalate consumption may increase the quantity of oxalate in the urine excreted by your body which can help to produce kidney stones.

What are eating guidelines of low oxalate Diet?

 

- Low oxalates diets require avoid oxalate-high foods.so Doctor are allowed foods that contain Low or moderate oxalate ratio.

- Drink (12 to 16) cups of fluids every day.so Liquids aid in the removal of kidney stones and the prevention of their recurrence, Water is the healthiest liquid to consume .besides that

- Its better to Decrease the amount of sodium you eat each day in low oxalate diet.

- Avoid using large amounts of vitamin C supplements (more than 2,000 mg per day), as the body may convert excess vitamin C into oxalate.

Although guidelines may vary, most health professionals suggest that oxalates should be restricted to fewer than 100 mg a day, and under 50 mg each day preferably.

 

Oxalate Diet classification:

 

It is very difficult to accurately determine the amount of oxalate in diet. Therefore, foods were grouped into three categories based on their oxalate content as follow:

 

·       High oxalate food.

·       Moderate oxalate food.

·       Low or limited oxalate food.

 

 

High oxalate food

Foods with high oxalates contain above 10 mg of oxalate per serving, in low oxalate diet you must avoid these high-oxalate foods and Drinks.

 

High oxalate food and drinks
Vegetables.	Spinach,  Beans , beets , chives , collard greens , eggplant, , escarole, dark greens of all kinds, kale, leeks, okra,  parsley, rutabagas,  tomato paste , Sweet potato , Okra,  potato,  Zucchini , watercress,  Peppers (chili and green) and carrot.
Fruits	Apricots (dried),  red currants,  figs,  kiwi, plums,  rhubarb, Blackberries ,  Blueberries  ,Carambola ,  Raspberries , Canned strawberries , Dewberries and  Tamarillo.
Drinks	Chocolate drink mixes,  soy milk,  Ovaltine, instant iced tea, Fruit and veggie juices (from the list above),  Instant coffee , Chocolate milk,  Black tea ,  Hot chocolate , Cocoa ,  Soy drinks , Soy yogurt.
Breads,  Cereals, Grains	Amaranth, barley, white corn flour,  fried potatoes,  fruit cake, soybean Grits ,  cereal, graham crackers,  pretzels,  whole wheat bread products,  sweet potatoes,  wheat germ and bran, buckwheat flour, Desserts Carob, chocolate, marmalades.
Fat and oil	Nuts (peanuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts), nut butters, sesame seeds, seeds, tahini paste. Peanut butter, soy burgers.

 

Moderate oxalate food:

Moderate-oxalate foods have 2 to 10 mg of oxalate per serving.

 

Moderate oxalate food
Vegetables	Carrots, celery, green beans, parsnips, summer squash, tomatoes, turnips.
Fruits	Mangoes, Blackberries, blueberries, black currants, cherries, and fruit cocktail, orange peel, prunes, purple plums.
Drinks	Orange juice, Grape juice, Brewed coffee, yogurt, Rosehip tea, Cranberry juice, Twining’s black currant tea, , Guinness draft bee , orangeade and  Fruit and veggie juices (from the list above).
Breads,  Cereals, Grains	White bread, cornbread or cornmeal, white English muffins, saltine or soda crackers, brown rice, vanilla wafers, spaghetti and other noodles, firm tofu, bagels and oatmeal.
Fat and oil	Sunflower seed, flaxseed, Macadamia nuts,   pistachio nuts and English walnuts.

 

Low or limited oxalate food.

Low oxalate foods have less than 2 mg of oxalate per serving, so you can eat it as you like.

 

Low or limited oxalate food
Vegetables	Cabbage,  asparagus,  bamboo shoots,  broccoli, Brussels sprouts,  cauliflower,  chayote squash,  chicory, corn, cucumbers,  endive, lettuce,  lima beans,  mushrooms, onions,  peas,  peppers, potatoes, radishes,   rutabagas, zucchini and Artichokes.
Fruits	Apricots (fresh or canned),  avocado,  bananas, cranberries,  Apples,  grapefruit,  grapes ( red or green), lemon and lime juice  melons,  nectarines, papayas,  peaches,  pears,  pineapples,   tangerines and oranges.
Drinks	Apple cider,  Apple juice,  buttermilk,  lemonade or limeade (without added vitamin C),  milk,  Apricot nectar, cherry juice , Grapefruit juice,  Green tea, Herbal tea ,  Pineapple juice.
Breads,  Cereals, Grains	Egg noodles,  rye bread,  cooked and dry cereals without nuts or bran,  crackers with unsalted tops,  white or wild rice , barley  cheerios , chicken noodle soup , English muffin, macaroni, pasta (plain), Cookies,  cakes, ice cream, pudding without chocolate or nuts,  candy without chocolate or nuts.
Fat and oil	Butter, margarine, cream, oil, salad dressing, mayonnaise, vegetable oil
Other low-oxalate food	Beef,  corned beef , lamb, lean meats,  poultry,      shellfish,   fish (except sardines) ,  Unsalted potato chips  or   pretzels,  herbs (like garlic, garlic powder, onion powder) , lemon juice,  salt-free seasoning blends,  vinegar  and   honey.

 

 

-       What are the benefits and drawbacks of low oxalate diet?

 

 Benefits of low Oxalate Diet:

-         This helps avoid kidney stones. You can also reduce your oxalate excretion in your urine and incorporate enough calcium into your diet.

-         Some people say that oxalate may be linked to other health issues such as autism. However, there is no evidence that autism is caused by dietary oxalate, or that a reduced oxalate diet may benefit from autism.

 

-         Low oxalate diets have also been used to treat vulvodynia,  a disease characterized by chronic pain. Following a reduced oxalate diet, may aid with pain management. But Studies suggest that low oxalate diet consumption is not related with an increased risk of developing vulvodynia.

Drawbacks of low oxalate diet:

- low  oxalate diet restricts a large number of items, including some fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds or grains, which are healthful and nutritious. for instance, spinach is rich in oxalate, as well as contain a large fibers, vitamin A, calcium and magnesium supply. Beets are similarly high in oxalate but filled with important minerals, such as folate, potassium and manganese.

 

- Vegetarians and vegans may have problems getting enough protein in particular because plant protein sources such as beans, nuts, and tofu are generally rich in oxalate. Protein deficiency can lead to a host of severe side effects such as decreased immunity, weakness, anemia, and slow development. You should therefore prepare carefully to ensure that the food meets your nutritional requirements when following a low-oxalate diet.