Many foods contain oxalic acid, a naturally occurring compound. A typical diet containing sources of oxalic acid does not typically cause problems relating to the compound, but if you consume large quantities of oxalic acid or have certain health conditions, you may experience side effects of consumption. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about oxalic acid, and she can also help you determine the fruits and other foods that contain this compound.
Fruit Sources
You can typically find oxalic acid in leafy vegetables, but certain fruits also contain oxalic acid. Fruit sources include apples, blackberries, gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes. The information relating the amount of oxalic acid in a food source will vary between reports since analysis techniques vary, explains Ross P. Holmes and Martha Kennedy of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Other Food Sources
In addition to fruits, other food sources also contain oxalic acid. These foods include rhubarb, spinach, black olives, potatoes, sweet potatoes and chocolate, tea, wheat bran, legumes, celery, eggplant, soy products, summer squash and nuts.
Dangers
If you consume large quantities of oxalic acid, you may experience symptoms such as weakness, stomach pain, stomach upset and burning sensations in your mouth, throat, eyes, nose and ears. In severe cases, you may experience difficulty breathing or shutdown of your cardiovascular system.
People who have a history or other risk factors for kidney stones may need to avoid oxalic acid since the compound could increase your risk for the condition. Kidney stones result in severe pain that can spread across your back and stomach and into your groin area. You may have pain with urination or changes in the color of your urine. The pain associated with kidney stones may cause you to feel nauseous.
Considerations
Many foods that contain oxalic acid also contain beneficial nutrients that keep your body functioning properly. You should not stop eating fruits, vegetables and other foods with oxalic acid without first consulting your doctor. He can help you determine if you have a risk for oxalic acid poisoning or whether the compound could lead to kidney stones. Working with your doctor can help you create an eating plan that provides you with the nutrients you need while helping prevent side effects or health conditions.
References
- "Clinical Nephrology"; Estimation of the Oxalate Content of Foods and Daily Oxalate Intake; Ross P. Holmes and Martha Kennedy; 2000
- MayoClinic.com; Kidney Stones; January 2010
- Jackson Sieglebaum Gastroenterology; Kidney Stone Diet; Frank W. Jackson, M.D.
- The Rhubarb Compendium: The Poison in Rhubarb
