Your doctor might prescribe a low-oxalate diet if you are diagnosed with calcium oxalate kidney stones. Many foods contain high amounts of oxalates, so it is important you know exactly which foods to avoid and which foods to eat in moderation. Your protein, fluid and vitamin C intake also have an impact on your oxalate levels and can determine whether or not you get a kidney stone. Discuss this diet with your doctor to make sure you understand how to prevent calcium oxalate stones.
Low Oxalate Diet Recommendations
Several other dietary concerns are just as important as the amount of oxalate in your diet. Drinking an adequate amount of fluid is important to keep your urine dilute and to decrease the concentration of oxalate and calcium in your kidneys. Aim for six to eight 8 oz. glasses per day. Do not eat excessive amounts of protein; University of Michigan experts advise 5 oz. of protein per day. Try to consume less than 3,000 mg of sodium, and watch out for hidden sodium in processed foods. Do not take vitamin C supplements by themselves or in a multivitamin, and do not restrict your calcium intake. If you are under 50, 1,000 mg per day is recommended, and 1,200 mg per day is recommended if you are over 50.
Fruits and Vegetables High in Oxalates
When choosing foods based on oxalate, you should avoid those that have more than 50 mg per 100 g serving, according to the Medical College of Wisconsin. Some vegetables to steer of are Swiss chard, okra, raw parsley, pokeweed, frozen and boiled spinach and boiled and pickled beetroot. Fruits to avoid include lime peel and rhubarb. Eat in moderation foods that have between 5 and 50 mg per 100 g, for a total of 4 oz. per day. Vegetables in this category include asparagus, celery, collards, eggplant, leek, kale, green pepper and beans in tomato sauce. Fruits in this category are blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, concord grapes and lemon peel.
Fruits and Vegetables Low in Oxalates
Some fruits and vegetables are very low in oxalates and are a free food on this eating plan. These are foods that have less than 5 mg per 100 g serving. Low-oxalate vegetables include cabbage, boiled cauliflower, chive, corn, raw cucumber, lettuce, lima beans, mushrooms, boiled onions, white boiled potatoes, canned peas, radishes, boiled broccoli, boiled Brussels sprouts and raw tomatoes. In the fruits category, you can eat apples, apricots, bananas, cherries, Thompson's seedless grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew, oranges, peaches, pears, nectarines, plumes and prunes.
Other High Oxalate Foods
Besides restricting fruits and vegetables, limit your intake of high-oxalate foods in other categories. In the bread and starches group, avoid soybean crackers and wheat germ. Pecans and peanuts are also very high in oxalate and are not allowable on this diet. Avoid anything containing nuts or made from nuts, such as peanut butter. Chocolate and cocoa are off the diet, but you can eat jellies of allowable fruits and plain candies. Tea has high oxalate levels, and anything made from soy is high as well.
