STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Oxalate, also known as oxalic acid, is found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. While not harmful in and of itself an over accumulation of oxalates can trigger the development of kidney stones
- Calcium oxalate stones are the most common type of kidney stones. The stones form when your urine becomes highly concentrated, allowing the calcium and oxalate from your diet to crystallize
- Eating high-oxalate foods such as vegetables with a calcium-rich food such as butter, cottage cheese or sour cream will allow the calcium to bind to oxalate in your intestine, thereby decreasing your risk of kidney stone formation
- Taking a calcium supplement without oxalate-containing food increases your risk of kidney stones. To minimize this risk, take your supplement with an oxalate-containing meal
- Oxalate-rich foods include dark green vegetables (especially spinach and Swiss chard), bran, rhubarb, beets and beet greens, chocolate, nuts (especially almonds, cashews and peanuts) and nut butters