Managing Oxalate Levels: Diet & Health Implications

Oxalate is a naturally occurring molecule that is present in many plants and also occurs naturally in the human body. For those with too much oxalate in their bodies, pain in one form or another is a distinct possibility. Problems like kidney stones, lactose intolerance, osteoporosis, or vulvodynia can occur when there is a buildup of oxalate. Changes in diet can neutralize the substance.

Instructions

• 1

  Eliminate foods that contain the most oxalate. These foods include spinach (with the highest concentration of oxalate), beets, chocolate, black tea, nuts, okra, parsley and wheat bran.

• 2

  Reduce your consumption of other foods naturally high in oxalate, including other dark green leafy plants, celery, bell peppers, strawberries, asparagus, grapes, soda, salt, large amounts of meat and vitamin C.

• 3

  Increase the amount of calcium in your diet, which will neutralize oxalate. Foods high in calcium include broccoli, fish and food fortified with calcium, such as orange juice.

• 4

  Increase your amount of vitamin D to help in calcium absorption, especially if you do not get enough vitamin D by exposure to sunlight. Foods high in vitamin D include eggs and liver.

• 5

  Limit the amount of soy products in your diet, as some researchers believe it interferes with calcium absorption.

• 6

  Drink plenty of water. Water will dilute the ratios of oxalate in your body.