Is it true that raw spinach can cause kidney stones?

Similar questions: true raw spinach kidney stones.

About 80% of kidney stones formed by adults in the U.S. are calcium oxalate stones. These calcium oxalates that are associated with the formation of kidney stones or calculi are also found in other nutritious foods. "Oxalates are naturally-occurring substances found in plants, animals, and in humans.In chemical terms, oxalates belong to a group of molecules called organic acids, and are routinely made by plants, animals, and humans.

Our bodies always contain oxalates, and our cells routinely convert other substances into oxalates. For example, vitamin C is one of the substances that our cells routinely convert into oxalates.In addition to the oxalates that are made inside of our body, oxalates can arrive at our body from the outside, from certain foods that contain them. Foods that contain oxalatesThe following are some examples of the most common sources of oxalates, arranged by food group.

It is important to note that the leaves of a plant almost always contain higher oxalate levels than the roots, stems, and stalks. * Fruits o blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, currants, kiwifruit, concord (purple) grapes, figs, tangerines, and plums * Vegetables (see Table 1 for additional information) o spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens, collards, okra, parsley, leeks and quinoa are among the most oxalate-dense vegetables o celery, green beans, rutabagas, and summer squash would be considered moderately dense in oxalates * Nuts and seeds o almonds, cashews, and peanuts * Legumes o soybeans, tofu and other soy products * Grains o wheat bran, wheat germ, quinoa (a vegetable often used like a grain) * Other o cocoa, chocolate, and black tea Oxalates and healthConditions that require strict oxalate restrictionThere are a few, relatively rare health conditions that require strict oxalate restriction. These conditions include absorptive hypercalciuria type II, enteric hyperoxaluria, and primary hyperoxaluria.

Dietary oxalates are usually restricted to 50 milligrams per day under these circumstances.(Please note: these relatively rare health conditions are different than a more common condition called nephrolithiasis in which kidney stones are formed, 80% from calcium and oxalate). What does 50 milligrams of oxalate look like in terms of food? One cup of raw spinach in leaf form (not chopped) weighs about one ounce, and contains about 200 milligrams of oxalate, so 50 milligrams for the day would permit a person to consume only 1/4 cup of raw spinach (and no other oxalate sources could be eaten during the day).

Oxalates and kidney stonesThe formation of kidney stones containing oxalate is an area of controversy in clinical nutrition with respect to dietary restriction of oxalate. About 80% of kidney stones formed by adults in the U.S. are calcium oxalate stones. It is not clear from the research, however, that restriction of dietary oxalate helps prevent formation of calcium oxalate stones in individuals who have previously formed such stones.

Since intake of dietary oxalate accounts for only 10-15% of the oxalate that is found in the urine of individuals who form calcium oxalate stones, many researchers believe that dietary restriction cannot significantly reduce risk of stone formation. In addition to the above observation, recent research studies have shown that intake of protein, calcium, and water influence calcium oxalate affect stone formation as much as, or more than intake of oxalate. Finally, some foods that have traditionally been assumed to increase stone formation because of their oxalate content (like black tea) actually appear in more recent research to have a preventive effect.

For all of the above reasons, when healthcare providers recommend restriction of dietary oxalates to prevent calcium oxalate stone formation in individuals who have previously formed stones, they often suggest "limiting" or "reducing" oxalate intake rather than setting a specific milligram amount that should not be exceeded. "Reduce as much as can be tolerated" is another way that recommendations are often stated. " Sources: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=48 .

Only for a particular type of stones It actually depends on the type of stones. Spinach are reach in oxalates, and so if you have oxalate stones, you will need to keep away from spinach. Other food that cause oxalate stones are rhubarb, star fruit, beets, beet greens, collards, okra, refried beans Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, almonds and soy products..

Well, yes and no... Kidney stones form when there are minerals present in the urinary tract in such high concentrations that they form crystals. Spinach - raw or cooked, by the way - contains quite a bit of a mineral called oxalate. Oxalate binds with calcium that's released into a person's urinary tract for elimination, and crystallization of this compound may occur.

The result: kidney stones. There are many, many people who can eat spinach (and any of the many other oxalate-containing foods) without any problem whatsoever. There are lots of factors involved in whether a kidney stone forms or not; the presence of this mineral is only one of them.

Other factors could include a high urinary calcium output, low urinary volume caused by poor fluid intake that gives you a more concentrated urine, genetics (there's a possible familial link to kidney stone risk)... So in other words, spinach alone isn't going to give you a kidney stone automatically. If you are predisposed to calcium oxalate stones, however, you'll be strongly discouraged from eating spinach (along with several other foods). If you get kidney stones but they're made of something besides calcium oxalate, eating spinach probably wouldn't affect you one way or the other.

If you haven't had a kidney stone already and are just wondering about your future risk, I wouldn't necessarily advocate cutting spinach out of your diet - it's pretty good for you, after all. Instead, I'd just recommend making sure that you're drinking plenty of water so that your urine is dilute. Having dilute urine is the very best way to prevent kidney stones of any kind.

If you're interested, here's a link to a website that shows which foods contain oxalate. Sources: Nursing education and many, many kidney stones MidwestPurgatory's Recommendations The Kidney Stones Handbook: A Patient's Guide to Hope, Cure and Prevention Amazon List Price: $17.95 Used from: $9.78 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 8 reviews) If you DO suffer from stones, I definitely recommend this book; it's an excellent resource and provides an easy, educational read.

Avvoo_SUCHawitch! Said: 1 spinach contains calcium. There is a lot of debate about calcium and calcium oxelate stones... possibly?

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Avvoo_SUCHawitch! Said: 1 spinach contains calcium. There is a lot of debate about calcium and calcium oxelate stones... possibly?

Spinach contains calcium. There is a lot of debate about calcium and calcium oxelate stones... possibly?

" "Describe your experience with kidney stones.

I started eating raw foods like spinach and tomatoes after a juicing diet and I suffered from heart palpitations.

I've been drinking myself silly with water, cranberry juice and eating nothing....

Describe your experience with kidney stones.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.