Too much of this chemical can become poisonous when consumed. In small doses, it causes kidney stones. Luckily, romaine lettuce is a green extremely low in this chemical! So switching up your salads to this on occasion can be very beneficial.
Some of the lowest oxalate vegetables are lettuces like romaine, bibb and iceberg, as well as radishes, water chestnuts and cauliflower, which is being turned into pretty much anything these days.
However, according to a study by Yoshida et al., low-potassium lettuce, which is found in some Asian countries, contains very low potassium and can be easily consumed by patients with CKD [37].
Dark leafy greens, such as spinach or kale, are packed with vitamins and minerals that promote healthy kidney function. These vegetables also contain antioxidants which can help make the kidneys' job of filtering out the blood easier.
Vegetables that contain oxalates are not good for your kidney stone diet. Stick to vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, green beans, tomatoes, kale, cabbage, and lettuce. These vegetables do not contain oxalates and can help you decrease the risk of kidney stones.
Some examples of foods that have high levels of oxalate include peanuts, rhubarb, spinach, beets, Swiss chard, chocolate and sweet potatoes. Limiting intake of these foods may be beneficial for people who form calcium oxalate stones which is the leading type of kidney stone.
Meat, chicken and fish are not sources of oxalate. Milk, hard cheese, yogurt, ice cream, sour cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese, buttermilk, custard and pudding do not contain oxalate.
Tulsi, or basil leaves, are generally beneficial for the kidneys' general health. Every morning, combine 1 teaspoon of honey with 1 teaspoon of basil leaf juice and consume it. The discomfort from kidney stones can also be reduced by chewing two to three basil leaves.
Fruits and veggies lowest in potassium are: apples, blueberries, limes, and iceberg lettuce.
Your safest bets include iceberg, arugula, Bibb, Boston, red leaf or green leaf lettuces. If you are not on a blood thinning medication, raw spinach, romaine and kale are good options as well. Keep your lettuce portion to about 1 cup or ½ cup if choosing kale or raw spinach.
Leafy greens and kidney disease
Leafy greens are rich in potassium, which you may need to watch with kidney disease. The amount of potassium you can have each day will depend on your stage of kidney disease or the type of dialysis you receive. Most people with CKD do not have to limit leafy greens because of potassium.
Some plant foods extremely high in oxalates include, but not limited to: Leafy greens – spinach, Swiss chard, kale, collard greens, celery, parsley, endive, beetroot greens, dandelion greens, and turnip greens. Root crops – beets, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and parsnips.
Because oxalates are water soluble, they can be reduced by blanching, boiling, or steaming with the liquid discarded. Fermentation reduces oxalates. Cooking in milk or macerating in whey can also mitigate oxalate exposure.
Balance high-oxalate foods with other fruits and vegetables to help ensure good health. Drink enough water to help your body flush out excess oxalates. Get the recommended amount of calcium, which binds to oxalates during digestion. Limit sodium and sugar intake, which may contribute to kidney stones at high levels.
Oxalate, a natural chemical in your body and also contained in some foods, is normally eliminated from the body through the kidneys in the urine (and can also be eliminated through stool).
Eat more lemons and oranges, and drink lemonade because the citrate in these foods stops stones from forming. Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water.
Vegetables rich in potassium such as brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale decrease calcium loss and stop kidney stones from forming. These foods also have antioxidant effects that help prevent bladder, prostate and kidney cancers.
Eating avocados will not have an effect on forming kidney stones. Learn more about the kidney stone diet.
The potassium in iceberg lettuce is low, making it great for a kidney diet.
Beta-Carotene Benefits
Beta-carotene, the water-soluble form of vitamin A in carrots, helps the kidneys filter toxins out of the blood and prevent urinary tract infections, according to Dr. George D.
Most dairy foods are very high in phosphorus. People with kidney disease should limit their daily intake of milk, yogurt, and cheese to ½ cup milk, or ½ cup yogurt or 1-ounce cheese.