For nuts lowest in oxalates, macadamia nuts are generally the top choice, with walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds also being good low-oxalate options, while high-oxalate nuts to limit include almonds, cashews, and peanuts (legumes).
Kidney stones
If you have a history of calcium oxalate stones, talk with your doctor or kidney dietitian about the need to limit oxalates. Almonds, mixed nuts without peanuts, and sesame seeds are high in oxalates.
Of the many ways to cook food, boiling is the best at removing oxalates. Boiling foods high in oxalates and then discarding the water can reduce the oxalate content because the oxalates leach out into the water. Boiling can remove a significant portion of oxalates, with the exact amount varying depending on the food.
Skin Issues: Some individuals experience skin problems, such as rashes or eczema, as a result of high oxalate levels. Impaired Mineral Absorption: Oxalates can interfere with the absorption of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, leading to deficiencies.
The best choice depends on your individual health needs, but here are our top 3 kidney-friendly nuts:
Top 15 Healthy Foods for People with Kidney Disease
Peanuts, Spanish peanuts, peanut butter, ginkgo and pecan nuts all contained relatively low levels of intestinal soluble oxalate (129–173 mg intestinal soluble oxalate/100 g FW). Almonds, Brazil, cashew and candle nuts contained higher levels of intestinal soluble oxalate (216–305 mg/100 g FW).
Oxalate binds with minerals such as calcium and iron to form a solid compound, sometimes referred to as stone or crystals. These compounds are generally small and pass through your kidneys into your urine. When you urinate, these compounds exit your body.
Non-citrus fruits like apples, blueberries, mangoes, peaches, pomegranates, and more. Avoid grapefruit, lemon, lime, and orange. Non-dairy milk like almond, coconut, or hemp.
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.
Eating various nuts has been linked to improved kidney function in some studies. Walnuts and almonds show particular benefits. Blood pressure and diabetes management. Nuts help lower blood pressure and improve diabetic control, both of which take pressure off the kidneys.
Foods high in Oxalates cause a person to pass excess Oxalate though their urine. This can result in the formation of calcium-oxalate stones. Some foods that are high in Oxalate include sweet potatoes, spinach, beans, white corn and soy products.
Foods that cause kidney stones include products high in oxalates: spinach, rhubarb, almonds, cashews, miso soup, cereals, baked potatoes (with the skin), beets, cocoa powder, okra, bran, French fries, raspberries, stevia, and sweet potatoes.
Control of phosphorus often is difficult for kidney failure patients. High-phosphorus foods to eliminate include: Beans (red, black, and white)
For example, macadamia nuts and pecans are lower in potassium and phosphorus than peanuts and almonds. These types of dialysis can remove more potassium, so you may need to eat more potassium foods.
Avoid foods that are very high in oxalate. Add calcium-rich foods, including yogurt, milk, cheese, or calcium citrate supplements, when you eat meals that include foods high in oxalate. Calcium helps prevent absorption of large amounts of oxalate by your body.
Symptoms
Be picky with nuts
Some nuts, like peanuts, aren't nuts at all; they're legumes that tend to be high in minerals such as oxalates, which can cause kidney stones. Opt for pecans, hazelnuts, or walnuts instead. If you're feeling extravagant, pick up some macadamias or macadamia butter.
For those predisposed to kidney stones, cinnamon can be considered a low-oxalate food in terms of absorption, and its ingestion would not be expected to increase risk for kidney stone formation.
High-potassium fruits and veggies that could help include bananas, oranges, grapefruits, apricots, mushrooms, peas, cucumbers, zucchini, and melons such as cantaloupe and honeydew.
The only berry that is very high in oxalate is raspberries (look at the list). On the other hand, people do not realize avocado, oranges, dates, and even grapefruit and kiwi are very high and need caution. This doesn't mean you can never have these healthy treats.
Foods that are high in oxalate include spinach, rhubarb, rice bran, buckwheat, almonds, and miso. Many other foods also have oxalate, but you can eat them in moderation. If you're prone to calcium oxalate kidney stones, make sure to eat enough calcium in your diet.
Consider replacing some of the meat and animal protein you would typically eat with beans, dried peas, and lentils, which are plant-based foods that are high in protein and low in oxalate.
Raw garlic contains only about 1.7 mg of oxalates per 100 grams—well below the 10 mg threshold considered “low.” Most people, including those managing kidney stones, can safely enjoy garlic without worrying about oxalate intake. Cooking doesn't significantly alter this level either.