When a particular diet plan suddenly becomes very popular, it should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, many diets that started out as legal, expert-supported programs designed to address a specific health problem or condition have evolved into nothing more than quick weight loss programs and are then mass-marketed to people, many of whom have never had to change them. diet in the first place.
        There has been a lot of talk lately about low oxalate diets. This particular eating plan is often recommended for people with kidney stones, says Keri Gans, MD, author of The Small Change Diet. This is great for those who are prone to a painful condition that occurs when hard deposits of minerals and salts form inside the kidneys.
        But a low oxalate diet is not designed for weight loss and is not a panacea for those looking to add more nutrients to their diet. We asked the experts for more information on what the low oxalate diet includes and how to know if it’s right for your meal plan. That’s what they had to say.
        As the name suggests, the meal plan is designed to lower levels of oxalates, a compound found in certain foods that the body produces in small amounts, says Sonia Angelone, spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “The breakdown of vitamin C in our body also leads to the formation of oxalates,” she adds.
        Oxalates occur naturally in many vegetables, nuts, fruits and grains, says Deborah Cohen (RDN), assistant professor of clinical and preventive nutritional sciences at Rutgers University. You excrete nearly all the oxalates (which mix with other minerals to form oxalates) that you come into contact with, Cohen says. Kidney stones form when oxalates combine with calcium as they leave the body.
        A low oxalate diet is designed to minimize oxalate interactions. “Some people think that lowering your oxalate intake can reduce your risk [of kidney stones],” Cohen said.
        “However,” she adds, “it is important to note that kidney stone formation is a multifactorial factor.” For example, the National Kidney Foundation notes that low calcium intake or dehydration can also increase the risk of kidney stones. So, a low oxalate diet alone may not be the only precaution, so it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before trying it.
        Although some online advertise the diet as a panacea for “inflammation”, this has not been proven. This is strictly for people with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones. “Typically, the main reason for switching to a low oxalate diet is either to help reduce the risk of kidney stones – only, however, if you have a history of high oxalate levels and kidney stones, or to help lowering the risk of high oxalate levels is the key to kidney stones,” Hans said.
        But this diet may not be suitable for everyone with kidney stones. While calcium oxalate stones are the most common type, kidney stones can be made up of other substances, in which case a low oxalate diet may not help.
        Even if you have calcium oxalate stones, there may be other ways to reduce the risk of them coming back. “Because calcium can bind to oxalates so they don’t reach your kidneys and cause kidney stones, getting enough calcium in your diet can be just as effective as reducing the amount of oxalates in your diet,” says Cohen.
        “Oxalate has no taste, so you won’t know if you’re eating something high in oxalate,” says Angelone. “It’s important to understand which foods are high in oxalates and which are low in oxalates.”
        “Be careful with smoothies containing these substances,” Angelone warns. A smoothie can contain a lot of high oxalate foods in a small cup that can be consumed quickly, so care must be taken.
        In general, low-oxalate diets don’t pose much of a health risk, Cohen said. However, she adds, you may be deficient in certain nutrients. “Any diet that restricts certain foods can lead to nutrient deficiencies, and foods high in oxalate are often rich in important nutrients,” she says.
        Another limitation of low oxalate diets? It may be difficult to follow. “Those high oxalate foods don’t have a unique signature,” Cohen said. This means that among high oxalate foods, there is not one common theme that you can easily follow. It may take a lot of research to make sure you’re on the right track.
        Similarly, many factors can influence the development of kidney stones, including genetics and the amount of water you drink, according to the World Journal of Nephrology. Merely following a low-oxalate diet cannot eliminate the risk of kidney stones, Cohen says.
        Again, talk to your doctor before starting this diet to make sure it’s the right move for you and what you should be doing instead of or in addition to your meal plan. For example, Cohen recommends doing the following to minimize the risk of kidney stones outside of a low oxalate diet or before attempting a restrictive eating plan:
       Doesn’t seem like a record, but if you’re interested in a low-oxalate diet, Hans stresses the importance of talking to a doctor first: “If your oxalate levels are normal and you have no reason to start risking kidney stones.”