Kidney stones are made up of crystals that are normally found in urine, yet have separated and built up into clusters. The most common chemicals found in these clusters are oxalate and phosphate, both of which are found in foods part of most people's diets. However, when these foods are consumed in excess among people who are predisposed to kidney stones (mostly due to family or personal medical history), kidney stones can form.
Although there are other types of kidney stones that can formed, those that are affected by foods are calcium oxalate stones.
Foods High in Oxalate
When foods high in oxalate are consumed frequently by a person with a history of kidney stones, it is likely that kidney stones will form again. Oxalates specifically take away the body's ability to use calcium as effectively, which can result in extra calcium as well as oxalate. According to gi.com, patients with a history of kidney stones should avoid consuming more than 50 mg of oxalate per day. Foods that contain high levels of oxalate include the following: rhubarb nuts tea, specifically black tea spinach beets swiss chard wheat germ or bran soybean crackers peanuts okra chocolate sweet potatoes
Foods with Elevated Oxalate Levels
The following foods do not contain the highest oxalate levels, yet still may contain higher-than-average forms of oxalate: grapes celery strawberries organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, and brains marmalades green peppers consomme or broth red raspberries
