How Oxalate In Food Affects Us

Oxalate is all around us when we shop and eat, in foods from spinach and nuts to potatoes and chocolate. Yet so many people are unfamiliar with oxalate and the role it plays in nutrition every day.

Oxalate is the chemical outcome of metabolism in plants. While oxalate serves an important role in the growth and regulatory functions of plants, it serves no known benefit for your body. Oxalate that you consume becomes a waste product and is disposed of through the kidneys and urinary tract.

Oxalate is also considered an “anti-nutrient” because it binds with nutrients we need, like calcium, magnesium and iron, making them less available for your body. Read more about oxalate and its effects on your food.