Kathleen Lunson wrote:
>
> How does good old spinach rate for oxalates?

Spinach is pretty high. Parsley is the actual highest, then chives, then
purslane. Here's a list:

> FOODS OF HIGH OXALIC ACID CONTENT (0.1% or over):
>
> Beets, Beet tops, Black tea, Chenopodium, Chocolate, Cocoa,
> Dried figs, Ground pepper, Lambs quarters, Lime peel, Nuts, Parsley,
> Poke, Poppy seeds, Purslane, Rhubarb, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss chard
>
> FOODS OF MODERATE OXALIC ACID CONTENT (0.2% or over):
>
> Beans (green and wax), Blackberries, Blueberries, Carrots, Celery, Coffee
> (roasted), Concord grapes, Currants (red), Dandelion greens, Endive,
> Gooseberries, Lemon peel, Okra, Onions (green), Oranges, Orange peel,
> Peppers (green), Raspberries (black), Strawberries, Sweet potatoes

As you can see, the list contains a lot of very healthy, beneficial
foods. I think I'm going to stop worrying about oxalic acid. The NIH
link below says that they think the oxalic foods only cause stones in
susceptible individuals, not everyone. Normally the minerals remain in
solution as they pass through the kidneys. Paradoxically, too little
calcium in the diet can promote stones. Drink plenty of water. For
vitamin D, try to do some sunbathing whenever you get a chance, and take
cod liver oil in the winter. Sugar/insulin problems promote stones.
Calcium, magnesium and B6 deficiencies promote stones.

Here's another list with actual numbers for oxalate content:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Other/oxalic.html

Jim, check out this link for more possibilities about your stones:
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/kidney/pubs/stonadul/stonadul.htm

More on spinach:
http://www.templewiltoncommunityfarm.org/grow_spinach.htm

Here's something interesting. Go to the Iguana Den web page (link below)
and click on "Iguana Diet" on the left, and then on "Oxalic Acids". He
treats calcium deficiency bone disorders in iguanas by feeding them
nothing but high oxalate greens. When he asked nutritionists how this
could be, they said that the body will grab whatever calcium it needs
whether or not there is oxalate. Elsewhere he says this depends on
vitamin D and that you need UV-B for your iguanas. Perhaps vitamin D can
take calcium away from oxalate so the body can absorb it.
 http://www.iguanaden.com/mainframe.htm