Sports Nutrition What Is Hyperoxaluria Caused from Juicing? When High Oxalate Foods Become Harmful By Darla Leal Darla Leal Darla Leal is a Master Fitness Trainer, freelance writer, and the creator of Stay Healthy Fitness, where she embraces a "fit-over-55" lifestyle. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 03, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Andrea Rice Fact checked by Andrea Rice Andrea Rice is an award-winning journalist and a freelance writer, editor, and fact-checker specializing in health and wellness. Learn about our editorial process Print Juicing has become a popular health trend and marketed as an effective diet strategy to lose weight and detoxify the body. It’s also indicated to be a great way to add nutrients from vegetables and fruits many of us lack in our diet. Blending up leafy greens with fruits is fun, tastes good, and said to improve our health. Juicing, for the most part, is a great way to optimize our health, but just as with any diet, it requires an appropriate application. Unfortunately, health experts warn that adverse health effects can result from juicing and juice cleanses. You may be wondering how something so good for you to be considered unhealthy? The problem seems to have occurred when individuals have taken juicing too far. Leafy greens and other common juiced foods contain oxalate and consuming an overabundance can actually become toxic. In 2013, the American Journal of Medicine referenced a male patient who had participated in a juice fast for six weeks consuming high oxalate foods consisting of beets, collard greens, kiwi, parsley, spinach, and soy products. In addition to strict juicing, he also reported high doses of vitamin C and low calcium intake, which heightened his oxalate levels even more. His extreme juicing habits caused acute renal (kidney) failure. What Is Oxalate? Ezra Bailey / Getty Images Oxalic acid is a naturally occurring compound found in plant foods like spinach, chard, watercress, leeks, okra, purslane, parsley, beets, cacao, certain nuts, and buckwheat. It’s also found in fruits such as starfruit, rhubarb, plums, figs, and most berries. When oxalic acid is combined with calcium and other minerals in the body it forms oxalate, an insoluble crystalline compound that is metabolized in the liver and kidneys and excreted in our urine and stool. Our normal body functions can process and remove small amounts of oxalate but high amounts can become a problem. Vitamin C in high doses also metabolizes into oxalate. According to a clinical report published in the International Journal of Nephrology in 2011, a 72-year-old man was diagnosed with vitamin C-induced oxalate nephropathy, which caused kidney failure. The patient reported changing his eating habits to include more leafy vegetables that were rich in oxalate combined with high doses of vitamin C. If sufficient amounts of calcium are absent from the diet typical with juicing cleanses, oxalate remains in a soluble form and absorbed into the body rather than excreted. Continual oxalate buildup occurs and creates a toxic environment beginning a cycle of disease typically starting with kidney stones, calcium deposits in the kidneys, and urinary tract infections. Without proper treatment, it can eventually lead to chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure. Clinical reports indicated several patients caused self-induced dietary hyperoxaluria from juicing too many high oxalate foods. A few deaths have been reported as well as permanent kidney damage. What Is Dietary Hyperoxaluria? Hyperoxaluria is a medical disorder characterized by an increase in oxalate in our urine. There are actually two different types of hyperoxaluria. Primary hyperoxaluria is an inherited medical condition where defective enzyme function adversely affects metabolism. Secondary hyperoxaluria is caused by increased dietary ingestion of oxalate foods common with juicing. In order to reduce the risk of dietary hyperoxaluria, it’s recommended that physicians/clinicians better inform patients who are juicing of the potential for oxalate-rich foods to cause kidney problems. Should I Be Concerned? Most of us can enjoy juicing as part of a healthy lifestyle and tolerate normal amounts of oxalate rich foods. It’s a great way to obtain extra nutrients especially if your diet lacks in fruits and vegetables. Juicing also offers another way for picky vegetable eaters to enjoy their greens. Dietary hyperoxaluria is actually uncommon. But both primary and secondary hyperoxaluria can lead to recurrent kidney stones. Those with preexisting decreased kidney function should be cautious when it comes to juicing and should consult their healthcare provider. Also, if you have gastrointestinal conditions such as gastric bypass, Crohn’s disease, short bowel syndrome, or other malabsorption disorders, it may be a good idea to discuss a juicing program with your doctor before adding it to your diet. A Word From Verywell Juicing can be used as an effective nutritional strategy to improve your health. However, understanding anything taken to an extreme can be harmful. Juicing smart appears to be the best motto for blending leafy greens, vegetables, and fruits. If you have any questions or concerns about high-oxalate foods, it’s recommended to discuss with your doctor. 8 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Harvard Health Publishing. Juicing -- Fad or Fab? National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. “Detoxes” and “Cleanses”: What You Need To Know. Lien YHH. Juicing Is Not All Juicy. Am J Med. 2013;126(9):755-756. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.04.007 Getting JE, Gregoire JR, Phul A, Kasten MJ. Oxalate Nephropathy Due to ‘Juicing’: Case Report and Review. Am J Med. 2013;126(9):768-772. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.03.019 Lamarche J, Nair R, Peguero A, Courville C. Vitamin C-Induced Oxalate Nephropathy. Int J Nephrol. 2011;2011:1-4. doi:10.4061/2011/146927 Glew RH, Sun Y, Horowitz BL, et al. Nephropathy in dietary hyperoxaluria: A potentially preventable acute or chronic kidney disease. World J Nephrol. 2014;3(4):122-142. doi:10.5527/wjn.v3.i4.122 Bhasin B, Ürekli HM, Atta MG. Primary and secondary hyperoxaluria: Understanding the enigma. World J Nephrol. 2015;4(2):235-244. doi:10.5527/wjn.v4.i2.235 Latulippe ME, Skoog SM. Fructose Malabsorption and Intolerance: Effects of Fructose with and without Simultaneous Glucose Ingestion. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011;51(7):583-592. doi:10.1080/10408398.2011.566646 By Darla Leal Darla Leal is a Master Fitness Trainer, freelance writer, and the creator of Stay Healthy Fitness, where she embraces a "fit-over-55" lifestyle. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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