Oxalates: What They are and Their Health Effects

The terms “oxalic acid” and “oxalate” are used interchangeably throughout the nutrition science field. Oxalic acid is an organic compound found in many plants, including leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. In plants, it’s usually bound to minerals, forming oxalate. Elevated oxalates can cause a variety of other health issues from kidney stones to joint pain, from structural challenges to styes, from chronic bladder pain to general chronic pain.