If you are new to juicing leafy greens then you will soon come upon the topic of Oxalic Acid. This is a natural chemical that occurs in lots of foods, not just spinach. It is in Beet Leaves, Parsley, Garlic, Carrots, Collards, and Watercress. However, it is relatively high in Spinach, and since many people drink spinach juices, it is something you should learn about.
Is Oxalic Acid dangerous?
Not in the sense that you will get sick if you drink a glass of spinach juice. The big controversy surrounding spinach and oxalic acid is the discussion of calcium absorption and kidney stones.
Too much Oxalic Acid has been said to cause joint pain.
There is a consensus that oxalic acid will block the absorption of calcium. This is an issue if you are planning on getting all of your calcium from spinach. You really can’t. That is why I like kale so much. It has almost no Oxalic Acid. But it has all of the good things you get from spinach.
The other problem is kidney stones. Some people are more likely to develop kidney stones than others. While there are people who think that high levels of Oxalic Acid can lead to kidney stones, this is based on the fact that oxalic acid is linked to calcium oxalate which is the material of kidney stones.
So do I have to stop drinking Spinach Juice?
Moderation is key. If you don’t eat spinach, and the only way to get it into your diet is to juice, then keep juicing. But don’t go overboard. Don’t drink 20 ounces of spinach juice twice a day.
The thing I would recommend doing is switching in other leafy greens. My personal favorite is kale. Kale has higher levels of the great nutrient Zeaxanthin. It also has way less Oxalic Acid.
Also, add other things into your juices. When I am making a leafy green juice, I always add celery and apples. You can add cucumbers as well. You want to make a drink that has a variety of components. You wouldn’t sit down and eat only one thing. You want to get the nutrients from all of the vegetables.
Kidney Stones? That’s got me worried?
I always drink lots of water. One of the main reasons people get kidney stones is because they don’t drink a lot of water. Now, there are exceptions. People who are genetically predisposed to get stones. But for most people who are fortunate to not have that problem, you should make sure you drink at least 1 whole glass of water for each leafy green juice that you drink.
You can also do a few other things:
Add coconut water into your juice. I have found that coconut water doesn’t change the taste of the juice much, and it allows you to get a lot of clear water.
Add a lemon. Lemons contain an acid that is helpful in breaking apart forming stones. I will add a whole lemon, skin and all. Make sure that you scrub the skin thoroughly and see that it is clean. I do suggest that when you first start drinking kale or spinach juices with lemon you add a small amount of lemon with the skin, not the whole lemon, so that you find out if you can tolerate the amount of lemon oil. Some people find it very sour.
Final Thoughts
Make juices with more than one ingredient. That way you won’t get into trouble. If you add celery and cucumbers and apples, you won’t be able to drink too much spinach.
Also, rotate the leafy greens that you juice. Kale is a great option.
Hi there everyone!
My names Jason (Jay for short). You can find out more about me and why I started this website here.
Stay healthy and I hope you enjoy the information!