Tea and Kidney Stones?
Photo Credit: chumsdock
The reason tea is listed on the AVOID list for oxalate-containing kidney stones is because they are considered to be "oxalate-containing" beverages. But is there a difference in oxalate content between the different types of tea?
In a journal article I found, the researches tested an assortment of teas for oxalate content. They found that soluble oxalate contents of black tea in tea bags and loose tea leaves were 4.68 and 5.11 milligrams per gram of tea. Green teas and oolong tea had lower oxalate amounts, ranging from .23 to 1.15 milligrams per gram of tea. The oxalate content of the herbal teas they tested ranged from "not detected" to 3 milligrams per gram of tea.
Anyone with kidney stones should check with their doctor or specialist first, but it appears that herbal and green teas may be a great option (in sensible amounts) for someone who has a history of oxalate kidney stones but finds comfort and enjoyment in an occasional cup of tea.
[Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2002; 11(4): 298-301, "Charrier MJ et al. "Oxalate content and calcium binding capacity of tea and herbal teas"]
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: tea, kidney stones, oxalate, healthy diet
6 Comments:
About 4 years ago, I was found to have kidney stones equivalent to that of an 80 year old woman (at the time I had not yet turned 20). I was living in a dorm and had begun substituting green tea for coffee when doing late night studying. I had been drinking 3-4 cups of green tea per day for months before the pain associated with the kidney stones occurred. My doctor ordered me to completely stop drinking green tea, as it was a known cause of kidney stones. He also suggested that the H20 in my area could have had an impact, and that I should drink lemonade made with real lemons or lemon water to help aid in the break down of the stones. I have completely stopped drinking green tea, increased my intake of water, and I make sure to drink lemon water regularly. I have not had any problems since.
That's interesting. I just read a great article about a recent study on the benefits of green tea. Here is the link: http://www.revolutionhealth.com/news/?id=reut-20080703elin007. As far as I know, diets rich in animal protein and fats are a primary cause of kidney stones. The foods are acidic, so the body leaches calcium from the bones to balance PH. The calcium builds up in the kidneys and forms stones.
My sister went on a diet using Green Tea. She used it religiously for over a year. She has recently been diagnosed with large kidney stones. After reading the above comment, it makes me wonder now if Green Tea could be the culprit.
Fantastic template! It i nice tea blog....I love tea.
In countries where the average tea consumption is much higher than in the U.S., are kidney stones more common than in the U.S.? As far as I know, they aren't. Where does that leave the oxalate theory of kidney stone formation.
I've had more than a dozen kidney stones, all calcium oxalate. After much discussion with several doctors, and quite a bit of research, I've reached the conclusion that doctors don't really know why some people get calcium oxalate kidney stones, or how to prevent them. These are the most common kind of kidney stones.
Correct, doctors know nothing about kidney stones, they are just speculating widely and getting paid for it. I am having a 3rd recurrence of kidney stones (calcium oxalate kidney stones).
The only researcher that gives me hope is the possible connection between kidney stones and some type of nana bacteria in the kidneys, it looks like this bacteria could be producing the stones. There have been some test which show specific type of antibiotic can kill this bacteria. This is something I am closely watching and I hope it is confirmed.
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