Home > Oxalic acid

Oxalic acid and oxalates are mild toxins found in many plants. Oxalic acid is a strong acid that irritates the lining of the gut when consumed, and can prove fatal in large doses. Oxalic acid also combines with metals such as calcium in the body to form oxalates which further irritate the gut and kidneys. The most common kind of kidney stone is made of calcium oxalate.

Because it binds vital nutrients such as calcium, long-term consumption of foods high in oxalic acid can lead to nutrient deficiencies. Healthy individuals can safely consume such foods in moderation, but those with kidney disorders, goutGout (old name: podagra is a form of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals (due to hyperuricemia) in joints. It is an immensely painful disease, which in most cases affects only one joint, most commonly the big toe. The patient usuall, or rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritis RA is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. It is a disabling and painful inflammatory condition, which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. Features The Amer are typically advised to avoid foods high in oxalic acid or oxalates.

Foods that contain significant quantities of oxalic acid include cocoaThis article is about "cocoa", the food. For information about "Cocoa", the API and programming environment for the Mac OS X operating system, see Cocoa (software). For information about the city in Florida, see Cocoa, Florida. Cocoa may refer to either t, chocolateChocolate is a common ingredient in many kinds of sweets—one of the most popular in the world. Chocolate is made from the fermented, roasted and ground seeds of the tropical cacao tree Theobroma cacao''. The resulting product is known as "chocolate," an i, most nutA nut in botany is a one-seeded (rarely two) simple dry fruit in which the ovary wall or part of it becomes very hard (stony or woody) at maturity. Most nuts come from pistils with inferior ovaries (see flower) and all are indehiscent (do not open at matus, most berriesThis article is about the fruit. For other meanings, please see Berry (disambiguation). In botany, a berry is the most common type of simple fleshy fruit one in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp . The ovary is always superior in t, beanThis article is on the plant. For alternate meanings, see Bean (disambiguation Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae) (English: leguminous, legumes), used for food or feed. Bean originally meant ths, and beetA beet (called beetroot in the United Kingdom and its former colonies, as well as table beet, garden beet, blood turnip or red beet) is a plant of the genus Beta of which both the leaves and root are edible. There are many varieties. The word beet often rs, among many others.

In addition to its natural occurrence in plants, oxalic acid may also be found in household chemical products such as some bleaches and rustproofing treatments.