Who should most closely monitor oxalate intake from daily beets?
People with a history of kidney stones
The principal reason for exercising caution regarding daily, high-volume beet consumption is the presence of oxalates, which are naturally occurring compounds found in high concentration, particularly in beet greens. Oxalates possess the characteristic of binding readily with minerals, most notably calcium, within the digestive tract. While typically processed and excreted by healthy individuals, for those who have a documented history of forming kidney stones, ingesting high amounts of oxalate-rich foods presents a serious concern. This is because the most prevalent form of kidney stone is composed of calcium oxalate crystals, and increased oxalate load in the urine elevates the probability of these crystals aggregating in the kidneys.
