Green Smoothies? Yay or Nay?

 Green Smoothies? Yay or Nay?

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If you've ever made yourself a green smoothie before. You know the one with all that healthy stuff that you put in such as spinach, beets, and celery.

Yeah that one. 

Then you've probably heard some rumors that green smoothies may not be as healthy as you think it is. Aside from all the vitamins and minerals that you're drinking up, there is a certain acid in plants that could be linked to the formation of kidney stones. And if you've seen Joey from the sitcom Friends, "giving birth" to a kidney stone, then you know what I'm talking about.

What is this harmful acid?!

Oxalic acid is a compound found in plants such as spinach, potatoes, beets, rhubarb and many more.

This is why they tell you to properly boil rhubarb before eating because it contains oxalate crystals ( salt form of oxalic acid) in its leaves[1]. And if  its eaten raw and in large quantities, rhubarb can cause harmful side effects. How harmful you ask? Well, if you don't enjoy vomiting, headaches, muscle pain, damage to your kidneys and many more, then I'd watch out for raw rhubarb. More specifically the oxalate stored in the leaves of the plant [1].

Have a Fear of kidney stones?
I have found out that oxalic acid is nothing to fear if you're a healthy and a young individual. But in rare cases, a few young individuals have been found to have kidney stones [2]. This could be a sign of kidney disease and you should immediately check with your doctor.

The problem of kidney stones can arise more often when you get over the age of 30 or if you have a digestive tract disorder or you could be eating an unhealthy diet on the daily, then you might want to rethink about that smoothie you're currently drinking or any type of vegetation that contains high amounts of oxalic acid. Sometimes your body doesn't absorb enough fat and this malabsorption of fat can actually make it easier for your body to absorb oxalate and increase your chances for the problems that I have stated above[1]. The growth of kidney stones can actually affect your kidneys ability to filter out the toxins and waste out of your blood[3].

Finally...
The main problem I am addressing is that you should try to be more cautious about what you eat. Oxalic acid may not be a problem now since you're still young, but it's a good idea to keep in mind later on. All in all there is nothing to fear about the healthy and bitter tasting smoothie that you're holding in your hand right now so enjoy it.

[1]Low Oxalate Diet. http://www.lowoxalate.info/index.html (Retrieved February 15, 2018.)

[2]Rise in Kidney Stones in Teens a Cause for Concern. https://teens.webmd.com/news/20160115/rise-in-kidney-stones-in-teens-a-cause-for-concern-study (Retrieved February 15, 2018.)

[3]Your Kidneys and How They Work. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work (Retrieved February 15, 2018.)