Oxalic Acid Review – Right For You?

Oxalic Acid is a naturally-occurring chemical that is found in a variety of vegetables and fruits. This is our review.

What is Oxalic Acid?

Oxalic Acid is a chemical that is found in a variety of different products, which include some that are safe for consumption and some that are not. There is much controversy about using oxalic acid in your diet, with some website claiming that it has toxic and fatal consequences. Most of these risks depend on the amount you consume.

Oxalic acid is found in many products and substances, including:

• Some brands of bleach
• Some brands of anti-rust products
• Some brands of metal cleaners
• Dark-green leafy produce

As an acid, it is corrosive and has a sour taste, but the amount of corrosion that can be expected is entirely dependent on the potency of the oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is about 3,000 times stronger than vinegar, which is what makes it such an effective ingredient in cleaning products. When found in natural fruits and vegetables, the amount of oxalic acid is heavily diluted, which means you do not experience the same potency.

According to some studies, oxalic acid is not even a necessary nutrient. Regardless, it still finds its way into many foods we eat on a regular basis. In fact, when you consume a certain amount of oxalic acid, some nutrients are bound, leaving them to be excreted through your digestive track. While this can promote weight loss, it can also deprive you of the essential nutrients that you need on a daily basis.

There are many different foods that naturally have oxalic acid, which you digest on a daily basis. In small amounts, oxalic acid is completely safe. Produce with oxalic acid includes:

Risks of Using Oxalic Acid

According to multiple studies, there are two problems with using an excessive amount of oxalic acid in the body. These problems involve the passing of metals through the body and the irritation that oxalate crystals can cause internally.

Oxalic acid acts as a binder in your digestive system, capturing calcium and other metals. By stopping these substances from being absorbed into your body, you put yourself at risk for many different deficiencies. However, this risk is very minimal if you do not continue to consume extremely high amounts over an extended period of time.

Some reports claim that continued use of oxalic acid can potentially cause kidney stones, since stones are composed primarily of calcium oxalate. Again, this risk is minimal if you abstain from using the substance for an extended period of time. However, an excessive amount of vitamin C can also be the cause of kidney stones, so oxalic acid is not exclusively responsible for this issue.

In all likelihood, it is nearly impossible to actually be poisoned from oxalic acid, even if you have a concentrated dose. The only food that is actually high enough in oxalic acid to pose a threat is the rhubarb plant, and the only part of the plant with such a high dose is the leaves. In order to have a lethal amount of oxalic acid, you would need to eat eleven pounds of the leaves.

The only people who really need to be conscious of the amount of oxalic acid in their diet are people who have:

• Kidney disorders
• Gout
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Certain forms of chronic vulvar pain (vulvodynia)

As long as you don’t have an enhanced sensitivity to oxalic acid, consuming it on a regular basis in a non-excessive amount is harmless.

If you suspect you have oxalic acid poisoning, you should seek medical assistance immediately. Here are a few signs of poisoning:

• Weakness
• Burning in the mouth
• Burning in the throat
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Convulsions
• Coma

Benefits of Oxalic Acid

According to “Oxalic Acid in Biology and Medicine” written by A. Hodgkinson in 1977, oxalic acid is actually a very important substance to include in your diet. While Hodgkinson is clear about the poisonous effects of this substance, he claims that it is needed to fight cancer, viral diseases, bacterial diseases, and vascular conditions. Without an adequate amount of the chemical in your body, your immune system is weakened, leaving you susceptible to many diseases.

Unfortunately, this is one of the few reports that focus on the good things that oxalic acid can do for your body.

General Pricing for Oxalic Acid

While you can find a diluted amount of oxalic acid for consumption in the produce that is listed above, you can also find it in a concentrated dose in many vitamins and supplements. There is no product that is solely oxalic acid, but it is an active ingredient. Some of the vitamins and supplements that include oxalic acid are:

• ICAPS AREDS Formula Soft Gels ($22.93 at Walmart)
• Stone Free 820 mg Planetary Herbals ($25.30 at Walmart)
• Buffer pH Vaxa International ($29.42 at Walmart)

Mostly, if you are looking for oxalic acid, you are most likely to find it in the ingredients of strong cleaners, or in its crystalized form.

Conclusion

Oxalic acid is a threat to your safety in high doses; however, you would only have a high level of oxalic acid if you eat an excessive amount of one of the foods that contain it, or if you take it in a concentrated dose. Some weight loss supplements rely on these “risks” to achieve results. Overall, as with any nutrient, you should avoid flooding your system with oxalic acid to prevent unwanted effects.