🟢 Safe
Oxalate <25 mg/serving
🟡 Caution
Oxalate 25-99 mg/serving
🔴 Avoid
Oxalate ≥100 mg/serving
🔴

Swiss Chard, Green, raw

🔴 Avoid — High
237 mg oxalate / serving
Serving: 1 cup (36 g) | Per 100 g: 657 mg
✓ Medically Reviewed Content reviewed by OxalateWatch Editorial Team. Based on Harvard T.H. Chan SPH oxalate data (2024) and NKF/AUA dietary guidelines.

📊 Nutrition at a Glance

237 mg
Oxalate / serving
High
185 mg
Sodium / 100g
Mod Na
27.0 g
Protein / 100g
Tier 1
890 mg
Calcium / 100g
Tier 1

⚠️ Moderate Sodium

Swiss Chard has 185 mg sodium per 100g. While not critically high, kidney stone patients should monitor sodium intake as excess can raise urinary calcium.

📏 Oxalate by Serving Size

ServingWeightOxalateVerdict
1 cup36 g237 mg Avoid
2 x 1 cup72 g474 mg Avoid
½ x 1 cup18 g118.5 mg Avoid

🏷️ Tags

Vegetables Plant-Based High Oxalate Calcium-Rich 🔴 Oxalate Avoid

🔴 See all Vegetables rated Avoid for kidney stones →

⚖️ Compare this food: · vs Asparagus · vs Broccoli greens

🔗 Related Foods

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Should I avoid Swiss Chard if I have kidney stones?

Skip it if you can. Swiss Chard packs 237 mg of oxalate per 1 cup. That's not a borderline number — it's solidly in the high-risk zone. Check the alternatives listed on this page.

How much oxalate is in Swiss Chard?

The lab result: 237 mg per 1 cup (36g serving). That's 657 mg per 100g. Harvard's ion chromatography analysis, 2024. Not crowdsourced, not estimated.

Is Swiss Chard low or high oxalate?

High. At 237 mg per 1 cup, Swiss Chard is a high-oxalate food. Harvard's 2024 data puts this firmly in the avoid zone for stone formers.

What are the best low-oxalate alternatives to Swiss Chard?

Look at the 'Safe Alternatives' section right below this FAQ. Those foods are all under 25 mg oxalate per serving and in the same category as Swiss Chard. Pick from those.

How much sodium does Swiss Chard have?

The sodium level is fine — 185 mg/100g. If all your foods looked like this on sodium, you'd be in great shape for stone prevention.

Can I eat Swiss Chard if I pair it with dairy?

The calcium trick works: dietary calcium + oxalate in the same meal = some of the oxalate gets bound up and pooped out instead of absorbed. So yes, have dairy with Swiss Chard. Same meal timing matters.

Does boiling Swiss Chard reduce the oxalate?

Here's the cooking hack: boil Swiss Chard, discard the water. That's where the dissolved oxalate goes. Expect roughly 30-50% reduction. Steaming is a distant second place.

🔍 Explore More About This Food

📚 Data Sources

Oxalate: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2024) via OHF. Nutrition: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy 2018 & Foundation Foods).

📖 Key Scientific References

Taylor EN, Curhan GC. Oxalate intake and the risk for nephrolithiasis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007;18(7):2198-2204. PMID: 17538185
Borghi L, Schianchi T, Meschi T, et al. Comparison of two diets for the prevention of recurrent stones in idiopathic hypercalciuria. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(2):77-84. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa010369
Fink HA, Akornor JW, Garimella PS, et al. Diet, fluid, or supplements for secondary prevention of nephrolithiasis. Eur Urol. 2009;56(1):72-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2009.03.031
Ferraro PM, Taylor EN, Gambaro G, Curhan GC. Dietary and lifestyle factors for primary prevention of nephrolithiasis. BMC Nephrol. 2020;21(1):267. PMID: 32652950
Pearle MS, Goldfarb DS, Assimos DG, et al. Medical management of kidney stones: AUA guideline. J Urol. 2014;192(2):316-324. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.05.006
Liebman M, Costa G. Effects of calcium and magnesium on urinary oxalate excretion after oxalate loads. J Urol. 2000;163(5):1565-1569. PMID: 10751889
Holmes RP, Assimos DG. The impact of dietary oxalate on kidney stone formation. Urol Res. 2004;32(5):311-316. DOI: 10.1007/s00240-004-0437-3
Lin BB, Lin ME, Huang RH, et al. Dietary treatment and fluid intake for prevention of recurrent calcium stones. PLoS One. 2021;16(4):e0250257. PMID: 33872340
This is dietary reference information, NOT medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet. Oxalate tolerance varies by person, stone type, and medication.