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

Swiss Chard, Red, raw

🔴 Avoid — Very High
420 mg oxalate / serving
Serving: 1 cup (36 g) | Per 100 g: 1167 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

420 mg
Oxalate / serving
Very 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 g420 mg Avoid
2 x 1 cup72 g840 mg Avoid
½ x 1 cup18 g210 mg Avoid

🏷️ Tags

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

🔴 See all Vegetables rated Avoid for kidney stones →

⚖️ Compare this food: · vs Flour · vs Sea Cucumber

🔗 Related Foods

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is Swiss Chard safe for kidney stones?

Yeah, this one's in the red. 420 mg oxalate per 1 cup is way over the safe threshold. Swiss Chard is a food to avoid or eat very rarely. There are better options in the same category.

What's the oxalate content of Swiss Chard?

Here are the numbers: 420 mg oxalate in one 1 cup of Swiss Chard (36g). Per 100 grams, that's 1167 mg. Harvard T.H. Chan SPH did the lab work (2024) — these aren't database guesses.

Is Swiss Chard a high-oxalate food?

It's high. 420 mg oxalate per 1 cup puts Swiss Chard in the high-oxalate category. Kidney stone patients should limit or avoid this one.

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

There are almost always safer swaps in the same food family. For Swiss Chard, check the related foods section below — the green-marked ones are your best bets. All verified by Harvard (2024).

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

Eat Swiss Chard with calcium-rich food at the same meal. The calcium grabs oxalate in your digestive tract before your kidneys ever see it. Yogurt, cheese, or milk work. Calcium pills between meals don't.

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.

How much sodium does Swiss Chard have?

Low sodium: 185 mg/100g. That's a non-issue for kidney stones. Just don't undo it by drowning it in salt during cooking.

🔍 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.