Is Sugar (White granulated) Safe for Kidney Stones? (Safe)
mg oxalate
per serving
Serving: 1 tbsp (12 g)
Verdict: 🟢 Safe
Per 100g: 0 mg
Data: Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2024)
Here's the takeaway: Sugar (White granulated) earns a Safe rating (🟢) at 0 mg oxalate per serving. Being under 25 mg means it fits comfortably in everyday eating. Keep your usual habits — adequate fluids and calcium in meals — and Sugar (White granulated) poses no special concern.
Putting Sugar (White granulated) in context: it lands well below the category average of 8 mg. In the database, 94% of condiments (133 of 141) fall in the 🟢 Safe group (under 25 mg oxalate/serving). The typical condiments here averages 8 mg oxalate per serving, so Sugar (White granulated) runs 100% below that baseline. That places it among the lower-oxalate options in its category. Why this matters: the gap between two Safe foods can be wide — one may hold 5 mg oxalate while another sits at 24 mg. The lower one leaves more room in your day. See all condiments rated Safe for a full side-by-side.
Why does the safe threshold matter?
The 25 mg cutoff comes from clinical guidance for stone formers. Below it, a food's oxalate contribution is small enough not to move the needle for most patients. Harvard's 2024 lab data sits behind these figures — direct measurements, not estimates. Sugar (White granulated) comes in at 0 mg oxalate per 1 tbsp (Safe) in the measured database.
Can I eat this food every day?
Daily eating is fine for Safe foods (under 25 mg/serving). For Caution or Avoid foods, spread them out and alternate with low-oxalate picks. The idea is keeping your weekly oxalate load manageable, not eliminating any single food. For context, Sugar (White granulated) measures 0 mg per 1 tbsp, rated Safe.
Where does the oxalate data come from?
The numbers come from Harvard T.H. Chan SPH's 2024 laboratory measurements, published through the OHF database. Direct lab analysis, which is why they're treated as the reference values for food oxalate. For Sugar (White granulated), the measured oxalate value is 0 mg per 1 tbsp (Safe).
Should I also check sodium and calcium?
Yes — kidney stone risk isn't just about oxalate. High sodium increases urinary calcium (a stone promoter). Adequate dietary calcium (from food, not supplements) actually binds oxalate in your gut. Check the food's full nutrition page for the complete picture. For context, Sugar (White granulated) measures 0 mg per 1 tbsp, rated Safe.