Is Tofu (Silken) Safe for Kidney Stones? (Safe)

Yes, Tofu (Silken) is a safe pick. At 1 mg oxalate per 1/2 cup, it's roughly 4% of the 25 mg threshold, leaving plenty of room in a daily oxalate budget. Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2024) confirms the number.
✓ Lab-Verified Data Based on Harvard T.H. Chan SPH oxalate data (2024) and NKF/AUA dietary guidelines.
1
mg oxalate
per serving
Food: Tofu, silken, soft
Serving: 1/2 cup (124 g)
Verdict: 🟢 Safe
Per 100g: 0.8 mg
Data: Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2024)
🔄 Lower-Oxalate Alternatives
🟢 Vegetable oil (soybean)
0 mg / serving
🟢 Jelly beans
0 mg / serving
🟢 Soy Sauce Condiments
1 mg / serving
🟢 Chickpea Flour
2 mg / serving
💡 What This Means for Your Diet

Here's the takeaway: Tofu (Silken) earns a Safe rating (🟢) at 1 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 Tofu (Silken) poses no special concern.

📊 Tofu (Silken) vs. Other Legumes

Putting Tofu (Silken) in context: it lands well below the category average of 20 mg. In the database, 73% of legumes (44 of 60) fall in the 🟢 Safe group (under 25 mg oxalate/serving). The typical legumes here averages 20 mg oxalate per serving, so Tofu (Silken) runs 95% 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 legumes rated Safe for a full side-by-side.

❓ Related Questions

Why does the safe threshold matter?

The 25 mg line is the reference point clinicians use to separate everyday foods from ones that need caution. Every value on this page traces back to Harvard's 2024 lab analysis, so the threshold is applied to measured data rather than estimates. For context, Tofu (Silken) measures 1 mg per 1/2 cup, rated Safe.

Can I eat this food every day?

If it's in the Safe zone (under 25 mg/serving), yes — it can be a regular part of your diet. For Caution or Avoid foods, frequency matters. Rotate them with lower-oxalate options throughout the week. For Tofu (Silken), the measured oxalate value is 1 mg per 1/2 cup (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 context, Tofu (Silken) measures 1 mg per 1/2 cup, rated Safe.

Should I also check sodium and calcium?

Yes — oxalate alone doesn't decide stone risk. Sodium pushes more calcium into urine, and calcium from food (not supplements) helps bind oxalate during digestion. The main food page covers sodium and calcium alongside oxalate. Tofu (Silken) comes in at 1 mg oxalate per 1/2 cup (Safe) in the measured database.

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.