In this conversation, Jeff Sarris and Jill Harris discuss the safety of chia seeds for individuals prone to kidney stones. Jill explains the high oxalate content of chia seeds and why they should be avoided by kidney stone formers. The discussion also covers the importance of responsible dietary guidance and understanding individual dietary needs, especially in relation to oxalate intake. Jill emphasizes the need for clarity in dietary advice and the common misconceptions people have about healthy eating.
Takeaways
- Chia seeds are not safe for kidney stone formers.
- High oxalate content in chia seeds poses a risk.
- Dietary choices should be made with caution.
- Regular consumption of high oxalate foods can lead to kidney stones.
- It’s important to understand individual dietary needs.
- People often misinterpret dietary advice, thinking more is better.
- Clear communication is essential in dietary guidance.
- Monitoring oxalate levels can help in dietary decisions.
- Occasional consumption of chia seeds may be acceptable for some.
- Education on dietary habits is crucial for prevention.
00:00 Introduction to Chia Seeds and Kidney Stones
00:09 Nutritional Benefits vs. Risks of Chia Seeds
02:31 Understanding Oxalates and Kidney Stone Formation
05:33 The Importance of Dietary Guidance in Kidney Stone Prevention
07:26 Resources for Kidney Stone Prevention
Jeff Sarris (00:00)
Are chia seeds safe with kidney stones? Let’s talk about that.
Why is it one of the questions that come up with kidney stones?
Jill Harris (00:09)
Well, here’s the thing, especially with, you know, in the last few years, everybody’s eaten chia pudding, chia pudding, chia pudding. Good for protein. It’s for vegans and vegetarians. It’s a delightful little thing because it’s good fiber. I mean, it’s good fiber. You could just see that gel up whenever you have a pudding. Everything becomes really thick and it’s a good source of protein. So it really kills me to say, guys, not for kidney stone formers.
Now, you could say, Harvard didn’t even study it, Jill. And every time you say Harvard didn’t study something, have it once, maybe twice, because you have leftovers. That’s what you always say. Why not chia seeds? Because so many people agree that they’re really high in oxalate. And because you’re not having chia seeds once a night, you’re making 10 puddings and having it for breakfast every day. No, we take those away. Here’s, we take away spinach, almond products, that means almond flour, almond milk, you know, rhubarb, we take away chia seeds. I hate to say it because so many people want to use them and they’re such a great source for vegans and vegetarians, but I would not use them if I were you. And so we do take them away on the Kidney Stone Diet, even though Harvard did not study them. And usually we say what we do when that happens, but not in this case.
Because there’s just too many sources that say they’re just so high. So we take them away. Even if you’re taking them with, you know, calcium and everything else, they’re just too high an oxalate. So some people, we have very different numbers too, but it’s all listed as high. So I can’t in good conscience tell you they’re okay to have or portion not perfection because it’s the way people use them, just like the way people use almond products and spinach. It wasn’t just a one-off thing. Typically, people were using those products every day, not getting calcium needs met, and that’s why they made a kidney stone, along with high salt, not drinking enough, but that was a big risk for the oxalate portion of it. And so the only thing I could tell you guys, if you want to see, well, Jill, I don’t like that answer because I would like chia seeds. The only thing that I can tell you guys, when we don’t have numbers for a food, but it’s something you really want to eat, I would say, look, have that food when you’re doing your urine collection and see what comes out in oxalate.
Now, I know a lot of you will say, hell no, I ain’t doing that. I’m not doing that. If you’re saying don’t eat them and you’re very liberal with the oxalate, I’m not eating them. I would go towards what I’m saying here, because if you do know me, I do say, listen, everyone’s freaking out about oxalate, but people say they’re high, like over 100. High, high, high. So I just wouldn’t eat them. But if you’re hell-bent on doing it, you can eat any product that you’re not sure of, have it during your urine collection, but I will say this too and see what comes out. But I will say this too. It’s very unlikely that someone’s just going to have chia pudding once in a while. You could say, I’m going to be that person, but also, when we’re looking for a food like chia that has a good amount of protein and a good amount of fiber, we typically want to instill that on a regular basis in our diet, just like you did with almonds and spinach. So if you’re having chia seed a couple times a month, it’s not gonna bring that much better health to you. Does that make sense what I’m saying here? I wanna make sure I’m explaining that well. Does that?
Jeff Sarris (03:54)
Yeah, definitely. Yeah, because if we’re approaching it as this is a, I hate to say medicine, but if we’re seeing this as a treatment for something we need, we usually are going to do so much more of it.
Jill Harris (04:02)
Bye-bye. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And that’s what people do. People’s human beings thought process is if she says this is healthy, more of it must be. That’s why people got in trouble with spinach and almonds once their A1C was up and they were told to have spinach and almonds. They’re really healthy. Or, and people will do this. Well, Jill said the kidney stone diet goal is 1,500. I also know the American Heart Association also has lowered the sodium goals to 1,500. So I’m going down to 200 because less must be better. Don’t do that as the person says as they pass out. So no. So when we say goals, so I’ve changed the way I teach that and I’ll say 1,500 to 2,000 because of where people go. What we say as healthcare people teaching diet, lifestyle changes. What we say, people do. So you gotta be, I call responsibility on anybody who’s giving advice to people to live a healthier life or to change lifestyle habits. You must be clear.
And this is the great thing about doing a career for so long. When I do, say I’m doing a consult with somebody, I’ll say, you have any questions? They’re like, geez, no, you answered everything. Because I’ve worked with people for so long, I know exactly what to say. They don’t even have to think. God, she touched that, that, that. Because I’ve worked for so many people, I know what you’re gonna ask. I also, unfortunately for you, know what you do before you even tell me. Just like when I’ll see a urine collection, people will say, you know, it will say that they peed, you know, five liters on their urine collection. Now I know damn well that Billy Bob don’t normally pee five liters of urine every day, otherwise he wouldn’t be a stone maker. He did that on the day of the collection because when you’re collecting your urine, you’re looking at that orange jug and at one o’clock in the afternoon, you’re like, holy moly, I ain’t peed nothing. Let me get to drinking. Right? Well, you’re just being conscious because you’re doing a test and you’re not running to Target or the store or whatever.
So unfortunately for you guys who work with me and you always laugh when I say it, I know what you do before you even tell me. I also know what you’re going to ask and that’s a blessing for me too, because I know my patients so well, you know, how to teach. So when you know what people do, you can be a really great teacher just because people have been so honest and open with you so you know their habits, you know what they do. So why I’m saying no to chia is because I know y’all want to have it every day and so we take it away. Have it every day, no, no, take it away. No. So yeah, if you wanted to have it once or twice a month, that’s not making a stone. But what would be the point? Because if you’re looking for chia seeds, you’re looking for protein and fiber, you want to incorporate more of those every day into your diet. And so twice a month ain’t lifting the needle to where you want to go. How’s that? Yeah.
Jeff Sarris (07:19)
Yeah, that’s perfect. And when you’re ready for more, like what is next? What else is available? You can find all of the free resources that Jill’s created since 1998 to prevent kidney stones. They’re all at kidneystonediet.com, including the All Access Pass that includes meal plans. We throw in the prevention course with the pass just because we want to give you everything you need. There’s group calls, there’s private consultations, there’s everything you need to prevent future stones all in one place. You can find that at kidneystonediet.com. I think with that we’ll wrap and we’ll see you next week.
Jill Harris (07:56)
Everybody have a great day. Thank you for being here and trusting us.
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