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

Dates, Chopped

🟢 Safe — Low Oxalate
4 mg oxalate / serving
Serving: 1/4 cup (45 g) | Per 100 g: 8 mg
✓ Medically Reviewed Content reviewed by OxalateWatch Editorial Team. Based on Harvard T.H. Chan SPH oxalate data (2024) and NKF/AUA dietary guidelines.

Dates are nature's candy — 4 mg oxalate per serving, safely low. They're also calorie-dense (about 66 calories per date) and high in natural sugar. The fiber and potassium are nutritional pluses. Medjool dates are larger and sweeter; Deglet Noor are smaller and chewier. Both are low oxalate. Use them as a natural sweetener in smoothies, stuffed with almond butter (watch the almonds — that's the oxalate source, not the date), or eaten on their own. From an oxalate perspective, dates are completely safe.

📊 Nutrition at a Glance

4 mg
Oxalate / serving
Low Oxalate
1 mg
Sodium / 100g
Low Na
1.8 g
Protein / 100g
Tier 1
64 mg
Calcium / 100g
Tier 1

📏 Oxalate by Serving Size

ServingWeightOxalateVerdict
1/4 cup45 g4 mg Safe
2 x 1/4 cup90 g8 mg Safe
½ x 1/4 cup22 g2 mg Safe

🏷️ Tags

Fruits 🟢 Oxalate Safe Low Oxalate

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🔗 Related Foods

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I eat Dates with kidney stones?

Safe pick. 4 mg oxalate per 1/4 cup means Dates is comfortably in the green zone. Harvard's 2024 lab data says so. No need to track this one obsessively.

What's the oxalate content of Dates?

The exact figure: 4 mg of oxalate per 1/4 cup of Dates. Works out to 8 mg/100g. This is the number kidney stone patients actually need. Harvard (2024) verified.

Is Dates a high-oxalate food?

Nope. Dates is a low-oxalate food — just 4 mg per 1/4 cup. Well under the 25 mg cutoff. You're in the clear with this one.

What are the best low-oxalate alternatives to Dates?

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

How much sodium does Dates have?

Low sodium: 1 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.