{"id":32776,"date":"2026-06-27T11:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T05:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.1mg.com\/articles\/?p=32776"},"modified":"2026-06-26T19:14:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:44:00","slug":"tomatoes-cause-kidney-stones-myth-fact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1mg.com\/articles\/tomatoes-cause-kidney-stones-myth-fact\/","title":{"rendered":"Tomatoes Cause Kidney Stones: Myth Or Fact?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Most people believe that tomatoes are linked with kidney stones. But are tomato seeds really to be blamed? We asked <\/span>Dr Hemal Shah, senior nephrologist and secretary, Amar Gandhi Foundation, Mumbai,<\/b> whether tomatoes are harmful for the kidneys. Here is what he has to say.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do Tomatoes Cause Kidney Stones?<\/b><\/h2>\n

No. It is a myth that tomatoes cause kidney stones. Tomatoes are among the most commonly eaten vegetables in the world, and if they caused kidney stones, the number of people suffering from them would be alarming.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then How Did This Myth Arise?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Tomatoes contain oxalates, which are responsible for the formation of kidney stones. However, what people fail to understand is that the amount of oxalates in tomatoes is not enough to cause kidney stones, as 100 g of tomatoes contain only around 5 mg of oxalates. Also, people diagnosed with kidney stones are advised to limit and not completely shun tomatoes from their diet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which Part Of A Tomato Causes Kidney Stones?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Tomato seeds carry most of the blame for this myth, and there’s a reason why. The seeds concentrate more calcium and oxalate than the flesh of the tomato, which is exactly the combination that forms calcium oxalate stones, the most common type. However, the actual amount even in the seeds isn’t high enough to be a real risk for most healthy people.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you already have a history of oxalate stones, it’s worth removing the seeds before eating tomatoes raw, especially in salads where you eat the whole fruit. That said, cooking tomatoes into curries, gravies, or sauces breaks this concern down even further, since heat reduces the seed’s impact on your overall oxalate intake.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, the short answer: it’s not the tomato itself, and it’s not even really the seeds in normal amounts. It’s only a concern if you’re already prone to stones and eating large quantities of raw, unseeded tomatoes regularly.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quick Byte: Who Actually Needs To Avoid Tomatoes?<\/b>
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\n<\/span>Almost no one. Only people with rare conditions like a genetic oxalate disorder, major gut surgery, or advanced kidney disease need to watch their tomato intake. Everyone else can eat them without worry. That said, if you have kidney stones or any chronic condition, it’s always best to check with your doctor before making dietary changes.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Can Changing the Diet Prevent Kidney Stones?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Not all kidney stones are made up from the same crystals. Kidney stones can be formed from calcium oxalate or other oxalate crystals, uric acid, struvite stones, and cystine stones. However, oxalate crystals are the most common types of kidney stones.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just as eliminating tomatoes from your diet will not help, it is a common misconception that some foods, such as meat, increase the risk of kidney stones.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, if excess uric acid in the body causes the condition, then doctors will recommend medications. Foods that are rich in purine content, such as animal proteins from fish and meat, are restricted. However, in this case, diet does not play a major role and hence, cutting down on these foods might fail to improve the condition unless supported by medications.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, if you suffer from oxalosis, an inborn error of metabolism in which the kidneys fail to eliminate calcium oxalate crystals from the body, leading to their accumulation and stone formation, diet modification will not suffice.\u00a0<\/span>Although a diet low in oxalates will be prescribed to patients suffering from this condition, medications form the major line of treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

A balanced diet still plays an important role in kidney health\u2014here are 6 foods to add to your diet for healthy kidneys.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Foods To Limit If If You’re Prone To Kidney Stones<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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If your doctor has confirmed that you form oxalate stones specifically, it helps to know which foods carry the highest oxalate load. Reduce your consumption of oxalate-rich foods, since this is the most direct way to lower your risk going forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Foods rich in oxalate include:<\/b><\/p>\n