URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/B:RUPP.0000019226.03536.21
Journal: Russian Journal of Plant Physiology
Publication Date: 03/2004
Summary: Plants show a large amount of oxalates crystals in their leaves and cells. Plants grown in the presence of heavy metals uptake those heavy metals significantly. Aluminum was the only heavy metal that significantly accumulated in the oxalate crystals.
Key Takeaways
Oxalates are crystals found in many plant foods such as spinach and potatoes. The oxalates in many plants accumulates inside their leaves and cells. If plants are grown in the presence of metals such as aluminum, then these metals can accumulate in the oxalates. When we eat foods with oxalates they can deposit in tissues throughout the body or bind calcium and create kidney stones. Therefore, not only may oxalate rich foods cause these problems, but they may also contribute to toxic heavy metal accumulation in the body.
