Back to Oxalates food checker
lemongrass
Herbs & Spices
Is lemongrass high in oxalates?
Is lemongrass high or low in oxalates? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.
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Sensitivity notes
Why oxalates food checker matters
Oxalates are compounds found in many plant foods that can bind with calcium to form crystals. High oxalate intake may contribute to kidney stones in susceptible individuals and can cause other symptoms in those with oxalate sensitivity.
- Stay well-hydrated to help prevent oxalate crystal formation
- Pair high-oxalate foods with calcium-rich foods to bind oxalates
- Cooking and boiling can reduce oxalate content in some foods
- Spread oxalate intake throughout the day rather than one large dose
- Consider probiotics - some gut bacteria break down oxalates
Sensitivities
What lemongrass contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where lemongrass fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about lemongrass
Despite the name, lemongrass is not a citrus and contains no lemon. It is a tropical grass, and the lemony aroma comes from citral, a compound it happens to share with lemon peel. That distinction is worth stating clearly, because people avoiding citrus often cut lemongrass out of Thai and Vietnamese cooking for no reason. The grades back that up: histamine A, and only a mild liberator at B, where lemon and lime are strong histamine liberators. It is also clean on FODMAPs, fructans, gluten, lactose, dairy protein, nightshade, nickel, sulfite, glutamates, lectins and SIBO fermentation, and it is anti-inflammatory friendly and AIP compliant. The one honest caveat is salicylate at C, the moderate level typical of aromatic herbs, with oxalate a mild B alongside it.
Watch for
- Salicylate C is the only meaningful grade.Aromatic plants concentrate salicylates, and lemongrass is no exception, though a bruised stalk simmered in a broth and then lifted out is a much smaller dose than a paste with the stalk blended in
- It is not citrus, so avoiding it as part of a citrus elimination is a wasted restriction.There is no citric acid and none of the citrus proteins involved in true citrus reactions
- The dish is usually the trigger, not the stalk.Recipes that call for lemongrass almost always carry garlic, shallot, fish sauce or shrimp paste too, and those are far higher on FODMAP, histamine and glutamate than the herb is
- Form changes the dose sharply.A whole stalk is a flavouring you remove before eating, a curry paste means you eat all of it, and lemongrass tea or essential oil is more concentrated again
- Oxalate B is mild and only relevant if you are counting oxalate strictly and drinking lemongrass tea regularly rather than cooking with a stalk
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Oxalates Guide
Everything you need to know about oxalates sensitivity and smart food choices.
Oxalates are compounds found in many plant foods that can bind with calcium to form crystals. High oxalate intake may contribute to kidney stones in susceptible individuals and can cause other symptoms in those with oxalate sensitivity.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for Oxalates sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in oxalates and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Oxalates, consider these strategies:
- 1Stay well-hydrated to help prevent oxalate crystal formation
- 2Pair high-oxalate foods with calcium-rich foods to bind oxalates
- 3Cooking and boiling can reduce oxalate content in some foods
- 4Spread oxalate intake throughout the day rather than one large dose
- 5Consider probiotics - some gut bacteria break down oxalates
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
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Get the AppFAQ
Is lemongrass high in Oxalates?
Oxalates: moderate signal - portion size matters.
Can I still eat lemongrass if I'm sensitive to Oxalates?
Try smaller portions and space it out.
What else should I check?
Check Salicylates, Low Salicylate, and Histamine Liberators next for a fuller picture.