Exclusive | Dave Asprey warns that green smoothies can actually be working against you

It’s time to blend some reality into your diet. The green smoothie has become the go-to beverage for Americans wanting to boost their intake of nutrient-rich fruits and veggies, improve digestion and maybe even shed a few pounds.Even Reese Witherspoon swears by having one every morning.But before you reach for the kale, remember this: “Just because it’s green doesn’t mean it’s good for you,” biohacker Dave Asprey told The Post. The problem is that the typical green smoothie is packed with leafy greens like spinach, kale and Swiss chard — all of which are very healthy, but also loaded with high levels of oxalates.Small amounts of these naturally occurring compounds aren’t typically harmful, but when consumed in large quantities, oxalates can bind to minerals like calcium, preventing them from being absorbed in your digestive system.The real trouble starts when oxalates bind to calcium in your blood, forming tiny, sharp crystals that can be deposited anywhere in the body, causing muscle pain.

If your body is low on urine volume and high on oxalates, these minerals can build up and lead to painful kidney stones. “There’s this idea that the smoothie will clean you up, but it’s probably going to clog your kidneys,” Asprey said.Oxalate crystals are behind a whopping 80% of kidney stone cases in the United States.And it’s not just the leafy greens — foods like raspberries, chocolate, almonds and even green tea are also packed with oxalates.“Your body can only handle 200 milligrams [of oxalates] a day, and one green smoothie with almond milk and spinach can have five times more than what your body can take,” Asprey explained.Like with most things, moderation is key.

Doctors say oxalates are fine in small doses, but the worst cases typically happen when people dive into juice or smoothie cleanses.In one case, a 65-year-old woman with a normal kidney was drinking a green smoothie loaded with oxalates as part of a cleanse, only to end up wi...