August 4, 2025 • 17 mins
Superfoods might be your supervillains. That's the paradigm-shifting revelation at the heart of this eye-opening exploration into oxalates – naturally occurring compounds in many of our most celebrated health foods that can wreak havoc in sensitive individuals.
Oxalates exist as plant defense mechanisms in spinach, almonds, beets, and other nutritional darlings, designed to deter predators in the wild. While harmless to many, these compounds can trigger a cascade of mysterious symptoms in others – from kidney stones and joint pain to digestive distress and skin irritations. The culprit often remains undetected because conventional medicine rarely connects these diverse symptoms to dietary oxalates, and standard blood tests fail to capture the problem.
Functional medicine offers answers through specialized testing, particularly the Organic Acids Test (OATS) which measures specific oxalate metabolites in your urine. But oxalate sensitivity isn't simply about eliminating spinach forever. It's a complex interplay between diet, gut health, microbiome balance, and genetic factors. Deficiencies in specific bacteria, leaky gut syndrome, SIBO, mold exposure, and even excessive vitamin C supplementation can all contribute to oxalate buildup. The good news? With targeted support for your digestive system, temporary dietary modifications, and specific probiotics, many people can overcome oxalate sensitivity without permanently banishing healthy foods.
If you're struggling with unexplained symptoms that conventional medicine can't solve – especially kidney stones, joint pain, fibromyalgia-like symptoms, chronic UTIs, or digestive issues – this deep dive into the oxalate mystery might finally connect the dots. Schedule a consultation at Harmony Hub Health, either in-person in Manchester, Maryland or virtually, to discover if these plant compounds could be at the root of your health challenges.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
Oxalates are a double-edgedsword in the functional medicine
world Naturally occurring plantcompounds that can go from
(00:42):
harmless to just havoc wreaking.
Plant compounds that can gofrom harmless to just
havoc-wreaking, depending onyour gut health, your detox
pathways and your diet.
So today I want to break downwhat they are, why they matter
and why an oats test might beyour new favorite detective tool
.
So I tell everybody to stayaway from processed foods, the
artificial dyes, preservatives,the ultra ultra refined junk
(01:06):
that do your health zero favors.
But there's a plot twist thatsome people don't even see
coming.
Sometimes the danger doesn'tcome in a shiny foil wrapper.
Sometimes it comes wrapped in aleaf.
Plants are incredible.
They feed us, they heal us,they provide the nutrients our
bodies need.
(01:26):
But plants are also survivors.
They spent millions of yearsevolving and coming up with ways
to protect themselves frominsects, from animals and, yes,
even from us.
So one of those defensestrategies are oxalates.
Oxalates are natural compoundsfound in many leafy greens, nuts
(01:47):
, seeds and vegetables.
They're part of the plant'sbuilt-in security system, so
it's a way to discourageovergrazing and predators In the
wild.
This helps the plant survive,but in the human body it can
sometimes backfire.
When oxalates build up, theycan bind to minerals, they can
form crystals, they can triggerinflammation, pain and a whole
(02:12):
list of symptoms that mostpeople won't immediately connect
to their superfood smoothie.
That's why functional medicinetakes oxalates seriously,
because healthy is only healthyif your body can actually
process it.
Normally, oxalates bind tocalcium in the gut and it gets
flushed out through your stool.
But when there's too much inthe diet or the gut isn't
(02:35):
functioning well, oxalates canbind to minerals like calcium
and magnesium.
It can rob your body of thesenutrients.
It can form crystals likecalcium oxalate that can lodge
in tissues, joints and kidneysand it can trigger inflammation,
pain and oxidative stress.
And why are these oxalates aproblem?
Well, in functional medicine wesee elevated oxalates that are
(02:58):
connected to kidney stones.
The most common is that calciumoxalate.
It can cause joint and musclepain.
It can cause vulvodynia andpelvic pain syndromes,
fibromyalgia-like symptoms, skinrashes, even burning sensations
.
Also neurological irritation,especially with those that have
(03:21):
autism or are on the spectrum.
When I suspect this, one of thebest tools that I have is the
OATS test.
The organic acid test looks forspecific oxalate metabolites in
your urine.
That includes glyceric andglycolic acids.
These are elevated whenoxalates are high due to genetic
(03:41):
enzyme deficiencies or poordiet, and it also shows oxalic
acid.
This is the direct measurementof oxalate excretion.
When these markers are high onthe oats test, it's not just
telling you to stop eatingspinach.
It's a flag that your gut, yourliver, your kidneys and your
microbiome need some attention.
(04:03):
And usually when I tell somebodythat it probably is oxalates,
the first question is well, canyou do a blood test for that?
And the short answer is no.
The long answer is also no.
But here's why you knowoxalates move through your
bloodstream very quickly beforebeing filtered by your kidneys.
By the time your blood is drawn, oxalates have usually either
(04:24):
bound to minerals or exitedthrough your urine.
So serum levels rarely tell thewhole story, and that goes for
a lot of your minerals.
This is why traditional labswill report normal results, even
in people with significantoxalate related symptoms.
There are some hints that I cansee it doesn't confirm it.
(04:44):
But some of the things I see instandard blood tests that make
me recommend the oats is if youdo have low calcium or magnesium
, they can be minerals bound upby oxalates.
If you have a low vitamin B6,this increases oxalate
production.
If you are deficient, if youhave an elevated creatinine or
(05:05):
BUN, they may indicate kidneystress from all the oxalates.
If you have a high uric acid,this is crystal formation risk
that can run alongside oxalates,and if you have low urinary
citrate, this makes oxalatecrystals form easier and faster.
So the gold standard for oxalatetesting in functional medicine
(05:28):
is the organic acids test, knownas the OATS test because of
what it measures.
Now there is a 24-hour urineoxalate.
It is useful for those that dohave kidney stones, but it does
miss the oxalate overload frommicrobiome, mold or diet-driven
causes.
And then there is the genetictesting.
So there are some variants inthe AGXT, or I call it the HOGA1
(05:53):
gene or the GRHPR.
They all make oxalateprocessing less efficient and I
even do see it a lot with MTHFR.
So blood work can whisper cluesabout oxalates.
But it's the oats test, a verytargeted urine test, or those
genetic tests that shout out thereal answers, some of the high
(06:15):
oxalate foods that you need toknow about, because these are
health foods.
They just become less healthywhen you have high oxalates.
So for vegetables and greens,it's spinach, it's beet greens,
swiss chard, rhubarb, okra,celery and parsley.
For nuts, it's almonds, cashews, peanuts, sesame seeds.
For legumes, it could be soy,that's tofu, tempeh or soy milk,
(06:40):
black beans, navy beans, andthen grains like buckwheat,
quinoa, whole wheat fruits it'sin figs, kiwi, blackberries and
raspberries, and it's also foundin dark chocolate and cocoa
powder and black tea and sweetpotatoes.
So oxalate overload, though, isnot always just a diet problem.
(07:03):
You know functional medicine.
We do need to dig a little bitdeeper.
The biggest issue that I see isgut dysbiosis.
So if you have low oxalobacterformagenes this is a bacteria
that breaks down oxalates.
You know, if it's low afterantibiotics or just because you
have a microbiome imbalance,then this can cause elevated
(07:26):
oxalates.
If you have a leaky gut, thisallows oxalates to pass into
your circulation instead ofcoming out of your stool.
People with gallbladder issuesor irritable bowel, celiac or
small intestinal bacterialovergrowth, any unabsorbed fats
that bind calcium these all freeoxalates to be absorbed.
(07:50):
So anytime you have a fatmalabsorption issue.
You're going to have elevatedoxalates If you have high
vitamin C intake.
Excessive ascorbic acid canconvert into oxalates in your
body.
A lot of people were takinglike emergency and they were
overloading on it during viralseasons and they noticed a high
(08:13):
spike of kidney stones duringthat time as well.
And then mold toxicity there'sa certain mold that can increase
internal oxalate production aswell and again those genetic
factors like the AGXT gene.
It really impairs the way yourbody can metabolize oxalates.
Fungi can produce oxalatesdirectly and I will say this is
(08:36):
one of the two of the reasonswhy I came up with the talk
about oxalates this week.
One of my oats tests last weekone of them was positive for
extremely high oxalates, but theoats test also showed a heavy
yeast burden in the gut, so thatcaused it.
The other one was from otherthings, but candida and yeast
(08:58):
overgrowth definitely canproduce oxalates on their own.
Okay, the first thing to dowould be to identify and treat
the root cause.
So if we need to do gut healing, if we need to do mold
remediation, bile support forfat absorption or adjust the
diet, you want to reduce highoxalate foods just temporarily.
(09:19):
You want to support mineralbinding.
So you want adequate dietarycalcium with meals to bind
oxalates in the gut and the useof probiotics, especially
oxalobacter formagenes,lactobacillus plantarum and
bifidobacterium lactis.
These are the probiotics thatare going to help lower oxalates
(09:43):
.
And then what I've been talkingabout forever is just
optimizing detox pathways.
You want to make sure yourliver, your kidneys and your
lymph that they are allsupported.
So oxalates aren't inherentlyevil, but in the wrong gut
environment or at the wrong dosethey can be serious health
disruptors.
And your OATS test isn't justdata.
(10:05):
It's a roadmap showing whetheroxalates are a food issue, if
it's a gut issue or a systemicimbalance.
So address the why and you maynot need to banish every leafy
green from your life.
So the patients that Irecommend an OATS test to check
for oxalates are individualswith kidney stones.
You know high oxalate levelsare a major contributing factor
(10:28):
to the formation of calciumoxalate kidney stones.
If someone has recurring kidneystones, an OATS test can help
assess oxalate levels anddetermine whether oxalate
metabolism is a contributingfactor.
These people will have painfulurination or blood and urine or
pain in their back or that flankpain area.
(10:48):
Anybody with chronic pain orjoint issues, because oxalates
can deposit in various tissues,including your joints, leading
to symptoms that kind of looklike arthritis.
Elevated oxalate levels cancause inflammation and pain in
the joints or soft tissues.
So if you have joint pain orinflammation, fibromyalgia-like
pain or chronic pain in musclesor connective tissues,
(11:12):
individuals with digestiveissues, high levels of oxalates
can contribute to digestivedistress.
So if you're having difficultymetabolizing oxalates, they may
experience symptoms related tothe gut, like IBS or leaky gut.
So this is abdominal pain,abdominal bloating, diarrhea or
constipation, poor digestion ornutrient absorption.
(11:36):
And anybody with a history offrequent urinary tract
infections or bladder problems,because oxalate buildup
irritates your bladder and itleads to frequent urinary tract
infections or bladder pain.
The OATS test may help identifyif oxalates are playing a role
in recurrent bladder infectionsor discomfort.
So this would be anybody withpain or burning during urination
(11:59):
, bladder irritation or frequenturinary tract infections.
All of my patients with MTHFRgene mutations.
You already have difficultywith proper methylation, so this
can influence oxalatemetabolism as well.
The group of people that haveMTHFR mutations are at higher
risk for oxalate buildup becausetheir detoxification pathways
(12:22):
are just so less efficient.
These people have fatigue,brain fog, difficulty
detoxifying or handling toxins,and then all of the people with
chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.
High oxalates can contribute tofatigue and systemic
inflammation.
Fibromyalgia and chronicfatigue syndrome are often
associated with unexplainedmuscle pain, joint pain and
(12:45):
systemic symptoms that can beexacerbated by high oxalates.
So chronic fatigue, generalizedpain, muscle aches and
stiffness.
These are all people that Ilove to see on an OATS test to
see what we find and when.
I have patients that have gutdysbiosis or small intestinal
(13:07):
bacterial overgrowth, known asSIBO.
Certain gut imbalances canaffect the way the body
processes oxalates.
So elevated oxalate levels canlead to gut irritation and
worsen the symptoms of that SIBO.
So the bloating, the gas,diarrhea and constipation.
And if someone has beenconsuming large amounts of high
(13:28):
oxalate foods, it's not uncommonbecause they're healthy, right
when you look at them spinach,almonds, beets, sweet potatoes I
love all these things.
But without adequate calciumintake or proper oxalate
metabolism you can be at risk ofoxalate accumulation.
So the OATS test helps tellwhether it's dietary oxalates
(13:50):
that are contributing tosymptoms of joint pain, skin
rashes, irritation or GI issues.
So if you do have skin problemslike eczema or dry patches or
skin rashes or itchiness,oxalate crystals can deposit in
skin tissue and cause issueslike that dermatitis, the rashes
(14:12):
, the itching.
If you have persistent skinissues, you may benefit from
checking these oxalate levels.
I had someone send me a picturethis week.
I'm not going to call her out,but as soon as I saw the picture
I was like hmm, well, thatlooks like an oxalate crystal.
And the funny thing is is wedid an oats test and I had just
(14:36):
sent her my interpretationtalking about oxalates as well.
So that was very interestingand what led to this podcast.
So some autoimmune conditionslike lupus or rheumatoid
arthritis can also beexacerbated by high oxalates,
because high oxalatescontributes to systemic
(14:59):
inflammation which may worsenautoimmune system symptoms
chronic inflammation, autoimmunedisease, flare-ups, joint or
muscle pain.
So if you are experiencing anyof these symptoms that I just
said, or you have risk factorslike kidney stones, chronic pain
, digestive disturbance, mthfr,you know, an OATS test can
(15:20):
really help assess your oxalatemetabolism and guide treatment.
So elevated oxalates in thebody can lead to a variety of
health issues.
So testing can be an importantstep in identifying whether
they're contributing to yoursymptoms.
If high oxalate levels aredetected, dietary changes,
binders and supportivesupplements can really help to
(15:42):
manage them.
If you are not sure and you wanta consultation, come and see me
at Harmony Hub Health.
You can see me in person atMonarch Beauty and Spa in
Manchester, maryland.
You can see me online atHarmonyHubHealthcom.
I'm going to have a lot ofinformation this week on the
Facebook page of Harmony HubHealth on oxalates, because I
(16:05):
know I had two just this pastweek and there's so many others
that have not even heard of theOATS test.
Maybe you're listening andyou're like, hmm, I wonder if
this is my problem.
So then come and see me.
I would love to help you.
And, look, I'm not a doctor andthis blog isn't meant to be your
new medical Bible, but the infohere is purely for educational
(16:26):
purposes because, let's face it,who doesn't like to read about
oxalates on a lazy afternoon?
If you're actually dealing withissues related to oxalates,
like kidney stones, joint painor chronic fatigue, don't just
Google it and call it a day.
Come and see an actualprofessional, a healthcare
provider or functional medicineprovider who can actually help.
(16:46):
I would love to be that person.
Um, so before making any lifealtering dietary decisions,
check with someone who'sactually licensed to tell you
what to do.
Um, you might just find out whyyour oats test might be
throwing shade at your spinachsmoothie.
I hope to talk to you soon.
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
Oxalates are a double-edgedsword in the functional medicine
world Naturally occurring plantcompounds that can go from
(00:42):
harmless to just havoc wreaking.
Plant compounds that can gofrom harmless to just
havoc-wreaking, depending onyour gut health, your detox
pathways and your diet.
So today I want to break downwhat they are, why they matter
and why an oats test might beyour new favorite detective tool
.
So I tell everybody to stayaway from processed foods, the
artificial dyes, preservatives,the ultra ultra refined junk
(01:06):
that do your health zero favors.
But there's a plot twist thatsome people don't even see
coming.
Sometimes the danger doesn'tcome in a shiny foil wrapper.
Sometimes it comes wrapped in aleaf.
Plants are incredible.
They feed us, they heal us,they provide the nutrients our
bodies need.
(01:26):
But plants are also survivors.
They spent millions of yearsevolving and coming up with ways
to protect themselves frominsects, from animals and, yes,
even from us.
So one of those defensestrategies are oxalates.
Oxalates are natural compoundsfound in many leafy greens, nuts
(01:47):
, seeds and vegetables.
They're part of the plant'sbuilt-in security system, so
it's a way to discourageovergrazing and predators In the
wild.
This helps the plant survive,but in the human body it can
sometimes backfire.
When oxalates build up, theycan bind to minerals, they can
form crystals, they can triggerinflammation, pain and a whole
(02:12):
list of symptoms that mostpeople won't immediately connect
to their superfood smoothie.
That's why functional medicinetakes oxalates seriously,
because healthy is only healthyif your body can actually
process it.
Normally, oxalates bind tocalcium in the gut and it gets
flushed out through your stool.
But when there's too much inthe diet or the gut isn't
(02:35):
functioning well, oxalates canbind to minerals like calcium
and magnesium.
It can rob your body of thesenutrients.
It can form crystals likecalcium oxalate that can lodge
in tissues, joints and kidneysand it can trigger inflammation,
pain and oxidative stress.
And why are these oxalates aproblem?
Well, in functional medicine wesee elevated oxalates that are
(02:58):
connected to kidney stones.
The most common is that calciumoxalate.
It can cause joint and musclepain.
It can cause vulvodynia andpelvic pain syndromes,
fibromyalgia-like symptoms, skinrashes, even burning sensations
.
Also neurological irritation,especially with those that have
(03:21):
autism or are on the spectrum.
When I suspect this, one of thebest tools that I have is the
OATS test.
The organic acid test looks forspecific oxalate metabolites in
your urine.
That includes glyceric andglycolic acids.
These are elevated whenoxalates are high due to genetic
(03:41):
enzyme deficiencies or poordiet, and it also shows oxalic
acid.
This is the direct measurementof oxalate excretion.
When these markers are high onthe oats test, it's not just
telling you to stop eatingspinach.
It's a flag that your gut, yourliver, your kidneys and your
microbiome need some attention.
(04:03):
And usually when I tell somebodythat it probably is oxalates,
the first question is well, canyou do a blood test for that?
And the short answer is no.
The long answer is also no.
But here's why you knowoxalates move through your
bloodstream very quickly beforebeing filtered by your kidneys.
By the time your blood is drawn, oxalates have usually either
(04:24):
bound to minerals or exitedthrough your urine.
So serum levels rarely tell thewhole story, and that goes for
a lot of your minerals.
This is why traditional labswill report normal results, even
in people with significantoxalate related symptoms.
There are some hints that I cansee it doesn't confirm it.
(04:44):
But some of the things I see instandard blood tests that make
me recommend the oats is if youdo have low calcium or magnesium
, they can be minerals bound upby oxalates.
If you have a low vitamin B6,this increases oxalate
production.
If you are deficient, if youhave an elevated creatinine or
(05:05):
BUN, they may indicate kidneystress from all the oxalates.
If you have a high uric acid,this is crystal formation risk
that can run alongside oxalates,and if you have low urinary
citrate, this makes oxalatecrystals form easier and faster.
So the gold standard for oxalatetesting in functional medicine
(05:28):
is the organic acids test, knownas the OATS test because of
what it measures.
Now there is a 24-hour urineoxalate.
It is useful for those that dohave kidney stones, but it does
miss the oxalate overload frommicrobiome, mold or diet-driven
causes.
And then there is the genetictesting.
So there are some variants inthe AGXT, or I call it the HOGA1
(05:53):
gene or the GRHPR.
They all make oxalateprocessing less efficient and I
even do see it a lot with MTHFR.
So blood work can whisper cluesabout oxalates.
But it's the oats test, a verytargeted urine test, or those
genetic tests that shout out thereal answers, some of the high
(06:15):
oxalate foods that you need toknow about, because these are
health foods.
They just become less healthywhen you have high oxalates.
So for vegetables and greens,it's spinach, it's beet greens,
swiss chard, rhubarb, okra,celery and parsley.
For nuts, it's almonds, cashews, peanuts, sesame seeds.
For legumes, it could be soy,that's tofu, tempeh or soy milk,
(06:40):
black beans, navy beans, andthen grains like buckwheat,
quinoa, whole wheat fruits it'sin figs, kiwi, blackberries and
raspberries, and it's also foundin dark chocolate and cocoa
powder and black tea and sweetpotatoes.
So oxalate overload, though, isnot always just a diet problem.
(07:03):
You know functional medicine.
We do need to dig a little bitdeeper.
The biggest issue that I see isgut dysbiosis.
So if you have low oxalobacterformagenes this is a bacteria
that breaks down oxalates.
You know, if it's low afterantibiotics or just because you
have a microbiome imbalance,then this can cause elevated
(07:26):
oxalates.
If you have a leaky gut, thisallows oxalates to pass into
your circulation instead ofcoming out of your stool.
People with gallbladder issuesor irritable bowel, celiac or
small intestinal bacterialovergrowth, any unabsorbed fats
that bind calcium these all freeoxalates to be absorbed.
(07:50):
So anytime you have a fatmalabsorption issue.
You're going to have elevatedoxalates If you have high
vitamin C intake.
Excessive ascorbic acid canconvert into oxalates in your
body.
A lot of people were takinglike emergency and they were
overloading on it during viralseasons and they noticed a high
(08:13):
spike of kidney stones duringthat time as well.
And then mold toxicity there'sa certain mold that can increase
internal oxalate production aswell and again those genetic
factors like the AGXT gene.
It really impairs the way yourbody can metabolize oxalates.
Fungi can produce oxalatesdirectly and I will say this is
(08:36):
one of the two of the reasonswhy I came up with the talk
about oxalates this week.
One of my oats tests last weekone of them was positive for
extremely high oxalates, but theoats test also showed a heavy
yeast burden in the gut, so thatcaused it.
The other one was from otherthings, but candida and yeast
(08:58):
overgrowth definitely canproduce oxalates on their own.
Okay, the first thing to dowould be to identify and treat
the root cause.
So if we need to do gut healing, if we need to do mold
remediation, bile support forfat absorption or adjust the
diet, you want to reduce highoxalate foods just temporarily.
(09:19):
You want to support mineralbinding.
So you want adequate dietarycalcium with meals to bind
oxalates in the gut and the useof probiotics, especially
oxalobacter formagenes,lactobacillus plantarum and
bifidobacterium lactis.
These are the probiotics thatare going to help lower oxalates
(09:43):
.
And then what I've been talkingabout forever is just
optimizing detox pathways.
You want to make sure yourliver, your kidneys and your
lymph that they are allsupported.
So oxalates aren't inherentlyevil, but in the wrong gut
environment or at the wrong dosethey can be serious health
disruptors.
And your OATS test isn't justdata.
(10:05):
It's a roadmap showing whetheroxalates are a food issue, if
it's a gut issue or a systemicimbalance.
So address the why and you maynot need to banish every leafy
green from your life.
So the patients that Irecommend an OATS test to check
for oxalates are individualswith kidney stones.
You know high oxalate levelsare a major contributing factor
(10:28):
to the formation of calciumoxalate kidney stones.
If someone has recurring kidneystones, an OATS test can help
assess oxalate levels anddetermine whether oxalate
metabolism is a contributingfactor.
These people will have painfulurination or blood and urine or
pain in their back or that flankpain area.
(10:48):
Anybody with chronic pain orjoint issues, because oxalates
can deposit in various tissues,including your joints, leading
to symptoms that kind of looklike arthritis.
Elevated oxalate levels cancause inflammation and pain in
the joints or soft tissues.
So if you have joint pain orinflammation, fibromyalgia-like
pain or chronic pain in musclesor connective tissues,
(11:12):
individuals with digestiveissues, high levels of oxalates
can contribute to digestivedistress.
So if you're having difficultymetabolizing oxalates, they may
experience symptoms related tothe gut, like IBS or leaky gut.
So this is abdominal pain,abdominal bloating, diarrhea or
constipation, poor digestion ornutrient absorption.
(11:36):
And anybody with a history offrequent urinary tract
infections or bladder problems,because oxalate buildup
irritates your bladder and itleads to frequent urinary tract
infections or bladder pain.
The OATS test may help identifyif oxalates are playing a role
in recurrent bladder infectionsor discomfort.
So this would be anybody withpain or burning during urination
(11:59):
, bladder irritation or frequenturinary tract infections.
All of my patients with MTHFRgene mutations.
You already have difficultywith proper methylation, so this
can influence oxalatemetabolism as well.
The group of people that haveMTHFR mutations are at higher
risk for oxalate buildup becausetheir detoxification pathways
(12:22):
are just so less efficient.
These people have fatigue,brain fog, difficulty
detoxifying or handling toxins,and then all of the people with
chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.
High oxalates can contribute tofatigue and systemic
inflammation.
Fibromyalgia and chronicfatigue syndrome are often
associated with unexplainedmuscle pain, joint pain and
(12:45):
systemic symptoms that can beexacerbated by high oxalates.
So chronic fatigue, generalizedpain, muscle aches and
stiffness.
These are all people that Ilove to see on an OATS test to
see what we find and when.
I have patients that have gutdysbiosis or small intestinal
(13:07):
bacterial overgrowth, known asSIBO.
Certain gut imbalances canaffect the way the body
processes oxalates.
So elevated oxalate levels canlead to gut irritation and
worsen the symptoms of that SIBO.
So the bloating, the gas,diarrhea and constipation.
And if someone has beenconsuming large amounts of high
(13:28):
oxalate foods, it's not uncommonbecause they're healthy, right
when you look at them spinach,almonds, beets, sweet potatoes I
love all these things.
But without adequate calciumintake or proper oxalate
metabolism you can be at risk ofoxalate accumulation.
So the OATS test helps tellwhether it's dietary oxalates
(13:50):
that are contributing tosymptoms of joint pain, skin
rashes, irritation or GI issues.
So if you do have skin problemslike eczema or dry patches or
skin rashes or itchiness,oxalate crystals can deposit in
skin tissue and cause issueslike that dermatitis, the rashes
(14:12):
, the itching.
If you have persistent skinissues, you may benefit from
checking these oxalate levels.
I had someone send me a picturethis week.
I'm not going to call her out,but as soon as I saw the picture
I was like hmm, well, thatlooks like an oxalate crystal.
And the funny thing is is wedid an oats test and I had just
(14:36):
sent her my interpretationtalking about oxalates as well.
So that was very interestingand what led to this podcast.
So some autoimmune conditionslike lupus or rheumatoid
arthritis can also beexacerbated by high oxalates,
because high oxalatescontributes to systemic
(14:59):
inflammation which may worsenautoimmune system symptoms
chronic inflammation, autoimmunedisease, flare-ups, joint or
muscle pain.
So if you are experiencing anyof these symptoms that I just
said, or you have risk factorslike kidney stones, chronic pain
, digestive disturbance, mthfr,you know, an OATS test can
(15:20):
really help assess your oxalatemetabolism and guide treatment.
So elevated oxalates in thebody can lead to a variety of
health issues.
So testing can be an importantstep in identifying whether
they're contributing to yoursymptoms.
If high oxalate levels aredetected, dietary changes,
binders and supportivesupplements can really help to
(15:42):
manage them.
If you are not sure and you wanta consultation, come and see me
at Harmony Hub Health.
You can see me in person atMonarch Beauty and Spa in
Manchester, maryland.
You can see me online atHarmonyHubHealthcom.
I'm going to have a lot ofinformation this week on the
Facebook page of Harmony HubHealth on oxalates, because I
(16:05):
know I had two just this pastweek and there's so many others
that have not even heard of theOATS test.
Maybe you're listening andyou're like, hmm, I wonder if
this is my problem.
So then come and see me.
I would love to help you.
And, look, I'm not a doctor andthis blog isn't meant to be your
new medical Bible, but the infohere is purely for educational
(16:26):
purposes because, let's face it,who doesn't like to read about
oxalates on a lazy afternoon?
If you're actually dealing withissues related to oxalates,
like kidney stones, joint painor chronic fatigue, don't just
Google it and call it a day.
Come and see an actualprofessional, a healthcare
provider or functional medicineprovider who can actually help.
(16:46):
I would love to be that person.
Um, so before making any lifealtering dietary decisions,
check with someone who'sactually licensed to tell you
what to do.
Um, you might just find out whyyour oats test might be
throwing shade at your spinachsmoothie.
I hope to talk to you soon.
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