• Kidney stones
• Aches
• Problems at the joints
• Vascular problems  
• Autism spectrum, ADHD, Tic-Tourette, Asperger’s and more
• Mental confusion, low concentration
• Mood disorders
• Respiratory problems
• Digestion problems
• Anemia
• Weakness, fatigue, fibromyalgia
• Insomnia

Oxalate compounds are found mainly in foods like beets, spinach, green beans, green peppers, okra, parsley, eggplant, red grapes, kiwi, chocolate, peanuts, bark of wheat, cashews, tea, almonds, various berries including strawberries. They are also created by emissions from fungi such as candida and other hostile dysbiosis bacteria (see Leaky Bowel) that multiply, kick out the friendly intestinal flora and occupy our intestines. This usually happens after the use of antibiotics but it can also occur due to the function of our metabolism. You can find a list of foods high in oxalates at http://patienteducation.upmc.com/Pdf/LowOxalateDiet.pdf

Recent studies have shown that a diet low in oxalates reduces the symptoms in children with autism or with severe growth disorders like lack of concentration, intense anxiety and nervousness. It also helped them walk with ease and participate in games. It considerably decreased physical aches and fatigue; it improved speech, sociability, sleep, understanding, writing and participation in school, among others. It is noted here that 36% of children who participated in the surveys and were on the autism spectrum had elevated oxalates in their urine compared with normal children.

What problems are caused by oxalates?

Many kidney stones belong to this group; in particular they consist of calcium oxalate. These stones may vary in size, from a grain of rice to a golf ball. It is estimated that 10% of men have kidney stones at some point in their lives.

Thinking that calcium is responsible for these stones, many people unnecessarily avoid getting calcium supplements; calcium can bind oxalic acid in the intestines, forming oxalic acid crystals that are not absorbed but excreted in the feces. However, if you are on a low calcium diet, oxalic acid stays in liquid form and instead of being eliminated by defecation, it is absorbed by the intestine into the bloodstream and from there it is transferred in different systems. When found in the kidneys it binds the calcium found there, resulting in crystals or oxalate stones that block urination and cause pain.

Apart from the kidneys, crystals can be formed in the bones, joints (arthritis), blood vessels (blood pressure or blockage), lungs (respiratory problems), the nervous system, even in the brain (cerebral palsy and mental disorders). These crystals can even be formed in the bone marrow cells and cause anemia and an underactive immune system. Because these crystals are sharp they may cause tissue damage and inflammation.

Oxalates can bind metals like iron, eliminating it from our body; the result is an inability to produce blood. The same can happen with zinc and magnesium, possibly resulting in deficiencies, even if the diet is rich in them. Note that in cases of mental disorders a lack of these minerals is often observed. On the other hand, oxalates can bind heavy or toxic metals like mercury with the same ease, resulting in its deposition on organs and tissues. Mothers who noticed a very bad reaction of their children after vaccination reported that their children were taking antibiotics when they got the vaccine. If we consider that the development of candida is observed after the use of antibiotics and it is responsible for the production of oxalates which in turn can bind mercury that is contained in some of the vaccines as a preservative, we are surely led to some conclusions.

What can we do to protect ourselves from them?

-Some antifungal medications help reduce fungi that may cause high oxalates but it takes time and persistence.

-Supplementation with calcium in the form of calcium citrate with each main meal may reduce the absorption from the intestine and help with their expulsion.

-N-acetyl-glucosamine helps the production of hyaluronic acid; that helps reduce the pain caused.

-Chondroitin and vitamin B6 are said to prevent the production of calcium oxalate.

-Drinking water helps expel them.

-Taurine-(amino acid) aids in the production of bile acids which dissolve the fatty acids that bind oxalate.

- Probiotics like lactobacillus and bifidobacterium can be very helpful in the release and elimination of oxalates from the intestines.

-Omega 3 fatty acids may help reduce oxalates; high amount of omega 6 may cause the opposite effect.

-Magnesium salts when used in a bath can help release and dissolve the crystals of calcium oxalate and mercury even if they are in the kidneys, making them return to the intestine and be excreted.

-Vitamin E, selenium and the amino acid arginine appear to reduce the effect of oxalates in the body.

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