Oxalates are tiny molecules found in a variety of foods and plants. It’s just two carbon and four oxygen molecules but high levels of oxalates can lead to a variety of issues including fatigue, inflammation, and kidney stones.
Studies have shown that 84% of autistic individuals have high oxalate levels on the Organic Acid Test (OAT).
So what can you do to help your autistic child who may be suffering with high oxalate levels?
The first step is to understand the causes of oxalate overload – which I’ll describe here. The next step is to test for and treat the root cause – which I’ll address in my upcoming course.
3 Causes of Oxalate Overload
- GI Yeast Overgrowth: Yeast imbalances can lead to issues with oxalate metabolism.
The OAT test can reveal these imbalances. Your medical provider can order this test, but you can also order it yourself through mymedlab.com – although you’ll pay more than working directly with your provider, the self-ordering option is simple and convenient. - Diet: Diet alone will usually not help with high oxalate levels. Typically, I recommend a low oxalate diet while I’m treating metabolic or yeast overgrowth issues.
If a low oxalate diet is appropriate, you’ll want to avoid potatoes, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, peanuts, soy, parsley, and pecans, among other things.
However, the problem with eliminating high oxalate foods from our diets is that high oxalates foods are typically very healthy. You won’t want to exclude them if not absolutely necessary. - Genetics or Metabolism Issues: While we can’t change our genetics, we can do things to increase or decrease the way our genes express themselves.
We can supplement certain things like calcium citrate to help absorb oxalates so they don’t end up in our system. Or, we can supplement other factors that aid in the metabolism of oxalates and make changes to our diet if you’re also working on the underlying issues.
Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter so you don’t miss the opportunity to sign up for my course that’s coming out before the end of the year. This course will offer a simple step by step guide for entering the biomedical/functional medicine route when treating autism.
You will learn the essential five pieces that need to be in place in order to see results now, and down the line with other interventions. I will teach you where to start and how to track your progress.
I know the desperation and overwhelmed feeling of an autism diagnosis. This course can help lift that heavy, overloaded feeling and get you and your child on track for success now and in the future.
Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing a great job.
I hope this information has been helpful to you as part of creating Your Autism Game Plan.Do you have a topic you’d like to learn more about? Email me at joya@yourautismgameplan.com
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