Gluten Free and Beyond Forums

GFCanary · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 1698 Location: Florida

I was told to go on a low oxalate diet by my GP last year when I had my kidney stone, but it was just too much to worry about at that time.

But, I've been looking at this and will probably give it a try. I'm getting stiff / sore from time to time and can't figure out what I'm eating that's causing it. It makes sense that it could be oxalates.

This article explains what oxalates are and says that restriction of oxalates will not affect kidney stone production. Huh ???

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=48

I found an article about FM and oxalates. This could explain why I get a crunchy feeling in my muscles.

http://www.stillpointhealth.com/OxalatesandFMS.html

Here is a list of foods and their oxalate ratings. I'm going to miss blue berries. The direct link wouldn't work, but if you click on this link and then on low oxalate diet you'll get the list.

http://www.stillpointhealth.com/OxalatesandFMS.html

Here's a link to a yahoo group who is trying this diet, but I'm not ready just yet to join. And I seriously doubt they are GFCFSFDFEF Paleos ... not many of us around. Rolling Eyes

Sadly, I'll have to join to find out though.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Trying_Low_Oxalates/

Here's a really good site that explains how a leaky gut can cause an overabsorption of oxalates.

http://lowoxalate.info/

annelb · Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 4919 Location: Little Rock

GFCanary · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 1698 Location: Florida

Thanks Anne,

This is really going to take some time for me to digest all of this, but I'm copying it in here so I can research it easier.

I'm beginning to wonder it the diet is necessary or if this can be handled by taking calcium and the probiotic they name (Oxalobacter formigenes).

I found this website that states fungi actually produce oxalates. And they refer to aspergillus fungi (the source of DPP-IV) as being one of the fungi that do this. Yikes.

http://www.gutresearch.com/9micro.html

jcc · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:35 pm Post subject:

I know.... there is just so much info that may be relevant... and informaton overload sets in for me.

But, I know I've passed by info on low oxalate diets when wondering whether my daughters frequent UTI's might be due to kidney stones.

I was going to leave a link to the worlds' healthiest foods on oxalates, and then realized that your post started with a link to this same page!
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=48

GFCanary · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 1698 Location: Florida

Cara,

Is your daughter being followed by a Urologist ? My DD (age 20) had her first kidney stone last year and swears now that she can tell if her kidneys are bothering her. She gets pain in her kidney area and has noticed small crystals in the toilet. Her doctors are giving her an antibiotic when she feels this way and it's helping. I think it's Cipro. I can call and ask her if you'd like though.

There's a probiotic that Anne told me about. Fem dophilous by Jarrow. I looked but my HFS never had it so I found another one. This one has the same probiotic that Fem Dophilous has and cranberry extract. I've been taking it 2 - 3 times a day for the last month. It's not making me sick, which is good, but I really couldn't tell you if it's helping or not. It's just too early for me to have it figured out. It's called Ultimate Probiotic Women's Formula by Natural Foods Canada formulated by Dr. Michael Murray for intestinal and urinary health.

I remembered too that my Urologist told me that a diet change wouldn't help. But that I should be drinking lemon water made from real lemons and grapefruit juice. The acid in these either stops kidney stones from forming or helps to break them up. Only these 2 juices though. I have a young good looking Cool

Urologist, so I would assume he's more up on this than my GP. Very Happy

You know, I haven't seen or can't remember seeing any reference to how much calcium foods have in correlation to how much oxalate. I'll have to look for this later though.
_________________
Best wishes,
Marcia

Showed positive results to GFDFCFEFSF + chemical free diet immediately after starting in Sept 2005. Ataxia, myoclonus, insomnia are gone. 06/19/07 DQ 2

I'm slowly, but surely making my way out of the coal mine ...

GFCanary · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 1698 Location: Florida

I'm looking into this once again. I think I passed a stone Monday morning. We know I have a UTI and I'm on antibiotics ... again ...

Pain is a really good motivator ... Shocked

I found this site this morning and it gives some great info on all of this.

http://lowoxalate.info/research.html
_________________
Best wishes,
Marcia

Showed positive results to GFDFCFEFSF + chemical free diet immediately after starting in Sept 2005. Ataxia, myoclonus, insomnia are gone. 06/19/07 DQ 2

I'm slowly, but surely making my way out of the coal mine ...

jcc · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear about the stone and UTI Sad

.

No, my daughter has still not seen a urologist. We came really close, had the appointment made, and then fell into an insurance glitch. Because my daughter is at school out of town we have a hard time finding doctors covered under the plan.

She is taking Fem Dophilus by Jarrow. It has been 4 1/2 months since her last one.... I'd be thrilled if she'd make it six months between... or a year even better. When she gets them every 2-3 months.. it is just too much.

She also complains of thinking she is dehydrated a lot, too. I know she needs a good doctor and a good physical... but it just doesn't happen. There are so many obstacles, including the fact that she doesn't make it a priority.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Cara

GFCanary · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 1698 Location: Florida

I know what you mean about this age group. I never know when what I say will make her do the opposite.

My DD was just told by her URO to stop drinking any alcoholic beverages because they're causing her kidney pain. It's a blessing in disguise if you ask me, but she's less than enthused. Cool

If your daughter is having half as good a time as mine is, then she might need to cut back on this too.

On the upside, her roommate-to-be this year has digestive issues too and they are discussing having a GF apt. Which would be great for me and her. Very Happy

I could go visit without having to worry about CC the whole time. She's looking at me for some cheap food ideas ...

Is your DD drinking "real" lemonade made with real lemons ? You can buy this in the refrigerated juice section now, but I forget who makes it.
The acid in lemons stops oxalate from binding to calcium. (I think I said that right ..) My Doc told me that grapefruit juice works too ...

I just got my id on the Trying Low oxalate group at Yahoo and it's full of good info too.

I've been eating way too many nuts for the last 2 and 1/2 years. And too much spinach too. No wonder I have kidney stones ...
_________________
Best wishes,
Marcia

Showed positive results to GFDFCFEFSF + chemical free diet immediately after starting in Sept 2005. Ataxia, myoclonus, insomnia are gone. 06/19/07 DQ 2

I'm slowly, but surely making my way out of the coal mine ...

jamie · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 209

Its only been that last year or two that I would even buy/grow spinach because of this issue. We would use other greens instead. Now I incorporate spinach into our diet too. I think a green lemonade sounds good right about now (water, greens, whole juiced lemons in blender)!
_________________
Jamie

GFCanary · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 1698 Location: Florida

This website is proving to be a valuable resource for anyone trying eat low oxalate. Most of the talk is geared towards autistic children, but adults can learn here too.

Here's the lasted on what foods contain oxalates ...

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Trying_Low_Oxalates/message/23959

GFCanary · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 1698 Location: Florida

I just wanted to update this even though I haven't made any amazing discoveries. Although I haven't had any more kidney stones since going on this diet ... Cool

I've seen oxalates linked to mitochondria DNA damage and mito blockage and to fibro. I'm doing extremely well with both of these right now. I've even been landscaping my back yard, etc for a month now without getting winded, tired or sore. WOOHOO !!! Knock on wood !!! I gave up eggs and started drining alkaline water this past month so I'm sure that helped too. I still have to rest, but this is more than I've done at one time in 19 years now. Cool

I'm still low oxalate but I occasionally (like once or twice a week) eat a small handful of 3 almonds, 2 brazil nuts and 2 walnuts just for the nutrition. When I do this I take a calcium supplement because my GP told me that it will cause the oxalates to bind in the gut and not in the kidneys.

And I'm watching to see if oxalates are the cause of tiny seed looking particles in my stools. I'm not eating any tiny seeds. Rolling Eyes

I've seen others talk about this as oxalate dumping, but haven't really researched it thoroughly. There was a thread about this on the trying low oxalate board, but I never checked back for an answer. These particles come and go, so I should be able to track it back to what I've eaten ...

On the low oxalate board, we see quite a few who can eventually add oxalates back into their diet. If the seeds that I'm seeing in my stools are an indication of oxalate dumping then I'm certainly not there yet ...
_________________
Best wishes,
Marcia

Showed positive results to GFDFCFEFSF + chemical free diet immediately after starting in Sept 2005. Ataxia, myoclonus, insomnia are gone. 06/19/07 DQ 2

I'm slowly, but surely making my way out of the coal mine ...

GFCanary · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 1698 Location: Florida

http://www.lowoxalate.info

An excellent resource associated with the trying low oxalate group at Yahoo ...
_________________
Best wishes,
Marcia

Showed positive results to GFDFCFEFSF + chemical free diet immediately after starting in Sept 2005. Ataxia, myoclonus, insomnia are gone. 06/19/07 DQ 2

I'm slowly, but surely making my way out of the coal mine ...

canoe · Joined: 13 May 2007 Posts: 612 Location: MI

Marcia,

You said that you had not been able to find the Jarrow Fem Dolphilus locally.

I have had very speedy delivery and at a good price by getting mine at Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&...7&y=22.

Sorry to hear that you are dealing with kidney stones. I hope that they will pass and that you won't have further problems.

Marilyn