Thoughts on Oxalates? - Q1 - Q&A 23 - Ep 430

1. Oxalate

Alex says:
What is your perspective on oxalates? Is there any merit to what people like Dr William Shaw, Sally Norton, and Elliot Overton say about the evils of oxalates? or can we all keep eating spinach and almonds? Could this be the explanation as to why some people who go full carnivore benefit from eliminating all greens?

[motomatta]

Excellent Podcast 🙂👍. After over forty years trying to eat supposedly healthy foods never processed, I am a lot better only eating Carnivore 🙂

[cristianpiano]

I was eating about a pound of spinach a day.. then one day everything came at me like a brink wall. Had so many health problems with no explanation... I got recommended to try this diet that I'd never known existed but I was desperate and did it right away.. first it was a lazy man's keto then got smart and added more red meat and the best eggs... I feel like I was given my life back... but recently I got some symptoms again so I think that cycle is hitting again... I was eating so much spinach for 2 years straight and had recently increased the amount 6 months prior.... So glad I don't eat that shit anymore.. I have a feeling it's gonna take a little longer than a year to feel like my digestive system is ok enough to function properly

[michaelj]

This was a GREAT episode - thanks, Rob. It's a bit like stumbling around in the dark, no? Not for the first time, I wish there was a machine that dispensed a MRE paste tailored to meet my nutritional needs on a moment-to-moment basis. I wouldn't even care what it tasted like. Continuing to dodge through the nutritional minefield is just plain exhausting.

[Libre]

If oxalates are so horrible, why do I feel better when eating almonds? I don’t get it. I appreciate Robb’s nuanced approach to this topic.

[mkswagner]

The oxalates lists available are often contradictory, but the well known high oxalate foods should be limited or avoided. This will be a continued argument . Regardless of the arguing experts, we biologists know plants are chock full of toxins as well as decent nutrients - for the plant. They did not evolve to lovingly nourish the vegan. I do eat some plant foods. Mostly low lectin and low oxalate. Usually a meal is a nice piece of pasture meat or wild fish with a small (1/4-1/2 cup max) of low ox veg with grass butter, maybe a butter nut squash, cauliflower mash or arugula. A few others. We are not designed to clear massive amounts of added oxalate year round with our abundant “super food” consumption. Out of all of the oxalate alarmists I tend to enjoy Sally Norton’s lectures the best. Even she agrees we need more detailed research. The current issue is that one urologist will agree with her, another will say there should be no concern. I trained and worked in medical microbiology and toxicology. I think the science behind limiting plant toxins is sound. I am not alarmist but I do limit and choose my plant foods. Personally I shun lectins more, but rarely eat high ox foods.

[floydald]

Speaking of oxalates is "oxalate dumping real? A whole group is talking about it, but I don't see "science"

[gnnguy]

I am curious what exaclty is meant by "western foods." Is he talking about process sugar/salt/fats or conventionally grown meats and vegetables. Or both?

[chixcox]

Thanks Rob for the Podcast, I'm eating only meat, water, salt and before training Bjj/Lift weights a tablespoon honey and my trainings are great sppecially rolling but when i incluided some spinach, kale or something my gut tell me this stuff aren`t good for me.

[gauravbhardwaj]

There should be a balanced diets with everything included,

[rogerdodger]

I agreed with pretty much everything you said there. 😎👍

[glynrowson]

Need a oxalates list please upto date please and are oats high oxalates

[eifionphillips]

I'm taking a year to heal my gut and get rid of candida and will add in some oxalates and see what happen and i could take activated charcoal 40 mins before eating chips as it can remove toxins and so does diatomacous earth!

[hodshonf]

great snapshot of where we are today - constantly changing - we need to be flexible

for me, simplifying and eliminating to a baseline then building from there: my last best hope.

[strawsofftheneurodivergent]

Such a good answer to a complex question. I am doing way better, since I removed spinach, almonds and other high oxalates foods. Many issues with digestion just evaporated by removing trigger foods that coincidentally are also high in oxalates. 
In the paleo world it is often said that the more variation your diet has, the better your microbiome..which seems really not always so beneficial, for me just like for you, narrowing things down to foods I have no issues with is in general the better approach to how I feel in general. Love your take on this. Well said.
Yes, Calcium, magnesium and potassium citrate can help with oxalates. Susan Owens is a great source for information on oxalates, she is a scientist and testing the foods.

[bryanlagalo]

Wow, this guy doesn't fuck around

[johnseberg]

Okay, Robb, you've done everything except get a poop transplant. So. Why not? :)

[birage]

I could do without all the F words, very immature for a podcast.

[BuggsSunny]

Summary:
Rob discusses the impact of oxalates on health, particularly in the context of diets like carnivore and its effects on gut microbiota diversity. He highlights the diminishing gut microbiota diversity in Western populations due to the inclusion of Westernized foods.

Highlights:
- Oxalates may be a significant factor affecting the health of individuals following diets like carnivore.
- Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in processing oxalates, but Westernized diets are leading to a loss of gut microbiota diversity over generations.
- The inclusion of even small amounts of Westernized foods might contribute to a narrower gut microbiota diversity.
- Rob's personal experience suggests that reducing food diversity, such as adopting a carnivore plus coffee and fermented foods diet, can improve digestion and well-being.
- The topic of gut microbiota and its relationship with diet is complex and not yet fully understood, making it essential to approach it with humility and a focus on individual health.