Oxalates[1] occur naturally in a wide variety of foods – commonly found in spinach, nuts, celery, beetroot, and other healthy foods!
Foods containing oxalates are very healthy for most people, however when the metabolism of it is slowed down due to glyphosate consumption (worsened for those with a genetic susceptibility and / or lack of the Oxalobacter Formigenes[2] bacteria in the gut to degrade oxalates), then this can cause health issues.
Some of the common symptoms observed with the overaccumulation of oxalates include kidney stone formation, calcium absorption interference, recurrent thrush, ADD, ADHD, lower thyroid function, pain in joints, defuse pain in stomach, urinary frequency / irritation / urgency, hormonal issues, Pyrroles disorder, issues with B6 / zinc / iron, anxiety, and depression.
I’m seeing this more and more in my clinic, largely due to glyphosate being increasingly and often unknowingly consumed. If you regularly consume non-organic foods, then you’re more than likely consuming glyphosate more than you realise as it’s commonly sprayed on crops.
Glyphosate is metabolised through the same pathway as oxalates, slowing it down and causing a higher-than-normal oxalate level in the body – that overaccumulation I referred to above.
There's a few different functional tests that can help work out what's going on in there. The GI-Map is a great starting point to get a comprehensive understanding of what’s going on with your gut microbiome. It’s a simple poop test that will give us details of whats in and out of balance. The other great test if you've been struggling for a while is learning about what's happening with your metabolic health. The OMX is a urine test where we get specifics about your biochemical pathways, helping to develop you a bio-individual plan. If you've handled a lot of glyphosate (also known as Round Up) in your life, we can even test to learn the glyphosate levels in your body.
Vanessa Vanderhoek is a functional medicine nutritionist specializing in the gut microbiome, biochemistry and nutrigenomics. She helps people to regain their health by taking a “food as medicine” approach that's unique to their body.
Whilst based in Canberra (Australia), Vanessa sees clients around the world in her virtual clinic. To get started book an initial consultation by clicking here.