Low Oxalates Foods May Help Reduce Auto-Immune Disease Risk, Autism and Fibromyalgia

Oxalate (or oxalic acid) is a compound found in a variety of plant-based foods. Under a microscope, oxalates are jagged in structure and look somewhat crystalline.

During metabolism, oxalic acid combines with other minerals like calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium to form compounds like calcium oxalate and sodium oxalate in the kidneys. This, in turn, may be responsible for mineral deficiencies.

One of the most common issues with increased oxalates in the urine (hyperoxaluria) is the formation of kidney stones. However, if the body struggles to eliminate oxalate, it can accumulate as crystals anywhere in the body. Commonly it accumulates in the blood, then the eyes, bones, skin, muscles, blood vessels, heart, and other organs.

High oxalates have also been linked with autism and inflammatory bowel disease. It can also be an underlying issue in those with ongoing gut problems or irritable bowel syndrome.

Tissue destruction, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are all issues that can be related to oxalates because oxalate in tissues triggers the inflammasome reactions of the body’s innate immune system.

As a side note, the thyroid will also suffer as oxalates can bind to T3 and disturb thyroid function.

The following list of vegetables should help identify foods high in oxalates:

As you can see from the list above, your favorite spinach (> 900 mg of oxalates) green smoothie may be contributing to a host of health issues!

Low oxalate diets involve eating less food that’s high in oxalates. Foods high in oxalates include certain types of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and legumes.

On a low oxalate diet, you should limit your oxalate to 40 to 50 mg each day.

Summary

Whether for kidney stone prevention or to address other possible chronic health conditions, a low oxalate diet may be the solution.
On a low oxalate diet, you may notice a decreased risk of kidney stones, improved mineral absorption, diminished joint and muscle pain, improvement in fibromyalgia, autism symptoms, and autoimmune symptoms.

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP

References:

The damaging effects of oxalates

Oxalic toxicity

Symptoms

Oxalate, inflammasome, kidney disease

How to eat a low oxalate diet/

Oxalates control in autism therapy

Pubmed – Pathogenic role in autism

Pathogenic role in autism

Increased cardiovascular disease

Arterial plaque contains oxalate/

Lowering urinary oxalate excretion

Compliments from Functional Medicine University

Tell Me How You’re Doing

Just write to me at PatientServices@AlternativeHealthAtlanta.com. I am concerned and very interested in your experience.

Wishing you the very best,

Dr. Billiot

Are you concerned about a specific health problem or problems?

Or, are you generally unhappy with the state of your health?

Allergies Don’t Have to be a “Forever” Problem

If you have allergies, you are usually doing your best to live with them. You are trying to avoid the foods and environmental substances that trigger your reactions (in many cases, you might not know what they all are). Even after avoiding the allergens, many people often have reactions anyway.

Many allergies are challenging or impossible to avoid (like Georgia pollen in the Spring!).

Allergies Often cause other Health Problems

Many common health conditions are either caused by or prolonged because of allergies.

If you have hormone problems, migraines, skin conditions, depression, anxiety, brain fog, ADHD, thyroid problems, digestive problems (and many more conditions), they might be caused by allergies. What is common for allergy-caused health problems is that they don’t go away or keep coming back. Your body can’t heal because of continued stress from allergy exposure.

You might think, “But that’s not what is causing my health problems because I don’t have allergies.”

It is very common to have allergies and sensitivities, but not know this. Food sensitivities can be delayed up to three days, so you’d never connect the reaction to a food. You can react to invisible environmental substances that you would never suspect, like dust mites and roach droppings.

The health problems you suffer from could be caused by stress to your body and immune system from allergic reactions.

Here’s a list of allergy information and facts that you’d want to know:

• People can develop new allergies to foods and environmental items (pollen, dust, animal fur) at any time in their lives.
• An allergy is an over-response of the immune system to a substance. Your body decides that a harmless substance is a threat and mounts a defensive response to it.
• Many food sensitivities are delayed reactions (called IgG sensitivities) and can cause reactions up to three days after you eat the offending food. These reactions are often not recognized as allergic reactions and can be almost anything (headaches, itchy skin, constipation, gas and bloating, blurred vision, etc.).
• Often, people with environmental allergies have no clue that they could also have food allergies or sensitivities.
• Most IgG (delayed) food sensitivities can be identified with a blood lab and eliminated simply by avoiding the food for three months or so, then adding it back into your diet on a rotating basis. Many health problems can be improved this way even though you never suspected that you had sensitivities.
• Often, we can permanently eliminate sensitivity reactions with acupressure treatments (acupressure in our clinic is acupuncture technology using lasers instead of needles). Sensitivity symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated with specific acupressure therapies.

Many sensitivities can be permanently eliminated using acupressure treatments. (Acupressure is acupuncture technology using lasers to stimulate the acupuncture points.)

Here’s a video explaining this:

I have targeted programs to help many different kinds of sensitivity patients:

• Sometimes, all that’s needed is a short course of acupressure treatments and some supporting supplements.
• Other patients with long-term chronic health problems need more detailed analysis, labs, and help over a more extended period to fully recover their health.

If you’d like to find out quickly if I could help you and what you would  have to do:

Would you please take five minutes to fill out a health assessment survey and send it to me? I’ll review your information, then have my assistant call you for any additional information. Then, I’ll let you know if your case might be a good fit for my clinic. This assessment is complimentary, with no strings attached. Either I can help you–or point you in the right direction to get help.

Don’t give up! You can recover your health if you persist.

Allergy Success!

SMASH: The Potent Recipe for Increasing Omega 3

The acronym SMASH stands for salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and herring. These are the fish that are safest and healthiest to eat. They are nutrient-rich, high in omega-3s, and are low in mercury.

Mercury, in excess, can impair vision, coordination, and speech and can cause muscle weakness.

Research, including a study published in a 2020 issue of the journal Biomolecules, has associated higher mercury levels in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Here are five reasons you should add more SMASH in your life.

1: SMASH fish are high in long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats are easily absorbed, are high in anti-inflammatory properties, and can help reduce cardiac issues and symptoms of autoimmune conditions.

2: SMASH fish are high in selenium and low in mercury.

3: The proteins in SMASH fish are easy to digest.

4: SMASH fish contain iodine. Iodine is difficult to source from other foods, but it’s essential for proper thyroid and immune function.

5: SMASH fish are a great source of Vitamin D.

Long story short, start adding some SMASH fish into your diet- the benefits are endless!

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP

Compliments from Functional Medicine University

Understand Omega-3 and Inflammation in 3 Minutes

Inflammation is like water: it’s lifesaving in a glass, and can drown you in a flood. You must have inflammation to heal, but if it gets out of control you can have everything from skin rashes, joint pain, heart disease and autoimmune disease.

Inflammation is largely controlled by prostaglandins. Don’t be confused by the long name, prostaglandins are messagers that tell tissue, organs and cells what to do. They are like super-heroes, because they can act so rapidly in an injury emergency to reduce damage and start healing.

Prostaglandins created from Omega-6 fatty acids increase inflammation, and can rapidly respond to an injury to start the healing process.

Prostaglandins created from Omega-3 fatty acids reduce and control inflammation.

If you have more Omega-6 in your diet than Omega-3, inflammation can get out of control and severely damage your health. Most Americans eat a 20:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3. This partly explains the epidemic of heart disease, arthritis and autoimmune disease in the US.

Omega-6 (inflammation-causing) foods examples: (Found in fried foods, chips, candy, protein bars, butter substitutes and most processed foods)

• Canola oil.
• Corn oil.
• Mayonnaise.
• Safflower oil.
• Sunflower oil.
• Peanut oil.

Eating the SMASH fish diet is one way to reverse this Omega-6 ratio and reduce inflammation in your body.

You can balance your Omega-6 foods by eating more Omega-3 foods so that you don’t increase your inflammation.

Learn More

Tell Me How You’re Doing

Just write to me at PatientServices@AlternativeHealthAtlanta.com. I am concerned and very interested in your experience.

Wishing you the very best,

Dr. Billiot

Are you concerned about a specific health problem or problems?

Or, are you generally unhappy with the state of your health?

Does Milk Really Make a Body Good? The Other Side of Story

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP

I have to wonder how the government dietary guidelines still recommend consuming three glasses of milk a day. 

Where is there any evidence to support this recommendation?

A 2020 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by Walter C. Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H., and David S. Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D. reviewed over 100 top studies on milk. They found that milk consumption is associated with the risks of fracture, obesity, cardiovascular disease, allergies, and various cancers.

This information may be a hard pill to swallow, but the scientific literature proves otherwise.

In other studies, milk consumption has been found to increase insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which has been associated with several major health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive function in the elderly.

If you absolutely love milk, then I recommend consuming only A2 casein milk products. Most milk products have high levels of the protein A1 casein, which may lead to increased inflammation, allergies, and other health challenges

Populations, which consume milk containing high levels of β-casein A2 variant, have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and type-1 diabetes.

To find sources of A2 milk, go to: https://www.a2milk.com

Compliments from Functional Medicine University

Other Milk Issues:

From my experience of 27 years helping severe cases of chronic health conditions, I have found that eating dairy is second only to sugar in stressing the immune system and slowing the healing process.

• Dairy causes mucous and enhances bacteria and virus growth.
• Dairy contains large amounts of sugar (lactose, milk sugar). Eight ounces of milk contains 13 grams of sugar (the equivalent of over three teaspoons of white sugar) which can raise blood sugar and reduce immune system efficiency by 60%.
• Unless it’s organic, milk tends to contain hormones. Studies show that this is dangerous.

Substitute coconut, almond, oat, or hemp milk, and stay healthier!

Tell Me How You’re Doing

Just write to me at PatientServices@AlternativeHealthAtlanta.com. I am concerned and very interested in your experience.

Wishing you the very best,

Dr. Billiot

Are you concerned about a specific health problem or problems?

Or, are you generally unhappy with the state of your health?