How To Flush Oxalates From the Body? What is Oxalate Dumping?

What are oxalates?

Oxalates are naturally occurring molecules found in plants and animals. They are a type of organic acid, which means they contain both oxygen and carbon. Oxalates are a component of various foods, including spinach and rhubarb, as well as certain supplements like vitamin C.

Since this chemical compound can be harmful to people with kidney stones (source), it's important to know about how they affect your body. In this interview with Sally Norton, we'll cover how oxalic-acid works in the body and what happens when you consume too much of it.

Are oxalates bad for you?

Oxalates are not bad for you in small amounts but can be harmful if you have too much.

They are natural substances in many foods, including nuts and beans. They're also produced by your body—for example, by making vitamin C or breaking down thyroid hormones.

In addition to being part of the food you eat, oxalic-acid is also produced by intestinal bacteria as well as yeast that grows on certain foods like bread with seeds or nuts that haven't been appropriately stored at low temperatures (between 35° F/1° C and 45° F/7° C).

The concentration in food is highest when these foods are eaten raw—for example, spinach salads topped with grated cheese can result in up to 300 milligrams per serving.

Here are some reasons why oxalates can be considered "bad":

1. Kidney stones: Oxalates can combine with calcium in the urine to form crystals, which can contribute to the formation of kidney stones. People who are prone to kidney stones may be advised to limit their intake of high-oxalate foods.
2. Nutrient absorption: High levels of oxalates in the gut can bind with certain minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium, making them less available for absorption by the body. This can lead to deficiencies in these essential nutrients.
3. Gut irritation: Oxalates can irritate the digestive tract, causing symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhea in some people.
4. Interference with medication absorption: Oxalates can also bind with certain medications, such as antibiotics and antacids, reducing their effectiveness.

Symptoms

The difficult part of this is that there are no clear symptoms, and sometimes the inflammation can be asymptomatic.

However, if you feel any symptoms as described below, it might be best to follow a meat-only lifestyle to heal.

• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Pain
• Recurring kidney stones
• Poor circulation
• Swollen joints
• Gum inflammation

High oxalate foods

If you struggle with excess oxalates, it's essential to monitor the number of foods that contain them. Here are some examples of high oxalic-acid foods:

• Spinach
• Rhubarb
• Beets
• Swiss chard
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Soy products (such as tofu and soy milk)
• Chocolate
• Sweet potatoes
• Quinoa
• Buckwheat
• Wheat bran
• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Kiwi
• Concord grapes
• Figs
• Miso
• Tea (black and green)
• Okra

Learn More: Low-Oxalate Food List: The World’s Most Comprehensive Low-Oxalate Ingredient List - Take It Wherever You Go! (Food Heroes)

How to flush oxalates from the body?

An excellent way to flush them out of your body is by following a carnivore diet for several weeks or months at a time.

If not, I'd highly recommend giving it a try: if done right (and with minimal cheating), you'll get great results! Just remember that this isn't just any old diet—it requires complete removal of all plant matter from your meals including fruit juices/smoothies/drinks made with leafy greens like kale or spinach because they contain high concentrations naturally present within them.

Drink plenty of water

Drinking plenty of water can help to flush oxalates out of the body through the urine.

Increase calcium intake

Calcium can help to bind to oxalates in the intestines, preventing them from being absorbed into the bloodstream.

Limit high-oxalate foods

Limiting foods that are high in oxalates, such as spinach, beets, rhubarb, nuts, and chocolate, can help to reduce overall oxalate levels in the body.

Increase magnesium intake

Magnesium can help to reduce oxalate absorption in the gut.

Consider probiotics

Some studies suggest that certain strains of probiotics may help to break down oxalates in the gut, reducing their absorption into the bloodstream.

Living Low Oxalate: When Oxalate Rich Foods Destroy Your Health

What is oxalate dumping?

This is a condition that can occur when you eat too much oxalate in a short period of time. This can cause symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

It’s common for people with an underlying kidney condition called primary hyperoxaluria to have problems with toxic buildup in their urine. If that build up becomes too high and spills into the gut—a condition called intestinal hyperoxaluria—it can result in kidney stones or other complications.

If you have a healthy digestive system, your body usually processes oxalates, so they don’t cause problems for you.

When you eat foods high in oxalates (like rhubarb), your body gets rid of them by releasing them into your intestine where they pass through the digestive tract without being absorbed or metabolized by your body—which means they don't pose any nutritional value!

How long does oxalate dumping last?

This can take a while! Depending on your level of toxicity and how long you have been consuming these poisonous foods. For some, it can take a few months and for others over 10 years to feel they have achieved complete elimination.

The best treatment is to follow a low inflammation diet like a carnivore or lion diet.

How the Carnivore Diet can help with oxalates

A meat-only lifestyle is highly nutritious and extremely low in inflammation and toxins. This is because when you're eating nothing but meat and animal fat, you're consuming fewer vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds (the highest sources of oxalates) (source).

When you remove other major sources of toxins from your diet (and especially if you don't consume any at all), then there's not much left to be excreted through your body.

And since there's no need for your body to expel these excess metabolites anymore, they can just sit in your system until they leave on their own accord or get absorbed by other nutrients like vitamin C or magnesium.

The Bottom Line

Oxalates can be a big problem for people who have a high-inflammatory diet. But with the Carnivore Diet and some of the tips above, you should be able to flush them out of your system and keep them under control.