THE LOW OXALATE DIET
This is one of the newest and least commonly used nutritional therapies for
autism spectrum disorders. It has shown signs of promise, but it has not been
scientifically evaluated, and is therefore still in the experimental stage. There is
some science that suggests it may be helpful in a certain subset of children, but
more testing needs to be done.
My own experience with this diet is limited, but it has proven helpful with some of
my patients. Other biomedical practioners have also found that it helps some
children who have failed to respond sufficiently to the other therapeutic dietary
modifications. Also, there may be clues from the child’s medical history that may
indicate the applicability of this diet, including urinary tract symptoms (without
infection), and persistent fungal dysbiosis.
This diet consists solely of reducing or eliminating a common food component
called an oxalate. Oxalates are found in many foods, and some people appear to
inadequately metabolize them. Oxalates bind with calcium, and therefore
excessive consumption of oxalates can contribute to the calcium formations in the
kidneys known as kidney stones. Many people who have kidney stones go on the
low oxalate diet.
Some kids who do not thrive on the specific carbohydrate diet do better with this
approach, possibly because the SCD encourages the consumption of flour made
from nuts, which are high in oxalates.
Besides interfering with calcium metabolism, excessive amounts of oxalates can
be toxic, and can significantly interfere with proper function of the gut.
Following is a list of high oxalate foods.
High oxalate beverages: chocolate milk, cocoa, Ovaltine, any juice from high-
oxalate fruits. High-oxalate proteins: almonds, baked beans canned in tomato
sauce, cashews, green beans, peanut butter, peanuts, pecans, sesame,
sunflower seeds, tofu, walnuts. High-oxalate fruits: blackberries black
raspberries, blueberries, red currants, dewberries, figs, dried grapes, purple
gooseberries, kiwi, lemon peel, lime peel, orange peel, red raspberries, rhubarb,
strawberries, tangerines, or any juice made from above fruits. High-oxalate
breads and starches: Fig Newtons, fruit cake, graham crackers, grits, white corn,
kamut, marmalade, soybean crackers, wheat germ. High-oxalate vegetables:
beans, beets, celery, chives, collards, eggplant, kale, leeks, okra, parsley,
parsnips, peppers, rutabaga, spinach, summer squash, sweet potato, Swiss
chard, tomato soup, vegetable soup, watercress, yams. High-oxalate condiments:
cinnabar, parsley, pepper, ginger, soy sauce.
If your child is not responding to other nutritional therapies, discuss this diet with
your doctor. It may be revealing to institute this diet for a trial period of several
weeks, to see it it helps reduce symptomatology.
For more detail on the low-oxalate diet, read Healing the New Childhood
Epidemics.
