Oxalates can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in women. I’ve posted about possible causes, including bacterial infections coming from the gut and beyond.
But another cause could be a build-up of oxalates in the ureter.
Oxalates are a protective molecule found in plant foods. They can build up in your body, possibly depending on your genetics, and become sharp crystals in the ureter causing UTIs.
Sources of oxalates include
Foods such as spinach, Swiss chard, beetroot, grains, nuts and seeds
Poor gut health, including the yeast/fungal overgrowth called Candida
Low vitamin B6 ¬– a common deficiency, which degrades oxalates
Too much Vit C supplementation
A herbicide often sprayed on food in Australia and the US called Round Up (glyphosate)
Other signs and symptoms of an oxalate build up include joint and muscle pain, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, bladder pain, vulvodynia, gut pain, cloudy urine, kidney stones and chronic candida.
Solutions to this include
Reducing oxalates SLOWLY (to avoid dumping) and seeing if there’s improvement
Balance and heal your gut, for which testing can helpful for a targeted protocol
Checking your Vit B6 level and supplementing if needed (DON’T over-supplement as it can become toxic)
Some probiotics can help degrade oxalates e.g. some lactobacillus strains
Support the vaginal microbiome with probiotics
Taking certain forms of magnesium and/or calcium