Your superfoods realy healthy?

Murphy's Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

You eat spinach and nuts, thinking they're superfoods. But what if they're preventing your body from absorbing important minerals?

Let’s explore what’s hiding in your healthy foods.

Besides having beneficial macro and micronutrients, almost every food contains anti-nutrients.

Oxalates (Oxalic acid) are natural compounds in many plant foods, including beans, grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and herbs. They consist of two carbon dioxide molecules, which is why they are also called dicarboxylic acid.

Under normal body conditions, oxalates lose protons, giving them a negative charge. This allows them to bind to positively charged minerals like calcium. When this happens, they form calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals are microscopically small but sharp and can damage body tissues. Since they don't dissolve, they can build up in your body over time.

Oxalic acid is found in common foods and can disrupt your mineral balance!

• It binds to calcium, magnesium, and iron, preventing your body from absorbing them

• It can cause kidney stones and, according to some research, various inflammatory processes in the body

Who’s helping our enemy?

Having a damaged gut lining will increase your absorption of oxalates. Most people, in fact, have damaged gut lining thanks to a number of assaulting compounds and chemicals. The presence of glyphosate in our food supply is one of these problematic compounds. If you’re not eating mostly organic food, you’re bound to be consuming glyphosate, which can wreak havoc on your gut function.

Other gut-destroying exposures include frequent antibiotic use, which can lead to various forms of microbiome imbalance, including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Some processed foods contain mucus-destroying emulsifiers. Even a number of naturally occurring plant compounds, such as phytates and lectins (such as gluten), as well as sharp oxalate microcrystals, are troublesome for gut health. These and other compounds found in foods can worsen gut inflammation and exacerbate the impact of oxalates by allowing them easy entry into the bloodstream.

Many of the foods that have become popular in the modern diet are also high-oxalate foods, which means exposure is generally higher.

Interestingly, oxalate problems have become worse with calcium-free and dairy-free diets. People are removing natural oxalate blockers - milk and dairy products - from their diets.

Another big problem is gut dysbiosis, specifically the reduction or absence of Oxalobacter formigenes, a helpful bacteria that breaks down oxalates. Unfortunately, this is very common today.

Don’t drop the ball on staying in the know

If you’re a Golden State Warriors fan, stay connected to your favorite team in the NBA by signing up for our free Locked On Warriors newsletter. Get access to game day info, team updates, and more from our podcast hosts.

Subscribe for free

Too much oxalic acid leads to:

• Kidney stones

• Calcium and magnesium deficiency makes bones fragile and causes nervous system problems

• Possible iron deficiency anemia

• Skin conditions like prurigo nodularis

• The connection between the gut and skin is important for skin health. Oxalate imbalances can disrupt gut bacteria, leading to skin conditions like prurigo nodularis.

Top foods high in oxalic acid:

• Spinach

• Almonds and cashews

• Black tea and cocoa

• Beets and rhubarb

• Whole grains and legumes

• Peanut butter can have around 140 mg per 100 grams

Were carnivores right? Should we entirely avoid these foods?

We believe in a balanced approach and keep saying that moderation in everything is the key to health!

Why go to extremes when you can take the best from everything?

Life Moves Fast. Your Wellness Should Keep Up.

Meet 1906: Where speed meets precision in cannabis innovation.

• Fast-acting drops that work in 20 minutes or less

• Microdosed THC + ancient botanicals for targeted experiences

• Six unique blends for energy, focus, sleep, and more

• Zero sugar, zero calories, pure plant power Join the revolution in modern self-care.

Find Your Perfect Blend

How to reduce oxalic acid’s harmfull effects:

• Boiling reduces oxalate levels by 30-50%

• Soaking nuts and legumes neutralizes some anti-nutrients

• Fermentation (like pickling) reduces their activity - lactobacillus and oxalobacter can break down oxalates

• Combine with calcium: cheese, cottage cheese, and sesame seeds help reduce oxalate damage

• Take care of your gut health (add probiotic and prebiotic foods, avoid toxic ultra-processed foods)

Most dangerous drinks: strong tea, fresh green juices (especially with rhubarb or spinach).

Solutions: Dilute green juices with water. Alternate between black tea and green or herbal tea. Spinach tip: Steep spinach in hot water for 2 minutes to reduce oxalates! Research shows adding calcium chloride and phytase also reduces oxalates.

Have you ever felt a strange "sandy" texture on your teeth after eating spinach? That's oxalic acid!

Don’t fear oxalic acid, but remember to:

• Prepare foods properly

• Eat them in reasonable amounts

• Monitor your calcium, magnesium, and iron levels

• Take care of your intestinal health

From our archive:

Missed this gem? Discover more about gut health:

🐇 3 pillars of your healthy gut

🐇 Carbs: 5 keys heal your gut

🐇 Why 90% blame dairy wrongly

Warm regards,
Kos and Helen.