In my previous article, I shared how the Carnivore diet transformed my body. Now, I’d like to delve into another significant aspect of my health journey.
As I reflect on a photo from 2015, around the time when Lipedema became visible in my lower legs and an ankle cuff started forming, I can’t help but wonder about the role of my kidney health in this process. During this time I had been eating a plant based diet, limiting my meat consumption to lean chicken or fish, but often ate vegan and vegetarian meals. My diet was very high in oxalates.
It all began with a procedure called hysterosalpingogram (HSG), which left me fatigued and in considerable pain, particularly in my back around my right kidney and groin. The doctor assumed I had an infection and prescribed a stronger antibiotic. This procedure greatly impacted my mobility, and I found myself unable to go for my daily walks.
Upon researching, I realized that the procedure’s iodinated contrast medium might be part of the problem, especially for individuals with renal issues. I wasn’t diagnosed with renal problems, but I decided to try drinking more water to flush out my kidneys.
I filled up my water bottle every hour that day, and it did indeed help alleviate the kidney pain. Eventually, the swelling went away. I wish I had received that advice earlier, instead of undergoing further treatments with antibiotics, enduring three months of pain, fatigue, and swelling.
I believe that the groin pain I experienced was caused by a labral tear, likely occurring during the procedure. The positioning during the HSG, with a woman’s legs up in stirrups and feet turned out, can increase the risk of a labral tear. Given my diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and hip dysplasia, I am at a higher risk for such tears. Unfortunately, I wasn’t diagnosed until several years later, after advocating for an MRI.
This pain persists today, but has improved recently with changes in my diet and with the guidance of a new physical therapist.
Renal Symptoms and Oxalate Consumption:
In 2022, I encountered a myriad of health issues, including severe dry eyes, dry skin, gout, fatigue, extreme thirst, and a recurrence of kidney pain. These symptoms collectively suggested that my kidneys were struggling. At this point, I had been consuming a high-oxalate diet for several years.
The back pain I endured intensified significantly, impeding my mobility, prompting me to seek assistance at an urgent care center, suspecting a kidney stone. However, I was informed that the discomfort was likely related to my back and hips, with a detected tight muscle. While I’m no stranger to tight muscles in my back, the pain I experienced was distinct. Despite normal urine test results, the pain persisted, reminiscent of the discomfort following the HSG procedure. The prescribed muscle relaxer provided temporary, minor relief but failed to address the underlying issue.
Furthermore, I noticed swelling and resorted to drinking a lot of spring water, like I did in 2015, which remarkably alleviated the pain. Interestingly, the pain would return, albeit mildly, after consuming tap water over an extended period. Our filtered soft tap water seemed to lack essential minerals crucial for my body. It wasn’t until I delved into Sally Norton’s illuminating book, “Toxic Superfoods,” that I made the connection. My kidneys might have been stressed due to my “healthy” oxalate-rich diet. My daily intake included foods high in oxalates such as almond butter, almond flour, chia seeds, hemp hearts, spinach, cocoa powder, sweet potatoes, raspberries, beets, hummus, and more. I recently adjusted my diet to cut carbs, increasing protein, while eliminating oxalate-rich foods like sweet potatoes, raspberries, beets, hummus, almond flour crackers, and almond flour tortillas.
According to Sally Norton, reducing oxalate intake prompts the body to clear oxalates. Could the pain that prompted my visit to urgent care have been a result of my body expelling oxalates, rather than an issue with protein consumption as some may assume?
Could it be that part of the swelling associated with Lipedema is indicative of struggling kidneys, potentially hindered by oxalate accumulation?
Lymphatic System and Kidney Health:
Recent discoveries about the lymphatic system revealed a significant connection between chronic kidney disease and lymphatic impairment. While I haven’t received a chronic kidney disease diagnosis, my kidneys are displaying signs of distress.
Oxalates might induce oxidative stress on renal tissues, leading to inflammation and damage to the kidney’s filtration units. Over time, this damage could impair kidney function and compromise the organ’s ability to regulate fluid balance and eliminate excess fluid from the body. Individuals with compromised kidney function may experience heightened susceptibility to fluid retention and swelling, especially if they consume a diet abundant in oxalate-containing foods.
Oxalates & Lipedema:
This newfound insight raises questions about whether oxalates accumulate in Lipedema tissue. According to Sally Norton, oxalates have the ability to settle anywhere in the body. Upon meeting with Dr. Ginni Rosenfeld, I was introduced to Dr. Amron from the Advanced Lipedema Treatment Center, who has identified glass-like granules in some Lipedema tissue. Could these granules possibly be oxalates contributing to our pain? This notion might partially explain why some individuals with Lipedema experience more severe pain than others or why our pain progresses over time.
At the Lipedema World Congress in October 2023, Dr. Saverio Cinti presented findings from electron microscopy studies, revealing the presence of granules in Lipedema tissue composed of calcium, with Lipedema nodules encased in calcium. Could these be calcium oxalate deposits?
I consulted Sally Norton regarding oxalates and their potential involvement in Lipedema. She emphasized that detecting oxalates requires immediate examination by a pathologist experienced in their identification. Oxalates are suspected to promote tissue damage, leaky blood vessels, and vascular calcification, factors found in kidney stone literature and case studies. Additionally, oxalates are known to induce genetic expression changes that can trigger disease processes like fibrosis.
Oxalate & Mast Cells:
Sally Norton’s book she explains that oxalates serve as powerful mast cell activators. Activated mast cells release over 200 response chemicals, including histamine, which can lead to muscle spasms, cold sensitivity, and various sensations such as numbness, tingling, prickling, and burning pain. Mast cell activation has been associated with a wide range of conditions, including Lipedema and EDS.
Lipedema & Low Oxalate Diet:
If indeed there are calcium oxalate deposits in Lipedema tissue, adopting a low oxalate diet could prove beneficial for women with Lipedema. Personally, eliminating oxalates from my diet has resulted in a remarkable improvement in my well-being.
Sharing my experiences aims to dispel the misconception that a one-size-fits-all anti-inflammatory diet, often recommended for Lipedema, is universally suitable. In my case, it exacerbated my condition, as many of the recommended foods were high in oxalates. While the anti-inflammatory diet is certainly an improvement over the Standard American Diet (SAD), is it the best diet? Or can we feel even better?
It’s crucial to explore diverse dietary approaches to discover what works best for each individual and not dismiss options like the Carnivore diet out of apprehension. After all, the Carnivore diet aligns with our evolutionary history as a species.
Carnivore & Low Oxalate Diets
The Carnivore diet, which is inherently low in oxalates and follows a ketogenic approach, has been transformative for me. Not only has it facilitated weight loss and addressed various health concerns, but it has also optimized my brain function. Previously, I struggled with learning difficulties, communication challenges, severe anxiety, depression, ADHD, and possibly high-functioning autism, a condition often associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).
This diet has revolutionized my relationship with food and my overall well-being, offering sustainability and fundamentally changing how I perceive nutrition. I’ve successfully overcome carb and sugar addiction, finding a sustainable dietary approach that truly works for me.
If eating a Carnivore diet is not for you, consider a Low Oxalate Diet. Sally Norton explains this in her book, Toxic Superfoods. She teaches you how to replace high oxalate foods with low oxalate foods. Examples – remove spinach and eat lettuce and arugula. If you insist on plant based milks, coconut milk is a lower oxalate option. Follow her book with Dr. Georgia Ede’s book, Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind. She teaches how to properly supplement if you are not eating meat.
Oxalate Dumping
One challenge of transitioning to the Carnivore diet is the oxalate dumping process, during which the body eliminates stored oxalates, sometimes resulting in discomfort. However, the relief I’ve experienced from my previous suffering far outweighs any temporary discomfort. I’m committed to maintaining an animal-based diet to keep oxalate levels in check. Sally Norton suggests that we can mitigate the dumping process by slowly reducing oxalates, or adding small amount back in to slow the process.
Some manifestations of oxalate dumping I’ve experienced, include mild rashes on the chest and head that have tiny white crystals coming out. Bumps that have been painful for a long time, open and release tiny white grit. Other signs I believe are oxalates include occasional burning sensations in fatty tissues, and stiffness in the mornings. After 3 months without oxalate, I noticed my skin and fat seemed softer. 9 months in on Carnivore, and my skin is the softest it’s been in my entire adult life.
While these symptoms can be unsettling, they are often milder than the effects of a high oxalate diet and they go away. Personal experiences such as these underscore the importance of dietary choices in managing oxalate-related issues.
In conclusion, my journey underscores the value of embracing dietary diversity and remaining open to unconventional approaches like the Carnivore diet. Fear should not deter us from exploring what truly works best for our bodies. Sometimes, the most extraordinary transformations arise from the paths less traveled.
Thank you! Please keep educating people about oxalates and lipedema.