Low Oxalate Diet (LOD) for Autism – The Autism Exchange

Introduction

Foods in the diet high in oxalates can be troublesome. High oxalate foods can cause body pain, urinary tract infections, skin sensitivities, diarrhea and yeast and fungal overgrowth. When oxalic acid is very high in the blood from eating a lot of foods high in oxalates, it may combine with calcium to form crystals. In a healthy digestive tract, oxalate crystals will pass through and either be metabolized by the good bacteria or excreted through stool. In an unhealthy digestive tract that is leaky (such as in some children with autism), these oxalate crystals may end up in the blood, urine or tissue leading to further inflammation in the intestines. A low oxalate diet (LOD) may reduce the inflammation and pain in children with autism as well as mitigate other symptoms of autism.

Related Sites

Low Oxalate Diet
Description: This website provides information on what oxalates are and how to incorporate a low oxalate diet into your everyday life.

Nourishing Hope
Description: A blog encouraging participation in the low oxalate diet plan.

Books

Low Oxalate Fresh and Fast Cookbook: Hope and Help for the Low Oxalate Dieter by Melinda Keen
Description: Together with pictures, cooking hints, and healthy information, this LOD cookbook provides recipes for quick and delicious down-home meals.

The Low Oxalate Cookbook: Book 2 by Joanne Yount and Annie Gottlieb
Description: Loaded with information such as: hints, guidelines, over 250 recipes, 400 new foods, a low oxalate table, as well as low oxalate foods from common restaurants and hotels; this cookbook is an all in one depiction of the low oxalate diet plan.

Tools

Low Oxalate Diet Recipes
Description: A special section of this website takes you right to the recipes and food lists needed to follow the LOD.

Low Oxalate Meal Plans
Description: If you’re new to the low oxalate diet and are feeling confused, here are a few simple low oxalate meal plans to help you get started. Hopefully, these low oxalate meal plans will see you through the first 3-5 days of your low oxalate diet with confidence. Take this time to read the low oxalate food list and to figure out some other healthy favorites you can eat.

Parent Forums/Blogs

Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.

Forum/Blog Name: Trying Low Oxalates
Description: A parent discussion group where you can ask questions and search for answers regarding the LOD.

Forum/Blog Name: Low Oxalate/Salicylate Content
Description: This group is for families who want to broaden their knowledge base of the Low Oxalate/Salicylate Content Diets.

Consumer Corner

The Low Oxalate Diet Store
Description: An online store with a variety of low oxalate food, which includes the oxalate value next to the foods.

ioxilate (in Apple iTunes)
Description: In this app, foods are categorized according to the oxalate content.

Community Library

A Low Oxalate Diet for Autism
Description: This article, written by Leigh Ann Chapman, ND, describes benefits of a low oxalate diet (LOD) with information on how to ease into a LOD.

Oxalate Foods and Tips
Description: Discussion about oxalates and some foods that contain oxalates.

(coming soon)