| Many kids, teens and adults with Autism find the | | | | etc. and they are very irritating and painful. |
| low oxalate diet (LOD) to be very helpful. The low | | | | As a consequence, children who suffer from high |
| oxalate diet began from an organization called the | | | | oxalates can suffer from poor coordination, be |
| vulvodynia foundation. | | | | irritable, agitated, have poor sleep, be aggressive |
| Vulvodynia is a painful inflammatory disorder in | | | | or display behavioral problems. Adopting a low |
| women where oxalates accumulate in the vaginal | | | | oxalate diet can be helpful in resolving this pain |
| tissue. People who suffer from kidney stones also | | | | and irritation and therefore the negative behaviors. |
| benefit from the low oxalate diet. And we see | | | | The lox oxalate diet is also helpful at resolving |
| many children with Autism who benefit from the | | | | ongoing inflammatory problems in the digestive |
| low oxalate diet because they tend to have high | | | | system. There are several therapeutic diets that |
| accumulation of oxalate in their bodies. | | | | help children on the Autism spectrum such as the |
| Oxalates are organic compounds that can be | | | | gluten and casein free diet (GFCF) and the specific |
| found in a number of fruits, vegetables and nuts | | | | carbohydrate diet (SCD). It can be challenging |
| like spinach and almonds. There are lists of higher | | | | figuring out which diet is best for your child. There |
| oxalate foods available on the internet, one great | | | | are a few signs that your child may benefit from |
| resource is That website is run by Susan Owens, | | | | the low oxalate diet. If your child is on the gluten |
| an independent biomedical researcher who has | | | | and casein free diet and you have not seen much |
| contributed much to the Autism community on | | | | in the way of results, the addition of this diet |
| oxalates. | | | | could make a difference. |
| Adults who are predisposed to oxalate | | | | Or, if your child is on the specific carbohydrate |
| accumulation can be prone to kidney stones and | | | | diet and you still have unresolved bowel |
| find that a low oxalate diet can be the first step | | | | inflammation, aggression, agitation, your child has |
| in treatment. When oxalates form in the body, | | | | poor sleep and coordination and/or is self injurious; |
| they create crystals when viewed under a | | | | you may want to explore the low oxalate diet |
| microscope have jagged, pointy edges. | | | | more. You may also see the evidence of high |
| Accumulation of these jagged, painful crystals can | | | | oxalates in your child’s blood work in the |
| happen in any tissue of the body including muscle | | | | form of poor mineral absorption or utilization. |
| tissue, the nervous system, joints, the kidneys, | | | | |