Top 5 Foods to Repair Nerves and Reduce Nerve Pain

by Eileen Schutte | Sep 1, 2021 | Floxed, Functional Medicine Nutrition

Top 5 Foods to Repair Nerves and Reduce Nerve Pain

I became painfully aware of nerve pain when my seventh nerve (facial nerve) was damaged due to a severe infection that partially paralyzed my face. Psychologically it was devasting and painful taking years for the pain to subside and begin the healing process.

Years later, I was quickly reminded how painful and devasting nerve damage can be when my husband suffered nerve damage from taking Levaquin, a fluoroquinonal antibiotic known to cause peripheral neuropathy. His chronic pain, tingling, and numbness in his hands and legs took months to heal after taking just eight pills of Levaquin.

When I experienced nerve damage, also known as peripheral neuropathy, little was known about neuropathy or a connection between nutrition and healing the nerves. Sure, we knew about thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency which leads to a condition known as beriberi with neuropathy symptoms. But what other nutrients could help the nerves and prevent neuropathy?

Food Can Impact the Health of Your Nerves and Help to Heal Damaged Nerves

After a doctor recommended B-complex supplements to speed up the healing process, I realized that certain foods might help repair nerve damage and reduce the pain.

Considering the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy is Type 2 Diabetes in the U.S., a condition very much related to diet, what we eat or don’t eat surely plays a role in nerve damage and healing.

Other conditions can lead to nerve damage. For example, other causes of nerve damage are cancer therapy, exposure to toxins, and even certain medications.

Interestingly enough, all of these conditions can impact our nutritional status. Especially those nutrients that are involved in maintaining healthy and responsive nerves.

How Do You Know if You are Suffering from Neuropathy?

Symptoms from nerve damage can start slowly or come on very quickly. Initially, you might feel pain or tingling in your hands or your feet. Or, you might feel numbness similar to when your limbs “fall asleep” due to lack of blood flow. With peripheral neuropathy, the numbness doesn’t go away when you stand up or stretch to improve blood flow.

Other Symptoms Are:

Pin & Needles
Pain in Extremities
Numbness
Muscle Weakness & Atrophy
Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)

What are Causes for Nerve Damage?

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the number cause of nerve damage or neuropathy is diabetes. Even high blood sugar without being a diabetic can put you at risk for nerve damage as it constricts the blood flow to the nerves. Along with Type 2 Diabetes, some other causes of nerve damage are:

Nutrient Deficiencies – B1, B6, B12, Folate, Copper, Vitamin E
Lyme Disease
Mold Infection
Medications
Toxins – Industrial, Heavy Metals
Viruses – Shingles, Hepatitis C
HIV/AIDS
Kidney Disease
Autoimmune Disorders, i.e., Multiple Sclerosis

Can Medications Cause Nerve Damage?

One of the most overlooked causes of nerve pain are medications, and, in most cases, it is the long-term uses of certain drugs that can damage nerves.

Or deplete the nutrients that help maintain healthy nerves, as seen with Hydralazine (blood pressure medication) that depletes vitamin B6.

Other medications can cause nerve damage with short-term use, as seen in some antibiotics like Metronidazole and Levaquin.

Whereas it is still controversial whether Fluoroquinolones (Cipro, Levaquin), my husband knows first hand that this class of antibiotics can cause nerve damage even with short-term use.

Key Nutrients for Healing Nerves

Ironically, my doctor in the 1980s was right about taking a B-complex supplement to help heal my facial nerve.

And reduce my tinnitus (ringing in the ears due to nerve damage) started with the same severe infection in 1982. Later I found out that I had an increased need genetically for those B vitamins – B12, B2, B1, B3, Folate, and B6.

Along with B-vitamins, other crucial nutrients need for nerve health are vitamin E, choline, and copper. Omega-3 fatty acids also play a significant role in nerve health, with the richest source being cold-water fish like salmon and sardines.

Whereas just supplementing sounds like a great idea, it doesn’t have the other benefits that whole food can provide.

For instance, one of the causes of copper deficiency is excessive zinc supplementation. Another example is that vitamin B6 is needed for healthy nerves, but excess supplementation in the form of pyridoxine (200 mg. or more daily) can lead to nerve damage.

The 5 Superfoods for Nerve Repair and Health

Beef Liver/Organ Meats

A powerhouse of nutrition for nerve health can be found in beef liver and other organ meats. Beef liver is one the richest sources of vitamin B12 that plays a significant role in nerve development and maintaining healthy nerves. Liver can be prepared in many different ways to be palatable including preparing as pate or purchasing liver pate.

Beef liver is also rich in folate, vitamin B2, choline, vitamin B6, thiamine (vitamin B1), copper, and alpha-lipoic acid. All essential nutrients help to heal damaged nerves and maintain healthy nerves.

Vitamin B12 plays two significant roles in our body, one of which is forming the myelin sheath that protects our nerves. One of the signs of deficiency in B12 has been linked to neuropathy, beginning with sensory symptoms (burning, tingling, numbness, tightness) in the feet.

If you really can't stand the taste of liver, try supplementing with Perfect Desiccated Liver.

Perfect Desiccated Liver Bottle (120 Caps) title=

Salmon/Sardines – Cold Water Fish

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, cold-water fish offers the best source of the essential fatty acid that is very anti-inflammatory. Research shows that a pro-inflammatory diet low in omega-3 fatty acids can put you at a higher risk of suffering from neuropathy.

Essential fatty acids are also an integral component of the cell membrane and myelin sheath that helps protect the nerves. And have been shown to reduce demyelination of nerves and neuropathic pain.

To get the full benefit of salmon and other cold-water fish, make sure to look for wild-caught fish and not farm-raised.

Farm-raised salmon has lower amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and higher omega-6 fatty acids, reducing anti-inflammatory properties.

Another plant-based source of essential fatty acids can also be found in chia seeds, hemp seeds, and flaxseeds.

These nutrition powerhouse seeds are not as high in omega-3 fatty acids as cold-water fish. However, they offer the same anti-inflammatory quality of omega-3 fatty acids, helping heal nerve damage and reduce pain.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Bok Choy, radishes, and cabbage are in this class of vegetables.

These vegetables contain some of the building blocks for glutathione – our body’s most potent antioxidant that helps to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.

Glutathione has also been shown to prevent neurotoxicity, preserving healthy nerves.

Cruciferous vegetables are also high in sulforaphane, a compound that triggers glutathione production by activating a gene known as NrF2. A double win.

Nuts & Seeds

Not only are nuts and seeds a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, but they also have key nutrients that help to heal the nerves and reduce nerve pain.

Along with omega-3 fatty acids, nuts and seeds are a good source of vitamin E, copper, and omega-6 fatty acids needed for a healthy immune response.

Sunflower Seeds: Sunflower seeds are one the richest sources of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, and have been shown to reduce numbness, tingling, burning, and nerve pain.

Look for organic unroasted sunflower seeds or sunflower butter. Sunflower seed lecithin is also a plant-based rich source of choline in the form of phosphatidylcholine. I like this organic form of sunflower seed lecithin that can easily be blended into smoothies.

Almonds: Almonds are a great source of magnesium and vitamin E that has been shown to improve neurotoxicity, reduce pain, and heal nerves.

Flaxseeds: A great plant-based source of thiamine, an essential nutrient needed to help to maintain myelin protecting the nerves.

Not only are flaxseeds a good source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, but they are also high in fiber, helping to maintain a healthy gut. Look for organic whole flaxseeds or ground flaxseeds. Remember to store in the fridge or freezer after purchasing.

Eggs

Whether it is chicken or duck eggs, eggs are a rich source of choline and helps to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter needed for a healthy nervous system, muscle movement, and memory.

Not only are eggs are rich source of choline, they are also high in other key nutrients for nerve health like vitamin B12, B2, folate, and vitamin E. In addition, some eggs are rich in omega-3 fatty acids depending on what the laying chicken were fed.

Naturally pastured chicken will fed on insects that are high in omega-3 fatty acids as well as some chickens are fed flaxseeds increasing the omega-3 fatty acid content. Look for omega-3 fortified eggs, organic, and pastured raised.

Eggs are also one of the richest sources of palmitoylethanolamide or PEA; some consider this compound a natural painkiller that helps protect the nerves. In addition to increasing PEA in your diet, our bodies naturally produce PEA as a way for our bodies to manage inflammation and pain. Supplementing with PEA has been shown to decrease neuropathy and nerve pain. Designs for Health Cannab-PEA 300 has added phytocannabinoids for reducing pain.

What is the Best Diet for Overcoming Nerve Damage & Chronic Nerve Pain?

Interesting enough, at the time of my severe illness and nerve damage, I was a Lacto-Ovo (dairy, eggs) vegetarian. I was in college at the time, and my diet was very high in processed foods, most of which was were very pro-inflammatory.

In addition, my diet was low in those essential nutrients like B-vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids because I was a vegetarian. On top of eating a diet of processed foods, I missed those essential nutrients that would have sped up my recovery. Lesson learned.

The one thing that these superfoods have in common is that they are a part of the Mediterranean diet that is primarily plant-based with healthy sources of animal products to provide critical nutrients like vitamin B12, B1, B2, and B6. Research does show that an anti-inflammatory diet can help heal the nerves and prevent neuropathy. Check out my guide to the Mediterranean diet.

References:

Nutritional Neuropathies, Hammond, et al May, 2013
Peripheral Neuropathy Due to Vitamin Deficiency, Toxins, and Medications, Nathan P. Staff, et al, 2014
Severe Acute Axonal Neuropathy Induced by Ciprofloxacin: A Case Report
PEA is for Pain – FX Medicine

Does Supplemental Collagen Reduce Tendon Pain from Being Floxed?

by Eileen Schutte | Nov 20, 2020 | Floxed, Nutrigenomics

Does Supplemental Collagen Reduce Tendon Pain from Being Floxed?

Taking fluroquional antibiotics like Cipro has been associated with a significantly increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture. Achilles tendon tear is the number one negative side of these antibiotics, with some people experiencing tendon tear with simple activities like getting out of a car.

My husband said he felt like there was a vice grip on his ankle shortly after he took Levaquin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. His doctor and physical therapist told him to “take it easy” as he may tear his Achilles tendon—a pretty high price to pay for taking an antibiotic for a minor infection.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotic causes this by disrupting the production of collagen, the protein that the body uses to form our skin, tendon, muscles, bones, cartilage, and ligaments. It might be noted that collagen is also used to form our nerves and nerve pain is another symptom of this toxicity.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is formed from key amino acids (protein building blocks). The three critical amino acids that the body uses to make collagen is glycine, proline, and lysine.

There are four types of collagen, usually referred to as Type I-IV. Type 1 and 3 collagen are found in our muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, and cartilage. Type 4 is found in our nerves and provides healthy nerve function and repair.

Key Factors in Collagen Production

We often hear of vitamin C as being a critical nutrient that stops the aging process in our skin. This is because vitamin C plays a pivotal role in the formation of collagen. Vitamin C is a co-factor in hydroxyproline production, which is a stabilizing factor in the collagen.

Vitamin C also helps iron to signal the production of enzymes that catalyze the reaction to form collagen. I always like to say, “enzymes make things happen.” Vitamin C also makes sure that our iron is recycled back into a safe form of iron, reducing oxidative stress.

How Does Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Affect Collagen Synthesis?

Remember that iron plays a role in collagen synthesis? FQ toxicity reduces iron's ability to produce enzymes that trigger the production of hydroxyproline.

One research study showed the FQ toxicity reduced activity to the three enzymes that trigger collagen and hydroxyproline production. Reduced hydroxyproline has found to cause significant changes in collagen's mechanical properties, causing the tendons to be stiff and rigid.

Other studies have shown that FQ toxicity enhances the enzymes known as extracellular matrix metalloproteinases, increasing collagen's breakdown, especially in tendons. This increased breakdown of collagen increases the likelihood of tendonitis and tendon damage.

Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Can Lead to Long Term Tendon Pain & Damage

Have you ever wondered why your tendon pain and damage doesn't seem to go away even months after taking the medication? This is because the gene expression or “recipe” on how your body creates collagen and hydroxyproline can be changed or altered. This changes the genetic instructions or recipe for healthy collagen faulty.

This change in genetic instructions is known as the science of epigenetics. Epigenetics is the science of how specific genes that are not encoded in the DNA can be activated or silenced. I like to think of the DNA as our cells' hardware that really cannot be changed. Epigenes is like software on your computer that can be changed.

What can change our gene expression? When the cell's environment is changed due to toxicity, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic stress, those genes can be expressed. Fluoroquinolone toxicity leads to a gene expression that reduces the enzymes that are responsible for making healthy collagen.

Can You Reverse Gene Expression Caused by Fluoroquinolone Toxicity?

You can change gene expression by changing the cell environment, reducing oxidative stress, and providing plant nutrients known as bioactives.

These bioactives are compounds known as polyphenols, and they upregulate a crucial gene known as NrF2. This gene plays a pivotal role in the production of antioxidants reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

Fluoroquinolone toxicity, like most toxicity, creates a much higher demand for antioxidants like glutathione. This toxicity leads to oxidative stress. By providing polyphenols that upregulate NrF2, you can change gene expression to create healthy collagen.

What are the key polyphenols that can reduce oxidative stress and upregulate NrF2?

Lycopene – Tomatoes (cooked only), pink grapefruit, and watermelon.
Quercetin – Elderberries, Fennel, Garlic, Onions, Radish Leaves
Curcumin – Turmeric*
Sulforaphane – Cruciferous Vegetables (Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Radish, Kale, Chard)
Epigallocatechin (EGCG) – Green Tea, Matcha

NOTE: Supplemental high dosage turmeric has been found to lead to iron deficiency in some people. Recommend supplementing with curcumin in the form known as BCM-95. This form of curcumin has been found to be the best absorbed. I like this product. Get 15% off with NutriDyn Sign up Today! Practitioner Code: 282711

Does Supplemental Collagen Help to Reduce Tendon Pain and Damage Caused by Fluoroquinolone Toxicity?

Supplemental collagen has all of the amino acids to form healthy collagen, making sense to supplement with collagen. However, it doesn't contain the essential cofactor nutrients that help create collagen, like vitamin C, copper, and vitamin B6.

Nor does it contain those bioactives or polyphenols that help to change gene expression. The key to reducing FQ toxicity effects on tendons and nerves is to change the gene expression, thereby increasing the enzymes that produce healthy collagen.

Collagen supplementation would be more beneficial if taken along with these nutrients and bioactives. Increasing polyphenols and antioxidants also has the bonus of reducing oxidative stress, a significant factor in how FQ toxicity causes so much damage.

Best Way to Reduce Tendon Pain and Damage Caused by Fluoroquinolone Toxicity

The best way to reduce tendon pain and damage from FQ toxicity is to combine the right foods, supplements, and if needed, supplemental collagen to help your body overcome the toxicity. And, to change the gene expression to help the body naturally produce healthy collagen.

There are many foods that are naturally high in collagen-like bone broth. The best way to enjoy bone broth is to make your own but if you are looking for a good bone broth powder, I like Ancient Nutrient bone broths. I like them because they offer a wide variety of different bone broth made from different sources. This helps to accommodate those that have food sensitivities to different protein sources, like beef or chicken. Sign Up Today with my Fullscript and get 15% off.

Overall your diet should be rich in those foods that provide those polyphenols along with healthy sources of protein. A more plant-based diet like the Mediterranean diet is best as it provides moderate sources of protein, high in vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes (beans, lentils).

Support the process of making collagen instead of trying to supplement it just with collagen. You can support collagen production with these key nutrients:

Vitamin C – Choose a product that is more complete, like C 500 Chewables that is specific to collagen production. Get 15% off at NutriDyn.
Copper – Food high in copper are organ meats, oysters, spirulina, nuts, and seeds. The leading cause of copper deficiency is taking too much zinc. Always make sure if you are taking zinc, to also supplement with copper in small amounts.
Vitamin B6 – B vitamins should all be taken together in a complex. It is not uncommon to see deficiencies in vitamin B6 with being floxed and you should get levels tested before using high dosage vitamin B6. High dosage vitamin B6 can lead to nerve damage, especially in the hands.
Iron – Make sure to test for iron levels as FQ toxicity can disrupt iron metabolism causing excessive iron absorption from food. For some people that can lead to high levels of oxidative stress.

To help speed up your recovery, try using supplements that help to reduce inflammation and speed up recovery from tendonitis. My favorite NutriDyn products for pain relief are Chrondo Jointade, Herbal Eze, and Nerve Eze. These products not only contain essential nutrients that reduce pain, they also contain those nutrients that support healthy collagen products. These can be found in NutriDyn Floxie Solutions Store. Sign up Today and Get 15% off. Practitioner Code: 282711

Glyphosate Residue Free Certification for Perfect Collagen - IMAGE of SEAL

What Should You Look for In Collagen Supplementation?

Collagen supplementation along with nutrients like vitamin C, may be beneficial especially for those with genomic variants like COL1A2.

This genetic variant affects how your body produces collagen and it has been shown that supplementing with collagen can help to repair tendon damage more quickly. Learn more about genomics.

What should you look for in a collagen supplement? Collagen is a very large molecule and is hard to break down into the protein building blocks that form collagen.

In most cases, fluoroquinolone toxicity leads to poor digestion and reduced digestive enzymes. Poor digestion reduces the ability to absorb and breakdown collagen.

Using a collagen supplement that is broken down or in the form of polypeptides would be a better collagen supplement.

Always look for a quality collagen supplement product that is from grass fed cows and guaranteed to free of glyphosate contamination like this one.

A study done in 2020 found high levels of contamination of lead, mercury, and other heavy metals in some of the top-selling collagen brands.

Collagen Supplement May Lead to Oxalate Toxicity

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics can lead to oxalate toxicity as it disrupts the gut microbiome and increases the likelihood of vitamin B6 deficiency. Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role in the breakdown of oxalates.

The body naturally produces oxalates from the breakdown of hydroxyproline for collagen. Collagen contains high amounts of hydroxyproline. Therefore supplementing with collagen may lead to oxalate toxicity for some people.

Oxalates can also be formed from glycine, the number amino acid in collagen. Glycine is produced in a reversible reaction where vitamin B6 acts as a co-factor.

The number one symptom of oxalate toxicity is kidney stones, yet only 7% of people with oxalate toxicity get kidney stones. Before using collagen supplementation, you may want to rule out oxalate toxicity, as this may be the cause of your joint and tendon pain.

Not sure if you have oxalate toxicity, get tested today with the Organic Acid Test. The Organic Acid Test (OAT) is part of my Floxie Solutions because it not only tests for oxalates, it tests for vitamin B6 levels. To learn more about my Floxie Solutions program, get your complimentary consult today!

Get Your Free Floxie Health Assessment Today!

References:

Treatment of the Fluoroquinolone-Associated Disability: The Pathobiochemical Implications
Proline Precursors and Collagen Synthesis: Biochemical Challenges of Nutrient Supplementation and Wound Healing
Collagen Diet, https://www.medicinenet.com/collagen_diet/article.htm
Primary and Secondary Hyperoxaluria: Understanding the Enigma
Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism, Sareen S. Gropper, Jack L. Smith, Sixth Edition

Have you been Floxed?

by Eileen Schutte | Aug 10, 2018 | Floxed, Functional Nutrition

What is being “floxed”?

When we think of the side effects of antibiotics, we usually think of digestive disturbances and upset stomach. What doesn’t come to mind is tendon rupture, tendonitis, nerve damage and pain, chronic fatigue, nightmares and even hearing loss.

In April 2018 I watched my husband barely get up in the morning suffering from “burning knees”, extreme fatigue, nerve pain, and ringing in the ears.

He even got golf elbow (diagnosis from his doctor) despite not playing golf or doing repetitive action using his elbow.

Funny, this cleared up after he started recovery from the initial onset of systematic tendinitis.

In 2016, the FDA issued a black box warning on just these side effects on a class of antibiotics known as Fluoroquinolones often prescribed for urinary tract infections and upper respiratory infections.

What are Fluoroquinolones?

They are broad-spectrum antibiotics whose generic name ends in -floxin, oflxanin or -lox.

Hence the term, “floxed” or being floxed is used to refer to people who are suffering from the negative side effects of this class of antibiotics. Some people refer to this as “fluoroquinolones toxicity”.

Whereas there are many different symptoms that occur with this “toxicity”, the most frequently reported are:

Tendon Rupture, Achilles.
Debilitating Chronic Fatigue
Hearing Loss, Tinnitus
Nerve Pain
Induction of Type 2 Diabetes
Histamine Intolerance – Mast Cell Activation
Gut Dysbiosis
High Oxlalates
Iron Toxicity
Electrolyte Imbalance – Magnesium Deficiency
Food Sensitivities/Intolerances

The most commonly prescribed antibiotics in this class are Levaquin (Levofloxacin), Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) and Moxifloxacin (Avelox). There are many others in this class but the key is to look for the generic name ending in -flox.

Who are the most vulnerable for these negative side effects?

It is still pretty rare to have these negative side effects but it is known that certain people are more vulnerable. Children, men over 65 years of age especially men who are athletic are more vulnerable. In addition, people who have thyroid autoimmune conditions like Graves or Hashimoto’s.

There are also genomic variants that would make someone more likely to suffer from using these antibiotics. Genomics is the science of slight variants in our genes that can impact our health.

For instance, variants in the thyroid hormone can a very big impact on how the body will respond to these antibiotics. These variants usually impact how your body metabolizes and produces thyroid hormones.

Other variants include your ability to produce the powerful antioxidant known as glutathione. Glutathione plays a major role in managing oxidative stress. Fluoroquinolone toxicity creates large amounts of oxidative stress which is the main reason for the pain and tissue damage that occurs.

How do fluoroquinolones cause these symptoms?

These broad-spectrum antibiotics are designed to destroy bacteria by damaging their DNA. This is very effective at eliminating the bacteria and making sure it does not survive. However, it has been shown that also can do the same to our DNA. Oops…

During this process, our bodies will also be releasing compounds known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). These compounds are usually converted to water and safely eliminated.

But we do not have enough antioxidants to the job, this creates what is known as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress leads to more inflammation, pain, and damage to the body.

What is oxidative stress?

What is oxidative stress? It is where the body does not have enough antioxidants to manage reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to tissue damage. It also leads to chronic inflammation which is one of the key causes of most chronic diseases.

Vitamin A, C, E, and Zinc are powerful antioxidants that our bodies use to manage oxidative stress. But our bodies also produce antioxidants which are 100 more powerful than dietary antioxidants. This includes the king of antioxidants, glutathione.

Mitochondrial Damage

The mitochondria are the powerhouse of our cells and flouroquiones actually change the DNA/RNA gene expression causing the production of “faulty” mitochondria. This damage mitochondrial also causes high levels of ROS leading to more oxidative stress.

This is one of the reasons why the damage and symptoms can last up to one year or more after taking the antibiotic as the body continues to produce faulty mitochondria. This can lead to chronic fatigue, tendinitis, and muscle pain.

People who have genomic variants in what is known as SOD2 will be more vulnerable to this damage greatly affecting their body's ability to produce energy. This variant is also the enzyme that protects your mitochondria from damage.

What are high oxalates and dysbiosis?

Abrupt decline in diversity causes major shifts in the microbe community composition. Research shows that it can take over 6 months for the microbiome to recover from most antibiotics. However, it takes even longer to recover a healthy gut microbiota with the use of these antibiotics.

When the diversity of microbes is reduced, it can lead to high oxalates Oxalates are anti-nutrients commonly found in plants that help to protect from insects and bacteria. One of the foods highest in oxalates is spinach and kale often touted as a superfood! It may not be a superfood for everyone.

High oxalates can eventually lead to the formation of crystals and those crystals can settle into our joints, muscles, and our kidneys. This can lead to muscle and joint pain as well as kidney stones.

The dysbiosis that occurs es wipes out the gut microbial known as oxalobacter formigenes which plays a major role in the removal of oxalates.

People who are deficient in vitamin B6 are more vulnerable to form oxalates. In addition, there are genomic variants in vitamin B6 metabolism that would make them more likely to form oxalates crystals.

The best test to test for oxalates and your microbiota is the organic acid test. Removing the oxalates requires an extensive nutritional support protocol and therapeutic diet. Simply removing high oxalate foods from your diet can lead to what is called “oxalate dumping” which can cause everything from nerve and joint pain, severe IBS, and chronic fatigue. Exactly what you are trying to overcome with being floxed.

As a functional nutritionist, I worked with many clients with high oxalates walking them through how to lower their oxalates through supplementation and dietary changes. And, I always have my client retest to make sure that they lowered their oxalate levels.

Are there drugs to helps with the symptoms?

What is the prescription or drug to turn this around? Medically there are no medications that really address these symptoms however antidepressants and pain medications are prescribed or recommended to get help with the side effects.

Why? Because common lab blood work comes back, “everything normal” therefore they can really cannot prescribe any medications.

And, the usual response beyond dealing with chronic fatigue, depression, and pain is that you “will just have to get through this”.

Physical therapy is sometimes prescribed but even physical therapists don't really know how to deal with nerve pain, muscle fatigue, and tendinitis.

Current research is showing some promise with nutritional therapy – nutrition and targeted supplementation. Everyone is different in their response, as this is a complex condition with many different variables.

How you can get started on your road to recovery from being floxed?

Getting started on your healing journey can be a challenge, as being floxed affects everyone differently. Because of this, integrative and genomic testing is a significant first step in helping to develop a personalized plan that will you speed up your recovery.

Whereas most integrative testing is not covered by insurance and is an investment, it will, in the long run, save you money and make your recovery much quicker. That is why I include integrative testing in my Floxie Solutions packages.

Along with integrative testing like organic acid testing, you will receive laser-focused recommendations and get on the right food plan for you. There is no one size fit all dietary food plan that works as the impact of being floxed affects everyone differently.

Learn more about my Floxie Solutions Packages or book a Discovery Chat appointment to learn more.

Book Your FREE 15 min. Discovery Chat to Learn More!

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