Bernadette_Abraham
Forum Replies Created
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@naslam1603 – high oxalates on an OAT test doesn’t automatically mean that one particular supplement is to blame. Oxalate levels come from a mix of things such as what you eat, how your gut is working, your nutrient status (especially B6, calcium, and magnesium), and even the balance of bacteria or yeast in your intestines.
For example, here are common root cause reasons that can contribute to high oxalates on an OAT test:
- a high intake of high-oxalate foods (spinach, almonds, beets, sweet potatoes, chocolate)
- fat malabsorption or low bile flow
- B6, magnesium and calcium insufficiency or deficiency (B6 helps convert oxalate precursors into harmless compounds, and magnesium and calcium bind oxalate in the gut to reduce absorption)
- vitamin C supplementation in large doses
- fungal or yeast overgrowth (or chronic exposure to mold)
- the loss of oxalate degrading bacteria after antibiotics
- genetics
Yes, supplements can add to the load but they are usually just one piece of the picture. While slippery elm is known to be high in oxalates, it is rarely the single cause of a spike. It is much more about the whole pattern of diet, gut health, and metabolism.
If you would like to take a break from slippery elm but still want to soothe your stomach lining, you can continue using the other supportive ingredients you already take such as L glutamine, marshmallow root, and DGL. Aloe vera inner gel (not whole leaf) can be added to coat and calm the gut. Zinc carnosine is another non-plant option that has been studied for mucosal support. And collagen or bone broth can also provide amino acids to feed intestinal cells without adding plant oxalates. But!! Make sure B6 is sufficient because collagen and bone broth are rich in amino acids like glycine and hydroxyproline. Without enough vitamin B6, your body struggles to process these fully, and more of their byproducts (like glyoxylate) can turn into oxalate, which can raise oxalate levels.
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Hi @naslam1603 – so I recall we had a discussion about the difference between A.R.T. and Dr. Geoffrey Smith’s methods. You can find that thread here as a refresher.
And to answer your question more directly… it’s a bit difficult to answer because I personally haven’t used ART or come across success stories myself. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth exploring if it’s calling you. From what I’ve read, it’s essentially an advanced form of muscle testing or applied kinesiology. There isn’t much solid scientific evidence backing it yet, but science is often late to catch up with emerging approaches, especially in the integrative space.
If you’re curious, I’d suggest reaching out to a few ART practitioners and asking if they can put you in touch with past clients. Hearing directly from people who’ve gone through it will give you a much clearer sense of what to expect and whether it resonates with you.
Here is their contact page to help find an A.R.T. practitioner near you: https://klinghardtinstitute.com/art-practitioners/
Hope this helps!
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Hi @naslam1603 – great questions.
If they’ve already ordered total and free testosterone, then yes, it’s smart to add SHBG (to better interpret free versus bound levels) and also Estradiol (to see how much testosterone converts to estrogen). You could also consider albumin, LH, and FSH for a more comprehensive picture.
When it comes to blood vs urine testing for testosterone, blood (serum) tests are the gold standard. They are standardized and give a clear snapshot of circulating testosterone at the time of the draw. This makes blood testing more reliable for diagnosing and monitoring levels over time.
Urine tests on the other hand measure testosterone and its metabolites excreted over time so it’s helpful to look at hormone metabolism and function. But results can vary depending on hydration level, kidney function and how accurately the sample is collected. So because of these variables, urinary testing can be less precise for determining actual circulating testosterone levels and is used more for looking at hormone metabolism than for diagnosis. Serum is usually the way to go for actual levels.
And timing is key. First morning is always best to reduce variables when tracking levels over time.
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@naslam1603 – I’m glad you were able to reduce your homocysteine levels. If it was high and then became low after supplementing with B vitamins, this usually means there is an overactivation of the methylation pathways. So this could be a sign to scale back on the B vitamins by either stopping them for a while or reducing the dose to see if levels return to normal.
This is the perfect example of why supplements should always be “pulsed” on and off. Use when needed, and stop when sufficient.
Please watch this video from the Blood Chemistry course to better understand how homocysteine is produced and the vitamins involved, as well as other reasons why it can be low.
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@naslam1603 as Daniel suggested, definitely investigate further with your doctor. However, microscopic hematuria is unlikely to cause big drops in ferritin. Something else is usually also at play. And knowing your history with acid blockers, this is definitely one of the major contributors. We need good strong stomach acid to absorb iron (and many other minerals and also B12!), therefore without sufficient stomach acid due to these meds, there will be challenges with nutrient absorption across the board, including iron.
Have you been able to transition off of them with a practitioner’s support?
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@R-S glad that was helpful. Sounds good!
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Hi @R-S – ok let’s break down each one of those to help you make the best choice:
Maine Coast Sea Seasonings Organic Kelp Granules: this is a great food-based addition if T4 is suboptimal since it provides plenty of iodine. If someone has thyroid antibodies though, it’s best to start with selenium for 2 weeks first before adding in iodine-rich sources.
Thorne Selenomethionine: this is a great addition when someone needs help with T4 to T3 conversion. It’s also an antioxidant and can protect the gland from oxidative stress. And for those with autoimmune thyroid, it’s also helpful at supporting immune balance. But since it’s a single nutrient, it’s always best to test first to know one’s baseline levels before supplementing.
Designs for Health Thyroid Synergy: this is a combo formula that supports both T4 production (thanks to iodine and tyrosine) and T4 to T3 conversion (has all the main nutrient cofactors needed to do that). The addition of the adaptogen herb American ginseng helps balance a stressed nervous system, and forskolin directly helps promote better thyroid hormone production and boosts metabolism. It’s a great combo that “covers all the bases” with reasonable dosages of each.
Allergy Research Group Thyroid Glandular: a glandular is essentially thyroid tissue taken from a cow. This is best used when someone’s thyroid function is extremely depleted, as it’s said to mimic the body’s own thyroid tissue.
Metagenics UltraFlora Intensive Care: this is a great probiotic to help modulate and calm an overactive immune system such as in cases of autoimmune activation.
Hope this helps you narrow it down a bit better.
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@R-S – given that you have limited options where you live, feel free to share what you do have access to and we can share the benefits/risks to help you make an informed choice.
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Hi @Vidu – I recommend asking them for the shipping cost because when I ordered it for my mom this summer, I don’t recall paying additional tariffs.
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@R-S – yes ginger can be used as a gentle digestive stimulant. Also a little can go a long way with digestive bitters. Just a few drops on the tongue can help trigger the brain to release bile and other digestive secretions. I like Sweetish Bitters and Quicksilver’s Dr. Shade’s Bitters No.9.
Green tea is also considered a bitter. And in small quantities, 99% dark chocolate or coffee can also be used. Again, just enough is needed on the tongue to signal the brain.
As for thyroid support combo formulas, I discuss a few different options here. And yes, whenever supplementing with nutrients, it’s always good to know baseline levels.
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Hi @R-S – sorry for not replying to your earlier message. I didn’t receive a notification or somehow missed it.
Since the biopsy report did detect mild gastritis, this means the gastric lining has some mild inflammation which could become aggravated with HCL betaine. So it’s best to start with a gentler option such as digestive bitters before meals to help stimulate digestive secretions without irritating the gastric lining. And definitely continue with gut healing foods to continue supporting that irritated tissue and calm the inflammation.
For a more therapeutic effect, a bitter tincture will be stronger than brewing it as a tea. And yes, it’s to be taken before meals (5-10 mins) to help stimulate digestive secretions.
With regards to thyroid support, is there a reason you’re only focusing on selenium as a starting point as opposed to a thyroid nutrient combo formula? Have you measured selenium? Remember, we need zinc, iron, vitamin A, and selenium for proper thyroid conversion. It’s always best to know your levels if you can get these checked so you can know what exactly type of support you need.
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Glad to hear it! Curious to know what he says if you feel called to sharing…
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@R-S glad to hear that major issues have been ruled out!
Since H Pylori, gastritis and ulcers have been ruled out, then in general HCL betaine can be safely used and can be very supportive for overall digestion.
To answer your question of which to begin first – HCL, bitters or thyroid support, I’d say there’s a tie between HCL and thyroid support because both fuel each other. We need good strong stomach acid to absorb the nutrients needed for thyroid conversion, and we need optimal thyroid function to support overall digestion. So it’s absolutely OK to start both at the same time but just spaced out to give the body a chance to adjust.
And the decision to start thyroid medication vs. supplement vs. food support is one to be discussed with the doctor. Medication will obviously provide the quickest stability, while food and supplements will require more time.
And yes, given your very sensitive nature right now, using 1 bitter instead of a combo formula would be a wise approach as well.
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@R-S – ok, we’re starting to get some answers. What stood out from the lab results you just shared is the clinically low Free T3. Your TSH and Free T4 are optimal, but the conversion to free T3 is sluggish. We have a saying in Functional Medicine… “sluggish thyroid, sluggish everything”, and in your case, this will definitely contribute to sluggish stomach acid, sluggish digestive system, sluggish motility, etc.
Therefore, addressing poor thyroid conversion will help address one of the likely root cause(s) for sluggish stomach acid production, and the downstream consequences.
I’m not sure if you’ve explored our Thyroid Balance course yet, but I encourage you to watch these lessons to understand what can cause low T3 levels and how to correct it:
- Reasons for Low T3
- Reasons for Low Free T4/T3
- Foods for a Healthy Thyroid
- Supplements for a Healthy Thyroid
You could also speak to an endocrinologist about starting T3 medication temporarily to help stabilize overall metabolic function. Most will want to prescribe T4, but with poor conversion to T3, that might not be sufficient to bring free T3 levels up to optimal levels. This is something to discuss with your doc, but I’m mentioning it so you can advocate for yourself.
In terms of addressing N to S dysfunctions, yes beginning North and the moving down is a wise strategy. So brain work is #1. Stomach acid support would be next given that the symptom questionnaires pointed to this being a need. If H Pylori overgrowth has been ruled out and there is no ulcer or gastritis, then HCL Betaine can be taken mid-meal. The dose is usually determined with this challenge.
Supporting the nervous system, T4 to T3 conversion and stomach acid is a strong gameplan to hopefully stop the revolving door of SIBO challenges.
With good signals from the brain to produce digestive juices, and good thyroid function to support metabolism & digestion, and good strong stomach acid to trigger the release of bile & enzymes, there should be a positive momentum forward. Remember, bile is antimicrobial and can help cleanse the gut bugs that don’t belong in the small intestine. And if that’s not enough, then digestive bitters or bile, and/or digestive enzymes can also be added in as additional support to the 3 main digestive players “GPS” (stomach, gallballder/bile, pancreas). But one step at a time, and one new addition at a time always!
Hope that makes sense?
