Why Cutting Oxalates Might Be Silencing Your Child’s Speech Progress (And What To Do Instead)

Let’s talk about oxalates—because somehow, these naturally occurring compounds have become public enemy #1 in autism diets.

And here’s the thing: we’ve got to stop demonizing them.

Hi, I’m Natalie Pelto, clinical nutritionist, brain development specialist, and founder of Blue Life Rx. I help autism families—especially those raising non-verbal, sensory, and behaviorally sensitive children—move from chaos to clarity using food-first, root-cause healing strategies.

And if you’ve been told to pull oxalates (or 12 other food groups) out of your child’s already-limited diet…I want to invite you to pause.

Because I’ve seen what happens when we restrict too far. And it’s not pretty.

Let’s Talk About Kyle

Kyle came into the Blue Life Autism Program eating a handful of foods. We’re talking next-level limited.

He was non-speaking, with just a few words like “yes,” “no,” and “ready, set, go.” He had pica. No ability to request his needs. And his body was struggling just as much as his brain. Poor muscle tone, low energy, chronic gut issues—the works.

His mom, Sally (name changed for privacy), had done all the things. GAPS diet. No grains. No dairy. No oxalates. And guess what their go-to flours were? Almond and coconut—some of the highest oxalate foods around.

See the problem?

When a child is already on a restrictive diet and we layer on more restrictions, we strip their system of the very nutrients they need to develop speech, regulation, and connection. Kyle’s brain wasn’t blooming—it was starving.

The Truth About Oxalates

Yes, oxalates can irritate an already-overloaded system—especially in kids with gut imbalances like Candida (which, by the way, affects 90% of kids on the spectrum according to studies).

But removing them entirely? That’s a blunt hammer for a nuanced issue.

Oxalates exist in tons of foods. Spinach and sweet potatoes? High. Whole grains and veggies? Varying levels. The key isn’t full removal. It’s diversity, balance, and supporting the body to process them naturally.

So What Should You Do Instead?

Here are 3 tips I give families like Kyle’s to bring back nutrients without bringing back chaos:

1. Ditch the rigidity. Embrace rotation.

Don’t fixate on single foods. Fixate on variety. Aim for 35–50 different plants each week, including veggies, fruits, whole grains (yes, I said grains), nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Why? Because rigidity is what makes oxalates a problem. When kids eat the same thing every day, their system doesn’t get what it needs—and starts to rebel.

2. Diversity does more than reduce oxalates—it fuels brain growth.

A diverse diet brings in more magnesium, calcium, zinc, and other critical nutrients—including calcium, which binds to oxalates and helps excrete them safely.

You don’t need to count every oxalate gram. Just balance higher-oxalate foods (like spinach, almonds) with calcium-rich and fiber-rich options—and rotate them through the week instead of every day.

3. Cook smart. Prep smarter.

Steam your spinach. Soak your almonds. Use oat flour instead of almond. Simple prep changes can cut oxalate content by up to 80%—without cutting the food altogether.

This isn’t about restriction. It’s about strategy.

Bottom Line?

When we feed the brain what it needs, the results are incredible. Kyle? He’s now communicating, engaging, and expanding his world—because we stopped pulling foods and started fueling function.

Your child doesn’t need fewer foods. They need the right foods, in the right way, at the right time.

Let’s stop throwing spaghetti at the wall (or, in this case, almond flour at every problem) and start building a real plan.

💬 Want to go deeper?
👉 Watch my free class: 3 Secrets to Autism Gains
I’ll show you exactly how we support non-verbal kids to start speaking—without supplement overload or restrictive diets.

You're not failing. You're just missing the right map. Let's find it together.
— Natalie