Phytates, Oxalates, and Mineral Absorption: Debunking the Myths

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Phytates and oxalates in foods like oats and dark leafy greens do not rob your body of minerals. While they may reduce absorption in the short term, long-term intake leads to balance. Phytates may even have beneficial effects on bone mineral density and overall health. As for oxalates, they bind to calcium, so it's best to focus on other calcium sources and avoid oxalate-rich foods like spinach and beets. Kale, despite misconceptions, is actually low in oxalates. So don't worry, your body is not being robbed!

Episode #268. Ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting nutrition advice? In this episode, I sit down with Dr Matthew Nagra, a naturopathic doctor with a passion for plant-based nutrition. Together, we debunk common nutrition myths and bring clarity to some hot topics. Dr Nagra's evidence-based perspective will guide you through the noise, helping you make informed dietary decisions. From understanding biases to breaking down the facts about phytates and gluten, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the nutrition landscape with more clarity and confidence.

We discuss:

Intro (00:00)
Dr. Matthew Nagra's health journey (3:24)
The dangers of misinformation (7:49)
Does Matthew Nagra is biased vegan (11:39)
Dr. Matthew's approach to nutrition studies (15:00)
Does plants are trying to kill us? (18:42)
Does unprocessed red meat increase the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease? (28:20)
Are Food Frequency Questionnaires reliable? (38:43)
Tucker Goodrich and the seed oil debate (40:16)
What oil you should use? (45:40)
Vegan diet and nutrient supplementation (48:00)
Precision fermentation (57:32)
Saturated fat, sodium, and fiber (1:01:39)
Fortified soy milk (1:10:36)
Do phytates and oxalates rob your body of minerals (1:15:23)
Is there a single optimal diet? (1:19:53)
Does eating fat make you fat? (1:22:17)
Do you burn more fat on a keto diet? (1:22:45)
Does a low-carb ketogenic diet is the best to treat type 2 diabetes (1:24:07)
Is low fat, vegan diet the optimal way to do a plant-based diet? (1:29:38)
Is low-fat vegan diet the best for cardiovascular health? (1:42:20)
Protein and resistance training (1:44:06)
Should you avoid gluten? (1:51:57)
Does Lectins cause a leaky gut? (1:53:42)
Outro (1:55:58)

You can connect with Dr Matthew Nagra on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. To learn more about Dr Nagra’s work and for other resources, head to his website, https://drmatthewnagra.com/. You can find his previous episodes here.

For more insights and dozens of supporting studies, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.

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Enjoy, friends.

Simon

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Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

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