Everything You Need to Know About Oxalate with Sally K. Norton

Primal Edge Health participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs and therefore, may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. This comes at no additional cost to you, and all the prices and availability are accurate at the time of publishing.

Vegetables are rarely questioned. They sit at the center of modern nutrition advice, school lunch guidelines, and medical recommendations. Eat more plants. Add more greens. If something feels off, you probably are not eating enough vegetables. This episode challenges that assumption and asks a question most people are never encouraged to ask. What if some vegetables are doing more harm than good?

Tristan Haggard sits down with Sally K. Norton to take a closer look at vegetables through the lens of oxalates. Oxalates are naturally occurring compounds found in many common plant foods. For some people, especially those dealing with chronic pain, kidney issues, gut problems, or unexplained inflammation, oxalates can quietly accumulate and interfere with normal physiology. This conversation pulls apart the idea that vegetables are universally healthy and replaces it with context, nuance, and personal responsibility. 

Listen to the Episode Now

Click play on the podcast player below or watch the video on Youtube.

Meet the Guest

Sally K. Norton is a health educator and author specializing in oxalate toxicity and plant defense chemicals. Her work focuses on helping people understand how high-oxalate diets can quietly undermine health, even when those diets follow mainstream nutrition advice.

Connect with Sally on Instagram and X for updates, and visit her personal website for more.

Episode Highlights

Sally explains what oxalates are, why plants produce them, and how they affect the human body. These compounds bind to minerals like calcium and can form sharp crystals that irritate tissues. Over time, oxalates can accumulate in joints, kidneys, thyroid tissue, and even the nervous system. Many people consume high amounts daily without realizing it, especially those following plant-heavy or “clean eating” diets.

The conversation also addresses why symptoms often appear delayed or disconnected from diet. People may feel fine for years before issues like joint pain, fatigue, urinary problems, or inflammatory conditions show up. When vegetables are removed suddenly, stored oxalates can mobilize, creating temporary symptoms that confuse people into thinking vegetables were helping rather than harming. Sally walks through why gradual reduction and proper mineral support matter.

Tristan and Sally bring the discussion back to context and individuality. Vegetables are not automatically bad, but they are not automatically safe either. Factors like gut health, mineral status, genetics, and overall diet determine tolerance. Understanding plant toxins allows people to make informed choices instead of following one-size-fits-all rules.

In this episode:

• What oxalates are and why plants contain them
• How high-oxalate diets can damage joints, kidneys, and nerves
• Why symptoms often show up years after exposure
• The mistake of removing oxalates too fast
• Which vegetables are highest in oxalates
• How animal foods support recovery and mineral balance

Got questions? Drop a comment or reach out! We’d love to hear what you think or help you figure out your next step.

Please subscribe and give a 5-star rating on your preferred podcast platform!

Meet Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by CHOQ. Choq is our first choice for natural supplements to positively impact energy, mood, and stress resilience throughout the day. Shop now and use our code BIG53LIFE for 53% off all subscriptions for life!

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. The content presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or dietary changes. Reliance on any information provided by this article is solely at your own risk.