The Wellness Way- Granville

07/08/2026

🔥 GOUT: It's Not About Red Meat! 🔥

👣 Waking up with sudden, severe pain in your big toe, ankle, or foot? It could be gout—a painful form of inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystals building up in the joints.

🚨 Common Symptoms:
🔥 Sudden, intense joint pain
🔴 Redness and swelling
🤕 Warmth and tenderness
🚶 Pain so severe that even a bedsheet touching the joint can hurt
⏰ Symptoms often come on overnight

🩸 The easiest place to start? Bloodwork!

One of the simplest markers to check is your uric acid level. Elevated uric acid (hyperuricemia) increases the risk of developing gout, although not everyone with high uric acid will have symptoms.

⚠️ Here's what many people never hear...

For years, people with gout have been told:
🥩 "Stop eating red meat."

But that could not be more misleading from the truth.

🍬 The truth is the biggest driver of elevated uric acid is excess sugar—especially fructose and sugary beverages.

Here's why 👇

🍭 When your body processes large amounts of sugar (particularly fructose), it rapidly uses ATP (your cells' energy currency). This process creates uric acid as a byproduct.

📈 At the same time, chronically high insulin levels can make it harder for your kidneys to eliminate uric acid efficiently.

The result?
⬆️ Higher uric acid levels.
⬆️ Greater risk of painful gout attacks.

That means someone drinking soda, sweet tea, energy drinks, fruit juice, or eating lots of processed sweets every day may be doing more to raise their uric acid than enjoying a steak at dinner.

🥩 Red meat does contain purines, and for some people, very large amounts may contribute to gout attacks—but focusing only on something like steak while ignoring sugary drinks and processed foods misses the primary piece of the puzzle. I have truthfully never had someone come into my office with gout that did not have some sugar deregulatory factor.

✅ If you've struggled with gout, consider talking with your healthcare provider about checking:
🩸 Uric Acid
🩸 Fasting Glucose
🩸 Fasting Insulin
🩸 Hemoglobin A1c
🩸 Triglycerides

Understanding the whole picture can help you make more informed choices instead of unnecessarily eliminating nutritious foods.

💬 Have you or someone you know dealt with gout? What changes made the biggest difference?

07/02/2026

Our office will be closed on Friday, July 3rd &
we will be back in office Monday, July 6th at 8am.

Everyone have a wonderful, safe & cool holiday weekend!!
- The Wellness Way Granville team❤️🤍💙

07/01/2026

🚨 Ulcerative Colitis vs. Crohn's Disease – What's the Difference? 🚨

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an umbrella term that includes Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease. While they share many symptoms, they're actually two different autoimmune conditions affecting different parts of the digestive system.

🔹 Ulcerative Colitis
➡️ Only affects the colon (large intestine).
➡️ Inflammation is continuous and limited to the inner lining of the colon.

🔹 Crohn's Disease
➡️ Can affect anywhere from the mouth to the a**s, but most commonly the end of the small intestine and beginning of the colon.
➡️ Inflammation often occurs in patches ("skip lesions") and can extend through the entire thickness of the bowel wall.

⚠️ Common Symptoms
💩 Frequent diarrhea
🩸 Blood or mucus in the stool
🤕 Abdominal pain and cramping
🚽 Urgency to use the bathroom
😴 Fatigue and weakness
⚖️ Weight loss
🤢 Nausea
🌡️ Low-grade fevers during flares
🍽️ Loss of appetite

🧪 Helpful Testing

One of the best non-invasive markers of intestinal inflammation is:

✅ F***l Calprotectin – one of the most useful tests for detecting and monitoring intestinal inflammation.

Other stool markers that may be elevated during active inflammation include:
🔸 Secretory IgA
🔸 Eosinophil Protein X (EPX)

Bloodwork may also show:
📈 Elevated CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
📈 Elevated ESR (Sedimentation Rate)
☀️ Low Vitamin D
🩸 Iron deficiency or poor iron regulation (low ferritin, low iron saturation)
🩸 Anemia (low hemoglobin/hematocrit)
🧬 Low albumin during more severe disease
🧪 Elevated platelet count
🧫 Elevated white blood cell count during active inflammation
🧬 Sometimes elevated liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, GGT), especially if there is associated liver or bile duct involvement.

Certain antibody tests can provide additional clues:
🧬 pANCA is more commonly associated with Ulcerative Colitis.
🧬 ASCA (Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies) is more commonly associated with Crohn's Disease.

These antibody tests can support the diagnosis but are not definitive on their own, so they're interpreted alongside symptoms, stool testing, imaging, and endoscopy.

🔎 Colonoscopy
During a colonoscopy, your gastroenterologist may see areas of inflammation, ulceration, bleeding, or tissue damage that help distinguish between UC and Crohn's Disease. Biopsies are typically taken to confirm the diagnosis.

🚩 Common Immune Triggers That Can Contribute to Flares

Everyone is different, but factors that may contribute to worsening symptoms include:

🍞 Food allergies/sensitivities (many people report gluten and dairy as common triggers)
🦠 Gut infections (such as certain bacterial infections, parasites, or yeast overgrowth)
😰 Significant emotional stress
🦷 Poor oral health and ongoing dental infections
🏠 Mold exposure (clinically, I have never had a patient come in with either one of these conditions that did not have a mold toxicity problem that was the main driver of their issues - ever.)
🌾 Pesticide and herbicide exposure
⚙️ Heavy metal exposure

🚭 An Interesting Fact About Ni****ne

One of the more surprising findings in medical research is that ni****ne has been shown in many studies to help reduce disease activity in people with IBD. Because of this, clean forms of ni****ne such as patches have been studied as a treatment option under physician supervision. This does not mean smoking, va**ng, or chewing to***co is recommended, as those carry significant health risks due to the fact that there are over 500 FDA approved chemicals that can go into those types of products.

🎬 Fun fact: This topic was even mentioned on the TV show House! Sometimes real medical research makes its way into Hollywood and hides truth in plain site. Watch this 2 minute clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESoYS9SZW-4 - there has never been more truth about western medicine than in this clip.

💙 The good news? Many people are able to significantly reduce flares and improve their quality of life by identifying their individual triggers, working closely with their healthcare team, and developing a personalized treatment plan. I have seen many patients never see a flare up for years or even ever again so long as they are supporting their immune system properly and keep inflammation down!

❤️ If you or someone you love struggles with IBD, know that there is hope.

Santa's got a problem.Your favorite shows, movies and more are he...

06/30/2026

🩸 Iron Overload: The Other Side of the Iron Story 🩸

Everyone talks about iron deficiency and anemia (which are very common, especially in women)... but we don't talk nearly enough about the opposite problem:

🚨 Iron overload (hemochromatosis).

This condition can quietly damage the body for years before it's ever discovered.

Think of excess iron like rust forming inside your body. ⚙️🪨 Iron is essential for life, but too much of it can create excessive oxidative stress, damaging tissues and organs over time.

Iron overload can negatively impact:
❤️ Cardiovascular health (very common to cause high blood pressure)
🧠 Brain function, memory, and cognition
🦴 Joint health (arthritis-like pain)
🫀 Hormone production (testosterone, thyroid, adrenal function, estrogen, and more)
🫁 Mitochondrial function (your cells' energy factories)
🩺 Liver health (fatty liver, inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis)
🦠 Gut health and the balance of your microbiome
🩸 Pancreatic function and blood sugar regulation
⚡ Energy levels and chronic fatigue
💪 Exercise performance and recovery
🫘 Kidney health

Many people don't realize they have excess iron until significant damage has already occurred.

📋 If you're evaluating your iron status, don't stop at a CBC. A more complete picture includes:
✅ Ferritin
✅ Serum Iron
✅ Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
✅ Transferrin Saturation (% Saturation)
✅ Transferrin
✅ CBC
✅ Copper
✅ Ceruloplasmin
✅ Vitamin B12
✅ Folate

⚠️ One very important point...

Ferritin (stored iron) is an acute phase reactant. That means it often rises during inflammation and doesn't always mean your body has "too much usable iron."

Ferritin can become elevated when your body is dealing with:
🤒 Viral infections
🦠 Chronic infections
🎗️ Certain cancers
🍩 Insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction
🍺 Excess alcohol use
💊 Certain medications
🔥 Significant inflammation

One reason someone may actually appear anemic despite having high ferritin is because the body intentionally locks iron away inside tissues and storage proteins. This is part of the immune response to help limit the amount of free iron available to pathogens—and even some cancer cells—that rely on iron for growth.

That's why looking at the entire iron panel is so important instead of relying on ferritin alone.

🩸 If true iron overload is confirmed, the fastest and most effective way to lower excess iron is therapeutic phlebotomy (or donating blood when appropriate).

Other strategies that may help reduce ongoing iron accumulation include:
🥩 Limiting excess dietary iron (especially large amounts of heme iron)
🍳 Avoiding routine cooking with cast iron cookware
💊 Discussing supplements with your healthcare provider that may reduce iron absorption or support healthy iron balance
🥗 Being mindful of vitamin C intake with high-iron meals since it increases iron absorption

👨 Men are naturally at greater risk because they don't have regular menstrual blood loss, allowing iron to gradually accumulate over decades. While iron deficiency is far more common in women, iron overload is surprisingly common in men and is often overlooked.

If you struggle with:
😴 Fatigue
🦴 Joint pain
🧠 Brain fog
💪 Low testosterone
🍺 Elevated liver enzymes
❤️ Heart concerns
🍩 Blood sugar issues
or you have a family history of hemochromatosis...

…it may be worth having a conversation with your healthcare provider about a comprehensive iron evaluation.

Knowledge is power. 🩸

06/29/2026

✨ BLOATING IS COMMON... BUT IT ISN'T SOMETHING YOU SHOULD JUST ACCEPT! ✨

If you feel like you look 6 months pregnant after eating, your body may be trying to tell you something. 🚨 Bloating isn't always "just what happens"—there are MANY possible reasons it can occur.

Here are some of the most common contributors I see:

🌾 1. Food Allergies & Food Sensitivities
This is one of the most common reasons people experience bloating.

For some people, certain foods can trigger inflammation and digestive symptoms—even foods they eat every day. One factor that may contribute is increased intestinal permeability ("leaky gut"), which may allow larger food particles to interact with the immune system more than they normally would.

Common trigger foods can include:
🥛 Dairy
🌾 Gluten
🥚 Eggs
🌽 Corn
🌱 Soy
🥜 Nuts..but everyone's triggers are different.

The goal isn't to avoid foods forever—it's figuring out which foods your body may be reacting to and why.

🦠 2. Gut Dysbiosis (an imbalance of your gut bacteria)
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that help digest food. When that balance gets thrown off, bloating can become a daily struggle.
Possible contributors include:
💊 Antibiotic use
🦠 Hidden infections
🏠 Mold exposure
⚠️ Heavy metals
🌾 Pesticides & herbicides..and other factors that can disrupt your gut environment.

🍽️ 3. Maldigestion
Sometimes the problem isn't WHAT you're eating...it's HOW your body is digesting it.
Your digestive system relies on:
🧪 Digestive enzymes from the pancreas
💚 Bile from the gallbladder
🔥 Adequate stomach acid to break food down

If one of these isn't working efficiently, food may sit longer than it should, leading to bloating and discomfort.

😰 4. Chronic Stress
When you're constantly in "fight or flight," your body shifts away from "rest and digest."

That means:
❌ Less stomach acid
❌ Slower digestion
❌ More bloating after meals

Taking a few deep breaths before eating, slowing down, and chewing thoroughly can make a bigger difference than many people realize.

💨 5. Excess Gas Production
Gas is normal...too much isn't!

Some possible reasons include:
🚽 Constipation (food sits longer and ferments)
🦠 Certain bacteria producing excess methane
🥦 Fermentation of foods that aren't being digested well

Sometimes even beneficial bacteria can contribute if certain strains become overly abundant. This is why just mindlessly throwing pro-biotics at gut issues sometimes can backfire on you if you are not getting proper testing done to see what you actually need to support!

🍭 6. Too Much Sugar
A diet high in added sugars may interfere with healthy digestion and can contribute to imbalances in the gut that increase bloating over time. Primarily too much sugar will wreck your stomach acid production this is why people commonly report acid reflux after consuming foods high in sugar like breads, pastas, potatoes, or sweets.

💊 7. Certain Medications
Some commonly prescribed medications may contribute to bloating, including:
• NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
• Proton pump inhibitors (acid reducers)
• Hormonal birth control
• Opioid pain medications
• Certain antidepressants (SSRIs)
• Some diabetes medications (like metformin)
• Iron supplements
• Certain blood pressure medications

Never stop a prescribed medication without talking with your healthcare provider first but definitely look up the side effects of every medication you are prescribed - knowledge is power!

🌸 8. Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal changes—especially higher estrogen levels relative to progesterone—can contribute to water retention, slowed digestion, and bloating.

If you're experiencing persistent or unexplained bloating along with painful periods, heavy bleeding, or pelvic pain, it's important to speak with your healthcare provider. They may recommend imaging to evaluate for conditions such as fibroids, ovarian cysts, or endometriosis.

❤️ The good news?
Bloating is a symptom—not a personality trait. 😊

With the right evaluation and testing, many people are able to identify what's contributing to their symptoms and develop a plan that helps them feel better.

You don't have to settle for feeling bloated every single day. 💚

👇 Have questions about bloating? Drop them in the comments or send me a message!

06/26/2026

🚨 Estrogen Dominance: More Common Than You Think 🚨

Ladies... if you've been told your hormones are "normal" but you're still struggling, it may be time to take a closer look. 👀

Estrogen dominance doesn't always mean your estrogen is sky-high. It can also mean your estrogen is too high relative to progesterone, creating an imbalance that affects multiple systems throughout the body.

💡 Here's something many people don't know...

There isn't just ONE estrogen.

Your body produces three primary estrogens:
🌸 Estradiol (E2)
🌸 Estrone (E1)
🌸 Estriol (E3)

Each plays a different role in the body. If your hormone testing only looks at one form—or doesn't evaluate how your body is metabolizing estrogen—you may only be seeing part of the picture.

🚩 Common signs of estrogen dominance include:

💥 Breast tenderness
⚖️ Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
🎈 Bloating
😣 Painful menstrual cramps
🩸 Heavy periods and/or large blood clots (one of the biggest clues!)
😭 Mood swings—feeling overly emotional one minute and extremely irritable the next

Over time, estrogen imbalance has also been associated with a higher risk of conditions such as:

🎗️ Breast cancer
🎗️ Colon cancer
🌺 Endometriosis
🌺 Uterine fibroids
🦋 Hypothyroidism
🍩 Obesity
🩸 Insulin resistance
🩹 Cardiovascular disease
👶 Infertility
💧 Edema (swelling or puffiness)

🤧 Did you know excess estrogen can also influence your immune system?

Higher estrogen levels can increase histamine (the chemical released by immune cells during allergic responses) and can also promote the production of inflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers involved in inflammation). This is one reason some people notice worsening allergies, headaches, skin issues, or increased inflammation when estrogen is out of balance around certain phases of their menstrual cycle.

⚠️ Some of the biggest contributors to estrogen dominance can include:

🍄 Yeast overgrowth or mold exposure
💊 Hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
🧴 Microplastics and environmental chemicals
🍭 Excess processed sugar
🍷 Alcohol
🤧 High histamine burden
🔥 Chronic inflammation
🚽 Constipation (yes... your body eliminates estrogen through your stool!)
🧪 A sluggish liver, which plays an important role in processing and clearing estrogen

✅ What can you start doing TODAY?

🥩 Prioritize complete protein at every meal (preferably animal-based sources if tolerated)
🥦 Eat plenty of vegetables—especially cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale
🚫 Cut out processed sugar
🚫 Avoid alcohol
🚫 Eliminate grains and starches for a period of time if appropriate for your health goals
💧 Stay hydrated (WITH ELECTROLYTES) and support regular bowel movements
😴 Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep every night
🌿 Be intentional about reducing exposure to plastics, synthetic fragrances, and unnecessary environmental chemicals

🩺 If you're looking for a more comprehensive evaluation, consider discussing testing such as:

✔️ DUTCH Hormone Test
✔️ Comprehensive Stool Analysis
✔️ Environmental Toxin Panel (including mold and certain chemical exposures)
✔️ Testing for food sensitivities or allergies, when clinically appropriate

✨ The good news?

Hormone imbalances are not something you simply have to "live with." Understanding what's happening in your body is the first step toward feeling like yourself again. ❤️

📍Serving Licking County, Ohio and surrounding communities.

'sHealth 🌿💚

06/24/2026

🧠⚡ EPILEPTIC SEIZURES: MORE THAN JUST A BRAIN ISSUE ⚡🧠

Epileptic seizures occur when there is sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. This can lead to symptoms ranging from brief staring spells and muscle twitching to full-body convulsions. While seizures can have many causes, researchers have identified several nutrient deficiencies that may increase the likelihood of seizures in some individuals.

🔍 Some important nutrients linked to healthy brain and nervous system function include:

✅ Magnesium
✅ Vitamin D
✅ Selenium
✅ Taurine
✅ Zinc
✅ Other Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and calcium

When these nutrients become depleted or imbalanced, the nervous system may not function as efficiently as it should, potentially increasing susceptibility to neurological symptoms, including seizures.

⚠️ But what can contribute to these deficiencies?

The body can be exposed to various stressors that may affect nutrient status and increase inflammation within the nervous system, including:

☣️ Heavy metals
🌱 Pesticides & herbicides
🍄 Mycotoxins (toxins produced by mold)
🦠 Chronic infections
🌾 Food allergens and sensitivities (this is a BIG contributor)

These factors may place additional stress on the body and can sometimes contribute to nutrient depletion, making it more difficult for the brain and nervous system to maintain normal function.

**Another important note worth mentioning: getting regular chiropractic adjustments to support a healthy functioning nervous system does wonders for people struggling with Epilepsy. I have seen it many times where patients see a significant reduction of the frequency of episodes just getting adjusted properly**

💡 This is why proper testing can be so important. Understanding nutrient levels, environmental exposures, immune responses, and overall health status can provide valuable information about what's happening inside the body.

Your health story is unique. Don't guess—test! 📋🔬

❤️ Taking care of your brain means taking care of your whole body.

06/23/2026

🧠⚠️ MENTAL STRESS: The Most Overlooked Health Saboteur ⚠️🧠

One of the most common reasons people struggle with:

⚖️ Weight loss resistance
🩸 High blood pressure
😰 Anxiety
😴 Poor sleep
🍭 Blood sugar issues
🤰 Difficulty getting pregnant
🔄 Hormonal irregularities
🛡️ Immune system challenges
💥 Chronic pain
🤕 Fatigue
..and so much more often comes down to one thing:

👉 STRESS.

Most people think of stress as just work deadlines, finances, relationship challenges, or a busy schedule. But stress comes from MANY sources.

Think of your body like a bucket 🪣.

Every stressor adds a little more water:

🏃 Overtraining at the gym
🦶 Physical injuries (fractures, surgeries, chronic pain)
🔨 Manual labor and physically demanding jobs
☣️ Environmental chemicals
🦠 Chronic infections
🍄 Mold exposure
⚙️ Heavy metals
🌾 Allergens and food sensitivities
💼 Work stress
👨‍👩‍👧 Family stress
💸 Financial stress

Eventually that bucket reaches its limit...

💧💧💧 OVERFLOW.

That's often when symptoms begin showing up.

Your body has an incredible ability to adapt, but everyone has a breaking point.

The good news? While we can't always control what life throws at us, we CAN improve our resilience and reduce the stressors that are within our control. 🙌

Some of the most powerful ways to support your body include:

😴 Prioritizing 8-10 hours of quality sleep
🥩 Eating a whole-food, nutrient-dense Paleo-style diet
🧘 Breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness practices
🚶 Daily movement and exercise
🙏 Prayer and gratitude
🤝 Finding a community of people facing similar challenges
🚧 Establishing healthy boundaries where appropriate
💊 Magnesium (often one of the most important foundational supplements to consider)
🦴 Regular chiropractic adjustments to help support healthy nervous system function

Sometimes simply becoming aware of what is stressing you out is enough to create meaningful change. 💡

Awareness creates opportunity.

When you identify what's filling your bucket, you can begin taking steps to lighten the load and move closer to your health goals. 🎯

For those curious about evaluating how taxed the body may be from stress, some helpful labs to discuss with your healthcare provider include:

📊 24-Hour Cortisol Testing (to evaluate daily cortisol patterns)
📊 DHEA-S (another hormone produced by the adrenal glands)

While there are many markers that can be assessed, these can provide useful insight into how your body is responding to stress.

Remember:

You may not have control over every stressor in your life right now.

But removing the things that ARE harming your health and ARE within your control can dramatically improve your resilience and ability to handle life's challenges. 💪🧠❤️

Your body is always listening to the environment you create for it.

What can you take off your plate this week? 👇

06/22/2026

🚨 MICROPLASTICS: The Invisible Threat We Can’t Ignore 🚨

Microplastics have now been found in virtually every tissue scientists have looked for them in—including the brain, blood, placenta, testicles, and reproductive organs. Because these particles are not biodegradable, they can accumulate in the body and contribute to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Research is increasingly linking plastic-related chemicals to a wide range of health concerns. 🌎🧠❤️

One way exposure is commonly assessed is through urine testing, where metabolites of bisphenols (such as BPA) and phthalates are often measured. These chemicals are frequently used in plastics and are considered endocrine-disrupting compounds.

⚠️ Why should you care?

Microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals have been linked to:

🔹 Reduced s***m count, concentration, and motility
🔹 Hormone disruption affecting testosterone, estrogen, and thyroid function
🔹 Increased inflammation throughout the body
🔹 Potential impacts on cardiovascular health and blood clotting risk
🔹 Weight gain and metabolic dysfunction (they are considered "obesogens")
🔹 Poorer sleep quality and increased fatigue
🔹 Brain fog and cognitive changes
🔹 Fertility challenges in both men and women
🔹 Immune system disruption and cellular stress

The good news? Reducing exposure can make a difference. 💪

✅ Choose organic cotton, linen, wool, or h**p over polyester and other synthetic fabrics whenever possible.
✅ Store food in glass instead of plastic containers.
✅ Never heat food in plastic.
✅ Cook with stainless steel or cast iron cookware.
✅ Brew coffee using glass, stainless steel, or a French press instead of plastic-heavy coffee makers.
✅ Swap plastic cutting boards for wood.
✅ Ditch plastic utensils when possible.
✅ Invest in a quality HEPA air filter to help reduce airborne particles, including microplastic-containing dust (Triad Aer is a great and effective air filter unit also!).
✅ Filter your drinking water (reverse osmosis is most effective).
✅ Choose fresh foods over heavily packaged foods whenever possible.

🎥 A fascinating new Netflix documentary, The Plastic Detox on Netflix, follows six couples struggling with infertility as they spend 90 days dramatically reducing their exposure to plastics and plastic-associated chemicals. By the end of the intervention, participants reported improvements in energy, sleep, focus, and overall well-being. Three of the six couples became pregnant during or shortly after the program. What was fascinating was that all 3 babies were born within 30 days of one another meaning all 3 moms got pregnant right at the end of the 3 month plastic detox intervention which was specifically chosen that way because it takes roughly 3 months for new s***m to generate!

While this was not a formal scientific study, the results sparked important conversations about how everyday plastic exposure may affect health and fertility.

❤️ The reality is that we may not be able to eliminate plastics completely, but every step toward reducing exposure matters.

Your future health.
Your hormones.
Your fertility.
Your family.

They're worth protecting. 🌱

🌿💚

06/21/2026

🪨💧 KIDNEY STONES: What Are They and Why Do They Form? 💧🪨

Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. They can range from the size of a grain of sand to several millimeters or larger, and anyone who has experienced one knows they can be incredibly painful. 😣

🔍 How do kidney stones form?

When urine becomes concentrated, minerals such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid can crystallize and stick together. Over time, these crystals can grow into stones.

🩺 Blood markers worth assessing with your healthcare provider:

✅ Kidney function markers (Creatinine, BUN, eGFR)
✅ Calcium levels
✅ Uric Acid
✅ Electrolytes
✅ Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) if calcium abnormalities are present
✅ Vitamin D status
✅ Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

🥬 Foods high in oxalates that may contribute to certain types of kidney stones in susceptible individuals:

⚠️ Spinach
⚠️ Almonds
⚠️ Beets
⚠️ Swiss chard
⚠️ Rhubarb
⚠️ Sweet potatoes
⚠️ Dark chocolate
⚠️ Peanuts

Not everyone with kidney stones needs to avoid these foods completely, but those with recurrent calcium oxalate stones may benefit from discussing dietary adjustments with their healthcare provider.

💊 Certain medications can increase stone risk, including some:

• Diuretics
• Calcium-containing antacids
• Certain seizure medications
• Some antiviral medications
• Some high blood pressure medications

**Medications are a large contributing factor to kidney stones make sure to research side effects the meds you are on!**

🏥 Structural abnormalities can also increase risk by interfering with normal urine flow and promoting mineral buildup. Examples include:

🔹 Urethral strictures
🔹 Ureteral narrowing
🔹 Kidney drainage abnormalities
🔹 Enlarged prostate causing urinary retention

🦠 An often-overlooked factor: some fungal species are capable of producing oxalates. Researchers have observed that certain fungal overgrowths may contribute to increased oxalate production, potentially adding to the body’s oxalate burden in susceptible individuals.

💧 Prevention basics:

✔️ Stay well hydrated
✔️ Maintain a balanced diet
✔️ Prioritize adequate magnesium intake
✔️ Discuss recurrent stones with your healthcare provider
✔️ Seek evaluation if you have repeated urinary tract infections or urinary flow issues

If you’ve ever had a kidney stone, you know prevention is worth the effort! 💙

🩺💧🪨