leaky gut healing?

[moon mountain mama]

I aparantly have a leaky gut or at least very compromised intestinal cell walls. I found this out by taking a test for parasites that also analyzed my SigA which is an indicator. Mine was low. So, how will I know if I have healed my leaky gut? I have symptoms from a parasite and I also found out I have hpylauri?, what are the symptoms of a leaky gut? I don't know how to distinguish? How will I know if I am healing this problem?

[WuWei]

Where to start? Help 101


Pat

[subtlycrunchy]

Moon Mountain and Wu Wei,

Also check out this article from Women to Women (a holistic health clinic with a really good site for articles)... Leaky gut syndrome — how healing your digestive tract promotes total wellness. Good luck!!!

[sbgrace]

My take/experience is that you aren't going to make progress in healing until you get rid of the parasite. You may well see tons of improvement just with that one step. Your low SiGa is likely due to that parasite, they do that. You can work to raise that level (florastor/s. boulardi, epicore, colostrum..all great for that) but I'm not sure how far you'll get until you get the parasite gone as it is likely the source.

[moon mountain mama]

I know. Wish I could just make peace with these little buggers

[WuWei]

Parasites are like weeds, they are opportunistic - when the environmental conditions are conducive, they overgrow and thrive. Killing off the weeds doesn't alter the environment. If we kill off the weeds, but still have weed seeds and lack of nutrients, the weeds will grow back. Just tossing in some 'good seed' afterward doesn't mean it will proliferate. Some microbials require continuous repopulating of the colon, as they are transient or require a special gut environment (ph) to survive and thrive. Some microbials can recolonize the gut.

My focus is on addressing the underlying cause of the dysbiosis, by increasing bio-availability of whole food nutrients in their actual food form. Improving stomach acid to enhance nutrient absorption, thus improving nutrients - which are necessary to effectively open detox pathways. The main detoxification pathways are methylation and sulfation.
http://tuberose.com/Liver_Detoxification.html


More info about toxins and nutrients to gut healing: http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...s#post15047470


Pat

[MountainMamaGC]

Do you have to go carb free to kill candida? I just feel so overwhelmed with food and diets. I dont know how to live without bread, pasta, and potatoes. Not to mention that I think dairy effects my crohns too. Thats 2 entire food groups that I cant eat in order to kill the candida.

I am pretty sure its candida but I live in an isolated community and cant test for it. I have bad acne, a runny nose, and a crohn's flare thats been going on since summer. I was in remission for 4 years and able to eat anything. I ate a whole foods diet in that time and thrived.

If I get the Candida under control and heal my gut, can I go back to a whole foods diet or do I have to eat a candida diet the rest of my life?

Sorry if I seem whiny. I have been sick for awhile and I am nearing the end of my rope.

[WuWei]

I embrace ADDING nutrient-dense healing foods. There is a Cliff Notes version at the end of the post: Where to start? Help 101

(eliminating simple carbs which feed the yeast will help significantly. The ladies on the Allergy forum are amazing at using substitutions in recipes. Nut flours, coconut flour, healthy fats can make some amazing "treats" which are healing and nutritious.)

Have you heard about the chocolate coconut rum balls?

Kathy's Recipe Box has gluten-free, corn-free, soy-free, egg-free baking recipes. She is a wizard in the kitchen.


Pat

[MountainMamaGC]

I can add some of those foods and start doing bone broths again. Is it safe for me to start doing coconut oil and maybe some oil of oregano? I only nurse DD 2 times a day. Will the die off affect her or should I wait until I wean her in a month or two? How do you eat the coconut oil. Just off a spoon or on veggies?

[WuWei]

If you have/had mercury fillings in your teeth and have candida, I'd limit coconut oil to max. 1/4 cup a day, starting with a tablespoon a day and gradually increase. You can take it off a spoon, or cook with it.

I'm not keen on OoO for candida. I prefer natural anti-microbial foods, spices and herbs. I would do natural antifungals, antibacterials, antiparasitic, antimicrobials foods and spices in our diet and then whole food probiotics. Epsom salt baths to support detox pathways.
Caution: not all the natural antimicrobials are appropriate for pregnant or nursing mothers!!

The issue is FIRST improving nutrients (must improve stomach acid to increase bio-availability of nutrients and digestion of proteins to amino acids) to open detox pathways, BEFORE killing off candida, IMO.


Pat

[MountainMamaGC]

Originally Posted by WuWei

If you have/had mercury fillings in your teeth and have candida, I'd limit coconut oil to max. 1/4 cup a day, starting with a tablespoon a day and gradually increase. You can take it off a spoon, or cook with it.

I'm not keen on OoO for candida. I prefer natural anti-microbial foods, spices and herbs. I would do natural antifungals, antibacterials, antiparasitic, antimicrobials foods and spices in our diet and then whole food probiotics. Epsom salt baths to support detox pathways.
Caution: not all the natural antimicrobials are appropriate for pregnant or nursing mothers!!

The issue is FIRST improving nutrients (must improve stomach acid to increase bio-availability of nutrients and digestion of proteins to amino acids) to open detox pathways, BEFORE killing off candida, IMO.


Pat

So my first step would be to start by adding bone broths, epsom baths, and lots of greens and then start the coconut oil. I use a lot of those spices in my cooking, like garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin. I cant do the hot spicy stuff as it would cause me a lot of pain. I love making curries and if I dont eat it with rice then I wouldnt be giving the candida food right? I also love me a good soup.

I dont have access to kefir. Could I make my own with goat milk? I also dont have access to raw milk of any kind.

I do have one amalgam filling that I have had for almost 10 years.

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by Lydiah

I dont have access to kefir. Could I make my own with goat milk? I also dont have access to raw milk of any kind.

I do have one amalgam filling that I have had for almost 10 years.

Yes, add nutrients. Also, focus on improving stomach acid, which means cabbage or zinc sources, most easily. A forkful of Bubbies sauerkraut with each meal is amazingly healthful.

You can use a lot of meat, fats and veggies.

I'm happy to send you some water kefir grains, if you'd like. Cultures for Health has dried milk kefir grains with a whole brewing setup of jars, strainer, etc. ANY milk is fine. Raw is best, goat is less allergenic. Kefir is easy to make and has HUGE microbial benefits!

Oops, just saw you are in Canada. I can't send kefir grains with liquid through customs.


Pat

[MountainMamaGC]

Originally Posted by WuWei

Yes, add nutrients. Also, focus on improving stomach acid, which means cabbage or zinc sources, most easily. A forkful of Bubbies sauerkraut with each meal is amazingly healthful.

You can use a lot of meat, fats and veggies.

I'm happy to send you some water kefir grains, if you'd like. Cultures for Health has dried milk kefir grains with a whole brewing setup of jars, strainer, etc. ANY milk is fine. Raw is best, goat is less allergenic. Kefir is easy to make and has HUGE microbial benefits!

Oops, just saw you are in Canada. I can't send kefir grains with liquid through customs.


Pat

Really? because I get liquids through iherb.com and they are in the states.

NVM iherb actually has kefir starter.

[MountainMamaGC]

So here is my new plan. Its not a complete plan but its a start.

Bone broth every day.
A green smoothie everyday. Are bananas ok to put in my green smoothie. I have oral allergy syndrome and I cant eat a lot of raw fruits. I am limited to bananas, kiwis, citrus and berries. All other fruits make my throat and tongue itch and swell unless cooked. Not lethally swell though.
A epsom soak every other day. I love to take baths so this will be easy for me.
Curries with the good spices served with out rice.
Chicken liver. I love chicken liver with onions so this will be a real treat.
1 egg a day.
Kefir when i can get it.

virgin coconut oil.

I know you recommend organic meats, but I dont have access to organic meat where I live. I dont have much access to anything organic other than my garden in the summer.

sorry for hijacking the thread.

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by Lydiah

Really? because I get liquids through iherb.com and they are in the states.

NVM iherb actually has kefir starter.

You have to declare that there are liquids and it slows up the shipment, mostly, from my understanding. The kefir grains will survive about 5-7 days max in the baggie. Dogmom (an MDC member) dries them and ships them dry. So, the liquid isn't a 'hold-up' in customs. She has a system for international shipping (special packaging seals, etc.) I'm just sending them from my house mailbox.

There are moms in Canada with kefir grains. There is a swaps forum here also! Kefir Grains and Kombucha Scobies


Pat

[MountainMamaGC]

I cant access that page.

[WuWei]

Lydiah, that sounds fabulous!! The fruit is optional. We use frozen fruit and it is easier to keep on hand. Spinach is high in pesticides, so I'd try to find that organic, or wash with the Veggie Wash.

I'd add some cabbage to the smoothie, if you can. Just a couple of tablespoons would be VERY beneficial. You can chop a whole cabbage and freeze it, then just grab a big pinch to toss in the blender.

A bit of lemon juice in water all day is another easy way to improve stomach acid and ph.


Pat

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by Lydiah

I cant access that page.

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...d.php?t=517191


Pat

[MountainMamaGC]

Ok I had to log in again for some reason. weird.

[MountainMamaGC]

What is the difference between kefir bacteria and yogurt bacteria?