Healing the Gut Tribe ~ March - Page 3

[JaneS]

P.S. for the record...

SCD says not to soak nuts b/c "it will encourage growth of mold". However, NT instructions are to soak nuts in a saltwater solution which is bacteriostatic... mold will not grow. And then they are dried out in the oven.

And given that SCD requires the soaking of beans and lentils, it makes no sense to me why that wouldn't encourage mold too!?

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by mom2zsel

Sorry-I thought of another couple of questions-

Source for almonds-what type-raw/salted, etc.?
Source for DCCC?

Thanks!

Blanched almonds (have skins removed) are easiest to digest. And Pecans.

Nuts and DCCC info here:
http://www.scdiet.org/8resources/foodoptions.html

A number of Pecanbread group people order from here: http://nuts4u.com/

I like Digestive Wellness almond flour: www.digestivewellness.com

Or you can used dripped yogurt as a substitute for DCCC (which makes waaaaay better cheesecake for the Intro. diet, it's just time consuming.)

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by zanelee

I'm x-posting this in the dentistry area too..

I have some major dental problems going on. I'm going to have to have some serious work done(removal of 1 and probably more amalgam fillings/caps-possibly even removal of teeth). I'm also breastfeeding my dd who's 1 year, and needs some serious gut healing. I checked with the mercury-free dentist that I'm going to use, and he won't work on me while I'm breastfeeding, which is understandable. But...if I wean my dd, I'm afraid we're going to get some worse problems with her gut and body. (When I feed her most anything...we find it in her diaper virtually unchanged. Seriously.) I'm at a loss.
It's kinda a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I don't want her to get any mercury through me, but if I don't bf her, I'm afraid she'll get no nutrition at all...
Is there anything I can take while having the work done to help bind to the mercury and flush it out? Or maybe just not bf for a small time period, and pump and dump for a bit?
Can anyone suggest anything?
HELP!

Have you seen the "Metal Fillings Replaced While Bf'ing?" thread?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=241750

Pump and dump would have to be for several weeks I think, the research is not fresh in my mind. However, 2-3 months after removal, your body goes into detox mode... it starts releasing all the stored Hg in your organs into your bloodsteam (and therefore your milk) because the constant source of the metal has been removed.

A substance to bind to Hg is not really well researched enough to be clear IMO. There are claims about chlorella, but then my information says chlorella is dangerous. Moneca, a mama who used to belong to this tribe, is using bentonite clay for herself, but not bf'ing.

You can't wait at all on touching the amalgams... ?

I don't know if it helps but DS's gut went downhill right after we weaned. Here I was thinking it was all me causing these problems in him.. and that may have been true initially... but BM was certainly doing something right.

I know this is a really really hard decision to make

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by Pattyla

What am I looking for before we can start some raw fruit/veggies??? I'm confused on this point and not wanting to rush ahead but I'm also dying for something crunchy!!! DD and I still have a yeast rash but it is slowly getting better (although today I saw those curds on her vulva that tell me there is internal yeast too for her). I'm still having some constipation but not as bad. DH is now having constipation. He was really tired but now that is better.

I'm just confused and unsure how to figure this one out.

That's a good question... I don't know! I think you'd just have to test it out and see if you can digest them. Everyone is so individual. And you might find that certain fruits or veggies would work but not others. Sorry I can't be of more help!

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by Siana

Am I crazy to want the whole family on SCD?
My DP thinks I'm a nutter for "buying" in to SCD it for myself and Galen. One of these days I'm going to get (read 'force') him to read the book. I've been gradually getting us all used to this new way of eating, rather than the immediate change that is recommended. I'm hesitant if this is a good approach as far as determining changes in symptoms, but this seems easiest for us. Any thoughts?

Anyway, I want my DS and DD on the diet since I feel both would benefit from it. It would kill my DD if Daddy ate something different for the meals when he's here. Perhaps my DP can have non-SCD meals at work which will probably be the best compromise.

As for symptoms, I've had diarrhea for a good month now (except today) along with bloating and often excessive flatulence. The kids both have rather hard stools (except when we had the stomach flu last weekend). My LO -- who is still mostly breastfed -- can go up to 4 days without a BM. The last couple of days, he's popped once a day, and both times were hard and difficult for him to pass. My DD on the other hand has had compacted poop every day (up to twice a day) for a month or more now.

Both kids have developed eczema in the last 2 months My DD's is rather like dry skin, not really obvious at all until you feel her legs. My DS however has deveoped two eczema sites on both legs, in exactly the same positions where he had them when he was an infant. I had been talking about my gut feeling that something was still not quite right with Galen, and now we have the proof ):

If there's anything to "buy into" ... it's valid science! (And science that's not sponsored by a drug co.) That is the one thing I always say when people ask me about why the SCD diet and not Maker's or not Crook's candida diet, etc. etc. The SCD just makes sense and was clinically tested. Plus I really responded when I tried it. I think you will too, your symptoms sound similar to mine.

My DH eats out a lot. I do make him some stuff we don't eat (and he has his stash of Frosted Flakes and Honey Nut Cheerios ). DS is so young, (and has been on special diets since he was 8 mos old!) that he just naturally accepted that diff. people have different food. But for an older kid, definately whole family! This might change in our house, I don't know. If that's the case, it's not going to pretty though, let me tell you.

Hard stool is reflective of digestive issues and intestinal flora imbalance as well. It could be diet influencing it too of course. But I swear, so many people have poor digestion, no one, including dr's, knows what normal pooping is!!!

RE: Galen's eczema spots
This is an interesting thing, my DS has "hot spots" on the tops of his feet too (where we used hydrocortisone before I woke up and got a clue so I think that may have also had something to do with it. :doh: ). I don't know if it is a yeast/fungal issue that stays dormant or the skin just remembers or what. I've never found out why.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by AnnaLaughs

Hello, I'm new to this area but have been doing quite a bit of research on healing the gut. DD had VERY severe eczema that cleared after we eliminated soy..she is also reactive to a few other things. The concept that I could have a leaky gut that contributed to this is interesting. She was ex. BF until about 10 months and still nurses about once a day at 3.
My question is this: What probiotic do you recommend for me? DD takes Baby Jarrow. Also, what enzymes for both of us? I am sorry if these are simplistic questions.....the research is a little overwhelming.
Also, how can we tell...here at home....if it's a yeast problem or bacteria problem? Different sites have little "quizes" that have me thinking it's both. Could it be both or one in me and a differnt in DD?
Thanks!

Hi there!

Please feel free to jump in with anything interesting to discuss... sometimes I worry that all this SCD talk squelches anything else.

I highly recommend homemade yogurt/kefir as the only probiotics that are worth taking. The bacterial counts in capules or store bought yogurt just cannot compare: http://www.healingcrow.com/ferfun/co...onspiracy.html

I personally took hundreds and hundreds of dollars of little white capsules but didn't see true healing until yogurt/kefir.

There are a few descriptions of yeast/bacterial issues which can help you nail it down but I think like tests, they are not necessarily accurate. Yeast is usually fluffy or stringy diarrhea. Bacterial is horrible stench. For diet, probiotics and enzymes, the treatment is similar for both.

The only reason to really know and be careful with the distinction is if you are going to use anti fungals like GSE for ex. will make bacterial issues worse, but help yeast. I also wonder, that since we have about 400 diff. species in our guts, if it's not a case of having both quite often too.

Enzyme recs here:
http://www.enzymestuff.com/supplement.htm

We use Houston and Enzymedica.
V-Gest is very gentle, good for sensitive kids to start b/c it's low protease but still has other enzymes like lipase.

[Annikate]

DD's sleeping has not been as good the last 2 nights . . . so I"m up again. I think it was the spaghetti sauce I ate (?) SCD legal.

Can someone tell me if I am correct in this:?

I originally ordered Peptizyde a while back (before SCD) because I thought I could take it and continue to eat gluten and caesin but only used it a couple of times and not since starting SCD UNTIL yesterday when I realized that Peptizyde is a multiple protease and this means it should help break down proteins right?

Well, I used about 1/3 capsule on some ground turkey last night (I only ate a tiny bit since I'm still afraid of dd's reaction) and then tonight I ate some more ground turkey (with about 1/3 capsule).

Am I right that this stuff should help break down proteins?

FTR, I have bloating and gas and rumbly tummy tonight (I think I had it last night too). Is this from the Peptizyde? Anybody else experience this?

[<<>>]

Okay this is probley gunna get lost in the middle of this thread, but you ladies have answers....

dd2 has what I self diagnosed as pdd... and on this website .... http://childbrain.com/pddassess.html .... she scored a 100... which suggested mild pdd...
Anyways her behavior along with her horrible constipation and excema resulted in me removing dairy from her diet 100%
constipation gone, excema gone, and her behavior is normal, she's like a whole other child... I love it.... I re did that eval on the website and she got a 30... no pdd...

Ok so heres my question.... i stopped giving her dairy, and I kinda understand how and why she reacted the way she did. but how do i fix her stomach?
can she ever eat dairy again..? (dh gave her a glass of choc milk last week and her legs broke out with the excema, i explained that she can't have ANY dairy, no matter how normal she is acting)

So I googled healing the gut, but couldnt find anything about healing a childs gut....
So I came here for some help.... Someone please tell me where to start the healing....
TIA

[Pookietooth]

Big to Jane, we love you!

mom2zsel, I get my nuts from the health food store. You can order them from Digestive Wellness Raw is best, especially cashews. Peanuts have to be in the shell, as roasted/salted nuts have starches added to them. DCCC is very hard to find, you can special order it from here: http://cjohnc.hostcentric.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv (I haven't tried to). Whole Foods here in the Seattle area carries it.

Chrissy, healing the gut can be done, and there are multiple strategies to use, including diet, enzymes, and supplements. Jane started the original healing the gut thread, with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (see www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info for more info).

[memory maker]

I am going to be trying the SCD with myself and the kids, however I am also wondering if my dh could use it too. His stomach always hurts. He probably does not go a week without vomiting. After ds was born he would vomit almost daily. They ran tests on him and couldnt find anything. I was wondering at the time if it was just stress and all in his head. Now Im wondering if the stress that he has at work (he owns his own business) added to the fact that he eats a crap diet when he is not at home has caused him to now have problems with his stomach. Do you think that he could also benefit from the SCD diet? He would be on it while at home anyway because im not going to be fixing him a separate dinner, but I would have to force him to give up his TV dinners at work that he thinks is so great.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by Annikate

DD's sleeping has not been as good the last 2 nights . . . so I"m up again. I think it was the spaghetti sauce I ate (?) SCD legal.

Can someone tell me if I am correct in this:?

I originally ordered Peptizyde a while back (before SCD) because I thought I could take it and continue to eat gluten and caesin but only used it a couple of times and not since starting SCD UNTIL yesterday when I realized that Peptizyde is a multiple protease and this means it should help break down proteins right?

Well, I used about 1/3 capsule on some ground turkey last night (I only ate a tiny bit since I'm still afraid of dd's reaction) and then tonight I ate some more ground turkey (with about 1/3 capsule).

Am I right that this stuff should help break down proteins?

FTR, I have bloating and gas and rumbly tummy tonight (I think I had it last night too). Is this from the Peptizyde? Anybody else experience this?

Yes, proteases do break down proteins. Multiple stains are found to be more effective in smaller doses than one whopper dose of only one strain. Peptizyde is unique in that it was developed specifically to break down the casein and gluten protein peptides. These peptides can cause reactions in ASD kids especially if not fully broken down by the body (but really any susceptible person too I think, not just ASD kids). The protein peptides are broken down into their separate amino acids by the enzyme action. (However, Pept. does not work for celiacs allergic to gluten.)

Another aspect of proteases is the ablility to clear inflammation from the body, and speeds gut healing in this manner as well. Especially when given in between meals. It also helps clear out the gut of pathogens and debris caused by die off.

So with respect to your tomato sauce question. I don't know for sure. Did the tomato sauce have skins? Garlic? Bloating and gas for me usually means I ate something I shouldn't and couldn't digest it completely. Sometimes this is indicative of die off. I did indeed notice some die off when I started enzymes. But it was a different feeling than "ate something bad" feeling.

Proteases make me (and DS) hyperactive if I take too many, I needed to start slow. They are incredibly useful though, I notice a clarity of mind, lots of energy, and very good digestion when I take them regularly. I've finally worked up to being able to take between meals now.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by mommaToThree

dd2 has what I self diagnosed as pdd... and on this website .... http://childbrain.com/pddassess.html .... she scored a 100... which suggested mild pdd...
Anyways her behavior along with her horrible constipation and excema resulted in me removing dairy from her diet 100%
constipation gone, excema gone, and her behavior is normal, she's like a whole other child... I love it.... I re did that eval on the website and she got a 30... no pdd...

Ok so heres my question.... i stopped giving her dairy, and I kinda understand how and why she reacted the way she did. but how do i fix her stomach?
can she ever eat dairy again..? (dh gave her a glass of choc milk last week and her legs broke out with the excema, i explained that she can't have ANY dairy, no matter how normal she is acting)

Hi Chrissy,

That is fabulous about your DD!

Probiotics, digestive enzymes and good fats like cod liver oil are the short list of how to heal the gut. A number of us are on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to heal intestinal flora imbalances and digestion, the root cause of allergies and immune system problems.

In addition to BTVC, I especially recommend Karen DeFelice's book for you: www.enzymestuff.com
It describes all about leaky gut and behavioral manifestations, and using enzymes to heal. You will understand so much about the connection. The key to understand why these intolerances exist is to know how and why the gut is not breaking down food properly.


My personal opinion is that pasteurized dairy proteins are so problematic in this society, I think there are many indications that are worsened by them because our guts cannot digest them. I'm a huge believer in raw milk because the proteins are not clumped together by heat, and it contains enzymes, immune factors and probiotics, just like breastmilk, that aid the gut.

But even all that being said, my DS can only do goat's milk yogurt right now (no lactose, proteins are smaller and easier to digest and yogurt predigests them). My dream is to finally have the day when he can have fresh raw milk straight, fully digesting all the lactose and proteins!

www.pecanbread.com is all about the SCD for ASD kids and is non dairy or using goat dairy.

[JaneS]

Thank you Jen

How are you doing this week? It was you that was not noticing much progess, right? (I kept meaning to respond to that again last month and got brain fag.) Have you tried enzymes between meals or using antifungals?

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by memory maker

I am going to be trying the SCD with myself and the kids, however I am also wondering if my dh could use it too. His stomach always hurts. He probably does not go a week without vomiting. After ds was born he would vomit almost daily. They ran tests on him and couldnt find anything. I was wondering at the time if it was just stress and all in his head. Now Im wondering if the stress that he has at work (he owns his own business) added to the fact that he eats a crap diet when he is not at home has caused him to now have problems with his stomach. Do you think that he could also benefit from the SCD diet? He would be on it while at home anyway because im not going to be fixing him a separate dinner, but I would have to force him to give up his TV dinners at work that he thinks is so great.

UGH, how awful for him! I think vomiting is the worse thing on the planet. I'd rather have a raging migraine or just about anything else!

I think stress can exacerbate bodily reactions, but not be the ultimate cause, ykwim? A good diet definately helps the body deal with stress, I can personally attest to enormous mood and energy changes when my gut started healing.

The gut produces neurotransmitters, it totally makes sense that problems there effect the brain and behavior.

Ask him to give it several couple weeks, full commitment, just to test it. And pay special attention that he has a lot of legal foods to eat so he's not tempted. It's a short time to commit that may lead to a lifetime of feeling better. Once you start feeling better, and then if you slip and cheat and feel horrible, it makes it easy to know what the correct choice is.

[JaneS]

Chrissy,

I'd also like to add on to the subject of diet and gut healing: learning about nutrition and how it effects the body. And so far the most incredible source I've found has been the book "Nourishing Traditions" and the Weston Price foundation.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...230261-8891810

www.westonaprice.org

Applying some philosophies of NT: soaking all beans, grains, nuts to reduce phytates which inhibit digestive enzymes and bind to minerals preventing their absorption. Yogurt/kefir/fermented foods to replenish gut flora. Bone broths everyday for minerals and gelatin that heals the gut. Cod liver and coconut oil to boost immune system. Grass fed meats and pastured eggs for the essential fatty acids.

These foods can heal the gut. And learning why this is... and just as importantly why the overprocessed, chemical laden, nutrient reduced, antibiotic/pesticide/herbicide filled modern analogues of these healthy foods damage the gut and immune system ... was a true awakening for me.

And of course the other practices we do to damage our gut and immune system: antibiotics, tylenol/advil, chlorine in water, steriods, birth control pills. The list goes on and on. This entire journey to heal DS and myself has given me such a different perspective of health and healing than I had before.

[Pattyla]

My clay came today. Now how do I use it???

It is very high in iron I noticed. Will this be a problem with scd or it that just something about iron suppliments that are a problem? (I need more iron so that is a good thing).

It recomends 1/2 tsp a day. Is this a good dose? What about for my dd? (she's 2).

Thanks!

We're taking the diet on the road for the first time tonight. Going to a dinner meeting and bringing our own dinner w/ us. Wish us luck!

[Pookietooth]

Hi Jane, I haven't tried enzymes between meals lately, we should try that. DS can swallow pills now, which helps immensely (he's very proud of this feat, which he taught himself). What kind of antifungals have worked for you? (TMI warning) I actually think, based on our stool, that we have both yeast and bacteria -- we get alternating loose stool and harder stool, sometimes light colored and sometimes darker, almost always foul smelling. We're doing homeopathics, as well, although I may try a new homeopath, as we haven't seen much progress with the constitutional remedies we've tried. Either way, many herbal antifungals are also antidotes for homeopathic remedies, so we have to be careful there.

[Annikate]

2 questions

I can't find the answers to these:
How long does yogurt last?
Is Friendship Farmer's Cheese a legal version of DCCC?

BBL to post about my hair elements test results. . .

[Siana]

Originally Posted by Annikate

How long does yogurt last?

"The cultures will remain active for about 2 weeks if properly refrigerated."
http://pecanbread.com/goatyogurt.html (last line on this page)

[Annikate]

Another ?

Can I be going through die off AGAIN? I haven't eaten anything different, and yet I feel lousy. Does this happen more than one initial time?