MY CANDIDA/MOLD (OCHRATOXIN A) INFECTION STORY
All of this started when I was 16 years old (back in year 2000), studying in a boarding school (India) and was severely Constipated. To treat my Constipation, Doctors put me on Laxatives (Yellow tablets by Homeopathy, Cremalax and Dulcolax by Allopathy) and my health started deteriorating day by day. My symptoms were - Loose/watery stools, Low energy, Sinusitis, Brain Fog, Feeling Lethargic, Chronic Fatigue, Breathing problem, Forgetfulness, Problems in reading Textbook, Irritation on silly things, Bone and Muscle weakness, Dry Cough, Unexplainable Weight Gain, Intensified Sugar Cravings, Brain feeling deprived of nutrition even if I ate 5 meals a day, Problem in waking up early, Mood Swings, Feeling Frustrated, Inflammation in the joints and gut, Binge eating and Emotional eating too, Heartburn, Gas/Acidity/GERD. I SERIOUSLY NEEDED HELP!! After going to numerous Allopathic, Ayurvedic and Naturopathic doctors for 18 years in vain - I finally decided to see a Functional Medicine Doctor at the age of 37 (I moved to America in 2009 at the age of 25). I had seen a few functional medicine doctors earlier but they could not help much. They could not diagnose what was going on with me exactly. Finally, after a lot of research, I found two great Functional Medicine (FM) Doctors that had all the answers for me. First FM Doctor diagnosed me with SIBO (Small Intestinal bacterial overgrowth (Methane and Hydrogen dominant), Leaky gut issues, deficiency of trace minerals, imbalance in gut flora, hiatal hernia and gastritis. Second FM doctor diagnosed me with SIFO (Small intestinal fungal overgrowth) also known as Candida overgrowth and Liver and Gallbladder Congestion. Now I knew I was in the right hands! I hope you all know that SIBO is a medical condition in which - bacteria starts to populate in your small intestine where all of your nutrients are absorbed - leading to chronic malabsorption of nutrients from food. The right place for the bacteria is to reside in the large intestine. Same goes with SIFO - which refers to small intestinal fungal overgrowth which is also very common.
Now, the first FM doctor began a treatment for SIBO. Her approach was - biofilm disruption for two weeks with LOW FODMAP DIET followed by antibiotics for two weeks. But did it work? NOPE it didn't! Why didn't it work?
I followed her protocol exactly as she recommended:
1. Took Interface plus - a biofilm disruptor for two weeks
2. Ate LOW FODMAP food during those two weeks - I had turned vegan by that time so it was kind of hard because that made my food choices more restrictive. So all I ate was tofu and black gram tortilla with some LOW FODMAP vegetables. I used to rotate between salads and vegetables.
3. Then in the third week I started my course of antibiotics (Rifaximin and Metronidazole) for two weeks. I saw the difference within first week. I lost some weight and was passing lot of gas which of course was a good sign of those bad bugs being killed. Didn't put any sugar in my mouth.
4. However, in the second week of antibiotics, I started craving sugar. So I made myself some orange juice at home thinking it's a LOW FODMAP food. BUT THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE!
5. My SIBO relapsed immediately - flaring up a reaction instantly. I knew I had messed up. Sugar is what the bad bugs love. Also, another mistake I made was I didn't add a binder and didn't do enema daily. However, I was doing all other spiritual practices like - meditation, yoga and breath work since SIBO is supposed to be a cause of Stress and Fear. (I will talk more about on the spiritual aspect of SIBO and Candida in my next blog post)
6. Anyways, finally completed the course for two weeks with no long lasting results. Discussed with my FM doctor, told her I can't eat tofu and the same vegetables anymore. My body had given up. My kidneys and liver were rejecting protein completely. Also, I had this complaint that whenever I ate sugar, especially, it came in my eyes like it made my eyes blurry. It also caused lot of congestion in my chest area underneath my rib cage specifically.
7. She just thought they were all signs of bloating due to SIBO. So, she came up with a new plan. She decided to put me on an elemental diet for two weeks. It's a liquid diet which contains pre-digested nutrients which do not reach your small intestine so bad bugs never get to feed on them. The idea is to starve the bad bugs in the intestine and kill them.
8. I had a great experience with elemental diet. Lost 7 kgs of weight, gave rest to my liver and kidney, felt amazing in brain, had lot more energy and my concentration improved. But my chest pain was still there. It just won't go away even with this diet. Another major side effect I had of this diet was infection in my ears. However, I ignored it thinking we will deal with this later. Let's just focus on beating SIBO first.
9. In the second week of my elemental diet program, I accidentally put a piece of almond in my mouth and there it was again, the reaction flared up. I was like "you kidding me - it came back with just a piece of almond?" Told my doctor and she said it's hard to do it. I was disappointed with this response. I knew there was something more going on in my body besides SIBO.
10. Well this time she tweaked the plan again and she put me on Herbal antimicrobials (Candibactin AR and BR) for 4 weeks. I started taking those coz they are easy on your stomach and liver. But also started doing my own research on the side. Keeping my membership active with her for few more months.
11. During my research I came across SIBO blogs like "feed me phoebe" and Dr. Nirala Jacobi's SIBO treatment course. It just landed in my inbox out of nowhere. It was like universe was trying to help me. I took the course, studied how SIBO works and became aware of the mistakes I was making during my treatment. Her course is very insightful and a must to go through if you are dealing with SIBO or Candida.
12. Through Dr. Jacobi's directory of SIBO specialists I found another FM doctor who diagnosed me with Candida. Meanwhile I had a dream in which I saw my whole body is covered in black film and the only way out is Ho'oponopono and a plant based diet. This may sound weird but I'm on my spiritual journey and so I see lot of things in my dreams. I told my doctor and she said that is a sign of MOULD infection. Now the picture was clear as to why I didn't do well with elemental diet, orange juice or almond - because they all fed Candida/Mould. This is what the doctors were missing. She told me to take the mycotoxin test by Great Plains and it showed high levels of Ochratoxin A rated 17 wherein the optimal level should be below 7.5. Mould is a tricky one and very hard to get rid of. It was not just in my intestines but spread throughout my entire body and causing chest congestion and sinus issues because it primarily affects kidneys and liver. I had been breathing mould all this while and was unaware. It was growing in our bathroom underneath the wallpaper because of the poor ventilation.
Moral of the Story - Never rely on doctors solely. Healing your body is your responsibility. Take charge in your hands and do your Research. You will find answers. Read good health books to understand how your body works and what does it need to function properly. The two good books I read were - "The New body type Guide" - by Dr. Eric Berg and "How not to die" by Michael Greger coz he lays emphasis on eating a plant based diet. Also, talking to Universe and Praying to God helps in finding the right doctors and the help/guidance needed in such rough times.
So I began my treatment with Second FM Doctor for treating SIBO/Candida/Mold because I found her highly knowledgeable and competent in this field. Her approach was also the same - open the biofilm, kill bad bugs and detox. But the products she recommended were completely different. She used Serrapeptase and Biofilm phase 2 advanced for opening the biofilm along with Transformation digestive enzymes. She prescribed Herbal Antimicrobials like Neem, Pomegranate and Oregano oil tablet. In addition she recommended to add lot of vitamin supplements to support liver and gut healing. Now this was a lot to take in. Her diet was Bi-Phasic diet originally designed by Dr. Jacobi. The time period recommended for the treatment was three months. First month - disrupt the biofilm and follow bi-phasic diet, second month - take antimicrobials and eat HIGH FODMAP food and third month - Heal your Gut. I surrendered to her completely and followed every single thing she told me to do for two months until my antimicrobial course was over.
DID IT WORK? NO IT DID NOT? WHY?
Firstly - The Bi-Phasic diet is a very restrictive protocol. It put me on Tofu and Tempeh diet again. Remember my kidney and liver were already jacked up from eating lot of Tofu and drinking Herbalife protein shakes prior to the treatment. Going back to eating high protein diet put a lot of pressure on my kidneys and liver again.
Secondly - The antimicrobials she used were not strong enough to kill candida or SIBO in my case. I found that the other antimicrobials - Candibactin AR and BR along with Atrantil were more effective in killing bad bugs.
Thirdly - It was too many supplements in the form of capsules that my body rejected completely. I was stuck in a loop. If I ate a protein diet, it hurt my liver and kidney. If I ate Carbs then it aggravated the SIBO and Candida reaction. Also, I was low on stomach acid due to mould toxicity.
At this point I did my research again. Finally found the answer in Dr. Berg's book. He says before doing Ketogenic diet make sure your liver and kidney are functioning properly. Now I knew I had to detox my liver and kidneys first. Actually my other FM doctor had prescribed NAC to me for detoxing my liver seeing my lab work that showed inflammation in the body. But I thought the elemental diet would have done the detox already. Because it does make you urinate several times a day.
Also, I did more research on how to get successful results on killing bad bugs in case of SIBO and Candida/Mould. And I landed on Dr. Mark Hyman's page. Read the article here:
I had been his huge fan always. Always listened to his podcast. Don't know how I missed this one. But I finally got my answer and the answer was to take Antibiotics and Antifungals. YES! I told my current SIBO specialist that here is my plan. I'm going to detox my liver using NAC first and get another prescription of antibiotics and antifungals (allopathic) from my other FM DOC.
6. Consulted the other FM Doc, told her everything about candida and mould infection. And requested her for antibiotics and antifungals. She immediately understood the problem and changed my plan. This is what I liked about her the most. She didn't stick to one plan. She kept tweaking it. She gave me a stronger antibiotic for killing SIBO - that gave 100% knock off results and a Diflucan for Candida/Mould.
7. Now I was certain that I had a solid plan to free myself of these life plaguing/unwanted/uninvited IBS condition.
8. Took NAC (KidneyLiver support by Cell core) for a month and took antifungal and antibiotics together in the last two weeks of opening the biofilm. Note - NAC works as a biofilm disruptor and a detoxifier for Liver and Kidney. And BAM the SIBO was completely gone. But the Candida/Mould was still lingering.
9. Couldn't get rid of Mould even though I took Diflucan for four weeks coz I had papaya and missed my inner work (Spiritual practices) during the month of detoxing my Liver and Kidney coz it was too much for me to handle. I was Herxing really bad. (I have explained below what Herxing means or what a Herxheimer reaction is). I was super frustrated coz I ate papaya with an intention to add a HIGH FODMAP food. But it backfired. The Mould infection came back.
10. So I had to extend my protocol for one more month. This time making sure I stay on track of doing the spiritual practices daily and eating the right kind of food. Yes it's a combination of both. Can't miss one or the other. Spiritual practices help you clean your chakras that are the actual seat of the toxicity. Disease is a physical manifestation of the toxicity embedded in your chakras indicating the imbalance of energies. Therefore, any disease is merely an indication or a warning sign that your spiritual or subtle body needs immediate help. To check out WHY - "Read my another post on - How spiritual detoxification help in recovering from any disease."
It was a bit hard for me guys coz I was trying to beat it on a vegan diet for spiritual reasons. But it's not impossible. After beating SIBO on a vegetarian diet, my confidence went up. So Candida didn't scare me much. And I'm still dealing with Candida/Mould as I write this.
11. Is that it? NOPE! There is more to my story! Let's talk about the Side- effects of having SIBO and Candida for so long that both my doctors ignored.
12. So I had been complaining to both my doctors about it coming in my eyes and giving me a blurry vision. Also the chest pain was killing me. Also, why was I reacting to LOW FODMAP fruits like strawberries, blueberries and kiwi. They didn't have any answer. They just linked it to SIBO and Candida infection and max to liver and gallbladder congestion
13. I knew it was time for me to do the research again. And I found that Candida is linked with type 2 diabetes. and blurry vision is the side effect of type 2 diabetes which you may experience while eating fruits or a high carb diet. And the reason for reacting to LOW FODMAP foods like orange juice, strawberries, blueberries and Kiwi was that they are high in oxalates. So my kidney had developed oxalates from eating too much protein and spinach smoothies.
14. Again I went and told both my doctors that I'm reacting to high oxalate and High potassium food. High potassium coz my other FM doc gave me a supplement of trace minerals and I was eating lot of bok choy which is high in potassium
15. She ordered a blood work. Blood work didn't show anything about the oxalates and Diabetes but it did show high cholesterol, low iron and signs of prediabetes. My fasting glucose came as 105. I was stressed again. But they assured me that this was temporary because I had not been eating fiber due to SIBO and also there is lack of good bacteria in the gut. So once we heal your gut and populate it with the good bugs. Everything will fall in place. I was relieved a bit.
16. But the war is still on. One more month to go guys! Keeping my fingers crossed! I'm taking Calcium Citrate and Magnesium Citrate to get rid of Oxalates and Tudca for the chest pain. Tudca is used for the release of bile salts from the bile ducts. You need Tudca if you have long burps after heavy meals or belch a lot. Those are signs of liver and gallbladder congestion. Tudca also helps in dissolving the cholesterol stones. You can go for the liver gallbladder test. It's called HIDA SCAN.
Moral of the Story: Again don't rely on doctors solely! Please do your own research and listen to your own body. And YES, one must detoxify their liver and kidneys before starting SIBO or Candida protocol. This is one of the reasons my SIBO kept coming back. How I discovered this problem - When I ate food rich in protein (Tofu, cheese, tempe etc - I recently turned vegetarian) I experienced severe pain in my lower back that traveled up to my shoulder blades and all the way to my neck. Lower back pain is an indication of kidney dysfunction due to eating high protein diet (yes I used to eat meat, steak a lot. also I was on Herbalife Protein shakes that made my condition worse). Mid back pain and pain on the right side right underneath the ribcage is an indication of fatty liver. Now when you are on SIBO treatment, you are asked to follow a protein rich diet along with low FODMAP food. So, my body could not tolerate protein due to liver and gallbladder congestion nor could I eat other vegetables or carbs because it aggravated the reaction immediately. I knew I was stuck in a loop! And, had to do something to break it first because this was hampering the cleaning up of SIBO/SIFO. Another mistake you can make is to take probiotics while you are dealing with SIBO. Stay away from probiotics for it is like adding fuel to the fire. So my doctors had to backup a little, and take a different route in treating my SIBO and SIFO.
I'm extremely grateful to Dr. Sharon (Gut microbiome and Fx medicine specialist) and Jen (My SIBO Specialist) for their relentless support in my healing journey. I wouldn't have made it without their medical guidance and timely emotional/mental support. Special Thanks to Jen for focusing on healing my gut and strengthening my immune system so we could keep SIBO and Candida at bay forever and Dr. Sharon for having a solid plan for me to knock off SIBO and MOULD through antibiotics and antifungals. You need to have a doctor that specializes as MD and functional medicine both. For Functional Medicine doctors alone can not prescribe allopathic antibiotics or antifungals.
However, the complaint I had with my doctors was that they didn't conduct any of the Gastrointestinal Testing to determine Gut Dysbiosis and Candida overgrowth. All they did was a SIBO breath test. And that is not enough! YES you must go for a comprehensive GI stool test. Later I developed intolerance for Histamine and Oxalates by being on a strict Low FODMAP diet. There is a test for all that too. All of the tests that your doctor must run are listed in the Phase 5 of this blog (all the way at the bottom). I heard about these tests accidentally from a lady who is a recent graduate in Functional Medicine and whom I met at a chiropractor clinic. I guess that was universe's way of helping me again! :-)
WHAT IS MOLD INFECTION OR CANDIDA OVERGROWTH?
Yeast infections occur because of an overgrowth of a type of fungus known as Candida. Candida is a stubborn fungal infection that can hijack your entire body. It is an infection that typically affects the skin or the mucous membranes and live in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina. They do so by creating biofilms (building a wall around them) in the human body so they can protect themselves from the body's own immune/defense system. These biofilms also make them resistant to antibiotics and other drugs. There are several causes of Candida infection but the main one is linked to having a Leaky Gut or Intestinal Permeability. This again is linked to having food allergies such as Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Tree Nuts, Pea Nuts etc. Gluten contains a protein that is harsh on the gut. If not digested well can create holes in the gut or rupture the gut lining and cause inflammation as shown in the picture below. This leads to leakage of undigested food particles and bad bugs in the small intestine. These bad bugs then begin to populate in the small intestine which is a wrong place for them to reside because all your nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine. The good place for the good bacteria and fungi to live in is large intestine.
Hence the name SIFO - Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth. If you suspect to suffer from leaky gut, you could be suffering from Systemic Candida infection, just SIFO or SIBO as well. Therefore, dropping the inflammatory foods such as Gluten, Dairy, Peanuts etc should be your first step.
SYMPTOMS OF MOLD INFECTION/CANDIDA OVERGROWTH
Brain Fog
Darkening of skin when you eat sugar or drink alcohol
Vaginal Itching
Intensified Sugar Cravings
Neck/Muscle - stiffness/aches/Pain
Food sensitivity or allergy to gluten, dairy and/or peanuts
Chronic Fatigue
Nutrient Deficiencies
Unexplainable weight gain or weight loss
Inflammation in the body/Burning sensation in the mouth and stomach
Chronic Sinus issues
Skin rashes
Breathing Problem
WHAT ARE BIOFILMS?
The biofilm is a layer of mucus like gooey substance that is secreted by bad bugs, like Candida and other fungus, bacteria, and even viruses, in small and large intestine.
The bad bugs build this gel like layer to protect themselves from our body’s own defense system from attacking them. So it’s like they build a wall or a house for themselves wherein they hide safely. Thus, the bad stuff is “safe” and cause havoc.
Image copied from an unrestricted source - https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/4/4/140
The biofilm is made up of Carbohydrates/Proteins/Fats. In addition, they utilize Magnesium, Calcium and Iron to give it a concrete structure. This is another reason why people become anemic during candida infection. Candida feeds on sugar and iron mainly.
Research studies have shown that Biofilm can grow almost anywhere within the body – your G.I. tract, sinuses, bladder and urinary tract, lungs, arteries, mouth, and eyes and even your skin. Thus, impacting your vital organs and blocking the flow of vital nutrients, blood flow and oxygen to your muscles. For me it hijacked my entire chest area and so I always felt tired, unable to breathe properly, brain fog, blocked sinuses, blurry vision, muscle soreness and stiffness especially in the neck.
How are biofilms formed?
This first step of attachment occurs when the microorganisms produce a gluey substance known as an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). An EPS is a network of sugars, proteins, and nucleic acids (such as DNA). It enables the microorganisms in a biofilm to stick together.
Attachment is followed by a period of growth. Further layers of microorganisms and EPS build upon the first layers. Ultimately leading to a complex 3D structure. During the formation of biofilm, several species of bacteria communicate with one another, and the process is known as quorum sensing.
Read the article here : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2732559/#:~:text=Biofilms%20are%20composed%20primarily%20of,is%20primarily%20composed%20of%20polysaccharides.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) revealed that among all microbial and chronic infections, 65% and 80%, respectively, are associated with biofilm formation.
Read the article here:
Since these bacteria and yeast create a biofilm in your body and start to reside inside that biofilm (symbolic to creating walls for themselves). It is this biofilm that makes them resistant to antibiotics or antimicrobial agents and even the immune system. So, unless this biofilm is disrupted or completely removed, the antibiotics will not prove effective because they can't break down the biofilm and so can't kill or get to the bacteria.Therefore, it’s imperative to consume digestive enzymes that target these biofilms and bring the microbes out in the open. The required enzymes are:
Protein digestion:
Serrapeptase, Nattokinase, Peptidase (DPPIV), Protease AM, Protease 6.0
Fat digestion:
Lipase
Carbohydrate Digestion:
Glucoamylase, Pectinase, Beta-Glucanase, Cellulase,
Alpha-Galactosidase, Amylase, Invertase, Xylanase, Hemicellulase
Once the bad bugs are loosened, We can use “kill supplements” such as anti-fungals or herbal antimicrobials to kill them.
The problem with the bad bugs being killed (dying-off) is that they release lot of toxins. These “hurt” and are called die-off symptoms. These symptoms can be in the form of burning sensation, rashes on the skin, emotional outburst, or feeling low and weak. The process is known as the Herxheimer reaction which means things become worse before they can be healed. So, it is important to detox - to get the toxins out of our body. This is where the liver and kidneys come in. Hence, if you have poor liver or kidney function, you can hurt yourself more.
In addition, our lymphatic system is the channel for transporting these toxins. The toxins can come out of our poop, our pee, our skin and our lungs and sinuses! Hence, the smelly poop, gas, skin rashes and mucus in the poop, sinus drainages and coughing up sputum. Even the eyes and the ears. The problem with our lymphatic system is that it is sluggish. And when it is sluggish, it won’t help in the detox. This is where the bouncing on the trampoline and the dry brushing of the skin and rope jumping comes in. They both move the lymph. Yes, dry brushing of the skin removes the toxin already excreted by the skin. But it is more important that it moves the lymph.
You also want to help the liver. That’s where you do Enema and take NAC – a precursor to Glutathione.
Read an interesting article on how biofilms are formed and how to dissolve them:
Few Important things to be kept in mind about MOLD Toxicity (Ocharatoxin A)
What Is Ochratoxin A?
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by several fungal species. Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by certain molds (fungi). Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin widely found in various foods and feeds that have a deleterious effect on humans and animals. It has been shown that OTA causes multiorgan toxicity, and the kidney is the main target of OTA among them.
What Produces Ochratoxin A?
The following molds produce Ochratoxin A: Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus carbonarius, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium verrucosum. Particularly moulds found in water damaged buildings.
What Foods Are High In Ochratoxin A?
Coffee
Oats and other unprocessed cereals including rye, buckwheat, wheat, maize, millet and barley
Dried vegetables and olives
Smoked and salted dried fish, dried beans, biltong, soya beans, chickpeas, rapeseed, pepper, dried fruit, and sesame seeds, nuts.
Grapes and grape products, including table grapes, wines, and dried vine fruits.
Apples, pears, peaches, citrus, figs, strawberries, mangoes, tomatoes, melons, onions, garlic, and yams.
Cheese, meat products.
Pork
Ochratoxin A And Human Health
Ochratoxin A has been shown to be toxic and carcinogenic in animals and humans.
Kidney is the main target organ for ochratoxin A. The mechanisms of OTA-induced nephrotoxicity include inhibition of protein synthesis, DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and cell apoptosis. OTA is recognized as a strong nephrotoxic on its accumulation in proximal tubule epithelial cells and initiating cellular damage through oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammatory response.
Read the study here: Ochratoxin A-Induced Nephrotoxicity: Up-to-Date Evidence.
Other adverse effects include:
Liver toxicity
Immuno suppressant
Inhibition of macromolecular synthesis
Increased lipid peroxidation (cellular damage)
Inhibits mitochondrial ATP production (affecting energy production)
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified Ochratoxin A as a Group 2B possible human carcinogen, based on demonstrated carcinogenicity in animal studies.
Mechanisms of OTA Toxicity: Read the study here https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2012/835059/
Tissue Distribution, Agents Modulating Toxicity, Exposure to Ochratoxin A from Food, Inhalational Exposure to Ochratoxin A, Ochratoxin and Renal Disease, Ochratoxin and Reproduction, Ochratoxin and the Brain, Ochratoxin and Immunity, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), Human FSGS and Kidney Disease Associated with Ochratoxin A.
After initial exposure from any source, the urinary and fecal excretory routes of OTA are both important with the relative contribution of each dependent upon factors such as route of administration and dose. In the blood, OTA binds to albumin and the bound fraction constitutes a mobile reserve of OTA. The relative contribution of each excretory route is influenced by the degree of serum macromolecular binding as well as differences in the enterohepatic recirculation of OTA. Elimination of OTA in urine and feces is felt to be relatively slow and has been shown to vary by species and gender as well as specific genotype that may affect the biotransformation of OTA.
Enterohepatic Recirculation of OTA is a very IMPORTANT TERM (what does it mean?)
(Google definition) Enterohepatic circulation refers to the circulation of biliary acids, bilirubin, drugs or other substances from the liver to the bile, followed by entry into the small intestine, absorption by the enterocyte and transport back to the liver. Enterohepatic circulation is an especially important concept in the field of toxicology as many lipophilic xenobiotics undergo this process causing repeated liver damage.
In case of OTA toxicity, mycotoxins are secreted in the bile acids. These bile acids are produced by liver and stored in the gallbladder. The bile acids are recirculated and reabsorbed by the liver 95% of the time. As a result only 5% of the pure bile is available. So the mycotoxins hang around the Liver and gallbladder area hampering their function to produce bile and leading to clogging of the bile due to the obstruction of bile salts. In some cases this can also lead to cholesterol or gallbladder stones. Just because the bile becomes thick sitting in the gallbladder and is seldomly released due to mycotoxin obstruction. Therefore, making sure that toxins are not reabsorbed in the body is very important. To attain this - drugs like cholestyramine is used. Sequestering binders are used and phosphatidylcholine that thins up the bile and removes it from the gallbladder is used. All of these are discussed below in detail (check out the phases of eradication section)
If elevated levels of urinary OTA are found, there are a number of safe treatments that should be considered to lower the body burden of this mycotoxin. The most important are the avoidance of further exposure and the use of the bile acid resin binding agent, cholestyramine, to decrease enterohepatic recirculation of OTA. Studies have shown that animals fed a diet of OTA plus cholestyramine had a significant shift of OTA from the plasma and urine to the stool, where it is presumably excreted bound to cholestyramine. This will safely reduce the burden on the kidneys as cholestyramine is not absorbed systemically and remains in the gastrointestinal tract. Side effects, which are primarily limited to the gastrointestinal tract, must be considered as well as the timing of cholestyramine away from medications and vitamins, primarily fat soluble vitamins. Many patients tolerate the pure resin better than the commercial prescription prepared with sugar, artificial colors, and a number of additives. As a number of patients with kidney disease also have hyperlipidemia, cholestyramine could potentially beneficial for its lipid lowering effect.
However, some are against the use of Cholestyramine drug because of its potential side effects and instead recommend using Guggulsterone.
Guggulsterone
A lesser known mycotoxin binder is guggulsterone. Guggul is made from the gum resin of the guggul tree, which is a tree native to India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and is used for issues such as acne, weight loss, atherosclerosis, rheumatism, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity. Guggulsterone, which is found in guggul, is the bioactive element that allows guggul’s therapeutic effects.
Guggulsterone is able to upregulate the bile salt export pump in the liver, which removes bile acids from the liver. Mycotoxins are found in these bile acids, so guggulsterone can effectively remove these mycotoxins through its elimination of the bild acids.
Read the article here: MOLD DETOX
Another caution that follows with Mold or Candida infection is formation of Kidney stones. Yes, excess of growth of yeast leads to formation of oxalates in the body. How can you tell? If you feel some sort of poking in the eye, irritation in the eye, that's a symptom of kidney stones. To confirm the presence of stones go for a urine test. There are three types of kidney stones - Uric acid stones, Oxalates stones and Calcium Stones. If you suspect the presence of any of these during mold/Candida infection, you will have to modify your diet. This means now you have to eat to protect your kidneys - that is low sodium, low phosphorus and low potassium with a limited amount of Protein. Drink plenty of water and juices to stay hydrated. Dehydration and lack of Calcium are the two causes of formation of stones. Eat low oxalate foods; and if you eat high oxalate food then eat cheese with. The calcium in the cheese will bind to the oxalates and remove it from the body. For this - supplements recommended are Calcium Citrate and Magnesium Citrate.
IF you are dealing with the problem of kidney stones and are seeking help on eating a correct diet and in detail information to deal with your kidney problems in general as in what to eat, how much to eat whether eat plant based diet or a carnivore diet, the links below are of great benefit!
MICHELE CROSMER, RD, CSR - a Registered Dietitian and renal nutrition expert
The KIDNEY DIETICIAN - Prevent Kidney stones with personalized nutrition
Books I recommend to read:
Break the Mold By Dr. Jill Crista
The Wahls Protocol By Terry Wahls, MD - a must read
Acid Watchers Diet by Dr. Aviv
Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz
Foods to eat on a Candida/Mold Diet:
Non-Starchy vegetables - Asparagus, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, kale, celery (be careful celery is high fodmap), cucumber, eggplant, onion, spinach, zucchini, tomatoes, artichokes, bell peppers, cauliflower (be careful cauliflower and onions are high fodmap)
Gluten free grains - Millets (5 types of positive millets - Foxtail, barnyard, browntop, little and Kodo millet), quinoa, oats, Black gram flour (besan), simple kneads bread, you can do sorghum flour also
High quality protein - Chicken, eggs, salmon, turkey, sardines and rib-eye (grass fed and grass finish) Note - I became Vegan so I did it on a vegetarian diet because if you have mould toxicity - meat is hard for the kidneys to digest
Healthy fats - Use Avocado or coconut oil for cooking, use olive oil only for salad dressings (never heat olive oil or pour it in hot dishes), flax oil, hemp oil and sesame oil, non dairy products such as cultured butter, ghee, soy/coconut yogurt, cheese is good too coz it contains its own microbes
Herbs and spices - Black pepper, salt, cinnamon, dill, garlic, ginger, oregano, rosemary, paprika, turmeric, thyme, coriander and basil, onions are great in killing yeast
Condiments - Apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, limes, lemons
No-sugar sweeteners - Stevia, Erythritol, allulose and Xylitol - Xylitol is the preferred sweetner on a candida diet - https://youtu.be/ohyiVI6IVBQ - check out this you tube video
Non-caffeinated beverages - Herbal tea like organic throat tea, chamomile tea, chicory coffee, homemade almond milk, filtered water, water infused with lemon, echinacea tea, hibiscus tea are the preferred options
Foods to avoid on a Candida/Mold Diet:
High Sugar Fruits - Avoid All fruits - you can have berries in small amounts but remember Mould feeds on sugar. Include fruits that are good for your kidneys like blueberries, grapes, cherries, and pineapple
Grains that contain Gluten - Wheat, Rye, Barley and Spelt, White flour, Breads
Certain Meats - I recommend you go plant based and do your liver and kidneys a favor
Refined oils and Fats - Vegetable oil, Canola oil, Soybean oil, Sunflower oil, or Margarine
Condiments - Ketchup, soy sauce, white vinegar, BBQ sauce, Horseradish or Mayonnaise
Certain dairy products - Cheese, Milk and Cream
Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners - Aspartame, agave, cane sugar, corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, molasses and table sugar
Nuts and seeds higher in mold - Peanuts, cashews, pecans, and pistachios
Nuts and seeds low in mold - Almonds, sunflower seeds, coconut or flaxseed and pumpkin seeds
Caffeine, alcohol and sugary beverages - Caffeinated teas, coffee, energy drinks, sodas, fruit juices, beer, wine etc.
How I overcame Candida/Mold completely?
Getting rid of mould infection involves 5 Steps:
Phase 1 - Open the drainage pathways
Phase 2 - Break open the biofilm
Phase 3 - Yeast Eradication Phase
Phase 4 - Heal the Gut
Phase 5 - Add Probiotics plus Fiber
PHASE 1 - OPEN THE DRAINAGE PATHWAYS - (Time period - 2 months)
This step is the most important step in your healing journey. During Candida/SIBO infection you are likely to suffer from constipation or diarrhea. Irregular bowel movements can enhance the infection and make it worse. SIBO or Candida is actually a manifestation of improper elimination of waste from the body. The undigested food matter or an un-excreted waste sitting in G.I. tract, if not eliminated regularly, becomes an ideal fuel for bad bugs to feed and thrive upon. Therefore, having at-least one bowel movement per day is crucial. To ensure this it's important to have your MMC (Migrating Motor Complex) functioning properly. The MMC is designed to move the matter through your digestive tract. Pushing food and other particles through the gut, the migrating motor complex keeps you regular and helps to prevent gut infections like SIBO and Candida. It's a crucial component of any healthy digestive tract.
The migrating motor complex (MMC) is a cyclic, recurring motility pattern that occurs in the stomach and small bowel during fasting; it is interrupted by feeding. Absence of an active MMC has been associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
Read the Article on MMC here - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22450306/
A. For regular elimination of bowels - use the following options:
Plain Water Enema - My personal preference (did two bags everyday) or dulcolax/bisacodyl suppository
Coffee Enema - You can buy enema kit on amazon or a coffee suppository
Triphala by organic India - (available on amazon) This is a great pro-kinetic. I used this everyday at night - 2 capsules open and mixed into water. you can mix it with a teaspoon of olive oil to lubricate the colon if you feel your body is too dry.
Motility activator by Integrative Therapeutics
Senna leaf tea (amazon) - this is also great but can make your body dry so be careful
Magnesium oxide (amazon) - draws water into the colon - didn't work much for me
Psyllium husk - I added this to my diet after I got rid of SIBO. If you have symptoms of SIBO/IBS - stay away from fiber. Candida does not feed on fiber.
Meditation and other relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or yoga are really helpful for supporting gut health and MMC function
Activating the Vagus Nerve is a must! - What is a Vagus nerve and how to activate it?
Google Definition - The vagus nerve, also known as the vagal nerves, are the main nerves of your parasympathetic nervous system. This system controls specific body functions such as your digestion, heart rate and immune system. These functions are involuntary, meaning you can't consciously control them. Vagus Nerve is the biggest nerve in the body that is connected to the main organs in the body.
How to activate - Vagus Nerve? Copy and Paste it in your browser and click download:
NOTE - Candida/Mold/Yeast does not feed on fiber!
So adding a PSYLLIUM HUSK/Flax seed powder if you don't have SIBO or IBS can be a great source of moving stuff in the intestines swiftly.
Psyllium comes from the plantain plant (not related to the banana-like plantain), and was originally used in Persia and India. The Psyllium husk is a great source of water-soluble fiber that expands to several times its original size when mixed with water. It quickly transforms from powder form into a gooey substance called mucilage.
This mucilage moves through your colon, bulking up and softening your stool. As it does so, it improves your transit time and eliminates the breeding ground for pathogens like Candida. It might even help to loosen some of the Candida biofilms that line your intestinal walls.
Overall, psyllium is an effective and healthy way to promote regular bowel movements, without the cramps that laxatives can cause. However, if you suffer from IBS or a similar digestive condition, you may find that psyllium causes irritation.
B. Keep the Drainage Channels open - once the Body is triggered or attacked with detox/kill supplements - it tries to push the toxic stuff out of eyes, nose, ears, skin and via urine/excretion. This is where Liver and Kidneys play a huge role. Therefore, keeping the drainage channels open and up in functioning is the key in eliminating toxins efficiently.
Skin - Dry skin brushing, Epsom Salt Bath, sauna are great options of opening up the pores of the skin and letting toxins out
Liver and Kidney - Liver is the biggest detoxifying organ in our body. It performs over 500 functions in the body. It's job is to detoxify toxins from the body; and kidney's job is to filter blood and excrete those toxins. Gut dysbiosis leads to leaky gut. Leaky gut leads to candida. Candida leads to intense sugar cravings. High sugar diet makes your body insulin resistance, which is detrimental to liver and kidney functioning. The excess insulin is dumped on the visceral organs of your body such as - Ovaries leading to PCOS, Liver - making it fatty and sluggish thus causing Thyroid, kidneys leading to high blood pressure and type 2 Diabetes etc. Therefore, detoxifying the liver and kidney must be the first step.
Liver and Kidney detoxifying options - Epsom Salt bath, Castor oil packs, Liver detox by Bioray, Milk thistle, Dandelion/Parsley/artichoke extract (ask your doctor - there are tons of liver detox supplements out there), NAC by Integrative Therapeutics, Kidney Liver (KL) Support by Cell Core.
I personally used liver detox by Bioray and KL support by Cell Core and castor oil packs.
Because KL support is beneficial in 3 ways - it contains:
a. NAC - which is a strong biofilm disruptor and detoxifier. NAC - N-acetylcysteine has an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating characteristics. Caution - It is a prescribed drug and must be taken under a supervision of Functional medicine doctor.
b. Liver and kidney detox herbs such as marshmallow root, parsley leaf and Beetroot, Milk Thistle
Note: you must add NAC to your treatment protocol for NAC has anti-microbial and anti-biofilm properties. Also, the sulfhydryl component of the NAC acts as a precursor for glutathione synthesis which is used by body as an antioxidant and detoxification agent.
Read the article here : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7409114/
3. Lymphatic drainage - Use trampoline or go for a lymphatic massage or do rope jumping to have your lymph nodes open. Because (google definition) Lymph nodes filter substances that travel through the lymphatic fluid, and they contain lymphocytes (white blood cells) that help the body fight infection and disease. There are hundreds of lymph nodes found throughout the body.
4. Chiropractic adjustments - during and after are very helpful. It helps in releasing the stuck IC valve and fix your Hiatal Hernia if you have any. The ileocecal (IC ) valve is a sphincter muscle situated at the junction of the ileum (last portion of your small intestine) and the colon (first portion of your large intestine). It's function is to allow digested food materials to pass from the small intestine into your large intestine and prevent the backflow.
Google definition - This defective ICV/cecal distension reflex may cause SIBO and IBS like symptoms due to reflux of fecal flora and the production of gas within the small intestine and/or the production of gas within the colon, with reflux of the gas into the small intestine.
How do you know if you have an IC valve dysfunction? The Symptoms are:
Right side pelvic or shoulder pain, chronic sinuses or dripping sinuses, sharp or pinpoint headaches especially on the left side, Nausea, sudden/stabbing/sharp Low back pain or leg pain that feels like disc pain, Pain surrounding the heart, Tinnitus, Nausea, Bad breath, asthma like symptoms, dark circle under the eyes and puffy cheeks.
You can get it tested by a chiropractor/applied Kinesiologist or do it yourself by watching
this you tube video: https://youtu.be/ATmSVdeSo_U
How do you know if you have Hiatal Hernia? The Symptoms are:
Heartburn, Regurgitation of food or liquids into the mouth, Backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus (acid reflux), Difficulty swallowing, Chest or abdominal pain, Feeling full soon after you eat, Shortness of breath, Vomiting of blood or passing of black stools, which may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding. The test for this is endoscopy or colonoscopy.
PHASE 2 - BREAK OPEN THE BIOFILM (Time Period - 3 weeks - this can be merged with the 2nd month of Phase 1)
Open the biofilm - This phase can take up-to 3 to 4 weeks depending on the severity of the condition. I have had Candida and SIBO for about 10 years or more. So my case was severe. Hence, it took me about two months to just open the biofilm. Biofilms are made of proteins and sugars. Bad bugs also use - Calcium, Magnesium and Iron to give it a concrete structure. You must use Digestive Enzymes - that contain Protease Enzymes such as Serrapeptase, Protease S, Cellulase, Hemicellulase, Glucoamylase, Amylase, Lipase.
A. Add a biofilm disruptor:
1. NAC - is a strong biofilm disruptor and detoxifier.
NAC - N-acetyl-cysteine has an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating characteristics. Caution - It is a prescribed drug and must be taken under the supervision of a skilled Functional medicine doctor.
Note: you must add NAC to your treatment protocol for NAC has anti-microbial and anti-biofilm properties. Also, the sulfhydryl component of the NAC acts as a precursor for glutathione synthesis which is used by body as an antioxidant and detoxification agent.
Read the article here : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7409114/
Good options of NAC are:
a. NAC by Integrative Therapeutics
b. KL support by Cell Core also contains NAC and liver/kidney support ingredients.
c. Interface plus by Klaire labs - contains biofilm opening enzymes
d. Biofilm defense by Kirkman - contains biofilm disrupting enzymes
2. Biofilm Phase - 2 advanced by Priority One - This helps in breaking down the mature biofilms.
Also, contains ALA - which helps in protecting the Myelin sheath (that forms around nerves in case of brain and spinal cord) in case of Peripheral Neuropathy in people suffering from Type - 2 Diabetes. This product also contains black cumin which acts as a binder for binding to the toxins and removing them.
I took both - NAC + Transformation digestive enzymes + Biofilm Phase 2 Advanced + Sometimes Serrapeptase separately. Serrapeptase is very potent in breaking down biofilms and plaque build ups in body.
However, I personally recommend taking a strong digestive enzymes like ATP pro by Enzymedica and candidease for it contains strong amounts of amylase and protease that are helpful in breaking down the biofilm layer of the candida/mould
B. Add digestive enzymes to your diet - Good options are:
1. Enzymedica ATP Pro digest gold - These are the best I could found. They have high amylase and Protease content.
2. Holozyme by Healthy Gut - These contain brush border enzymes. Little pricey but very effective.
3. Digestive enzymes by Transformation are also good (prescribed by my FX med doctor) - I used this for the 1st phase for its potent in breaking down the biofilm. But it has a strong amylase content that makes you wanna eat more carbs and carbs are not good for candida treatment. So I switched to another digestive enzymes called Vegaenzyme in the 2nd phase.
4. Plant based Vegaenzyme - I used vegaenzyme for 3 reasons (in the 2nd phase) - one they are plant based, two - they are not crazy strong as other digestive enzymes on the market so they won't skyrocket your appetite. You will be able to enjoy a healthy amount of meal without feeling half done or feeling hungry soon later. Three - they contain Serrapeptase - the enzyme that's crucial in breaking down the biofilm. It acts like a pac man chewing up the biofilm. These also contain Nattokinase which efficiently breaks down the strep biofilm and blood clots - "Nattokinase is particularly good at degrading strep biofilms and I think that strep is a very big player in children's health."(credit - Clinical education article on how to dissolve biofilms) Read the article here:
Digestive enzymes: https://www.clinicaleducation.org/?s=digestive+enzymes
Dissolve Biofilms: https://www.clinicaleducation.org/?s=dissolve+biofilms
C. Add Apple Cider Vinegar or Betaine Hydrochloride tablets and OX BILE- to increase your stomach acid. Hydrochloric acid present in stomach is very acidic with a pH of 1-3. This is required to kill those bad bugs that enter your stomach with food, also helps in digesting the food better. I used Apple Cider Vinegar tablets by Puritan's Pride - half a tablet was more than enough. and Betaine HCL by Premier labs (1 to 2 tabs) and OX bile by Seeking health (empty stomach 1 tab)
D. Eat Low FODMAP food during Phase 1 and Phase 2 (Here is the list). Eat high FODMAP during Phase 3.
Copy and Paste it in your browser and click download: https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/072i19ZyY-7UWyvzK3IT-7PYA#Low-FODMAP_Food-Plan_BRFINAL
E. Drink H.Pylori/Chamomile tea - Available here - https://herbsofthesaints.com/
Make this tea a part of your daily regimen, regardless of, if you have H.Pylori or not. This tea is a blend of - Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Thyme (thymon), Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita), Peppermint (Mentha ×piperita) out of which Echinacea herb has the anti-fungal properties specifically! Because of it's antifungal and antibacterial properties this tea hugely helps in getting rid of Candida and SIBO. Additionally it has properties like - Prevents flatulence and constipation, has a calming and anesthetic effect, improves appetite, accelerates the healing of wounds, ulcers and herpes, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect, antioxidant, regenerates the skin, relieves acute cough, enhances the overall immunity, relaxes the smooth muscles of the digestive system.
F. Add a Plant based multivitamin - I used a multivitamin by Naturelo, Rainbow lights women's multivitamin and B complex by Thorne and liposomal vitamin C. Extra B and C vitamins are needed for they are water soluble and you could easily lose them while detoxifying your body. Also, it helps in mental clarity and enhancing energy. Add Vitamin A, D and K also for strengthening your immune system.
G. Take L-Glutamine powder - to heal your leaky gut - I used L-glutamine by Nutricost. One scoop contains 5g or 5000mg - thats too much! Take only half a scoop once a day. Excess of L-glutamine can cross the blood brain barrier and cause stress and anxiety.
PHASE 3 - ERADICATION PHASE (Time Period 2 to 4 weeks)
YAASSS!! IT'S TIME TO KILL THE BAD BUGS!
Now that the biofilm is open - Use Herbal Antimicrobials or Allopathic Antibiotics to kill them. At this point add High FODMAP food. The idea is to make the bugs active so they come out of their shell and can be killed. This phase lasts for two weeks if using Allopathic Antibiotics and for 4 weeks if using Herbal Antimicrobials.
a. Allopathic Antifungal - Fluconazole or Diflucan for two weeks
b. Herbal Antimicrobials - Oregano by ADP, Pau Darco, Echinacea herb tea, Candibactin AR containing Berberine, SF722 by Thorne are good options - for four weeks
As bad bugs are killed, they release toxins and gases. These bio-toxins if not removed immediately can get reabsorbed in the body as and cause more problems. Therefore, It is imperative to remove these toxins (also known as endotoxins) immediately. To remove toxins we add a binder - EDTA or Activated Charcoal. EDTA is a well known chelating agent for heavy metals, biofilms and plaque buildup. Fulvic acid and cumin also act as binders. Activated charcoal has a firm history in its ability to attract and expel ingested toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. Charcoal also reduces gas and bloating produced as a side effect during the dying of microbes. These are called Die-off symptoms. However, a caution with activated charcoal is that it binds to food nutrients too. Therefore, it must be taken 2 to 3 hours away from food.
a. Activated Charcoal by Integrative Therapeutics
b. GI DETOX by Banyan Botanicals is my favorite. It contains Zeolite clay, chlorella and activated charcoal all in one.
c. EDTA - the chelating agent
d. Black cumin present in Biofilm phase 2 advanced also act as a binder
e. Fulvic acid present in KL support by Cell Core
f. CCF tea - Mix one teaspoon of Coriander seeds , one teaspoon of Cumin seeds and one teaspoon of fennel seeds in hot water and let it steep for 5 to 20 mins. Sieve that water and drink it atleast 2 to 3 times a day. It's a great herbal binder for the toxins if you do not want to take capsules.
Remember to clear your bowels everyday at this point (using enema or suppository). I did enema first thing in the morning every single day to make sure the dead microbes were out of my system. I also scheduled Hydro colon Therapy sessions after getting rid of SIBO and Mould. You can do it in the middle of the protocol too.
NOTE - YOU ARE ALSO LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE AN HERXHEIMER REACTION at this point!
Google definition: Herxheimer or Herx Reactions are a short-term (from days to a few weeks) detoxification reaction in the body. As the body detoxifies, it is common to experience flu-like symptoms including headache, joint and muscle pain, body aches, sore throat, skin rashes, sweating, chills, nausea, or other symptoms. These temporary side effects are believed to be a form of 'Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction', a phenomenon first identified by physicians when giving antibiotic treatment for syphilis.
Basically it's a healing crisis detox reaction in which the symptoms briefly worsen before beginning to improve. You may also call it as detox or a cleansing reaction. Personally I experienced headaches, muscle and joint pain, body aches, feeling of being lost, became more emotionally volatile, low energy and severe tiredness. If you experience any of these symptoms, it means the protocol is working and that you are on the right track. Some people get scared and give up too early. Don't give up! Let it happen! Those are all positive signs indicating biofilm disruption and dying-off bad bugs. But of-course if you experience something crazy that feels unbearable or out of control, rush to the ER (Emergency Room) immediately. Don't try to remediate a situation by self-medicating.
PHASE 4 - HEAL THE GUT
Now after completing Phase 3 if you feel like your SIBO and Candida are cleared out completely, don't think you are ready to eat anything and everything! NO NOT YET! Because we still need to heal your gut and the intestinal lining from all the damage those bad bugs did. Therefore, gut healing should be the topmost priority before throwing in the Probiotics and HIGHFODMAP food. I did make this mistake! I ate a chocolate cake and gluten tortilla right after completing my course of antibiotics and Hydro-colon therapy. Because I was certain my SIBO was gone. Yes the SIBO was gone but the Candida/Mould was still there. The chocolate cake and gluten flared up the reaction again. and I was down to following the protocol again. So don't make this mistake! Have patience! Focus on healing the gut first before inoculating it with probiotics. Probiotics also thrive well when given the right environment in the gut. Fiber feeds good bacteria, Sugar feeds the bad bacteria. Understand every disease begins in the gut. In our gut we have both good bacteria and good fungi. There are also trillions of viruses present. Candida/SIBO are the result of gut dysbiosis - meaning your gut microbiome is disrupted and there is limited gut flora to digest your food. Gut dysbiosis often happens due to leaky gut and leaky gut can result from multiple factors such as Gluten and Dairy sensitivity, frequent consumption of antibiotics, processed and junk food, surgery, excessive use of laxatives etc.
Gut Healing/Intestinal lining supportive nutrients:
a) Add - Aloe, Marshmallow root, slippery elm, DGL tea -
- Organic Throat Tea on amazon is a good choice.
- GI Encap by Thorne is also a good choice - you can open this capsule and mix in water.
c) Key Nutrients - Vitamin A+D3+K2 and Zinc/Copper combo, add a multivitamin (Naturello) plus B-complex (By Thorne) for energy and clarity
d) Consider IV nutrient therapy at-least twice for a better Post Candida/SIBO recovery
e) Keep going for Chiropractic adjustments during and after the treatment.
PHASE 5 - ADD PROBIOTICS AND FIBER
Healing the gut is very important before adding in probiotics. Most doctors and people make this mistake of adding probiotics right after antibiotic treatment. It is not a good move to make. Because your gut is still damaged from SIBO and Candida infection. And probiotics are good bacteria which need the right kind of environment to thrive in. Therefore, providing them the right soil by soothing your gut first is very important. Fiber feeds good bacteria and sugar feeds bad bugs. Different probiotic strains require different types of fiber. So adding in the right kind of fiber in order to help the good bacteria grow and multiply is also crucial.
Probiotics I took: Took one of each on alternate days to grow my gut flora slowly and gradually
a. Physicians choice 60 billion Probiotic (10 strains) - available on Amazon - The Best for bowel regularity. Very gentle on the stomach - My favorite - open the capsule and put it in the juice or moringa powder - take it every day
b. BIOHM Total Probiotic (Good Bacteria + Good Fungi) - Took every day
c. Saccharomyces Boulardii by Seeking Health (5 Billion CFU) - Took every day
d. Silver Fern Ultimate Probiotic (8 billion CFU) - Sometimes
e. Enzymedica Digest Gold + Probiotics or other enzymedica enzymes that you prefer
f. VSL3 - 450 billion strain - available on amazon
g. Biokult available on amazon
Fiber - Psyllium Husk and Sun fiber and Inulin and Flax seed and Chia Seed
To determine what bacteria or good fungi are lacking in your gut specifically and what do you need to populate your gut with, talk to your Functional Medicine Practitioner about ordering these tests:
1. Link for GI effects - comprehensive stool profile - by Genova Diagnostics
3. GI Effects Gut Pathogen Profile by Genova
4. Microbial Ecology Profile by Genova
5. Link for the GPL Mycotoxin Test - by Great Plaines
6. Link for GPL Organic Acid (OATS) Test (This is an organic acid test in case you have oxalates)
7. Candida IgA, IgM, IgG
NOTE : Most doctors recommend Megaspore probiotics. Do not take Megaspore probiotics. Because it contains a strain called - Bacillus Licheniformis that is highly detrimental to your vital organs such as Heart and Brain. Check out this review by a lady on taking Megaspore probiotics
What probiotics are good for you? Read the articles below:
1. ‘Hold Off on Soil Based Probiotics,’ says Gastroenterologist
2. The complete guide to soil-based probiotics
3. The Facts On Soil Based Probiotics Uses, Benefits And Side Effects
NOTE : Also read another post linked to this article - "How healing my fears helped me heal my chronic diseases" - The Spiritual Aspect of IBS issues if goes unaddressed makes it keep coming back!!
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