Archive for the ‘Gut Health’ Category

Tick-Borne Illnesses and the Gut: A Fascinating Look At Their Link

https://www.jillcarnahan.com/2023/05/23/tick-borne-illnesses-and-the-gut-a-fascinating-look-at-their-link/

Tick-Borne Illnesses and the Gut: A Fascinating Look at Their Link

Jill Carnahan, MD ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP

What comes to mind when you think of a bug bite? Chances are a disrupted digestive system isn’t the first thing that pops into your head.

But certain bug bites (like those that come from ticks) can have some serious consequences for your health – triggering a slew of differing infections known as tick-borne diseases or tick-borne illnesses. And one such consequence that these tick-borne diseases can cause, is a dramatically negative impact on the health of your gut.

Today we’re going to explore exactly what tick-borne diseases are, the gut-related (and non-gut-related) symptoms they can cause, zoom in on exactly how these microbes harm your digestive tract, and most importantly – review what you can do if you suspect you’ve been exposed to any of these gut-damaging pathogens. Let’s dive in.  (See link for article)

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diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Herbs, Lyme, Supplements

The Important Connection Between COVID Infection, Injection, and Bacteria

http://  Approx. 24 Min

Connection Between COVID & Bacteria

July 21, 2024

By Dr. McMillan

Discover the mind-blowing connection between COVID-19 and bacteria in this shocking video.

Learn about the surprising ways in which the virus can infect bacteria and gain valuable insights into this fascinating phenomenon. Petrillo, Mauro, et al. “Increase of SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in faecal samples prompts for rethinking of SARS-CoV-2 biology and COVID-19 epidemiology.” F1000Research 10 (2021). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti…  From study:

Discussion

Our observations are compatible with a ‘bacteriophage-like’ behaviour of SARS-CoV-2, which, to our knowledge has not been observed or described before. These results are unexpected and hint towards a novel hypothesis on the biology of SARS-CoV-2 and on the COVID-19 epidemiology. The discovery of possible new modes of action of SARS-CoV-2 has far-reaching implications for the prevention and the treatment of the disease.

This 2021 study shows how COVID was being found in stool and that the microbiome could be involved.

Researchers then designed a test to cultivate the microbiome from infected people and looked at the viral load.  Since it is known that the virus first infects the mucosa in the upper airways, the first priority should be protecting the airways from infection.  Once it infects and breaks through the mucosal barrier and either gets into the bloodstream or the lymphatic system, it will then circulate through the whole body causing sickness.  It then heads to the intestines because there’s a lot of Ace2 receptors it can bind to and then infect cells in the small and large intestines to then replicate.

This paper highlights how COVID is being driven from the gut.

Previously, the researchers were finding abnormal bacterial toxins in the stool, blood, and urine from both infection and the gene therapy injection.

Research has shown that gut symptoms are associated with severe COVID.  Scientists and physicians have even formed a consensus for a list of non-prescription agents for COVID prophylaxis and symptom de-escalation of which the top four consist of vitamins C & D, zinc, and quercetin.

Dr. Sabine Hazan has shown that some of the good bacteria (bifido) get completely wiped out after infection and injection.  This bacteria is imperative to break down vegetable matter in the gut.  This decimation could then allow the overgrowth of the toxins that cause C. Diff and strep infections. She has since developed and patented treatment protocols combining vitamins and drugs that increase bifidobacteria including vitamin C, vitamin D, HCQ, and ivermectin.

 

Category:

Activism, Gut Health, research, Supplements, Treatment, vaccines, Viruses

Guide to Kill & Prevent Yeast

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/kills-yeast-a-brief-guideKills & Prevents Yeast: A Brief Guide

Updated: 7/15/24

By Dr. Marty Ross

The Problem with Intestinal Yeast and Lyme, Bartonella or Babesia Treatment

Too many yeast in the intestines (yeast overgrowth) is a common problem that occurs in those with chronic Lyme disease, Bartonella, and Babesia. This problem occurs during treatment, or prior to beginning treatment. Prescription antibiotics, and to a much lesser degree herbal antibiotics, lead to intestinal yeast excess. Immune suppression prior to starting antibiotics can also cause yeast overgrowth.

The Problem. Yeast overgrowth can result in an ongoing systemic allergic reaction to the yeast that can suppress the immune system. Yeast overgrowth also leads to inflammatory cytokine excess that causes many of the Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia symptoms and pain. Food allergies and sensitivities are the result of yeast overgrowth, too. Learn more about cytokines in Control Cytokines: A Guide to Fix Lyme Symptoms & The Immune System.

In this article, I lay out several natural and prescription medicine options to treat yeast and to prevent future problems with yeast overgrowth. These options have three basic steps using a feed, seed and weed approach. For best results take the feed, seed and weed steps simultaneously and throughout treatment.

  • Feed your intestinal microbiome to promote gut health;
  • Seed your intestinal microbiome with the right probiotic based on your intestinal health; and
  • Weed your intestinal microbiome to decrease your intestinal yeast germ load.

How to Diagnose Yeast Overgrowth in Lyme Disease

For information about diagnosing too many yeast, read A Silent Problem—Is It Yeast?

Step 1. Feed your intestinal microbiome with polyphenols and prebiotic fibers *

It is important to do the actions in Step 1. throughout your herbal or prescription antibiotic treatment with or without intestinal yeast overgrowth.

Option 1. Use Supplements

  • Polyphenol 2 capsules one time a day. I prefer Polyphenol Booster by Pendulum.*
  • Prebiotic non-digestible sugars 1 to 2 pills 3 times a day. I prefer MegaPre by Multibiome Labs.*

Option 2. Eat a Plant-forward Whole Food Diet

  • Include polyphenols and prebiotic plant fibers in your diet by eating a whole food diet rich in colorful berries and fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. Aim for at least 30 grams of plant-based fiber a day which you can track using an app like MyFitnessPal or by having at least 5 servings a day of the various foods types listed above. In choosing a whole-foods plant-forward diet, it is ok to use animal proteins or plant-based proteins for your protein source.

Here are some resources to help you eat a plant-forward whole food diet.

An elimination diet is another diet to consider starting if you are very reactive to several foods. For detailed information, see Elimination Diet to Find Food Problems.  (See link for article)

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**Comment**

Excellent information.  I caution on an entirely vegan diet.  I have found food choice to be extremely important to healing, but every patient is different in what they can tolerate.  If you are unequipped on this topic, consider going to a nutritionist and/or a naturopath who is at least Lyme-friendly, and very experienced.  This topic alone can make THE difference in your journey.  Don’t underestimate it.

Category:

Candida, diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Herbs, Inflammation, Lyme, Prevention, Supplements, Testing, Treatment

Nine Treatments for MCAS

https://www.lymedisease.org/members/lyme-times/special-issues/mast-cell/nine-treatments-mcas/

Nine Treatments for Mast Cell Activation SyndromeManaging MCAS requires a trial-and-error approach; experimenting with these suggestions to see what works best for you

By Jill Carnahan, MD

While there is no cure for MCAS, that certainly doesn’t mean you’re simply at the mercy of your misbehaving mast cells. There are a number of tools you can put into place that can work in conjunction to minimize or even eradicate symptoms and help restore balance to your immune system.

Because each person grappling with MCAS is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment strategy. Rather, managing MCAS requires a trial-and-error approach – experimenting with different treatments and lifestyle tweaks to see what works best for you.

SO IF YOU’RE TRYING TO FIND RELIEF FROM MCAS SYMPTOMS, HERE’S WHAT I RECOMMEND:
TREATMENT 1:

Eat a Low-Histamine Diet

low-histamine dietHistamine is one of the primary pro-inflammatory mediators released when mast cells degranulate. So, getting your histamine levels under control is a top priority. One way to do this is by following a “low-histamine diet” – an elimination diet that aims to minimize the amount of histamine you ingest from foods and beverages.

While reducing high-histamine foods can be helpful, the best way to truly identify and track which foods may be a trigger, is to keep a daily log of what you’re eating and drinking and the severity of your symptoms. This will help you identify any patterns and more easily recognize foods that may be contributing to your symptoms. As someone who’s had to work through my own personal food sensitivities, I promise taking the time to get to the bottom of this is worth it.

TREATMENT 2:

Use a DAO Enzyme Supplement

Diamine oxidase (DAO) is the main enzyme responsible for degrading histamine. However, if you’re not producing enough of this crucial enzyme, histamine can begin to accumulate and run amok – triggering many of the symptoms associated with MCAS.

mast cell treatment DAO

That’s where DAO supplements come in. DAO supplements increase the DAO levels in the digestive tract – reducing the level of histamine entering the bloodstream and floating around in your body which can provide some relief from the symptoms associated with histamine overload.

There are a number of DAO supplements available over the counter, but be careful – ordering from Amazon may be convenient, but it’s also where fake and/or poor quality supplements run galore. (See my website for supplements I approve of.)

TREATMENT 3:

Incorporate Antihistamines and Mast Cell Stabilizers

mast cell treatment natural stabilizersWhile DAO supplements are excellent for reducing the amount of histamine absorbed from the food you ingest, these mighty supplements are unable to enter your bloodstream to reduce the amount of histamine produced within your body. This means that excess histamine produced by your own cells needs to be addressed by other methods. Which is where natural antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers can be useful:

ANTIHISTAMINES:

These compounds bind to histamine receptors – essentially blocking histamine from binding to receptors and triggering symptoms. You’ve likely heard of the common over-the-counter antihistamine Benadryl which can be great for immediate relief but can also cause you to build tolerance and require more and more to get the same relief. Some better options to focus on are natural sources of antihistamines like:

mast cell treatment natural antihistamines

  • Vitamin C
  • Stinging nettle
  • Butterbur
  • Bromelain
  • Local raw honey
  • Probiotics
  • Astragalus

These natural antihistamines can help soothe symptoms and naturally reduce histamine levels.

MAST CELL STABILIZERS:

Mast cell stabilizers prevent degranulation and stabilize your mast cells. A few well-known, natural compounds that exhibit mast cell stabilizing activities include:

  • Quercetin
  • Resveratrol
  • Luteolin
  • Curcumin

But the truth is, having to take a conglomeration of antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers (on top of potential DAO supplements) can get expensive and overwhelming. To get relief without the expense or headache, I recommend a blend of flavonoids, antioxidants, enzymes, and botanicals that can help block histamine and stabilize your mast cells – providing you with comprehensive support for relief from MCAS symptoms.

TREATMENT 4:

Identify Sources of Toxins

mast cell identify sources of toxinsThere is no single factor that has been shown as the definitive cause of MCAS. However, various microbes can disrupt the immune system and cause mast cells to go haywire. Two major environmental triggers of MCAS include mold and an elevated overall toxic burden.

If you’re struggling with MCAS, it’s absolutely essential to reduce the body’s microbial and toxic burden. This typically requires a thorough assessment of your environment as well as making some adjustments to your lifestyle to minimize exposure to mold and other environmental toxins.  (See link for article)

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Detoxing, diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Inflammation, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Mold

A Silent Problem – Is It Yeast?

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/a-silent-problem-do-you-have-yeast

Is it Yeast in chronic Lyme treatment Image by Marty Ross MD

Problems from Intestinal Yeast Overgrowth in Lyme

Too many yeast in the intestines lead to a number of problems in Lyme disease. Here are a few.

  • Increased cytokine (Lyme) symptoms. Yeast overgrowth leads to inflammatory cytokine excess. Just like white blood cells responding to Lyme make too many cytokines, white blood cells make too many cytokines responding to yeast too. Excess cytokine symptoms give most of the Lyme disease symptoms. This means that too many yeast in a person’s intestines can make it look like Lyme is worse. But the problem could be yeast triggering more cytokines. Read more about cytokines in Control Cytokines: A Guide to Fix Lyme Symptoms & The Immune System.
  • Food allergies. Food allergies and sensitivities can be the result of yeast overgrowth too. Too many yeast is one of the major causes of leaky gut syndrome leading to food allergies. For more information see Leaky Gut Syndrome: A Video Treatment Guide.
  • Immune suppression. Excess cytokines and allergies to yeast may lead to immune suppression.

Marty Ross MD Discusses Yeast Problems and Diagnosis

  • Diagnosing Yeast. For more information about diagnosing intestinal yeast, read the whole article below this video.
  • Treating Yeast. For information on how to treat yeast see Kills & Prevents Yeast: A Brief Guide.  (See link for article and video)

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Detoxing, diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Herbs, Inflammation, Lyme, research, Supplements, Treatment