(Ken’s gut series explaining how he recovered from ME/CFS continues with a focus on food and the gut. A reminder – Ken is a layman, not a doctor; check with your doctor before altering your diet or your treatment regime.)
The food you eat affects your gut flora.
This is the first in a series of posts of ways to address the stable but dysfunctional microbiome that I believe is the root cause of CFS and some other autoimmune illnesses.
Our gut flora or microbiome can be altered in four ways; through diet, herbs and spices, probiotics and antiobiotics. This first post will focus on diet. (See the diagram to the right with this posts topic highlighted in red).
Feeding the Good Bacteria
The main source for this information is, interestingly, agriculture research papers. (More research has been done on keeping animal guts healthy than humans.) For example, there is a study on the impact of GMO food on the health of pig guts from Australia that found: “GM-fed pigs had a higher rate of severe stomach inflammation with a rate of 32% of GM-fed pigs compared to 12% of non-GM-fed pigs (p=0.004). The severe stomach inflammation was worse in GM-fed males compared to non-GM fed males by a factor of 4.0 (p=0.041), and GM-fed females compared to non-GM fed females by a factor of 2.2 (p=0.034).
The issue may be more complex than just GMO. GMO food is an attempt to “hyper-breed” better species. Better means having better characteristics that are commercially important – for example shelf life. Conventional breeding (selecting only plants with desirable traits) may have the same issue.
In the overweening rush to produce plants or animals that tolerate herbicides better, have a longer shelf life, produce higher yields, can tolerate transportation better, etc. blinkers are put on unintended side effects. ‘Heritage’ plants (non-genetically modified plants), for instance, may have low yields but produce more nutritious plants while modern higher yielding plants may carry secondary costs that are not seen until after a decade of use. (It may be more important to shop for ‘heritage’ or ‘heirloom’ species that to buy organically grown produce from more productive but less healthful stock.)
Prebiotics and Biotic Nutrients
Wikipedia defines Prebiotics as are “non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of bacteria in the digestive system”.
I looked beyond this limited group of items and included digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth of specific bacteria.
Encouraging E.coli
The few virulent strains of E. coli give it a bad name but most E. coli strains are benign and some some are very helpful. Two E. coli strains (Nissle 1917, also known as Mutaflor, Colinfant) are used to treat gastoenterological disorders).
Some studies and indirect evidence suggest beneficial strains of E. coli may be low in ME/CFS but some food may help
Both direct and indirect evidence suggests E.coli population may be low in chronic fatigue syndrome. E.coli’s production of NADH, for instance, could be be why some people with ME/CFS benefit from NADH supplements.
D-Ribose – a precursor to tryptophan and histidine -was postulated to help ME/CFS/Fibromyalgia in 2004, and a later study found that 66% of ME/CFS/Fibromyalgia patients taking it improved. E.coli, interestingly enough, likes D-Ribose, especially if L-fuculose is present. Fructan, a fructose polymer, also encourages the growth of E coli. Are both these supplements helping E. coli rebalance the gut?
Some high fructan foods include:
- Agave 15–22%
- Artichoke, Globe 2.0–6.8%
- Artichoke, Jerusalem 16.0–20.0%
- Asparagus 1.4–4.1%
- Asparagus Root 10–15%
- Barley kernels (very young) 22%
- Cheese spread 4.5%
- Chicory Root 10–15%
- Chocolate 9.4%
- Garlic 15–20%
- Onion 1.1–10.1%
- Pasta 1–4%
- Rye (bran) 7%
- Rye (grain) 4.6–6.6%
- Wheat flour 1–4% (different wheat species impacts different bacteria – study)
- White bread 0.7–2.8%
Studies suggest that rye provides an excellent substrate for probiotics
Of special interest is Real Rye Bread (100% Rye). Rye bread encourages the growth of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and pediococci better than other FOS according to a 2011 study. Bifidobacterium (another bacteria that appears to be low in ME/CFS), releases more minerals from food according to a 2012 study. In terms of breads, sourdough bread result in up to 40% more mineral absorption then regular bread according to a 2003 study. “Wonder Bread” and similar white breads may be part of the problem.
I use the German (Non-GMO) manufactured rye bread (Mestemacher, Feldkamp) that are available in some deli’s and via Amazon.com.
Needless to say, for many weeks I was having 2-3 slices of German rye bread with goat cheese brie (very good price at Trader Joe’s). I still consume a loaf a week.
On the “kill E.Coli” list are:
- Quercetin
- Zinc
Neu5Gc Sugar
The Neu5Gc sugar comes from red meat (lamb, pork beef) and dairy products and encourages bacteroides (which CFS patients also appear to be low on). Bacteroides are involved in many important metabolic activities in the human colon including carbohydrate fermentation, metabolizing bile acids and other steroids and making use of nitrogenous substances. Food sources include:
- Food Ug/g
- Butter 1.2
- Salmon 1.47
- Cow Cheese 6.4
- Cow Milk 7.74
- Lamb 18.2
- Pork 25.5
- Beef 30.1
- Goat Cheese 39.9
Feeding the Most Important Bacteria
L. reuteri is not found in many yogurt mixes.
Lactobacillus Reuteri is near the top of my list of probiotics. The reason is simple; in almost all mammals L.reuteri is the species usually most often seen in healthy individuals. Often studies reported something like 55% of the Lactobacillus species are Reuteri. Most Lactobacillus species simply flow through the gut but do not ‘colonize’ it; ie they don’t stick around. Of all the Lactobacillus species, L. reuteri is the strain that is most likely to ‘stick around’ in the gut. L. reuteri is also the only Lactobacillus strain to produces reuterin and cobalamin (B12),
L. reuteri, however, is NOT most in most probiotics.
My own practice is to buy as many different strains of L. reuteri that I can find (unfortunately most are coupled with L. Acidopholus (which does not stick around) but this is the best that I can do). For maintenance, I do a week of L. reuteri every 2-3 months.
For a more technical description of L.reuteri, see
- http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Lactobacillus_reuteri
- http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0031951
Feeding L.Reuteri
Glutathione is one of L.Reuteri essential foods (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21585317 ) so make sure that you supplement with it (I would suggest taking that 1 hr before the L.Reuteri) .
- [Effect of acupuncture on serum malonaldehyde content, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity in chronic fatigue syndrome rats].
- Increased ventricular lactate in chronic fatigue syndrome. III. Relationships to cortical glutathioneand clinical symptoms implicate oxidative stress in disorder pathophysiology.
- Lower whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in depression, but not in myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome: another pathway that may be associated with coronary artery disease and neuroprogression in depression.
- Competition for glutathione precursors between the immune system and the skeletal muscle: pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome.
The reason that some people may be non-responders to Gluthathione could be as simple as having no L.Reuteri left to feed!
Ken suggests that you take your glutathione and L. reuteri together
Bottom line: L Reuteri and Glutathione should be taken together – taking one without the other may result in little or no effect. Whey may be an alternative to Glutathione – it’s documented to increase the production of Glutathione in the body, it is unclear if the Gluthathione is in a form usable by L.Reuteri in the gut.
- Gluthathione (and no, I don’t know which is better: no studies)
- L.Reuteri containing probiotics
Diet
Getting Cheesed Off Microbiome Shifts
One approach that I researched (and tried) was consuming cheese that have living active organisms. My logic was that bacteria that are normally friendly to a healthy gut (no downside risk), may also be disruptive to unhealthy gut bacteria (upside benefit).
Weston Price‘s use of fermented foods such as sauerkraut is a similar approach to modifying our gut bacteria. Our more homogenized and ‘sterilized’ diet has decreased our exposure to a variety of healthful microbial cultures used in cheese and fermented foods. My preference are raw milk produced cheeses that have more chance of capturing these “wild” species. Using commercial cultures to make your own cheese or fermented foods may have be less effective.
Low Budget Options
There are some options for those with a limited budget.
Goat Cheese
Goat cheese contains a substance Ken suggests may be helpful in producing better gut flora in ME/CFS
This type of cheese is rich in a sugar (Neu5gc) not found in most cheeses which feeds one of the bacteria that we are low in. Trader Joes has a Goat Milk Brie at a very reasonable in price.
Penicillin Roquefort
This is a member of the penicillin family, and while it does not produce conventional penicillin — it does produce many chemicals that could be very healthful. I found that Trader Joe’s blue cheese crumbs (very good price) produced a very minor herx in me — taken at bed time, I fell asleep very fast and slept long. It is found in Roquefort, Stilton, Danish blue, Cabrales.
Penicillin Candidum
Another member of the penicillin family that is used in Brie and Camembert cheeses. Trader Joes has an awesome Goat Brie at $2.79 for 4.4 oz. You get both the good sugar and penicillin candidum ! We still pick up 4-6 wheels of it a week for the family.
Diet Change
One of the contributing causes of my first remission was the removal of gluten from my diet. This was not an intentional change. To address weight gain that happened as a result of my first onset, my MD put me on a high protein – low carbohydrate diet. The side effect was very low starch and gluten. There are a few diet changes (besides those mentioned above) that have appear to have established benefit for CFS patients. These include:
- 85% Chocolate
- Licorice (pure stuff not the candy)
Both are known to change the microbiome according to PubMed studies.
Flavonoids
Aglycones or flavonoids can also alter the gut microbiome. (You can find a list of high flavonoid foods here.) At the moment, we don’t know which flavonoids impact which bacteria. We should note that sometimes more is not better with flavonoids, as well. “Excessive amounts of polyphenols reaching the colon may inhibit the growth of beneficial microbiota, which is responsible for bioconversion of polyphenols and enhancing the bioavailability of those compounds”, in other words, taking too much flavonoids may do far more harm to the gut than good.
Changing Your Gut Microbiome
My model suggests that a stable but dysfunctional micro-biome is probably present in ME/CFS, and this and other blogs will review ways I used to alter my gut microbiome and move it to a more functional state.
Could a radical change in our diet de-stabilize the gut flora enough to reset it? Check with your doctor before dramatically altering your diet.
Microbiome disruption begins with food. Your stable but dysfunctional micro-biome has, after all, become tuned to your current diet. If you made a radical change of your diet (and I mean radical!) I would expect your stable micro-biome to become more unstable for a while.
What change to make? I have no clear advice, but dropping all of your usual vegetables and replacing them with turnips and beets for 3 weeks may be a start. Add unusual spices. You may have to forget about eating a healthy balance diet for 3 weeks. Just fish for 3 weeks; salads (without dressing) for 3 weeks; beans for 3 weeks; you want to have nothing in common with your usual eating habits. You actually want to upset your digestive system!
(Check with your doctor before beginning any radical dietary changes….)
Summary
The above are not complete by any stretch of the imagination but this is the easiest approach to start correcting the dysfunctional microbiome that I have found. Will you see a dramatic effect or have a strong herx? Probably not, but some of your symptoms may alter or disappear over several weeks. But be warned, you may have farts that qualify as smells of mass destruction (of bad bacteria) or mild diarrhea. These are signs of thing changing — hopefully for the better.
Changing the Gut Flora Series
- Changing Your Gut Flora Pt I: Food to Feed the Good Bacteria in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Changing Your Gut Flora II: Changing the Gut Ecosystem with Probiotics
- Changing Your Gut Flora III – Change Agents: Prescription and Herbal Antibiotics to Alter the Gut Flora in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Find more of Ken’s blogs here.
Ken Lassesen is a recovered patient not a doctor. His blogs are for informational purposes only. Please check with your health practitioner before changing your treatment protocols.
I say bring on the smelly farts Ken!
I think many of us have a sense that our ‘guts’ are playing some sort of pivotal role in our illness. One of my first major symptoms seventeen years ago was unceasing nausea and pain in my stomach that has stayed with me all these years. I have recently made some significant changes to my diet and am feeling for the first time in all these years that my digestive system is undergoing a shift which is very exciting. I turned to the ketogenic diet, very high in fats, and low in carbs (mostly low carb green veggies, sprouted almonds, berries) , under 50 grams per day, with only moderate protein intake (the Ron Rosedale diet essentially), have incorporated lots of coconut oil into my diet, and have also incorporated certain anti microbials (monolaurin, garlic, oregano oil), and 3-4 tablespoons per day of organic turmeric powder, copious amounts of fresh parsley and cilantro, and some specific vitamins and minerals that I feel I am not getting optimum amounts of in my diet, and whole milk kefir…….. and finally I feel that my gut is undergoing a major shift on this new protocol. I feel that the coconut oil (which is strongly antimicrobial via its medium chain fatty acids) the additional anti microbial agents, the turmeric, and the kefir are causing the shift. Though other foods and the high fat intake may certainly also be playing a role.
Its interesting your mentioning the German Rye bread. Though I am personally no longer a grain consumer I do remember fondly the depictions of some of the classic and hearty ‘peasant’ breads that Weston Price mentioned in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration and feel that, if one is going to eat grains, it makes a big difference which grain based foods you eat, how they are prepared and processed, and know that many of these ‘older’ recipes from old world Europe and around the world were both nutrient dense and lower glycemic, including the rye breads and the sour dough breads which research has also shown significantly reduce their glycemic index (if one is concerned about this).
I feel as you do Ken that its important for us, being ill year after year, to try to change things up in order to try to ‘shift’ the body toward wellness, with hope using the idea of epigenetics partly. Trying to create a shift, any shift, through diet, is a good place to start.
Also loved the point about the newer breeds of plants possibly having hidden deleterious characteristics and or reduced nutrient density. Very interesting.
Thanks for the great Post Ken. Looking forward to the next one.
Many people with CFS trying to radically change their microbiome through “human probiotic transplants” (fecal microbiota transplant).
http://thepowerofpoop.com/
Any opinions on the Jarrow Femdophilus, which contains L Rhamnosus and LReuteri RC-148?
Do you think this is a good combination?
IMHO, yes — my preference is alway a single species at a time. Just two species is the next best (especially if Lactobacillus Acidophilus is NOT one of them)
“One of the contributing causes of my first remission was the removal of gluten from my diet. ”
Boy, you really struck a chord with that comment. With the help of my ME/CFS doctor and multiple IV cocktails over the last 3 years I had gotten my CFS into remission. However my rheumatoid & osteoarthritis has been really acting up lately along with severe aches and pains so my doctor asked me to go gluten-free for a month. It’s been 2 weeks, and I feel like my chronic fatigue has reawakened with a vengeance. The arthritis has calmed down to be almost unnoticeable, and the aches and pains have subsided but the CFS has left me utterly wasted. At this point I am ready to try some high-quality non-GMO breads to see what effect they have. It’s interesting that in the barely 2 weeks we have been on the gluten-free diet, my husband has been exceptionally tired too, and he is in excellent health. It’s also interesting that I can consume both goat cheese frequently and small amounts of 85% chocolate and neither has a negative impact. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your research, and for such a timely article. I’m really looking forward to the next installment.
Interesting topic and one that I’m on board with.
My diet change seems to have been one of the best things I’ve done for myself. Although, because of being low-fat, whole food vegan (which does not included any animal products), some of these suggestions are not an option. This can however be accomplished for us that are true vegans. There are ways we can do it with veggies, fruits and certain grains – and a few alternative supplements. I too am gluten free and rye, barley and wheat are not an option as these grains have gluten in them.
One food that I’ve found to be a pre-biotic is jicama.
____________________________________________
http://www.holistic-medicine-md.com/rfth-jicama.html
The soluble fiber found in jicama (and our old friend asparagus) is called inulin (pronounced IN-yew-linn). Inulin has been the subject of intensive research in recent years, and the news adds important reasons to eat plenty of foods high in this fiber. Inulin promotes bone health by enhancing absorption of calcium from other foods, thus protecting against osteoporosis. It promotes heart health because soluble fiber decreases LDL cholesterol, and your heart will be healthier when you are an ideal weight. Inulin functions in the intestine as a prebiotic, meaning it is a food for the “good” bacteria that keep your colon healthy and balance your immunity
______________________________________________
It’s wonderful in salads and to eat as a snack with say salsa or humus. Very good for the digestion. I use lots of lemon and that’s good for the health of the liver which helps our immune system and detoxes us. (Very tasty on broccoli and salads – instead of dressing. Also using vinegar on salads is good and helps with the gut ecology too – also helps with ph balance of the body. Is good as a natural type of anti-biotic. Raw apple cider vinegar with mother will kill strep within 24 hours – according to some researchers. And I’ve tried it and it worked for me.)
The one thing we have complete control over is our diet. It’s one of the hardest things to change and because of habit is the one thing people refuse to change. Our eating habits is something that generations pass down and could explain some of the reasons for genetic mutations and why family generations of people have the same problems. (I know that’s a stretch of the imagination. But, think about it.)
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/inheritance?show=all
It’s the one thing we can do for ourselves that doesn’t require a doctor to help us with. Except for maybe having a blood draw every few months to make sure we are doing it healthy. (Especially for us vegans that may need to supplement B12, iron and iodine and probably Vit D.)
I’m having wonderful improvements in my health and my list of ailments is long (but getting shorter). Best thing I’ve done for myself to date. Working on my immune system with diet and low-dose antibiotics and supplements. Win, win and winning!
Issie
What if you’re allergic to Penicillin? How would this effect me?
That is a question for a MD/ND to answer — ideally from actual studies and not speculative inference.
Timely article, as I’ve been researching treatments for leaky gut recently.
I found this amazing information regarding leaky gut in pigs fed genetically modified corn – “meat processors in the US typically import intestinal sausage casings from New Zealand, since the quality of the intestines in US livestock is too poor.”
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/autism
If this is what is happening to livestock, imagine what is happening to us. Between antibiotics, gluten and GMOs, as a nation, our guts are in terrible shape. Have you noticed the proliferation of tv ads for IBS medicines, yogurts which regulate digestion, proton pump inhibitors and other heartburn meds? Apparently there’s a great market for digestive treatments, but of course, these medicines only provide symptom relief and won’t fix the root of the problem.
It all goes back to what Ken is talking about, which is our gut flora. My research is showing that a 4R gut rebuilding program is the best way to treat gut issues.
Whenever I see “best way”, I automatically ask for the independently conducted studies comparing it against alternatives. There is a tendency to slip into idealogical best, which may not reflect actual results.
I am interested in getting a URL for the 4R gut rebuilding program. I am doubtful that “one program fits all”, just as I am that “one antibiotic treats all bacterial infections”. There are massive complexities, which is hard for a healthy mind to understand, little more a cognitive impaired CFS mind.
However, I am interested in knowing more about it, especially on doing a gap analysis.
I also believe normalizing gut flora to be helpful in reducing symptoms and a corner stone in the overall recovery process. Like you, I agree that one program does not fit all and it needs to be individualized depending on ones current digestive issues. Dr Sarah Myhill has a good piece written on her website titled, Fermentation In The Gut and CFS, which I came across recently and may be helpful to some.
http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Fermentation_in_the_gut_and_CFS
I’m having trouble finding a definitive version of the 4R program. Everyone seems to have a little different take on it, but the basics are:
Remove – remove gluten and other offending foods from the diet, do a stool test and remove any bad bugs or parasites which show up
Replace – replace things out of whack like stomach acid or digestive enzymes, start rebuilding the mucosal lining
Reinoculate – put the good bacteria back in, again guided by stool testing. It’s possible to get an overgrowth of good bacteria too. What you want is a balance.
Repair – repair the gut lining, this will fix leaky gut
There seems to be a lot of flexibility in how long to do each step and whether or not to combine steps. Different people recommend different supplements to accomplish the same thing. You may have to repeat stool tests several times and use a couple different types of stool tests to detect all the bad bugs.
Here are a couple of pretty good links:
Metametrix Interpretive Guide: http://www.metametrix.com/files/test-menu/interpretive-guides/GI-Effects-IG.pdf The 4R program is described on page 2. It also has great info on what herbs/meds will kill what bugs.
2001 Deann Liska paper: http://www.afmcp-sa.com/Protocals/MET558%204R%20ANSR.pdf This one is older information, but it’s nice because it has references to studies to back it up.
I’m trying to get hold of the latest Institute of Functional Medicine textbook via interlibrary loan to see if they’ve updated the program.
I can personally attest that if you don’t remove the bad bugs, and do all the other steps, it’s not going to work. This is what my naturopath had me doing for years and it was a giant FAIL. My leaky gut is worse than ever and I still have candida. So now I have to go back to square one and figure this out myself.
I am glad to see that cheese still has a place in this food list! A lot of these things recommend ditching the cheese all together, and it’s not that I can blame them. In any case, that was certainly a surprise. On the other hand, I was also glad to see that probiotics were listed in here. I’d say that these are a good thing to add to your diet regardless of your level of health. Studies have shown that probiotics can help lower high cholesterol in a safe and natural way, essentially replacing the need for statins and other drugs. There are a number of good articles on this research:
http://www.clinicaltrialsgps.com/high-cholesterol/reduce-cholesterol-with-new-probiotic/
I can’t find any of the probiotics without acidophilus. But I did find one that has both l infanis as well as l reuteri. The bad news is that it’s $54! Only one capsule a day, but still.
I will put together a list of available (via Amazon or other sources) that are available that do not have Lactobacillus Acidophilus in it. One of them is available in many pharmacies in both Canada and the US: “Align Digestive Care Probiotic Supplement”. It’s around $30-$35 for one month. Mutaflor is $70 /month (excluding shipping that usually run $10+ depending on volume) if you can navigate the logistics of getting it.
http://cfsremission.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/checklist-of-atypical-cfs-recommendations/ are the ones that has significant research with appropriate results.
I will attempt to get a list (of both documented beneficial, and not documented) blends and singletons by the end of the weekend.
I just got this update from LifeExtension on gut bacteria being linked to obesity and diabetes. More reasons to get our gut ecology into better balance.
Also, mentions that a high fat diet – creates more problems. If you eat a low-fat diet it helps to repair some of the damage to the gut bacteria.
Interesting read.
http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2013/0906_Weight-Gain-Linked-To-Poor-Gut-Bacteria.htm?utm_source=eNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Article&utm_content=Button&utm_campaign=2013Wk36-2&l=0#article
Issie
Very interesting articles. I can tell something is wrong but can’t explain what it is. Just a gut feeling. Thank you for all this information.
I’ve been thinking of the gut brain connection-and the idea that the gut is the culprit. But, what if the brain is the culprit and healing the brain, heals the gut? This could also explain the healing success of Ashok Gupta’s amygdala retraining and Annie Hopper’s DNR program. Heal the limbic sytem, and the gut heals. We all know how emotions affect our GI system. I think about that lately when I read the 10,000 ways to heal the gut.
The thing to remember is that direct line causality is rarely the case with biological systems. Stress increases certain chemical, those chemicals encourages certain bacteria, those bacteria releases other chemicals that may impede cognitive levels, resulting in more stress. Thus the bacteria got a kick-start and is now milking your system for all that it is worth.
Cognitive programs that reduce stress results in less of those chemicals, which can eventually cascade into remission for some. For others, appropriate probiotics or antibiotics may be needed.
I agree with Ken on this. I don’t know anyone who has fully healed on Gupta’s programme. The people I know who say they are better seem to all have horrible gut problems that they still think they are the fault of their brains, even when they have religiously done the program for years.
I think it is likely impossible to fully heal without re-balancing the gut biome.
Hi Ken,
Do you think while you are making up the list of probiotics without
acidophilus, you could recommend a reliable source of piracetam?
Sorry, know this is off topic, but when I tried to click on a link in one
of your previous articles for piracetam, it seems like amazon is no
longer selling it, not available on iherb either, my other choice.
I did order phenylpiracetam from Liftmode, its made in China, so
don’t know if that’s o.k. would prefer made in US if possible.
Also, ordered the prescript assist from Amazon, the product description
says it breaks down toxic chemicals, do you think this might cause
a severe herx in someone with possible mold exposure? It’s for my
daughter, who has cfs, and is in her last semester of a nursing major,
so I’m kind of worried about that,
Thanks for everything your do!
The model that I am using has everything being a potential herx inducer. I have seen severe herx in a few people from every probiotic I have suggested. The herx is caused by the chemicals being dumped by what is being eliminated.
Given what she is doing, I would suggest Haritaki, Neem and Tulsi. They are used in Indian native medicine for cognitive issues — and had a dramatic impact on my cognitive issues.
Piracetam is generally manufactured in China — look at fitness websites for it. We have a 10lb container of it that we are slowly working thru — there have been constant rumors of it being removed by the FDA, so we stocked up on it a few years ago. The other nootropics are also good, but more expensive. Each nootropic tend to have slightly different effects.
Great article.
I’m concerned that the recommendation for ‘heirloom foods’ doesn’t go far enough. What’s an heirloom technically? A food over 20 years old? Regardless, the process of domestication required intensive breeding of most food stuffs Few foods aren’t larger, more productive, more filled with sugar than they were in nature. Purslane and Lambs Quarters are two exceptions, of course.
But, what, really, is the deal? Take take the potato: even the heirloom varieties have had thousands of years of selective breeding and god-knows-what happen to them.
are they really REAL FOOD?
On the other hand, heirloom plants, generally, bring more nutrients out of the soil and into the food.
Just askin’ 😉
No argument from me. Everyone must balance their beliefs against costs etc. It is very much a personal decision (and there are no **good** studies backing the decision).
Hello Ken,
I have a couple of questions for you if youre still reading the comments section which would be helpful if you could answer them:
1. You mention in the “Encouraging Ecoli” Section two Ecoli Strains used to treat Gastro Infections, Nissle 1917 which is in the MutaFlor I believe and then you Mention Colinfant………I was a little unclear as to whether the Colinfant is another Nissle 1917 Probiotic or if the Colinfant is in reference to a second Ecoli strain. Could you clarify?
2. In reference to Mutaflor after doing some research, the Company in Canada which manufactures it no longer will ship to the US due to an FDA ruling on this product. Do you have any insight on how I might be able to get some into my hands regardless? I have friends in Canada who might be willing to order it to them and then ship it to me in the mail. Do you have any insight as to whether its possible to ‘sneak’ it through via mail from Canada? I also live in Massachusetts three hours from the border. Do you know of anyone who has purchased it in Canada at a brick and mortar location and then tried to ‘drive’ it through customs?
3. Also in the “Encouraging Ecoli” Section you mention Quercetin and Zinc as E coli Killers. I was a bit confused by this. If we want to encourage the growth of Healthy strains of Ecoli are you suggesting avoiding zinc and quercetin or were you referring to possibly using them as anti microbials if one feels that one has pathogenic strains of E Coli?
Thanks!
Mark
Excellent questions (and I get emailed on every comment – so expect answers, work permitting).
1. Colinfant is Escherochia Coli Cryodesiccata (See http://www.sukl.eu/modules/medication/detail.php?kod=0053494) and Mutafor is Escherochia Coli Nissle 1917.
See https://www.myhealthbox.eu/en/search.php?s=ESCHERICHIA+COLI&adv=false&filter_principio_attivo=&filter_produttore=&filter_country=&filter_language=&filter_medicine_type=&nome_prodotto=&codice_prodotto=&codice_ATC=&principio_attivo=&produttore=&indicazioni_terapeutiche=&search_country=&search_lang=&search_med_type= For a list of available E.Coli probiotics (note many are intended for vet use and some require prescriptions).
2. I just picked up a shipment from Canada last week. I actually picked it from a UPS depot where I got it delivered. You need to make sure you are notified immediately when it arrives so you can get it quickly before the ice packs warm up. As for crossing the border, my usual tactic is simple and honest: I pick up a tub of Yogurt and Alene probiotic in Canada and declared “Wife’s favorite yogurt and probiotics” — having the bag with the above beside me.. “Don’t ask for the species, don’t tell the species”. I had to get my daughter to do the actual order because it must be done by a Canadian PayPal account… She is working in Canada at the moment.
3. Those are on the avoid list — I rather eliminate bad E.Coli via aggressive good E.Coli.
Thanks Ken for the reply. Just a quick follow up to ordering Mutaflor. I did call them (Medical Futures Inc. located in Richmond Hill Ontario) and they told me flat out they would not ship it to a US address. So Im wondering how did you get it shipped to a UPS depot in the United States I wonder? Did you place an order with Medical Futures? And do they somehow allow shipment to the US if you ship it to a UPS depot rather than a home/business address? Or did your daughter order it within Canada and then shipped it to you to a UPS depot. And if your daughter shipped it to you via the UPS depot did you ship it that way so as to avoid detection in some way, as opposed to your daughter shipping it to your home, which might make them ‘check’ the package at it moves through customs? Sorry for all the questions, it just seems the devil is in the details 😉
Thanks for the other answers and thanks for all that you are doing!
Mark
UPS Depot in CANADA. If your Canadian friends are at home, (shipment must be signed for), have it sent there. Have them unpacked it and put in the fridge until you can get up and visit them (and leave with it).
Trying mail risks warm-mutaflor and too many questions….
Ok Ken great. Thank you!
By popular request, I have started a page on probiotics that do no have Lactoacillus acidophilus in them. I will be updating the page regularly:
http://cfsremission.wordpress.com/2013/09/14/probiotics-lack-lactobacillus-acidophilus/
Hello,
My Doctor told me to get a juicer.
Betroot, Celery, Ginger, Lemon, Spinich. Small amount Orange, works wonders.
Avoid Wheat, its just for cows. So go gulten free. Have a drink everyday it helps a lot.
Sounds yummy.. thanks for the tip 🙂
Hello,
I developed in 2009 (age 59yrs), secondary trimethylaminuria (or TMAU) the short version). TMAU is a metabolic disorder that can be inherited or acquired. TMAU1 or TMAU, is derived from intestinal bacterial degradation fo foods rich in choline and carnitine and is normally oxidized by the liver to odorless trimethylamine N-oxide what is then excreated in the urine.
So, foods rich in choline exacerbate the condition. Also, foods high in sulfur will cause symptoms of fish odor or other unpleasant noxious odors.
In my case I will smell of dirty gym socks or sewage. I went on a gluten, dairy and red meat free diet and seem to have the symptoms under control. I
I wanted to order the gut flora supplements but because it contained fish oil and choline it was a no-no for me. I was wondering if you have any suggestions what else I could take for this problem which is psychologially taking a huge toll on my mental status.
Thank you,
Leonor
I am unclear about what you mean by “gut flora supplements”. Do you mean Duraflora (http://www.sourcenaturals.com/products/GP1920/ ) which contains no fish oil. I cannot recall any probiotics that contain fish oil. Nor any demonstrated prebiotics containing them.
This article suggests strongly that it may be a gut bacteria disorder (http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/04/cleveland_clinic_researchers_f_2.html ) which suggests that aggressive probiotics treatment may be significant. I would suggest checking out the list at: http://cfsremission.wordpress.com/2013/09/14/probiotics-lack-lactobacillus-acidophilus/ . Because this disorder is connected to fat (and thus dairy products), I would suggest avoiding all Lactobacillus species which are ones that digest milk products. Fortunately, this is possible.
Not medical advise, consult with your health professional first.
Thanks for sharing this, it’s gonna help me a lot, I’m currently at war with e-coli.
Do you know how would one get a e-coli dysbiosis fixed?
Here’s the context : Mutaflor was great for me for a while, then I found out I was fatigued and had fool smelling loise stools. I stopped taking pills and my symptoms went away in a few days. Somehow it must have given me dysbiosis. It got worse : I was taking enteric coated capsules so I tought, well, maybe if the capsule releases late in the small intestine, just before the colon, then it avoids being balanced by the small intestine flora thus creating a dysbiosis in my colon. So I tried mutaflor’s liquid solution product. Bad idea : Now the symptoms are back and they wont stop even after I stopped Mutaflor. So I guess the dysbiosis has moved to my small intestine :/
I’ve been trying to rebalance it for the last 4 days, using probiotics, homemade fermented vegetables… No change… I’m gonna try switching my diet to beets + turnip as you suggested, hope I’ll find a way before I get too exhausted!
Perfect timing to ask, I am starting a series which deals with HIGH E.Coli which typically gets a IBD diagnosis: UC and Crohn’s disease being common progression from IBD and CFS in my opinion.
http://cfsremission.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/crohns-disease-a-review-part-1/
However, be sure that you have E.Coli overgrowth be getting appropriate testing to measure your level.
As a FYI — having foul stools implies die off. I have experienced the same and just kept going, **rotating** probiotics weekly.
Hi , just a note to say please avoid Ecoli Nissle 1917 , regularly taken in the supplement Mutaflor. That strain has been found to produce colobactin which can cause bowel cancer, the association was previously not well understood. As someone who supplemented Witt it for over 10 years I wish I had known before. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/27/common-toxin-made-in-gut-can-cause-bowel-cancer-scientists-find
Hi Paul, I just read your post along with the link to the Guardian article. I read the article but it did not mention Ecoli Missle 1917. I was thinking of taking Mutaflor so more documentary evidence would be appreciate. Many thanks!