What Causes Chronic Inflammation, and How To Stop It For Good

Almost all diseases or ailments stem from inflammation. This is why inflammation is thought to be the root of disease, but it’s not. This distinction makes sense when you consider the causes of inflammation.

Inflammation is a natural, healthy response to cellular damage or a natural, healthy immune response to a perceived threat. The idea that inflammation can persist without serving a purpose is a misnomer that allows the cause of disease to go unchecked and ignored. A symptom cannot be the root of disease. Chronic inflammation is a symptom.

When any part of the body is inflamed, it is either damaged and healing or damaged and deteriorating. Forget the idea that inflammation is “wrong” or “unnecessary” or that it can even get out of control. It’s not inflammation that is “out of control.” Inflammation is what brings the disease-fighting cells and the extra nutrition needed to heal damage to the site. Without inflammation, we wouldn’t heal.

What causes damage? Damage, in this case, is cell trauma. Cells malfunction due to trauma caused by an external force or from internal trauma caused by toxicity of some kind and (or) a lack of nutrition.

It’s important to note that while nutritional deficiencies are one of the main causes of cell malfunction, diet is not always to blame. Sometimes the problem is a lack of ability to absorb and assimilate nutrition due to damage from toxic foods. For example, many people consume plenty of nutrition while they also ingest way too much sugar.

Contents

Candida Causes Inflammation

Inflammation is not the root of disease; Candida is typically the root of disease.

An overgrowth of Candida causes an imbalanced gut that cannot digest and assimilate nutrition well, and Candida burrows into the gut lining, penetrating the gut wall to allow proteins, sugars, infectious microbes, and other particles into the bloodstream.

Candida Albicans is a very opportunistic parasite. It can normally live in our intestinal tract in harmony with bacteria. “Normally,” in this case, indicates the natural way, but in today’s society, a balanced gut is far from the norm. An imbalance in the gut almost always leads to a massive overgrowth of Candida, which is very good at tearing through the intestinal walls to flood the whole body, opening the door to other infectious agents that should not escape the gut, causing infection and inflammation everywhere.

Candida and other infectious microbes cause inflammation by being properly perceived in the body as an infectious agent (when an immune response is activated) and also due to the toxins they release throughout their lifecycle.

Fungal infections and other parasitical infections cause massive amounts of toxic substances to overwhelm the body, causing cellular damage everywhere. Infection also feeds off of dead and decaying cells, and infection leads to more dead and decaying cells. It’s the epitome of a vicious cycle.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

Foods That Cause Inflammation

Candida flourishes when there is not enough beneficial bacteria in the gut. Candida can survive toxic substances more easily than bacteria. Candida spores are almost indestructible. When alcohol is consumed, beneficial bacteria are killed as soon as alcohol enters the gut. Candida bounces back to take over the intestinal tract, and soon invades the whole body when the gut becomes “leaky”. Toxic foods either kill beneficial bacteria due to their toxicity, or they feed Candida and other infectious microbes, which then outnumber the beneficial bacteria.

Foods that feed Candida cause inflammation by feeding Candida, but these and many other foods cause inflammation in other ways, too. Some foods have natural, and naturally beneficial inflammatory properties, like many omega 6 fats. But these fats are not “bad,” they promote the healing process.

Refined Carbohydrates

Sugars feed Candida and almost all other well-known infectious microbes as well. Almost everyone has too much sugar in their diet. In nature, sugar is harder to get. Fruit is seasonal, and in areas where people eat lots of fruits all day, their diets also included strong anti-microbial foods to keep the gut flora in check. Take papaya, for instance, which is high enough in sugar that it could lead to a gut imbalance (especially for those who don’t have the healthiest gut to begin with) if it is eaten too often. In areas of the world were people eat a lot of papaya, they also eat a lot of papaya leaves and seeds, which, among other benefits, have anti-fungal properties that offset the sugars of the fruit.

When healing the gut, it’s important to cut out sweets, including fruit juices (even fresh, slow pressed), honey (even raw), agave, brown rice syrup, and all other sweeteners with the exception of stevia.

Acid Forming Foods (Generally Refined Foods)

When fiber is removed from foods, many of the minerals that alkalinize the body and the beneficial fats are also removed.

It’s imperative to cut out all other refined carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, other refined flours, and any processed starches. They feed Candida as well, but they also are inflammatory and acidic by nature, having lost their anti-inflammatory fatty profile and alkalinity due to the processing that removed fiber. For instance, the brown part of the rice contains the fiber and anti-inflammatory properties.

GMOs and Pesticide Laden Conventional Foods

Pesticides and herbicides are designed to kill pests and microbes, and they do this in our gut as well. GMO foods that are designed to kill the “pest” or the microbe that would otherwise infect the crop will kill the good microbes in the gut, too. Candida will bounce back, along with other infectious microbes, because the gut becomes inhospitable to our naturally beneficial flora as the toxic food keeps coming in.

Factory Farmed Animal Products

Factory farmed animals are raised on genetically modified grains that are already on the inflammatory side of the spectrum, even without being genetically modified. For instance corn, wheat, oats, hay, and certain grasses are inflammatory, especially when they are not balanced with a wider variety of natural foods within the diet.

A cow, for instance, would normally eat many different kinds of grasses and other plants growing from the ground. Now, beef comes from cows that are typically feed toxic grains that they would not normally eat and lots of antibiotics. Even grass fed cows (especially from larger scale farms) are typically only given access to a very limited diet with only one or a few kinds of grasses. This lack of diversity does not meet their nutritional needs for optimum health.

Dairy has the same issues, plus pasteurization and homogenization destroy many nutrients in milk and makes proper digestion more difficult. Homogenization also changes the protein molecules.

If we were making bread the way we did a very long time ago…

Wheat, Bread, Gluten

If we were making bread the way we did a very long time ago, we would be using probiotic and yeast cultures to fully break down the gluten proteins before they are ingested. The flours would be processed by hand and not refined (no nutrition removed). The sugars added to make the bread would be much less refined, and the bacteria would go to work on the sugars like it does with yogurt, leaving an end product many beneficial properties.

Today, due to hybridization, there is a new kind of gluten molecule that we ingest. This gluten molecule in our wheat is more inflammatory than previous varieties. It’s not the only gluten molecule in bread, but it’s prominent, and it’s not found in ancient wheat strands.

Today’s bread is made from wheat sprayed with Round-Up and other chemicals that is then refined and processed with most of the nutrients stripped before being fortified with toxic manufactured vitamins and minerals that the body cannot properly assimilate. Then sugar is added along with other chemical ingredients like preservatives and colorings. The end result is a bread far removed from the kind of food the Bible mentions.

“Bad” Fats

Omega 6s are not all inflammatory fats or “bad” fats. Omega 6s are just as important as omega 3s. Healthy, naturally occurring “inflammatory” omega 6s, in balance with omega 3s, and 9s, help the body properly respond to injury, and consequently, to heal. An imbalance of fats causes an inflammatory response for many different reasons, including but not limited to, the natural inflammatory properties found in some fats.

On the other hand, there are “bad” fats. No, they’re not saturated fats. Most informed people know by now that coconut and avocado and plenty of other fats have tremendous healing properties and do not naturally contribute to obesity. The bad fats are commercial, highly processed fats, rancid fats, trans fats, and otherwise unnatural fats. These fats cause inflammation and contribute to every autoimmune disease.

Other Toxic Ingredients

Soy lecithin, casein, and protein isolates generally have heavy omega 6 profiles and are also very acidifying.

Excitotoxins like MSG, aspartate, and glutamates, excite nerves, damaging the nervous system.

In cells, glutamate and aspartate can be synthesized from each other. The two main food additives that are sources for excitotoxins are MSG (monosodium glutamate) and aspartame (NutraSweet). High levels of glutamate and aspartate are found naturally in protein rich foods, including very high levels in wheat gluten, and milk casein. While these amino acids are necessary for normal brain function, excess amounts of them create a wide range of bodily damage.” – Dr. Amy A. Yasko

We could go on and on about artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, and other food additives, but the body needs whole foods to heal, not processed foods with ingredient labels.

Inflammation and Free Radicals

Inflammation causes free radicals, which damage cells and cause more inflammation.

You can picture free radicals as red-hot particles bouncing around inside a cell burning anything they come into contact with such as your DNA, cell membranes and proteins in the cytoplasm. – Evergreen Nutrition

Free radicals are created by our natural everyday functions, and they play many important roles, including the elimination of the weakest cells in the adjacent area (like infectious microbes). But too much inflammation means way too many free radicals that are overwhelming the body, impeding healing.

Specific Nutrient Deficiencies Known To Cause Inflammation

Any nutrient deficiency can cause inflammation one way or another. Two common nutrition deficiencies well known to directly cause inflammation include:

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression, pain, increased overall inflammation, an ineffective immune system, inflammatory bowel disease, many different autoimmune diseases, many forms of cancer, and so much more.

Vitamin B deficiencies (especially B6 and B12)

Vitamin B deficiencies can cause, exacerbate, and also be the result of inflammation. When the body’s digestive system isn’t healthy, B vitamin assimilation becomes more difficult, and extra B vitamins often give some almost immediate relief to those suffering from inflammation. This is especially important for anyone dealing with an abundance of stress.

How Excess Weight Causes Inflammation

Most studies that point to obesity as a cause of inflammation rely on the problems associated with obesity to show correlation to inflammation. This is problematic because the cause of the inflammation is not obesity. Inflammation is due to causal factors that leads to obesity. While a fatty liver can lead to inflammation, it’s not obesity that makes a liver fat; it’s a poor diet that makes the entire body overweight.

That said, carrying a lot of fat on the body is stressful to the body, which leads to damage, which requires repair and causes inflammation. But there are some interesting studies showing a direct cause.

We did not know fat cells could instigate the inflammatory response. That’s because for a very long time we thought these cells did little else besides store and release energy. But what we have learned is that adipocytes don’t just rely on local resident immune cells for protection… – A Mechanism by Which Fat Causes Chronic Inflammation

Chronic Anxiety

This is another chicken and egg scenario. Inflammation of the body causes a tremendous amount of stress, both physical and emotional. Chronic pain is stressful! On the other hand, chronic anxiety will leave the body in an inflammatory state as well. The two feed off of each other.

When intense anxiety has been a part of someone’s life for more than a few days, anxiety causes depleted levels of certain nutrients, like B vitamins, which are needed to get over anxiety. A deficiency in B vitamins also leads to anxiety.

Chronic anxiety eventually causes numerous nutritional imbalances, and the whole endocrine system begins to function poorly. Anyone who has been dealing with any kind of chronic stress needs to nourish and heal the thyroid, the adrenals, and the gut before inflammation will subside.

Conclusion

Whole foods, foods that have no need for an ingredients list, heal the body. There are lots of conditions that cause allergic reactions, sensitivities, or other inflammatory responses from otherwise healthy foods. For instance, someone with severe hypothyroidism may worsen with the consumption of cruciferous vegetables. The problem with eliminating whole, healthy foods in the diet is that the nutrient deficiencies that are at the cause of the problem get worse. Remove all unhealthy foods from the diet. Temporarily remove some healthier foods if you must, but add them back in as soon as you are able.

For those who are forced to breathe toxic air regularly, or live under power lines, or have other environmental issues that cause inflammation, it takes much longer to heal the body if the environmental toxins are not removed. For most people, it is doable. The body can handle a very heavy toxic load if the gut is balanced and the diet is good. Also, be sure to read How To Heal Your Gut if you’re suffering from chronic inflammation.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:
Sources:


Heal Gum Disease and Cavities Naturally – Step by Step

Serious gum disease works a bit like a leaky gut. As you chew your food, very small particles that should go through your digestive system can enter into your blood stream. This can wreck all kinds of havoc on the immune system, causing an inflammatory response that perpetuates the gingivitis.

An infection in the tooth can lead to serious disease, especially if an infection is left in the tooth and the tooth is filled. Cavities, cavitations, and root canals can be little tiny bacteria incubators that store and develop incredibly powerful bacteria. This infection, at some point, will ooze out into the body, entering the bloodstream, and causing all kinds of issues and diseases.

Bacteria has a knack for surviving in difficult conditions and becoming much more powerful, as you see in the news with all the superbugs. They epitomize the phrase, “Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.”

Fix the Diet

The American diet is highly acidic, high in inflammatory fats, high in sugar, and all-around toxic for many other reasons. Acidity in the body has to be corrected. The blood has to stay a certain pH no matter what, which is slightly alkaline. When we eat raw produce, even if it’s acidic like lemons, they have an overall balancing effect on our pH levels. Nearly all refined, processed, commercialized foods are acid forming.

When the blood is acidic, the body pulls minerals from any sources it can find to correct the pH. This leaves fewer minerals for bones and teeth. Fats are either inflammatory by nature or they have the opposite effect. Both are totally necessary, but the American diet is full of inflammatory fats, and to make matters worse, many are fats that do not occur in nature and are very toxic to us. So the average American is significantly inflamed throughout the body in many different ways.

Foods to Avoid For Good Oral Health

  • Refined Foods
  • Sugar
  • Acidic Foods
  • Processed, prepackaged foods

Gingivitis is an infection, and sugar feeds infection. Sugar feeds us too, but we benefit from sugar when it’s in a whole food complex form. Refined sugars are for parasites. When food is processed in a way that strips it of its minerals, no amount of fortification will bring the food back to whole. That food, be it bread, pasta, white rice, or chips will acidify the body, which damages teeth and opens them up to infection that leaks into the gums. Refined foods will feed the infection in the mouth too.

What To Eat For Healthy Mouth and Gums

To promote oral health eat produce, more vegetables than fruit, but whole raw produce. That is what heals. Brown rice, quinoa, sprouted legumes, vegetable stir frys, and other whole foods have benefit, but raw, fresh, organic produce is what heals the body.

Balance the Gut

It is extremely difficult to have good oral health and poor gut health.

Anyone with serious mouth problems should consider a detoxification protocol that repairs the gut, kills Candida and other parasites, and balances the gut microbes. Good health starts in the gut, and so does bad health.

Chew On This…

Chew on garlic, with an open mouth; breathe in and out. Get the juices all around any infected areas, and spit it out when it gets too intense. Try this with cinnamon bark, turmeric, and ginger as well. Do this a few times a day or more.

Stop Smoking

Smoking anything – tobacco, marijuana – anything, is very harmful to the mouth. So is vaporizing, but not as much so. If you want to have a healthy mouth, but you continue to smoke regularly, the best you can hope for with this regimen is for things to stay the same and not get worse. In my experience, those who do this and continue to smoke do notice that their mouth is not getting any worse, and generally symptoms will improve, but their mouths do not completely heal.

Lose the Toxic Toothpaste and Mouthwash

There are some decent toothpastes out there, but even if they are in the health-food section, make sure they do not contain any of the following ingredients.

Toothpaste Ingredients to Avoid

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS): A toxic foaming agent that has been shown to increase frequency and intensity of canker sore outbreaks. There are plenty of other reasons to avoid this ingredient, too.

Triclosan: A toxic hormone disrupting, environmentally damaging chemical used to kill bacteria.

Artificial Colors, Flavors, or Anything Artificial: No man made chemicals! All of these ingredients have been shown to be problematic to health, and you don’t need toxins in an infected mouth.

Hydrated Silica: This is the stain remover of the ingredients, but this chemical has been shown to build up in the teeth over time and damage the enamel. It works at first, and someone using a tooth-whitening toothpaste for the first time will generally be very pleased with the results, but over time the teeth will begin to dull.

Alcohol: It dries the gums, damages soft tissue, and leads to more inflammation. There are better ways to kill bad mouth germs.

Floss Every Day, and Floss Correctly

This is how you floss:

Most people do not floss correctly, if at all. Flossing is imperative for anyone with gingivitis because the sides of the teeth need to be cleaned so the food debris doesn’t feed the bacteria. If you hate flossing, then the good news is you can quit flossing once you get your gums back to optimal health. But you will need to eat a nearly perfect diet, with tons of nutrient dense, raw, organic vegetables, chew on anti-microbials regularly like garlic, and keep your whole body very healthy. If you do this, and you have a healthy mouth, you will not need to floss, or even brush the teeth to have much healthier gums and teeth than the most other people. But your teeth would be all nasty looking, so it’s not a plan I recommend. But the point that I can’t stress enough is that oral health begins in the gut. Heal the gut, health the whole body.

Brush Your Teeth With Your Own Toothpaste

Brush your teeth three times a day with the following recipe

Simple Natural Toothpaste Recipe:

For 6 tablespoons of oil to 6 tablespoons of baking soda, add 10-15 drops of essential oil. Try peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, clove, lemon, orange, rosemary or any others or any combination that sound good to you. Each essential oil provides more than taste; each adds its own benefits.  Add drops of one, or experiment with combinations. Be sure to buy your essential oils from a reputable source and be sure you are getting the right genus species. Many oils come from different species and contain different properties.

Your dry ingredients can also be altered. Try adding trace minerals, calcium magnesium powder, bentonite clay, and/or diatomaceous earth to the mix, removing an equal amount of baking soda and adjusting for consistency. Trace minerals, calcium magnesium powder, and diatomaceous earth will all aid in re-mineralization, while bentonite clay will aid in drawing out impurities as it, like the aforementioned dry ingredients, adds grit.

Hydrogen peroxide is added to many home toothpastes, especially those formulated for whitening. But hydrogen peroxide can irritate the gums, so it is best to avoid it.

There is a third step in dental care for anyone who is struggling with gingivitis or wants to use a preventative treatment : Dr. Shillington’s Tooth and Gum Formula, which can be used as a mouthwash (one dropperful to a cup of water), on your toothbrush as or with your “toothpaste” (8-12 drops on your toothbrush after brushing your teeth), or with a water pick (2-4 dropperfuls, but rinse out after use so the tee tree oil does not shorten the life of the rubber seals). After each of these methods, do not rinse; allow the ingredients to continue working.

You can make your own Tooth and Gum Formula with Dr. Shillington’s recipe or purchase the Tooth and Gum Formula through Green Lifestyle Market.

Dr. Shillington’s Tooth and Gum Formula Recipe

(Use Organic ingredients where ever possible).

  • 10 oz Echinacea Tincture
  • 1/4 cup of Tea Tree Oil
  • 4 oz. Bayberry Tincture
  • 2 oz. Oak Gall (or 3X Oak Bark) Tincture
  • 2 TBS. Cayenne Tincture
  • 2 1/2 Dropperfuls of Peppermint Oil
  • 2 1/2 Dropperfuls of Clove Oil

A ‘part’ is a measurement by volume.  Blend all ingredients together and make into a tincture using a 50 – 50 Blend of Alcohol and distilled water. For more, see How to Make a Tincture.

A dropper-full is considered to be about 1/2 way up the dropper from a two-ounce bottle.

Be sure to shake well before each use.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic method of oral care that involves swishing oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. Traditionally, sesame oil was used, but these days coconut oil is more often recommended, and it’s my preference as well. To increase the potency of this protocol, use essential oils, such as peppermint, cinnamon, or clove. Tea tree oil and oil of oregano are two good options, but they can get really intense. Start off with just a small amount.

Here are some suggestions with the essential oils for oil pulling. Add these to a tablespoon of coconut oil.

  • For bad breath: 2 drops of cinnamon, spearmint, or peppermint essential oil
  • Toothache: 2 drops of clove or tea tree essential oil, or one of each
  • Canker sores: 2 drops of holy basil essential oil.
  • Gum disease: 2 drops of cinnamon, clove, or tea tree essential oil.
  • Receding gums: Add 2 drops of Myrrh essential oil.
  • Cavities: 2 drops of clove or tea tree essential oil, or one of each
  • Any infection in the mouth: 2 drops of clove or tea tree essential oil, or one of each

How to Oil Pull

Swish the oil around in your mouth (like you would with mouthwash) and pull through the teeth, for 15 to 20 minutes. Don’t swish hard, or your cheeks will get sore very quickly.

The longer you do it, the more benefit you’ll get. 15 to 20 minutes is ideal, and I like to do it while I write articles, but even just doing it for a few minutes is very beneficial. You may need to take your time and build up your mouth strength. (I did.)

Spit it out! Do not sallow it. That oil gets nasty, and it’s better to dispose of it than swallow it. Follow with tooth brushing, or at least thoroughly rinsing the mouth. And don’t spit it out in the sink. The oil could stop it up.

Conclusion

The protocol above is a complete and truly holistic approach to gum disease and cavities, and most other mouth ailments, too. Holistic is the key; for the mouth to heal, the body has to be in good overall health. For the body to heal, the gut has to be balanced and healthy, too. If oral health issues are not your only issue, check out Kill Candida and Balance the Gut Quickly.

Take pictures! Before you start, take a pic of your teeth and gums, and see how it compares after about a week. You’ll likely be amazed.

Recommended Products:

Further Reading:


The Rebirth of Broth – The Peasants’ Superfood

Restore Joints, Blood Vessels, Skin, Bone, Intestines, and More…

We argue over the great nutritional deficiencies of our time.  Some say Omega 3s, others propose low mineral levels like magnesium, selenium, and zinc while still others cite the lack of every vitamin, fruit, vegetable, herb, spice, and amino acid.  Sure!  They are all correct, more or less.

Maybe the most overlooked deficiency is simply real soup, not the stuff in a can.  The easily absorbed proteins and minerals once found in the peasant’s soup pot are absent in today’s popular boneless/skinless chicken breast or other foods of convenience. Any fish or animal carcass plus a mix of veggies and herbs has always been the ticket to restoring the human “carcass.”  Broth bars are springing up around the country in the footsteps of juice bars as healthy choices over fast foods and vending machine snackage.

Strong Statement, Undeniable Biochemistry

The epidemic of arthritis, heart/artery and bowel disease, rampant sports injuries, skin problems, and skeletal erosion is largely due to the lack of soup and Vitamin C, which is critical for collagen synthesis.  Collagen is the substance that cartilage joint surfaces, spinal discs, tendons, ligaments, bones, blood vessels, lymphatics, fascia, fat cells, mucous membranes, and beautiful skin are made from. These connective tissues are the mud and straw of our bodies, the glue and fiber that hold us together and even act as an internal electric grid.

Homemade soups contain a raft of proteins, including the amino acids lysine and proline emphasized by Linus Pauling along with glucosamine/chondrotin sulfate and hyaluronic acid plus all the phosphorous and other minerals that leach from bone and cartilage. You may note these contents in various arthritis supplements and see Vitamin C/collagen appearing on labels of high-end beauty and wrinkle creams.

Stocks can be used in dozens of ways besides soup to slurp with a spoon. The best gravies, sauces, stews, and gumbos start with stocks, and grains like rice and quinoa can be cooked in stock.

How-To in a Nutshell

Chicken soup is fine, but imagine fish heads, shrimp shells, deer bones, wild duck, and turkey carcasses along with the standard beef, pork, and lamb. In a pinch, and for strong gelatin, grab some split pig feet and tails and gnaw the skin and cartilage, too. Connoisseurs prefer to simmer beef bones for 24-36 hours, but 6 hrs is plenty for beef stew in my kitchen.  Some roast bones first to add flavor. All the others make fine stocks in under two hours of gentle cooking, more like simmering than hard boiling. Fish stocks of smallish non-oily saltwater species may be the most nutrient diverse — just gut, snip out gills, and rinse in brine.

All it takes is a big stainless steel pot, water, sea salt, pepper, garlic, onion, celery, and acidic vinegar, lemon juice, or tomatoes to ensure maximum mineral release. Fishhead stocks also require a fine screen to strain scales. Any vegetable, herbs like thyme, basil, bay, oregano and even ginger, turmeric, pineapple skins, hot peppers, potatoes, noodles and rice work. Check recipes on the Internet and use your imagination, because anything goes. Vegetables can be steamed or roasted separately or added near the end to prevent overcooking. The thickness of gelatin upon refrigeration is proof positive of success, and gels themselves are full of richly structured water. Reheat only the portion to be consumed.  Fresh stocks can be frozen.

Plan a Protocol

Soups and extra vitamin C are standard maintenance when you are healthy, but if you are facing any symptoms like gum disease, arthritis, skin problems, joint sprains, digestive issues, or even colds or sinus infections, raise the doses. Higher doses might include pig feet or fish soup plus 3-5 oral megadoses of Vitamin C/baking soda per day, every day, until you are completely healed. Expect results and improvement with some issues in days and weeks to possibly a month or two for joint/tendon/ligament/cartilage healing where vasculature is sparse. When joint problems and sports injuries are slow to heal, patience is an asset, yet you can always try to accelerate the process of rebuilding and regenerating tissues, molecule by molecule.

More oxygen means more healing cell energy with reduced acidity and inflammation for any injury, infection, or concussion. Try five to ten minutes of pure oxygen (or sessions of hyper-ventilation exercise) several times a day up to HBOT treatments for more severe complaints.

Alkalizing the system with bicarbonate of soda, apple cider vinegar, and magnesium supplements moves more O2.

You can raise circulation with cayenne, niacin, sauna, exercise, and massage to move oxygen and lymphatic wastes. Anti-inflammatory polyphenol-packed herbals like ginger, turmeric, garlic and MSM sulfur internally, and cannabis oil, magnesium oil, and capsaicin creams externally reduce pain and swelling. Pauling also recommended vitamin E.

Pulsed lasers are winning acclaim for joint pains among chiropractors and veterinarians.

Pain is a great motivator, driving many to drink, drugs, and surgeries. Understanding body chemistry and acquiring the simple art of making healing soups is worth more than gold when you consider the alternative.

Further Reading:


How to Deal with Mosquitoes Naturally

It’s mosquito season again here in North America. All too often, this is the time when many people rely on pesticides for their yards or they use synthetic insect repellents. Many of us are under the false impression that this is the heavy-duty approach, and everything else is “not hardcore enough.”

There are numerous downsides to outdoor pesticide treatments and synthetic insect repellents. Pesticides create insecticide resistant bugs. The active ingredient in most commercial bug repellents is DEET, a dangerous chemical. DEET has been linked to neurological damage, cancer, and environmental damage. Chemicals are also less effective than natural methods. In addition, natural methods are cheaper and pose little to no health risk.

A Wealth of Options

There are many natural methods for mosquito control. You can grow the right kind of plants in your yard, and mosquitoes will leave you alone. You can make some changes to your diet to make yourself far less appealing to mosquitoes. Another tried and proven tactic is to create bird, bat, or frog habitats, which work well to keep mosquitoes and other bug populations down. Finally, you can use essential oils, the ultimate non-toxic, all-natural mosquito repellent to keep the dastardly bloodsuckers away.

Take Away The Mosquito Habitats

You also don’t want to make it easy for mosquitoes to reproduce. Remove anything that collects and pools stagnant water- that’s where they lay their eggs. Tires, buckets, pet bowls, birdbaths, gutters, and the like are potential breeding pools for mosquitoes. Eliminating these breeding spots is an essential step if you wish to be taken off the menu.

The easiest solution, and my favorite, is to use your green thumb against mosquitoes. All you need to do is grow the right plants. There are several dozen tested and proven plants that repel mosquitoes, and many are beautiful and easy to grow. You can use flowers such as marigolds (see further reading below), and ageratums (also known as floss flowers). Or you could use plants such as catnip, lavender, mint, or citronella. There are so many plants that repel mosquitoes.

There are many essential oils that repel mosquitoes and other biting insects. To avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and other pests including ticks, biting flies, and midges, you’ll need a combination of essential oils for complete protection. The following essential oils repel mosquitoes:

Remember to try a little essential oil on your skin to test for an allergic reaction before you apply the oil more generously. Don’t use essential oils straight out of the bottle. You need to either dilute them with water, or better yet, you can mix a few drops of essential oils with coconut oil as a carrier, which also doubles as a sunblock. Coconut oil is also good for the skin.

It’s the Female Mosquitoes You Need To Look Out For

We call it biting, but being bitten by a mosquito more closely resembles a miniature needle jab. The bloodsucking tube of the female mosquito looks rigid; however, it is actually a very complex flexible organ that bends at right angles in order to find a good source of blood.

A mosquito’s needle-like hollow probe tapers to a point. The labrum is the flat strip that collapses as the mosquito pushes into the skin. This well-evolved feeding tube is finer than a human hair. From inside the tube, four tiny cutting filaments, known as mandibles maxillae, dig their way into the skin. The mosquito pushes in with these four filaments to drive the other mouthparts deeper.

These biting parts are only found on female mosquitoes. While, both the male and the female mosquito feed on plant nectar, only the female feeds on blood. The rich amounts of protein and iron in blood aids them in producing their eggs.

A Short Lifespan

All mosquitoes live a short life, but the females live quite a bit longer than the males with a typical lifespan could be 6 to 8 weeks. The male’s main purpose in life is to find the females and mate with them. Longevity is not needed for this endeavor. Once they have grown to an adult, males rarely last more than 2 weeks.

Some female mosquitoes can lay up to 300 eggs at a time, some lay less than a hundred. Most lay their eggs in water or very close to the water. The eggs quickly mature in water.

Mosquito eggs grow in stages, the four stages that are typical of many insect species: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Larvae and pupae mosquitoes need water in order to survive.

They Come in Many Sizes

Mosquitoes vary in size from 1.6 mm to 12.5 mm (up to 1/2 an inch). Half an inch doesn’t sound very big, but the big ones are 20 times the size of normal mosquitoes. The super-sized mosquitoes are known as gallinippers. Gallinippers can bite through clothing.

And in Many Different Species, Too

There are more than 3,500 different species of mosquitoes in the world, and about 200 of them are in North America. Many mosquitoes bite whenever the opportunity presents itself, but some are more choosey about their targets.

Some mosquitoes are very specialized – humans are not the meal they choose. Others, of course, are our biggest fans. Aedes aegypti feed on human blood almost exclusively. As the name implies, aedes aegypti originated in North Africa, but they, like others, have spread across the world. There are only a few safe havens like Iceland and Antarctica.

They Know What They Like

Mosquitoes are attracted to body heat, dark clothing, perfume, cologne, hairsprays, cosmetics, and natural body odors. Our skin can create over 340 different chemical odors, and these smells can be unappealing or appealing to mosquitoes. These are some of the reasons that mosquitoes like some of us more than others, but there are other reasons as well.

We have over a trillion microbes living on our skin. When scientists compare microbes from person to person, there is a great deal of variation. Mosquitoes are attracted to some kinds of bacteria while other kinds mask our scent. As chance would have it, some kinds are downright unappealing to them.

Our diet is the biggest factor influencing our microbial makeup, but there are other factors like how much we sweat, what kind of soap we use, how much we exercise, the last time we bathed, and of course, genetics are a big factor as well.

Predators and parasites both prefer their prey to be in less than optimal health. When we are in optimal health, our bodies are teeming with beneficial bacteria, killer white T-cells, and all of our other natural defenses. Diet plays a huge role in both health and micro-bio diversity.The microbes on our skin reflect the microbes in our gut. Mosquitoes like sugary blood and perfumes. If you are attracting mosquitoes and you aren’t wearing perfumes, you are probably eating too much sugar, and it is time to balance your gut flora. You might find it surprising how much less they’ll like you if you’re eating a truly healthy diet (see further reading below). It’s helpful to know mosquitoes don’t like garlic, onions, leeks, and vinegar. If you eat a healthy diet and enough of these foods, mosquitoes will like you a lot less.

Itchy, Painful Bites are Not the Worst-Case-Scenario

It’s a good idea to avoid mosquitoes and mosquito bites. Mosquitoes inject their prey with an anti-inflammatory and an anti-coagulate to make it easier to suck blood. Usually this bug spit that gets injected in the bite area just causes some mild irritation. In rare cases, people have severe adverse reactions. Symptoms of a mosquito allergy include:

  • Increased swelling at bite
  • Fever
  • Hives
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Headache

This type of physical reaction is more commonly seen in children and is sometimes referred to as skeeter syndrome. Unfortunately, even this kind of reaction is still not the worst-case scenario for mosquito bites.

Mosquitoes are vectors of numerous diseases:

  • Chikungunya
  • West nile virus
  • Filariasis
  • Encephalitis
  • Malaria
  • Rift valley fever
  • Yellow fever
  • Dengue fever

Malaria is the most infamous disease listed. Roughly 200 million people contract malaria every year and the disease kills over a million people a year.

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

The biotech industry has turned to genetically modified mosquitoes as a means to reduce mosquito populations. They release genetically modified males that have been modified to be sterile. They are released in close enough proximity to where mosquitoes are found, so the males can seek out the females. Unsurprisingly, the males are really, really good at finding the females. GMO mosquitoes mate with the females, which denies them the opportunity to mate with fertile males.

GMO mosquitoes have been released in Brazil, Malaysia, and Florida. The male mosquitoes seek out the female mosquitoes and they impregnate them with doomed offspring. In a generation, large numbers of aedes egypti mosquitoes die off.

Of course, this is the ideal circumstance, a best case scenario. Only male genetically modified mosquitoes are supposed to be released. We don’t know what would happen if female GMO mosquitoes were to get free. People could be bitten by GMO mosquitoes, which would leave GMO proteins in their body. What if some of the genetically modified males malfunction and don’t work as they’re supposed to and they somehow produce viable offspring? The changes they could make to the population are impossible to predict. Though the first trials appear to be successful, it is a dire risk to manipulate the genes of any organism and then release it into the environment. We may not understand enough about genetics to be doing these kinds of manipulations to species and then releasing them, just hoping for the best. Many critics of this technology argue this approach is unrealistically optimistic.

Conclusion

Mosquitoes have been with us a long time, even before there was an “us”. Way before human beings or primates evolved, mosquitoes were doing their thing.

Fossil evidence puts mosquitos all the way back to the Jurassic period. Amazingly, the little buggers harassed the dinosaurs, too. Back then mosquitoes came a bit larger, up to 2 inches in size.

We hope you take the extra time to make it more difficult for mosquitoes to make a meal out of you or your friends and family. One of the best end results of repelling mosquitoes is the knowledge that you’re doing your part to reduce their population the natural way, by starving them out of the blood they need to reproduce. Donating blood should be reserved for fellow people in need, not these vile pests.

Recommended Products:

Further Reading: 

Sources:



The Natural Medicine Chest and First Aid Kit for DIY Preparedness

If you are making a transition from conventional medicine to an all-natural, organic approach to wellness, it helps to know which items to stock up on so your medicine chest and first aid supplies are ready for action.

Many of the items you will need are likely to be found in your pantry or refrigerator. Try to keep extra on hand – especially the essentials.

Items for a Well-Stocked, All Natural Medicine Cabinet

Raw and Fresh

  • Garlic
  • Ginger root
  • Aloe vera

Dry Stuff

  • Baking soda (non aluminum, organic)
  • Sea salt
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Eyebright tea

Bottles and Jars

  • Raw, organic honey
  • Organic coconut oil
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Alcohol
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Argan Oil

Essential Oils

  • Eucalyptus
  • Tee tree oil
  • Neem oil
  • Cinnamon oil

Vitamins

  • Vitamin C
  • B-complex
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin A

Other

  • Epsom salts

Bandages

  • Rolls of gauze
  • Squares
  • Butterfly bandages
  • Finger gauze
  • Tape
  • Band-Aids

Hardware

  • Eye cup
  • Droppers and bottles
  • Neti pot
  • Hot water bottle
  • Ice packs
  • Tweezers
  • Magnifying glass
  • Scissors

Tonics and Supplements to Buy

  • Total Tonic
  • Spanish black radish
  • Echinacea

First Aid

First aid doesn’t have to be complicated. That said, there are many alternative treatments for the same problem. Don’t hesitate to do the research to learn a variety of treatments.

Burns– Immediately cool the area by running it under cold water. Follow with ice. Cover with aloe vera, bandage if desired.

Scrapes – Wash the area with organic soap, rinse and pat dry. If you feel the need to further cleanse the area, pour on a little hydrogen peroxide. Pat dry. You can use raw honey for a dressing or 1 teaspoon coconut oil with 4-8 drops of essential oil (tee tree oil, cinnamon, etc.) or cover with argan oil.

Eyes – If you get something in your eye an eyewash can be very helpful. Make a saline solution with pure water (distilled is best) and salt. Boil the water, even if it is distilled. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of boiling water. Allow the water to cool to lukewarm before using. (Very important! Do not use hot or cold water in your eye!)

Use a sterilized eyecup or dropper. If you keep extra solution, sterilize the jar or bottle.

If you accidently splash a chemical in your eye, don’t wait; flush with tap water immediately – for 20 minutes.

Bug bites – Use apple cider vinegar, cinnamon oil, aloe vera, tea tree oil and others. Remember to use a carrier oil with essential oils. (Mix 4-8 drops of essential oil with one teaspoon of coconut or other oil.

Infections

There are four types of infection: bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitical. In order to be healthy, your body needs a strong immune system. Diet is the most important element to health. Your body requires a full array of nutrients for every system in the body. Minimizing exposure to toxins and helping the body eliminate waste and toxins is the next step. Good sleep, exercise, sunlight, and grounding are all important as well.

If you eat a truly healthy diet, you will rarely get sick. When you do, your immune system will respond quickly and efficiently. You still might want to help it along now and then.

Viral Infection – At the first sign of a viral infection, gargle with pure apple cider vinegar. The more you gargle, the better. This lessens the viral load, killing off those nasty bugs so your immune system doesn’t have to battle so many. Gargle enough (every hour!) and you will definitely experience a milder illness or you may just nip it in the bud. Total Tonic can also be a great help. To learn how to make your own, check out Natural Remedies for Colds, Flus, and Other Common Viruses for the recipe.

Fungus (Athlete’s Foot or other skin infections) – First try straight apple cider vinegar. Just pour it on or use a cotton ball to squeeze it on the effected area. Tea tree oil (4-8 drops with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil) can be applied to skin or fingernails and toenails.

When you have a fungal infection, you can bet you have an overgrowth of fungus in your gut. Check out How to Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem.

Parasites – No parasites are not limited to third world countries. A truly healthy diet with plenty of raw food (80% at least!) helps the body rid itself of parasites. See Common Parasites and How to Kill Them. You definitely don’t want uninvited critters feasting on your body.

Bacterial Infection – Gargle with apple cider vinegar for a sore throat, too. Yes, it burns like crazy, but afterwards, the pain is usually gone. Spanish black radish is remarkable for bacterial infections of all kinds – bronchitis, pneumonia, strep throat, tooth infection, etc. Garlic is also a time-honored cure. To strengthen the immune system for viruses and all other parasites, check out Make Your Immune System Bullet Proof.

How to Use Other Items in Your Medicine Chest

Ginger – Use ginger to settle the stomach. It’s great for nausea. Use it for migraines. Make fresh juice at the first sign of a migraine. Apple/carrot juice with ginger is awesome. It knocks migraines out before they can get going. More on Ginger.

Garlic – Garlic is one of nature’s strongest antibiotic, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal, and antiviral substances. Eat it raw, but know that this practice, while great for killing viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, might make you throw up. Try chasing it with a ginger shot to keep it down. You can also use garlic topically to kill warts and eliminate skin tags. More on garlic.

Baking Soda and Salt – Make a saline solution to wash the sinuses with a neti pot at the first sign of infection or when pollen becomes a problem. For instructions, check out How to Use a Neti Pot for Sinus Infections.

Eyebright Tea – Eyebright tea knocks out pink eye and relieves eye inflammation. Be sure to thoroughly strain the tea so that no plant particles remain in the solution. Use an eye cup and rinse the eye with the solution. (Remember solutions for the eyes must be lukewarm, not hot or cold). Be sure to check out Shillington’s Eyebright Formula.

Epsom Salts – Use Epsom salts for a variety of muscle or skin issues, including muscle cramps. To learn how to properly use Epsom salts, read The Health Benefits Of Epsom Salt Baths.

As you learn more about natural remedies, it might help to keep a notebook. There is much to learn and many homemade recipes you will want to remember. As you do, your natural medicine chest will grow.

Further Reading:


Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases

Doctors who know how to heal people understand that disease almost always starts in the gut, and more importantly, they realize the gut has to be healthy for the body to fully heal from any disease.

Anyone suffering from an overabundance of Candida has a damaged intestinal wall that allows proteins, sugars, Candida, bacteria, and other microbes to escape the intestines and enter the bloodstream. This leads to allergies, a weakened and damaged immune system, ADHD, a myriad of autoimmune ailments and diseases, localized infections, systemic infections, and so much more.

Gluten and Candida

For many, gluten is difficult or impossible to properly digest. It takes an abundance of healthy bacteria to properly digest gluten. One of the many reasons our ancestors had less of a problem with digesting gluten than we do is that they used to use a probiotic culture that pre-digested the gluten proteins before they baked the bread. In addition, sugar consumption has been on the rise for decades, and there is a direct correlation with our increased sugar consumption and pretty much everything that’s wrong with our bodies. This increased sugar consumption feeds and increases Candida, disrupting the natural, beneficial flora in the gut.

When the gut is not healthy (flora is not balanced), gluten proteins harm the intestinal tract, causing irritation and inflammation. For those with the genetic predisposition to celiac disease, eating gluten, even with a healthy intestinal tract, causes some damage to the intestinal lining, which attracts Candida and causes other “non-beneficial” or “bad” microbes to flourish. As long as the diet for those with the predisposition remains healthy and the person does not often eat wheat, the intestinal tract can heal without any noticeable symptoms.

A protein found in Candida called HWP-1 is identical or highly homologous (nearly identical) to two gluten proteins, alpha gliadin and gamma-gliadin. These proteins are known to stimulate immune cell responses in people with celiac disease. In other words, Candida, the yeast responsible for oral thrush and vaginal infections (and so much more), contains the same protein sequence as wheat gluten, and therefore could trigger celiac disease.

Related: Gluten Intolerance, Wheat Allergies, and Celiac Disease – It’s More Complicated Than You Think

Leaky Gut Syndrome

In a healthy gut, cells that make up the lining of the intestinal wall bind tightly together. Research has discovered that trace amounts of gluten can irritate these cells and deteriorate their bonds. This bond between intestinal cells on the cell walls prevents large food particles, undigested sugars, undigested proteins, and gut microbes (parasites, bacteria, fungi) from leaking into the blood. Candida overgrowth also deteriorates the intestinal wall. Candida grows filaments or tentacles that “drill” into the gut lining and grow into the gut wall.

When the intestinal wall is inflamed, intestinal villi become damaged or destroyed. These hair-like projections that protrude from the epithelial lining of the intestinal wall are the means for our bodies to absorb nutrients and fats. With fewer villi, the gut lining becomes very hospitable to Candida and will become irritated, dry, inflamed, and much more permeable than it’s meant to be. Increased permeability in the intestinal wall allows larger compounds called luminal antigens and commensal gut flora to penetrate the intestinal tissue, contributing to more inflammation. More inflammation leads to more permeability. Eventually, the walls that line the intestinal tract become permeable to the degree that undigested food particles and gut flora enter the bloodstream.

While there are thousands of reputable published articles on intestinal permeability, there are also sites like Quackwatch and England’s National Health Service giving stern warnings against this “unproven” diagnosis. The medical establishment ignored, buried, and discredited leaky gut syndrome but leaky gut has been proven. There is actually a medical test for it, developed in the 1980s by UCLA researchers. The researchers were trying to understand the cause of Crohn’s Disease, and they found that leaky gut preceded inflammation, which suggests that a leaky gut at least plays a significant role in the development of autoimmune disorders.

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

Leaky Gut Syndrome and Autoimmune Disease

Candida is not inherently bad, but when left unchecked, when it takes over the gut and is allowed to flourish, it will damage the intestinal wall. Then Candida, along with other microbes, will migrate outside of the intestinal tract and into the body, flourishing everywhere, fed by all the sugars and damaged cells that are also entering the bloodstream. The immune system will react to the Candida (and gluten, with those two similar proteins) as it should, fighting invading pathogens that do not belong in the blood.

Large molecules that weren’t able to permeate the gut before, like bacteria, undigested proteins, undigested sugars, can now leak out of the gut. These antigens leak into the bloodstream and are labeled by the immune system as alien. Antibodies are made for these antigens, and when later exposures occur, the immune system mounts an inflammatory response, which targets tissues and organs.

Leaky gut has been found in association with asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel (inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), lupus, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, eczema, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart failure, and celiac disease.

An autoimmune disease is defined as an irregular response of the body’s immune system against substances and tissues normally present in the body (like when the immune system appears to be attacking the body, be it a specific part like an organ, or an entire system like the lymphatic system, or the whole body).

The body’s immune system doesn’t just attack the body like many conventional health practitioners believe. If the body is filled with all kinds of gut microbes and other harmful antigens that belong in the gut (and Candida is typically the most abundant of all of them in these cases), as well as sugars that feed these microbes, and proteins that are considered foreign due to the fact that they are undigested, then the body will appear to be attacking itself when it is attaching these foreign invaders. When infectious or toxic particles penetrate intestinal walls, they trigger a cascade of events that can culminate in any number of ailments.

Candida, and other micro-organisms we consider “bad” are pathogens, or infectious agents, that cause disease or illness to the host. Flora that benefits us can become pathogenic when the gut is unbalanced. These infectious bacteria or fungi live off sugars we feed them and the decomposition of our cells. The easier it is for these symbiotic microorganisms to become pathogenic, reproduce out of control and feed off of your body.

A leaky gut allows for infection to set in anywhere in the body that is most susceptible to infection. This is why old injuries often flare up. Infection sets in wherever there is food to eat. Scar tissue and other damaged tissue provide food for opportunistic infectious microbes like Candida and many other parasites. An organ that is toxic has irritated, damaged, decaying cells within it that provide food for these microbes. The more damaged the body, the more easily infection can take root inside the body. That is, after all, their job. What gets leaked, where what gets leaked, and where in the body infection is most susceptible all play a role in defining the symptoms that define autoimmune diseases.

Gluten and Autoimmune Disease

For those with celiac disease and those who have developed immune system responses to gluten, an inflammatory response that damages the intestinal walls is created as soon as gluten enters the gut. The intestinal walls quickly become more permeable and the autoimmune damage occurs in other parts of the body. Current research shows that the production of antibodies in this response damages the central nervous system, specifically, the cerebellum, the posterior columns of the spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves.

The neurological symptoms of celiac disease can actually mimic the symptoms of multiple sclerosis to an extent that is imperceptible. The neurological conditions caused by celiac disease are known as gluten “ataxia.”

It’s been estimated that 10- 14% of those who suffer from celiac disease also suffer from hypothyroidism, but the correlation is sure to be much higher due to the fact that both hypothyroidism and celiac disease often go undiagnosed. Many doctors ignore the warning signs and don’t even understand the diseases well enough, but even still, the testing for both of these diseases leaves much to be desired.

Researchers and health practitioners are now making the connections between gluten, Candida, leaky gut syndrome, and dozens of autoimmune diseases.

Candida and Autoimmune Disease

In 1978, the concept that non-systemic yeast infections known as “systemic candidiasis,” or candidiasis that can cause a wide array of systemic symptoms and contribute to or exacerbate various disease conditions, was introduced. Symptoms associated with candidiasis include but are not limited to:

“…depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, irritability, headache, difficulty with memory and concentration, chronic diarrhea, recurrent urinary tract symptoms, decreased libido, acne, dry skin, menstrual disturbances, premenstrual tension, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, myasthenia gravis, schizophrenia, and increased sensitivity to foods, inhalants, and drugs.”

Antibiotics, along with a diet full of refined sugars and gluten make way for Candida to take over the gut and infiltrate the entire body.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Lyme and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Lyme Disease

Candida albicans produces 180 chemical toxins that can be absorbed through the intestines into the blood, and that’s when the intestinal walls are in good health. Once the intestinal walls become more permeable, imagine what those toxins do to the immune system when Candida migrates throughout the body producing toxic substances that incite the immune system’s inflammatory response. These foreign, toxic chemicals wreck havoc on the body just like the toxic chemicals that are produced during bacterial infections and other parasitic infections, which will also be prevalent throughout the body with a leaky gut. How and where these toxins interact with the body defines a disease. Anyone who suffers from ill health is suffering from infection.

How to Heal a Leaky Gut

An overabundance of Candida leads to a leaky gut. Gluten can lead to an overabundance of Candida. Gluten can also, in other ways lead to a leaky gut. Given enough time, autoimmune disease follows.

If someone is sick, regardless of which autoimmune disease one has, or which infectious disease one has, the gut is damaged and must be repaired to achieve health. When the gut is damaged, gluten must be avoided, completely. When the gut is damaged, Candida is running rampant. Candida leads to sugar, junk food, drug, and alcohol cravings. These all need to be avoided. Even over the counter drugs like aspirin and Advil damage the digestive tract and impede gut health.

Fix the gut by creating a healthy ecosystem with lots of beneficial flora that protects the gut lining and competes with microbes that could become parasitic if left unchecked. The most beneficial gut bacteria for us (as in, the best gut bacteria for mental health, immunity, and overall well-being) just so happen to be the bacteria that thrive on raw vegetables that have gone through the earlier phases of digestion. Your inner ecosystem is based on what you feed it. If someone who eats fast food every day, all day, were to eat a salad, they would likely be sitting on the toilet with the runs. On the other hand, if someone who eats 80% raw fresh produce who avoids fast food were to eat a fast food meal, they would likely have the same outcome. This is because the gut flora you have is primarily based on the foods you consume.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

The only way to fully heal the gut and achieve long-term optimal health is to feed the gut’s ecosystem lots of fresh vegetables. Limit fruits, avoid refined foods such as fruit juices, starches, and other sugars, and avoid (and detox from) heavy metal exposure and other toxins (like those found in vaccines; they damage the gut too).

Garlic, chlorella, spirulina, parsley, and cilantro help the body remove heavy metals. Choose organic and not grown in China, or they may be so contaminated with heavy metals they will exacerbate the problem.

The process of healing the gut can be sped up by (but not replaced by) supplementation that kills Candida and other parasites and by probiotics that are strong enough to penetrate stomach acid in order to benefit the gut. The beneficial bacteria in most probiotics and fermented foods are not strong enough to survive stomach acid.

Most ailments from autoimmune disease are lessened or eliminated very quickly when Candida is brought under control and the gut begins to heal. But, it can take many months for the gut lining to fully heal, and Candida spores can lie dormant in places that antimicrobial compounds and our immune system cannot get to. For this reason, it’s imperative to follow a strict diet and follow any sweets, even a homemade healthy fruit smoothie, with a salad or supplements for gut health.

Fungal Supplement Stack – Knock Out Yeast, Candida, Mold, Fungus

The first three should be plenty for most people, but for really prominent fungal issues or for impatient people with a bigger budget I’d recommend all of these:

Products bought from Green Lifestyle Market are gaurnteed to meet your satisfaction. If you’re not happy for any reason, even if the products have been used, you can return them for stroe credit or a refund within six months of purchase.

Conclusion

Although digestive complaints are the first and most recognized symptoms of celiac disease, a study found that 87% of those diagnosed with celiac disease claimed they had no gastrointestinal complaints. Perhaps they did not or perhaps they are so accustomed to a digestive system that does not work properly, they don’t recognize the symptoms. Patients who test positive for leaky gut syndrome may not complain of digestive issues either.

If you are suffering from an autoimmune disease, any chronic disease, frequent infections, or a weak immune system, chances are you are suffering from a leaky gut whether you experience digestive disturbances or not. So focus on the gut. Since 80% of the immune system is in the gut, this alone makes gut health a priority. Once the gut is healed, the rest of the body can heal as well. Below are the supplements that with a proper diet can balance gut flora quickly. Beare in mind, while many people will feel much better after just a few days of supplementation, the body’s intestinal wall can take months to heal, and hidden, dormant Candida that’s just waiting for some sugar can take even longer to kill. Be sure to check out the “Further Reading” section below for more information, along with specific protocols. In my experience, following the recommendations on the following supplements, while making sure to take the probiotic separately, works amazingly quickly to kill fungal infection and promote healthy gut flora throughout the body. I take the FloraMend at night and early in the morning, and then take all other supplements throughout the day with meals. Combine these supplements with this diet protocol here, Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included and you’ll likely be amazed at what happens in just a few weeks or less. Most people see significant results in just a few days.

Recommended Supplements:

(Take these all together, except FloraMend, take that separately)

Further Reading:
Sources:
  • Why You Should Avoid Gluten if You Have Candida Overgrowth – Body Ecology
  • Yeast and chronic inflammation – Natural News
  • Celiac Disease, Gluten Ataxia and Candidiasis – DNC News
  • Candida and Gluten Allergies – McCombs’ Candida Plan
  • Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases – PubMed
  • New Research Shows Poorly Understood Leaky Gut Syndrome Is Real – May Be the Cause Of Several Diseases – The Daily Beast
  • Counsell et al.  Coeliac disease and autoimmune thyroid disease.  Gut 1994;35: 844-846
  • Collin et al. Autoimmune thyroid disorders and coeliac disease. European Journal of Endocrinology 1994;130:137-140
  • Freeman H. Deliac associated autoimmune thyroid disease: A study of 16 patients with overt hypothyroidism. 1995; July/Aug: 9(5): 242-246
  • Brain. 2001 May;124(Pt 5):1013-9. Sporadic cerebellar ataxia associated with gluten sensitivity.
    Burk K, Bosch S, Muller CA, Melms A, Zuhlke C, Stern M, Besenthal I, Skalej M, Ruck P, Ferber S, Klockgether T, Dichgans J
  • Neurology. 2002 Apr 23;58(8):1221-6The humoral response in the pathogenesis of gluten ataxia. Hadjivassiliou M, Boscolo S, Davies-Jones GA, Grunewald RA, Not T, Sanders DS, Simpson JE, Tongiorgi E, Williamson CA, Woodroofe NM.
  • J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2003 Sep;74(9):1221-4
    Dietary treatment of gluten ataxia. Hadjivassiliou M, Davies-Jones GA, Sanders DS, Grunewald RA.
  • Neurol Sci. 2001 Nov;22 Suppl 2:S117-22
    Neurological manifestations of gastrointestinal disorders, with particular reference to the differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Ghezzi A, Zaffaroni M.
  • 1998 Nov 14;352(9140):1582-5  Clinical, radiological, neurophysiological, and neuropathological characteristics of gluten ataxia.  Hadjivassiliou M, Grunewald RA, Chattopadhyay AK, Davies-Jones GA, Gibson A, Jarratt JA, Kandler RH, Lobo A, Powell T, Smith CM.
  • Lancet. 1998 Nov 14;352(9140):1582-5  Clinical, radiological, neurophysiological, and neuropathological characteristics of gluten ataxia.  Hadjivassiliou M, Grunewald RA, Chattopadhyay AK, Davies-Jones GA, Gibson A, Jarratt JA, Kandler RH, Lobo A, Powell T, Smith CM.
  • Nutritional Medicine – A Textbook by Alan R. Gaby, M.D.


How to Detox Your Easter Candy Candida

If you’ve eaten sweets over the holidays and you are ready to detox, your goal will be to kill Candida and re-balance your gut flora. First and foremost, it’s time for salads. Unless you want to spend considerable money on probiotics for the rest of your life, if you want to be free of Candida, you need to feed the right ecosystem. That means sticking to a diet consisting of lots of raw fresh organic vegetables, void of processed, refined foods. Your intestinal flora affects your life in many different ways. The more raw vegetables you ingest, the more beneficial your gut microbes are to your body. Avoid gluten as well.

If you went way overboard with junk food (and/or had conventional junk food as opposed to organic, healthier varieties), you’re looking at artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and GMO’s. The good news is, the best way to detox these ingredients is to fix the gut.

Probiotics

The probiotics we take as supplements are not the same probiotics that we keep in our gut, but they are friendly bacteria. Before they decide to check out, they will fight on the side of our beneficial microbes, kill the bad guys, eat the bad stuff, and help digest everything so that the long-term bacteria that prefer to live in our gut will thrive.

The bacteria count is not what’s important when looking for probiotics. You want to make sure the bacteria are designed to pass through the stomach acid. Most are not. Stomach acid is designed to kill bacteria, so it takes a strong beneficial bacteria to make it through.

Other herbal medicines that kill Candida internally include (but are not limited to) wormwood extract, oil of oregano, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and undecenoic acid. But don’t take probiotics with antibacterial herbs. Oil of oregano, for example, can weaken probiotics when they are taken together.

I like fermented vegetables, but I don’t eat them for probiotic properties. I believe the beneficial bacteria from fermented foods is killed in stomach acid. Fermented foods have tons of benefits, and they’re great to take with more powerful probiotics. When the foods hit the gut, the healthy bacteria that made it through has lots of healthy food on which to feed.

Yogurts bought in grocery stores make poor probiotics and typically feed Candida rather than kill it. On the other hand, high quality probiotics can be added to yogurts. Choose yogurt that is organic and free of sugar. Sweetened with fruit if desired.

Eat Salads

Salads are the best way to feed the body a variety of the healthiest foods for balancing the intestinal flora. We’re not talking about iceberg lettuce, some carrot shreds, and ranch dressing. We’re talking about real salads made with kale, collards, cabbage, spinach, chard, and lots of other leafy vegetables to make up the foundation of your daily salad. Add herbs and garlic to them as well.

Conclusion

Those who eat reasonably well on non-holidays and were not suffering from Candida symptoms previously should be able to fix the gut after an Easter candy binge in just a few days by sticking to salads, lots of water, and a high quality probiotic. Be sure to check out Kill Candida and Balance the Body, and see Cheap and Easy Detox for more on detoxifying. For detox recipes including my salad recipe and cranberry lemonade, check out the first few sources below.

Further Reading: