Foods That Promote Candida Overgrowth and Lead To Leaky Gut Syndrome

Sugars

Any and all sugars feed yeast. On the other hand, all whole foods contain sugars, and every creature needs sugar to survive, including us. The trick is to eat the unrefined sugars in whole foods that have other nutrients bound to them, like fruit instead of fruit juices.

Most everyone is looking for a healthy sweetener. If you’re suffering from an overgrowth of Candida, no sugar is good sugar. Stevia can be used as a sweetener if the pancreas is working well, but stevia can cause problems to those who have blood sugar issues.

Believe it or not, these “healthy” sugars are not so healthy:

  • Agave nectar
  • Coconut sugar
  • Maple syrup
  • Brown rice syrup
  • Sugar cane juice
  • Sugar in the raw

That’s the short list. In order to heal the gut, sugars need to go.

Refined Foods

Breads, pastas, chips, flours, and other refined foods are out. Whole foods are in.

Juices

Sweet juices are just another form of refined sugar. Fresh pressed juice has lots of nutrition, but they don’t have fiber. All sweet juices feed yeast including beet and carrot juice. Vegetables that are not sweet, lemons, limes, and herbs like ginger and turmeric, make juices that do not feed yeast. Instead, they kill yeast.

Grains and Glutinous Foods

Gluten cannot be properly digested if you have an overabundance of Candida. Gluten sets up perfect conditions for parasites to thrive in the gut. Even worse, when the gut is permeated by Candida, gluten protein molecules can enter the bloodstream and cause an antihistamine, inflammation response.

When the gut is not healthy, any and all grains are more difficult to digest. This is why the Paleo diet that’s been so popular lately is known for healing the gut.

Fruits

Grapes, dates, figs, pineapple, and other very sweet fruits have lots of terrific health benefits, but they are so high in sugars they need to be avoided until the gut heals. With very bad Candida overgrowth, all sweet fruits should be avoided or severely limited for a week or two.

Processed Meats and Pork

Processed meats contain nitrates and other preservatives and artificial colors that kill beneficial flora, which allows Candida to flourish. They also typically contain dextrose or other sugars.

Pork contains retroviruses that survive cooking and may be harmful to those with a weakened digestive system. In addition, conventionally raised animals (non-organic) are typically feed genetically modified foods that should be avoided as well.

GMOs

GMOs kill beneficial flora, just like many of them destroy the gut in insects. But Candida doesn’t mind, and neither do other parasites or very opportunistic and dangerous viruses and bacteria. GMOs slowly destroy the whole digestive system.

Dairy products

Dairy is high in sugar and, therefore, should be avoided for Candida sufferers unless it has powerful probiotics that pass through stomach acid. Incidentally, when a baby has diaper rash, it is almost always Candida, due to formula or because the mother has Candida overgrowth, and the baby is drinking her milk. With healthy mother’s milk, the probiotics in the milk easily pass the baby’s weaker stomach acid and reach the intestinal tract. With adults, while raw milk from healthy animals or humans is better for us, is easier to digest, and does not feed infection to the same degree as pasteurized milk, it still feeds Candida in adults due to the fact that our stomach acid kills the weaker probiotics found in milk.

Alcohol

Alcohol destroys healthy gut flora and damages gut tissue, leaving behind the perfect home for Candida.

Chemicals

Chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives all at least hinder, if not destroy, healthy gut bacteria.

Peanuts, Pistachios, Cashews

Peanuts, pistachios, and cashews are often contaminated with fungi. It is best to avoid them while ridding your body of Candida.

Conclusion

Basically, your diet needs to be as healthy as possible while omitting sweet fruits and vegetables until your Candida overgrowth is gone. The healthiest diet is the 80% Raw Food Diet. Just withhold the foods listed above until your gut is healed.

And to learn more about natural means to kill Candida and heal your gut, readBest Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections  and Gluten Intolerance, Wheat Allergies, and Celiac Disease – It’s More Complicated Than You Think

Recommended Supplements:
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Fight Cavities and Gingivitis Naturally With Homemade DIY Oral Health

Forget buying toothpaste, reading all of those ingredients, wondering if you can recycle the toothpaste tube or not. Make your own toothpaste, mouthwash, and more. There’s nothing you can get in the store that will do as well as these recipes.

But remember, there’s nothing you can do for your gums and teeth that will heal them and keep them healthy without eating a healthy diet. Your mouth emulates the health of your gut. Disease starts in the gut, and that’s true for everyone except for the few people who smoke but eat very well. Smoking (tobacco, marijuana, anything) is extremely bad for the teeth and the gums. That’s not to say that if you choose to smoke you should not use these homemade recipes, it’s just that your teeth and gums will deteriorate if you do not take care of the rest of the body. These formulas can reduce the deterioration rate, or, if the body is taken care of, they will accelerate the healing, reverse cavities, remove inflammation, eliminate infection, and whiten.

One other exception, and an unfortunately common one, is someone who takes very good care of their body, but is stuck with mercury fillings. These fillings will also deteriorate teeth and gum health, but there are steps you can take that will significantly reduce health consequences.

Homemade Remineralizing and Whitening Toothpaste Recipe

Make your own remineralizing toothpaste with calcium, magnesium, stevia, coconut oil and essential oils to help your teeth stay strong and your gums stay healthy.

Ingredients

  • 5 parts calcium/magnesium powder (the best calcium for this can be obtained with this homemade calcium recipe)
  • 2 parts baking soda
  • 1 part unrefined sea salt, finely ground
  • 3-5 parts coconut oil to get desired texture
  • Optional ingredients: Essential oils for flavor and/or kill germs (mint, cinnamon, tea tree, peppermint, orange), and stevia (takes very little)

Instructions

  • Mix calcium, salt, and baking soda in a bowl
  • Add coconut oil, one part at a time until you reach the desired consistency
  • Add any optional ingredients
  • Store in small glass container.

Hydrogen peroxide is added to many home toothpastes, especially those formulated for whitening. But hydrogen peroxide is one of those ingredients you are not supposed to swallow and it can irritate the gums. It is not a good idea for kids or for anyone with sensitive, damaged, or diseased gums.

Simple Toothpaste Recipe

If you don’t have access to some of the ingredients listed above, or you just want a simpler formula, you can make homemade toothpaste, that’s not really a paste, with the following:

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon unrefined sea salt, finely ground

Instructions

Just mix the ingredients.

Homemade Earthpaste Recipe

If you like the earthy shampoos and soaps, then this toothpaste formula is right up your alley:

Ingredients

  • 4 Tbsp bentonite clay
  • Distilled water
  • 5 drops tea tree oil
  • 5 drops liquid stevia
  • 10 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 2 Tsp unrefined sea salt

Instructions

  • Combine 2 tablespoons of water with the bentonite clay in a glass bowl and mix well using a non-metal spoon (clay shouldn’t come in contact with metal)
  • Add tea tree oil, stevia, and peppermint essential oils
  • Add salt, mix well
  • Add water to taste and texture.
  • Store toothpaste in a glass with a lid (the toothpaste will dry out over time if left uncovered)

Oil Pulling

Oil Pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic method of oral care that involves swishing oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. Some say that this practice can detoxify the whole body and heal all kinds of diseases, but these statements aren’t possible if the diet is not addressed. It does promote good oral health by reducing the amount of harmful bacteria and dental plaque while cleaning the areas of the mouth that brushing and flossing cannot get to. Oral health does increase the strength of the immune system, so oil pulling can lead to improved overall health.

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 swallow 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.

Homemade Mouthwash

There are lots of interesting mouthwash recipes, but between the homemade toothpaste and the oil pulling, I hardly ever want to use it. When I do, I just put some water in my mouth and drop in some essential oils like peppermint, mint, or clove, and follow with swishing and gargling. But here is one recipe I have made that I like very much.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup distilled water
  • 1 teaspoon unrefined sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon calcium magnesium powder (homemade calcium recipe)
  • 4 drops spearmint essential oil*
  • 2 drops cinnamon essential oil*
  • 2 drops peppermint essential oil*
  • 2 drops clove essential oil*

Directions

Mix ingredients in a glass bottle and shake.

* optional

Instant Breath Freshening

If I need to freshen my breath in hurry, I gargle with apple cider vinegar, or I chew on raw garlic, parsley, and/or cilantro (whichever I can find first). As long as you rinse well with water afterwards, you’ll have fresh breath.

Shillington’s Tooth and Gum Formula (click here to buy)

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 can be used as a mouthwash (one dropperful to a cup of water), on your toothbrush (8-12 drops on your toothbrush after brushing your teeth), or with a water pick (2-4 dropperfuls, but rinse out your water pick after use so the tee tree oil does not shorten the life of its rubber seals). After each of these methods, do not rinse; allow the ingredients to continue working.

Dr. Shillington writes, “The Echinacea in the formula deadens pain, kills germs, kicks the immune system into action, and starts working against bacteria that is deep down in the gum pockets. Bayberry and Oak Bark will tighten up the gum tissue right before your eyes. Peppermint is a very strong disinfectant, reduces inflammation, and also increases blood circulation to carry off toxins, bring in nutrition, and generally cleanse the mouth. Clove oil is a great pain reducer for toothache.”

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, not weight. 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 dropperful is considered to be about 1/2 way up the dropper from a two ounce bottle.

Be sure to shake well before each use.

Conclusion

Gum disease is not only avoidable, it is, contrary to conventional opinion, completely reversible. For more on oral health, be sure to check out Mercury Fillings, Root Canals, Cavitations – What You Need to Know. As far as that healthy diet we were mentioning, check out 80% Raw, which also has an amazing salad recipe.

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Sources:


10 Common Houseplants That Are Harmful to Your Pets

We’ve all witnessed a dog or cat charge into the yard to chomp on green grass, just like we’ve all cleaned up the resulting, imminent mess. While a little grass won’t hurt your pets, there are quite a few common household plants that are dangerous for them to ingest. Take stock of where you’ve placed your houseplants and decide if any new are too dangerous to keep.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is commonly used to treat burns. And it might be the most useful household plant in your collection – useful for humans that is. Unfortunately, this plant is toxic to our four-legged friends. Aloe vera causes reactions like vomiting and diarrhea, but it can also cause tremors and depression if snacking continues.

English Ivy

As beautiful as ivy cuttings and hanging baskets in your home can be, the sap contains a toxin called triterpenoid saponin. The foliage itself is the most dangerous part, but keep any berries out of reach, too.

Baby’s Breath

Not that you don’t already try, but keep flower arrangements out of your pets’ reach. Baby’s breath causes diarrhea and vomiting if ingested by your pet, and it’s in almost every flower arrangement.

Begonia

The roots and tubers of this plant are its most harmful parts. Keep your pets from digging at this by moving it to a higher shelf.

Gladiola

A vibrant flower for floral arrangements, the bulb is the most dangerous part of the plant. That doesn’t mean you should let your kitties take any chances by chewing on the stem.

Lilies

Commonly known as a funeral flower, lilies put cats at high risk. They are extremely toxic to cats, but not dogs. Even the littlest bit can be harmful. Lilies cause kidney failure, so it’s best to keep them out of a cat-friendly home.

Cyclamen

Another popular potted plant, cyclamen is toxic to dogs and cats. Fatalities have been reported in some cases, though they aren’t common. The root is the most harmful part of this plant.

Poinsettia

The holiday season is often a dangerous time of year for pets. You probably already know that the poinsettia plant isn’t good for your pets. The good news is that it isn’t the harbinger of death as often depicted. It’ll just cause stomach and mouth irritation. Keep it out of reach — or out of the house entirely.

Pathos

This common container plant causes swelling and irritation to tissue in your pets’ mouth and within their gastrointestinal tract. The damage will occur if the plant has been chewed and not swallowed — though swallowing will cause a stronger reaction.

Tomato Plant

You might not grow tomatoes indoors year round, but many gardeners start their seeds indoors. Keep your pets away from these plants. They generally aren’t deadly, but your pets will be very uncomfortable if they ingest the seedlings.

To keep the pets in your house safe year round, keep the highest risk plants, such as lilies, out of the house. Be sure to keep all others out of reach. Your four-legged friends will thank you for helping them resist temptation.



Triclosan – Avoid This Antibacterial Chemical in Soaps and Hand Sanitizers

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal chemical that first came to market decades ago (some sources say the 1960s, others 1970s) as an ingredient in surgical scrubs and antibacterial soaps used exclusively in hospitals and other health care facilities. In time, triclosan was added to many products for the home including liquid body soaps and bar soaps, toothpaste, mouthwashes, deodorants, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, clothing, toys, yoga mats, kitchen utensils, cutting boards, plastic food packaging, lunch bags, countertops, bedding, trash bags, and more.

While initially considered safe, later animal studies revealed several concerns including endocrine disruption, poor liver function and tumors, and disrupted thyroid function. Possibly the greatest concern is the belief that these products and their use are contributing to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains.

Triclosan Is Polluting Our Bodies and Our Environment

UC San Diego Health System reports that 97% of breast milk samples tested contain triclosan and nearly 75% of urine tests from people tested contained triclosan. As for the environment, it is one of the seven most frequently detected compounds found in streams.

The National Resources Defense Council sued the FDA, forcing them to review triclosan. In December 2013, the FDA removed triclosan’s GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status, admitting the need for more studies.

The FDA says they are working in collaboration with the EPA to evaluate triclosan.

Minnesota and Triclosan

Minnesota has stepped out ahead of the crowd by passing legislation to ban triclosan from most personal hygiene products in their state. The ban is slated to begin on January 1, 2017.

Conclusion

Though they dragged their feet and refused to properly do their job protecting the public from a harmful chemical, there is one thing we do have to give the FDA credit for: they blew the lid on the whole “antibacterial soaps kill so many germs” propaganda. They clearly state that the difference between washing with an antibacterial soap and regular soap is nominal.

Though we now know antibacterial soaps aren’t that great at killing all the germs on our skin, they are very effective in creating super bugs. So please, stop using antibacterial soaps and other products for your safety and for the safety of others. Read labels. Shop wisely. Start your own ban and vote with your dollars.

Remember, immunity from germs happens on the inside of the body. Studies have shown that people who use antibacterial chemical products get sick more often. Here’s how to bullet proof your immune system.

 Sources:



Be Brilliant Like Einstein

Like most people, I have my share of celebrity crushes. Though their legacies are very much alive, most of the influencers who make me swoon happen to be dead.

I was looking over some of my favorite, go-to inspiration sources and came across one of those mentors from the beyond: Einstein. I’m no scientist and I’m certainly not a mathematician, but many of Einstein’s quotes can help us on a daily basis.  

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” ~ Einstein

Who isn’t filled with awe when looking at what this one individual brought to our world and society? Obviously, Einstein is one of my role models. Many of the things I appreciate about him are not that well known. Yes, he crafted the general theory of relativity, yet he struggled to learn French. Brilliant and even studious in math, he had a relentless disregard for the status quo, conformity, and dogma. He broke the rules, tested limits, bucked authority and often changed paths, or even quit things in the middle. I make many of my decisions with my gut. I’m well informed, but ruled by instinct and intuition. My sister makes a pros and cons chart, weighing out every option when making decisions. She crunches data, looks for statistical findings, and relies on “the facts.”

These are both valid ways to make a decision. But, what happens when your gut and “the facts” don’t line up? What do you do when all that evidence (“the facts”) point to no but your heart, your soul, your inside dances and screams toward yes!

Over the last year, I have been taking huge personal and professional risks. I left what I thought would be my dream job: a well-compensated position pioneering a new wellness approach for primary care at Mayo Clinic, a highly esteemed organization. It was an amazing job with great benefits and connections; all the facts said stay. But, my heart said go forth and create your own program of wellness and offer it up to the masses in the way you feel it would be most beneficial.

Logic doesn’t always work. It doesn’t always lead you to the “right” answer. I’m not saying don’t look at the evidence or throw out practicality, but don’t underestimate the power of inspiration and creativity. Maybe something that you want to do isn’t the most practical thing. Maybe it doesn’t even look doable. Sometimes when we make a bold decision, the power of our imagination kicks in and we find ways to make it work that we would never have conceived using logic alone.

I’m a visionary. This is not bragging or self-promotion, it’s just the truth, and it is both a gift and a curse. I often see trends or have insights years before they hit the public vortex of media. I rarely share these pioneering thoughts until, well, now. Because, why not?!

Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” ~ Einstein {tweet out}

Nature is one of the most powerful healing elements. Have you ever had that experience where you actually notice the beauty of your surroundings? I mean truly connect with it? Most days we rush around too busy to notice all of what is happening in this natural world all around us. We miss out on it. Nature is gorgeous and amazing and happening around us all the time, even in the inner city. We are connected to, inspired by, and taught by our environment. Get out into it, or get it into your house. Be in awe; be curious.

Maybe you’re not a “nature lover.” No matter. You can connect to nature’s healing power. Anyone can. Just give it a minute. Bundle up and brave the weather for a brisk walk. Open up your window and let the birdsong and spring breeze in. Pick up a leaf or a rock. Wonder about it. Be part of nature. It’s healing.

When we are contemplating decisions we look inward, but it’s good to take time to reflect outside of ourselves. Sometimes what we see outside changes the way we think, feel, and act. Give yourself that gift.

When the solution is simple, God is answering.”  ~ Einstein

For years, I practiced yoga with a dear friend (she now lives in Paris with her husband) and I remember her saying this to me time and time again: “The best decision or solution is most often the most simple.” It’s not the one steeped in drama and details, or the one with a well-laid-out but complex or rigid plans.

Have you had those moments where you push your “solution” or your “desire” into a situation? I know I have, and I can tell you how it worked out – bleah. When we surrender and allow the situation to have its own miraculous unfolding, it happens in ways far beyond what you or I could ever imagine.

Sometimes the answer is just simple, and we make it complex and hard.

We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” ~ Einstein

How often do you make a decision on any given day? Thousands of options are ahead of us, and we navigate our days with the past tucked under our wings. I see myself repeating things I have done before or attempting to remedy a situation using what worked for me in the past. We use a different energy and have access to a different mindset and plane of thinking when we are solving a situation verses when we are in a situation. When we are struggling through something and attempting to bring some kind of order to what might look like disorder, it can bring up some anxiety or fear and send us right into survival thinking, locking us out of using those higher planes of thinking and being (another one of my dead mentors, Maslow, came up with this revolutionary way of thinking called the Hierarchy of Needs). This is entirely reasonable, but not very helpful. Only when we can see for ourselves that all things really will work out do we start to see something bigger and use resources that are in our reach to move us past just surviving. With a bigger perspective, my friends, we can reach past the lowest hanging fruit and get to that apple at the top of the tree that we really want.

Be your own Einstein today and show your brilliance.

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Kill Candida and Balance The Gut Quickly

People who suffer from an overabundance of yeast like Candida, or any other type of fungal infection, need to cut out sugars. This protocol has worked for many people, and it works faster and better than any medication as long as the diet is right, refined sugars are not ingested, and the body is not filled with toxic pharmaceuticals. This includes vaccines. Vaccinations have toxins in them that kill gut flora and weaken the immune system.

A Few Things to Know

If you don’t have your appendix, if you get regularly vaccinated, or if you have mercury fillings, you should take a good quality probiotic every day for the rest of your life.

If you have allergies, asthma, headaches, cancer, or diabetes; if you see floaters; or if you have almost any other ailment or disease; you have too much Candida.

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

It’s not just white sugar and high fructose corn syrup that feed Candida. Agave nectar, coconut sugar, dates, fresh pressed fruit, carrot or beet juices, raw honey, and brown rice syrup all feed Candida in the body.

If you have taken antibiotics, you need to heal your gut and rebuild the healthy bacteria in your system.

Candida makes you crave sugar. When you feed the body sugar, you feed the Candida. It multiplies. The fungus eats you when it gets hungry. So you feed it again. This is a very simplistic way of putting it, and there is so much more going on, but this explanation is close enough for these purposes.

Candida can cause joint pain, stiffness, slow healing, and an inability to heal.

Candida can lie dormant for up to six months. When everything is back in control, keep in mind that Candida is always ready and able to spring back into life if it’s fed. You have to keep the gut balanced even after you heal it with a proper diet.

This protocol only works with the right diet. That’s also true for anything that will kill excess Candida and balance the body. Diet is key.

Related: How to Heal Your Gut

The Diet

A healthy diet consists of 80% or more raw, fresh, organic produce. Eat more vegetables than fruit. This is imperative for anyone who is ridding the body of Candida. Big salads (see 80% Raw Food Diet for a recipe) are the foundation of a healthy diet that balances the digestive system.

No refined foods. Whole foods only. Make smoothies with coconut water, whole pineapple (it’s juicy), unsweetened nut milk, or water instead of fruit juice. Make nut milks at home with sprouted nuts. Take extra supplements when consuming pineapple or grapes, as they are very high in sugars, and remember to limit fruit until your gut is balanced.

Gluten and Candida do not mix. If the gut is unwell, gluten is causing serious problems. Nobody with Candida overgrowth should be attempting to digest gluten. A gut with an excess of Candida has holes in it. When gluten breaks through the gut undigested, it is toxic to the body.

Do not drink anything that is sweetened unless it’s sweetened with stevia. Anyone with hypoglycemia or diabetes should use stevia with caution, as it can be problematic, but it doesn’t feed Candida. The second source below has a cranberry lemonade recipe to help detox.

Supplements

Supplements that are known to combat fungus include:

All of these are great to have around, and a few of them are exceptional at killing parasites, viruses, and bacterial infections (Coptis Chinensis, wormwood, black walnut hull, Spanish black radish) but while they are certainly antifungal, they’re not the strongest solution to kill excess Candida.

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:

I recommend taking the SF722, Berberine, MycoCeutics, and Microdefense with meals, and the Abzorb and Syntol separately, on an empty stomach (like in the morning and before bed). The Abzorb and the Syntol are a bit redundant, but I find good results using both if the budget can afford it. If money is really tight, just get the SF722 and put your money into your diet.

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Why Conventional Agriculture Has To Stop

When chemicals were first introduced in farming, everyone marveled at what they could do. Yields were dramatically increased. In the beginning, the soil was so healthy, any damage done by chemical fertilizers was imperceptible, and pests had yet to evolve resistance to the insecticides. Our technologies were exported around the world as a revolution in agriculture – the green revolution.

Chemical fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, antibiotics, hormones, factory farms, and genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. It just keeps coming. Almost no one calls it the green revolution anymore because there is nothing green about it, at least not in the modern ecologically friendly meaning of the word green.

Downsides to the Green Revolution

There are a number of problems brought on by conventional agriculture’s techniques. Conventional methods are inhumane to animals; they spread disease and pollution and degrade our nation’s soil and water. In the interests of sustainability, protecting our nation’s resources and improving our health, conventional agriculture needs to be banned, both in the U.S. and abroad.

A return to organic agriculture, which prohibits the use of chemicals and encourages crop rotation, will protect our nation’s arable land, increase the nutritional value of our food, and dramatically reduce our food’s toxicity.

Toxic Food

Yes, our food is toxic when grown by conventional means. Ninety-three percent of Americans tested by the CDC had metabolites of chlorpyrifos, a neurotoxin in their urine. Chlorpyrifos has been banned for use in homes because it has been linked to autoimmune diseases and neurological damage, but it is still commonly used on golf courses and in bait containers, and it is sprayed all over our food.

Over 99% of Americans tested, tested positive for exposure to DDT. DDT has been banned from use in the U.S. since 1972. But it’s still perfectly legal to manufacture it in the U.S. ship it to Mexico and other countries, and then have it sprayed on food, and then sell the food to the U.S. DDT has been linked to various cancers and birth defects. It is a persistent toxin that stays in the environment for an extended period of time.

The government sets limits on how much of each pesticide can be on our food, but there is no limit to the number of different approved pesticides that can be on our food or the total amount of chemical contamination. The Pesticide Action Network tells us that Americans are exposed to an average of 10-13 pesticides every day.

As a last resort, organic farmers do use pesticides; however, organic farmers use pesticides that are plant based. These bio-chemicals naturally, quickly decompose. In contrast, conventional agriculture uses a vast array of chemicals, most of them synthetic. There are over 600 pesticides used in the United States. Many of these chemicals are known to last for hundreds or thousands of years before breaking down, and they are toxic to both humans and animals. The degree of exposure to these chemicals directly affects one’s risk of developing numerous cancers, especially cancer of the brain, prostate cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma.

If growing nutrient deficient, chemical laden food isn’t bad enough, conventional agriculture has gone even further by genetically modifying our food to make it easier to grow at an even higher cost to the consumer’s health. Many genetically modified foods are modified to produce pesticides within the plant. GMOs radically alter the microorganisms in the soil, damaging the soil’s fertility. GMOs introduce new allergens, new toxins, and unknown proteins into our bodies.

“Every day we make life or death decisions, decisions about what we eat. This may sound melodramatic, but it’s true.” Superfoods RX

Studies have repeatedly shown that the nutritional content of organic food is dramatically superior to the nutritional content of conventionally grown food. Before the advent of today’s conventional agriculture, our food contained more nutrients. Organic agriculture’s predominant strategy is to cultivate nutrient rich soil. In order to add nutrients back into the soil, organic agriculture uses crop rotation and natural fertilizers. This produces healthy plants, which makes for healthy food.

What About the Soil

We must protect our nation’s arable land in order to protect our food supply for future generations. With approximately 18% to 19% of America’s land being arable, we have the world’s most abundant farming resources. Even though agriculturally viable resources are obviously of great economic value to the entire nation, our nation’s soil is treated as though it were disposable. Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and petroleum-based fertilizers strip the soil of nutrients and kill beneficial organisms such as earthworms, predatory insects, and microorganisms. In order to grow anything in such chemical laden soil, more chemicals are added. This process degrades the topsoil and causes salts to build up in the land, leaving barren dirt. After this process strips the land of its agricultural viability, conventional agribusiness moves on, acquiring more farmland. Then the process is repeated, rendering more land barren. By comparison, organic farming replenishes the soil through crop rotation, natural fertilizers, and the use of time-honored, natural techniques.

Deadly Germs

A whopping 50% of antibiotic use is not for human beings but for livestock. The media is constantly warning about the dangers of overuse of antibiotics. The concern is that overuse (and abuse) of antibiotics can breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

It is commonplace to add antibiotics to livestock feed, even when the animals aren’t sick. This is because conventional methods typically overcrowd the animals so badly that too many of them will get sick without an on-going diet that includes antibiotics.

It is cruel and inhumane to force animals to live with their own waste and in such crowded conditions. To keep consumers in the dark about the realities of factory farming, many states are passing laws forbidding filming inside these factory farms. The stench of these crowded pens is unbearable to any but the most stalwart and habituated individuals, and the animals’ waste is so concentrated that it poses a risk to nearby natural water sources.

These are perfect conditions for pathogens to thrive. It provides bacteria with the opportunity for many different food sources, and many different animal hosts to infect. This gives bacteria an opportunity to develop resistance to our medications. These conditions are also ideal for viruses to spread from animal to animal and potentially to humans.

Dead Zones

Conventional farming utilizes phosphorous and nitrogen chemical fertilizers. When rain and runoff carry these fertilizers into the ocean, marine life is suffocated. The fertilizers trigger overgrowth of marine plankton. Once the masses of plankton die, their death feeds ocean bacteria. The bacteria consume oxygen, and with an unnatural overabundance of plankton, the bacteria consume just about all of the oxygen left in the ocean. Shrimp, fish, and all other forms of marine life either leave the area or die from lack of oxygen. The end result is hypoxia, oceanic dead zones. These areas are devoid of nearly all life other than plankton and bacteria.

Scientists have documented coastal dead zones, areas that are hypoxic in over 400 coastal areas. All over the world, these dead zones are found downstream of conventional farming from Chesapeake Bay to Oregon to Denmark, and to the Black Sea.

We have a vested interest in marine life. It is not only shameful that marine animals suffocate as a side effect of our farming pollution, it is also economically damaging. The ocean provides us with billions of dollars worth of food annually. Nothing of commercial importance survives a dead zone, fish, shellfish, and shrimp all either leave the area or suffocate in the dead waters. Many of these dead zones are thousands of square miles. The dead zone off of the Gulf of Mexico was once recorded as being an area larger than the state of New Jersey, 22,000 kilometers.

Conclusion

Pesticide residue, antibiotics, preservatives, and genetic modification directly affect the long-term sustainability of farming, fishing, the consumer’s health, and the health of those who grow and produce the food. We do not exist separately from the environment in which we live. If what we consume is polluted, our bodies become polluted. Beyond choosing what we buy in the store, we as a nation must choose, for the long term or short term, organic or conventional. This choice affects us all, even those not yet born.

If you are in a position to grow your own food, check out How To Start A Vegetable Garden and Ten Great Gardening Tips. If you’re not growing your own food in very healthy soil, it’s time to get more nutrition: Make Your Own Homemade Multivitamin and Mineral Formula.

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