Avoid anything that reduces body’s beneficial flora.
The following factors reduce presence of beneficial flora in favour of pathogenic organisms – such as pathogenic bacteria, and fungi (E.g. the yeast Candida Albicans):
- Antibiotics – including those given to livestock for food production, antibacterial soaps.
- Poor nutrition /glucose – sugar/fructose, refined grains, processed foods, high glycaemic index foods (E.g. potatoes, yams, corn, white rice, pasta), almost exclusively feed pathogenic bacteria and fungi (E.g. Candida albicans) in your digestive system, allowing them to proliferate. Lack of necessary nutrients handicaps your immune system such that it cannot deal with the pathogens.
- Sugar may be the most important factor in GI candidiasis – Candida ferments and rapidly proliferates in the presence of simple sugars, which significantly increase Candida’s ability to adhere to epithelial mucous cells.
- Toxins – chlorinated/fluoridated water, environmental pollution, agricultural herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, smoking etc;
- Drugs – including NSAIDS, steroids, corticosteroids, hormonal drugs (E.g. contraceptive pill, HRT), alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
- NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory aids) E.g. acetaminophen, ibuprofen – thin the intestinal mucus layer, making it more difficult for probiotics to survive;
- Stress – surgery
- Bottle feeding
- Although sometimes unavoidable, certain illnesses/conditions – Diabetes, Lupus or Thyroid problems, pregnancy.
Encourage body’s beneficial flora
- Minimize sugar consumption – food for pathogenic bacteria, yeast and fungi; includessugar/fructose, refined grains, processed foods, high glycaemic index foods
- Consume and/or supplement probiotics – high quality, multi-strain, high organism count supplement and probiotic-containing foods (E.g. yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut)
How to supplement probiotics
- Interesting Tip: Mix a little goat goat yogurt into salad to increase its probiotic activity – the chopped up leaves increase the surface area for the bacteria, creating a beneficial ecosystem for the probiotic bacteria. (Use Goat yogurt and only when allowed by practitioner).
- Choose organic, locally-grown fruits and vegetables that ate grass and organic foods – Raw goat milk and products are best (if you can obtain them from a reputable source and if permitted by DBM Practitioner/Physician).
- Avoid chemicals in food.
- Drink natural spring water and/or filter chlorinated /fluoridated /contaminated water sources – chlorine and fluoride harm probiotics;
- Include prebiotics (food for probiotics) in your daily diet to feed beneficial flora
- Our preference for supplementing probiotics is in the form of home-made sauerkraut.
- Consume prebiotics to feed beneficial flora
- Avoid NSAIDS – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories E.g. acetaminophen, ibuprofen; NSAIDs thin the mucus layer making it more difficult for probiotics to survive.
- Don’t use anti-bacterial soaps
- Have rest and relaxation time and get sufficient sleep – to strengthen immune system
Prebiotic benefits
- Selectively utilized by probiotic bacteria already in the colon, to promote their growth and colonization.
- Normalize bowel function – may be used to manage diarrhea and constipation
Prebiotic sources – include:
- FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) are the major class of prebiotics – found in chicory, garlic, onion, wheat, rye, bananas, leeks, tomatoes, legumes, fruits, Jerusalem artichoke, and raw honey. FOS is a type of sugar that can dramatically increase the growth rate of beneficial bacteria.
- Fibre – dominant in a healthy colon is BIFIDO bacteria, a family that thrives on dietary soluble fibre – the type in most fruits and grains. BIFIDO bacteria break down this fibre, creating fatty acids (called butyrate) that help promote healthy peristalsis in the colon to facilitate easy bowel movements.
Edited from source with permission: Shirley Emmons Bsc.(Hons) Independent natural and alternative Health Researcher
For more information on Prebiotic sources, follow this link.
