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Chris, Thanks for the info. Say, if your condition is caused
by bacterial dysbiosis, wouldn't simple antibiotics cure it?
-Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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Nope. Been there, done that. Antibiotics indiscriminantly kill all bacteria (including the good bugs that keep the bad ones in check). They may reduce the total bacteria count, but unless one can quickly repopulate the gut with good flora after an antibiotic treatment, drugs usually make the dysbiosis worse. That's what has happened in my case. I'm following a more natural (and ultimately effective I believe) approach of introducing probiotics through cultured dairy products (from goats, because goats milk is easier for humans to digest), cultured veggies (i.e. homemade saeurkraut, etc) and other fermented foods. I believe that foods and food-based probiotic products are far more effective in reaching the large intestine than 95% of commercial supplements.
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I was wondering if you were taking a prebiotic as well? I've read that by serving as "food" for the probiotics you find in yogurt it can increase their volume by 5-10 times. I think most studies have been done with inulin, but I assume (based on information Heather has provided here) that most SFS, like acacia or Benefiber (which I also take in addition to foods containing inulin), provide the same benefit. Is there any mention of this in the book you're reading?
I'm going to have to check out "Restoring Your Digestive Health." Sounds like an informative read!
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And why are they good for you? I always thought fermented foods meant they produced gas?  Can you explain this...I'm very interested.
Maria, do you also take a probiotic supplement? Or just the acacia, Luna bars, and soy yogurt?
Thanks. 
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Probiotics can be helpful in restoring the balance of flora (bacteria and yeast) that reside in the colon and serve many essential functions (including digestion). Heather speaks of them in her book I believe. But there are mountains of information available out there.
For starters, http://www.naturodoc.com/library/detox/probiotics.htm
I just did a quick search and didn't even read this article; but it will give you an idea.
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Thanks, but I didn't see any foods listed. What foods can one eat that are fermented?
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Howdy, Cyndy. Heather has some good information about prebiotics on the site. If you do a google search for "inulin" there should be a link to info on nutrition.org and from there you can read about it and link to other studies. But I think badlydrawnboy answered your first question, so I'll answer the one regarding my diet.
I don't take a probiotic supplement. Right now I'm just getting the inulin from Luna Bars and Teeccino (inulin usually comes from chicory), probiotics from soy yogurt (I was eating sauerkraut for a while per dr's recommendation but it made me too gassy--this was before learning about Heather's diet, so I may add it back in, with a good SF base. Maybe!), and I use Benefiber (guar gum--although I haven't been taking it as regularly). Other than cultured dairy/soy-alternative products, I don't know what other fermented foods are available. Oh, I think tempeh is another good source.
HTH! 
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Cyndy
#208215 - 08/24/05 02:57 PM
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lalala
Reged: 02/14/05
Posts: 2634
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I was just reading about probiotics on medicine.net and found these to add to the list of fermented foods: miso, kim-chee, beet juice.
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Quote:
Before ordering a test decide what you will do if it is 1) positive, or 2) negative. If both answers are the same, don't do the test.
I don't really find it bizarre that colon spasms mean C for some and D for others. Somewhere Heather speaks of how spasms can cause a "charley horse" effect resulting in C. I always just extended that analogy and figured D was like an eyelid twitch.
It does stink the C can be a result of both an overactive and an underactive colon. Very hard to manage for both conditions at once.
I'm glad to hear "Restoring Your Digestive Health" is providing some positive results. I hope it turns out to be the answer you've been seeking.
Take care.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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There is a vast difference between the various types of fermented foods available. It's a topic too wide to cover in detail here, but let me just say that homemade, naturally cultured foods are almost always preferable to commercially produced products. Commercial products are often not cultured long enough to be medicinally effective and they often contain additives which diminish the therapeutic benefit.
That said, Helios makes an excellent kefir (kefir is similar to yogurt, but contains more beneficial organisms and has a more "drinkable" consistency). I know dairy is discouraged on this diet but many people who can't tolerate dairy can tolerate kefir.
Sauerkraut is also good, but make sure to get raw (heating/pasteurization kills the bacteria and makes it useless as a fermented food). You can also obtain starter cultures (www.bodyecologydiet.com) and make your own versions for far less money. Rejuvenative foods (www.rejuvenative.com) sells a product I highly recommend called "Vegi-Delite", which is a mix of cultured beets, cabbage, etc.
In all cases, you must start SLOWLY and build up over time. If you go too quickly you will likely get worse (as someone else mentioned here). It's natural to have a little gas during the transition as the good bacteria kill off the bad. It's kind of like building up slowly with a fiber supplement.
HTH,
Chris
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