Guarding Against Deficiencies & Toxicities

Leaky Gut Syndrome

 

Leaky Gut Syndrome is a term used to describe porous insides of intestines that allow liquids and minute particles of matter (foods and toxins) to flow through to the rest of the body, which causes inflammation. The following can contribute to a leaky gut.

 

 

Because a leaky gut causes toxicity and inflammation throughout the body, it also causes poor pH, adversely affecting hormones, including the release of high cortisol levels.

 

A leaky gut activates TH2 (a helper lymphocyte) to the detriment of TH1. Weaker TH1 than TH2 brings on a breakout, usually brought on by dysbiosis (unbalanced gut bacteria that causes leaky gut). The absence of typical herpes symptoms depends on a healthy balance between TH1 and TH2. Too much TH2 causes inflammation, weakening the immune system, and the body is less able to contain HSV. Relapses become more frequent. Coloring agents (dyes), preservatives, and heavy metals also activate TH2 to the detriment of TH1. Heal the gut, and you'll be better able to put HSV in remission. 

 

The following are ways to prevent, ease, and eliminate Leaky Gut Syndrome.

 

  • Eat a genetically appropriate diet and avoid or significantly reduce foods that cause pH imbalance. Eating anti-inflammatory foods are highly beneficial, such as broth, avocados, wild-caught fish and grass-fed meats, nonstarchy vegetables, olives and olive oil, green tea, lemons, limes, apple cider vinegar, fermented vegetables (not everyone can handle them; see below), coconut in all of its forms, ginger, garlic, onions, chive, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and sage.

 

  • Minimize the use of antibiotics, except in emergencies.

 

  • Eat fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, miso, tempeh, apple cider vinegar, and yogurt, to feed the gut microbiota and for better digestion. There is an exception. People with Histamine Intolerance, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, IBS, and Crohn's (or any other bowel disorder) may find it necessary to avoid fermented foods. While fermented foods typically increase friendly bacteria in the gut, people with these conditions may experience adverse symptoms from fermented foods. Taking prebiotic and probiotic supplements is an alternative, but only certain ones. See Vitamins & Supplements. 

 

  • Reduce foods high in lectins (beans, peanuts, lentils, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, fruits, wheat, and other grains). Most of these are HSV triggers, by the way. Foods likely to cause inflammation are refined grains, whole grains, grain and flour products, deep fried, processed and packaged foods, commercial salad dressings, margarine, grain-fed meats and eggs, soda pop, transfats, and corn, sunflower, safflower, and soybean oils.

 

  • Take prebiotics and probiotics to restore healthy gut bacteria. Prebiotics and probiotics are similar. The difference is that probiotics are replacements and effective only if you continue to take them, while prebiotics feed your microbiome so microbial communities can repopulate themselves. If you're histamine intolerant, follow an antihistamine diet. You can also take a DAO supplement, which breaks down the histamine in foods you eat. 

 

  • Oats and oat milk contain phytic acid (phytates), which lowers the absorption of vitamins and minerals when eaten too frequently. They also contain high levels of glyphosate, which damages the gut and causes hormonal issues and cancer. They are a significant source of mold-based micotoxins. I suggest making these occasional foods in your diet. If you hope to get your daily fiber needs from your morning oatmeal, think again. Oatmeal contains very little fiber. I know. This information shocked me, too. 

 

  • Quinoa contains saponins and lectins that damage gut cells. 

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  • Take glutamine (1500 mg daily) to strengthen the intestinal wall and tighten intestinal junctions. 

 

  • According to Jonathan Otto, a unique combination of butyrate, fulvic acid, bacillus coagulans, and oligosaccharides effectively repair the gut lining. Please watch his video to learn more. 

 

 

Enzyme Deficiency

 

If your body were a factory (in many ways, it is), your enzymes would play the role of your factory workers. There are different types of enzymes at work in your body. Without enzymes, you could not exist. Enzymes trigger thousands of actions in the body that are necessary for you to survive.

 

Some say we are born with only so many enzymes to keep our digestive functions healthy and that digestive enzymes naturally begin to deplete in our thirties due to aging. Furthermore, enzymes deplete more quickly when we eat the wrong foods, suffer too much stress, or are sick or ill. 

 

I tend to believe enzyme deficiencies are not so much age-related as diet and stress-related. If you are over 35 and American, stressed out, and eating a poor diet, you are already deficient in one or two major digestive enzymes. By reducing stress, eating more plant-based foods, and taking a dietary enzyme supplement, you can reduce symptoms of enzyme deficiency and food sensitivity.

 

What are live foods? Live foods are foods that have not been heated, cooked, or refined in any way. At least 50% of the foods you eat should be live. Some folks call these foods raw. Examples of raw foods include fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, nuts, milk (straight out of the cow), and raw honey. Live foods contain their natural enzymes and support your entire system. Live foods lose their enzymes when heated to more than 113 degrees. So, you should eat live foods uncooked whenever possible. Otherwise, they become dead foods. 

 

When you eat foods that are no longer alive, your body becomes shortchanged elsewhere, as other enzymes have to leave their posts from different places in your body to assist with digesting the dead food you just ate. "Dead" foods (foods without enzymes) are not entirely without value. They contain essential nutrients, so don't try to eliminate them from your diet. But eating more dead foods than live ones will cause too much acid waste in the body, creating acidosis. Acidosis is the number one cause of all diseases that are not inherited. 

 

 

Amylase Deficiency Symptoms: Food cravings include carbohydrates, such as pasta, cakes, sweets, coffee, chocolate, and bread. Deficiency consists of the following symptoms.

 

 

 

Lipase Deficiency Symptoms: Food cravings include fatty foods, creams, smoked or rich-tasting foods, ethnic foods, and decadent desserts. Deficiency consists of the following symptoms.  

 

  • Cystitis  
  • Psoriasis 
  • Arthritis   
  • Cataracts
  • Infections   
  • Breast lumps  
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Prostate problems   
  • Urinary problems
  • Bypass surgery   
  • Aching feet
  • Gallstones   
  • Hay fever
  • Hepatitis   
  • Cirrhosis
  • Tumors   
  • Hives

 

 

Protease Deficiency Symptoms: You crave proteins, such as meat, fish, bacon, and chicken. Deficiency includes the following symptoms.

 

 

 

Combination Deficiency Symptoms: Cravings include daily sweets and carbohydrates of all kinds. Deficiency consists of the following symptoms.

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Supplementing with Digestive Enzymes

 

Most multiple-enzyme products contain the following necessary ingredients.

 

  • Protease (digests proteins): Helps with anxiety, low blood sugar, kidney problems, cancer, bacterial and viral infections, bone problems, water retention, and immunity.
  • Lipase (digests fats): help with high cholesterol, diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and irritable bowel.
  • Cellulase (digests fiber): Helps with bloating, gas, food allergies, and yeast infections. 
  • Amylase (digests carbohydrates): Helps with liver and gallbladder, herpes, and skin problems.
  • Sucrase (digests sugars): Helps with lung (breathing) problems, mood swings, insomnia and depression, dizziness, and chronic irritable bowel (diarrhea). 

 

Chewable multi-enzymes, such as Super Papaya Enzyme Plus by American Health, are available if you have occasional indigestion. Chewable enzymes are lightweights where digestive enzyme supplements are concerned but convenient for travel. This particular product combines key dietary enzymes and a bit of peppermint, known for its comforting qualities, a big plus when you are on the go. These work instantly to calm your stomach and bowel. They work best to help to digest light meals and snacks. Do not use their original papaya product, which is not strong enough to support enzyme deficiency. Make sure you purchase the bottle with this exact name, not the one that reads Original Papaya Enzyme. For larger meals, a multi-enzyme product, Source Naturals Daily Essential Enzymes, is better for daily use. I've used this brand daily for over 15 years without any side effects.

 

Suppose you have a history of IBS or acid reflux due to a relaxed sphincter muscle (the muscle that closes the opening to the stomach from the esophagus). In that case, you'll want to choose a multiple-enzyme capsule that does not contain peppermint. Peppermint relaxes the muscles between your stomach and throat, aggravating acid reflux syndrome. Its main ingredient, menthol, may also cause your tongue to burn and turn white after continuous use. Peppermint oil capsules are available, which you can use separately for IBS symptoms. They bypass your stomach and are better for long-term use. In rare instances, peppermint can cause hot flashes, sweating, a burning sensation in your rectum, muscle pain, or tremors, which would be considered an allergic reaction or a sensitive reaction from overuse. If you experience any of these reactions to peppermint, do not use the peppermint capsules.

 

 

Digestive Enzyme Side-Effects

 

Studies have not shown any side effects of using enzymes. Multi-enzymes are not toxic, nor do they become so in the body. Follow the directions on your product label. Loose stool may occur when using a dose higher than necessary or taking a proper amount without eating enough food. Should this happen, cut back some and make minor personal adjustments to dosage as you see fit. 

 

 

An Important Note Regarding Proteolytic Enzymes

 

Proteolytic enzymes in the body (pancreatin, papain, bromelain, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and rutin) break down dietary protein. Like the Herpes Simplex Virus, cancer cells have a protein-like coating (a biofilm) that proteolytic enzymes can help destroy, which is the power of enzymes. Proteolytic enzymes tend to thin the blood and may interfere with your treatment and healing ability. Proteolytic enzymes also break down fibrin, which helps clot blood.

 

Vitamin K (often included or taken with vitamin D) is a natural blood thinner. For this reason, you should avoid taking vitamin K if you take enzymes that break down proteins, which also thin the blood. Under healthy circumstances, taking dietary enzymes containing proteolytic enzymes and a low-dose vitamin K together shouldn't be a problem. However, if you take blood-thinning medication, have cancer, or are in cancer therapy, do not take supplemental proteolytic enzymes, usually included in over-the-counter enzyme products or vitamin K, without consulting your doctor first. 

 

 

Gallbladder & Liver Deficiency

 

If you have gallbladder disease or have removed your gallbladder, you are likely deficient in digestive enzymes (see above). As you eat, the gallbladder releases bile from its storage sack, which helps break down fats, particularly saturated fats. Excess bile is released when fats and carbohydrates (foods containing natural sugar) are combined. The pancreas joins in to release enzymes to digest your food.

 

If your gallbladder isn't functioning correctly or you had it removed, bile can trickle unregulated from the liver into the small intestine. There isn't enough bile to completely digest animal fats. Or, the liver can dump too much bile. When bile isn't regulated, it causes indigestion, stomach pain, acid reflux, constipation, dry skin, hair, eyes, poor night vision, the inability to metabolize calcium correctly, and hormonal problems. Vegetarians often experience these types of symptoms as a result of choosing not to consume saturated fat. 

 

Post-gallbladder syndrome symptoms can appear years after removal. Symptoms can include gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, intermittent abdominal pain, jaundice, and fatty food intolerance. Without a gallbladder and the inability to digest fats properly, you might also begin to have higher histamine levels in your body. Higher histamine levels trigger allergy symptoms, roving muscle pains, IBS, and Interstitial Cystitis.

 

DAO (diamine oxidase) is the enzyme that breaks down food-derived histamine in the gut. If you have low levels of DAO, histamine builds in the body, causing symptoms in areas of the body. DAO is available over the counter.

 

Many believe that acid reflux and GERD are caused by too much stomach acid. Hence, the taking of antacids. These conditions are caused by too little stomach acid, which causes the valve at the top of the stomach to remain open. Sufficient stomach acid automatically closes this muscle to prevent reflux. When it stays open, food particles move up into the esophagus. 

 

To counteract these symptoms, you can take digestive enzyme supplements. Natural bitters like dandelion tea can help improve stomach acid and digestion. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as A (in the form of beta carotene), D3, E, and K act like hormones in the body. They can help to balance hormonal issues caused by a lack of bile. Bile salts can help your body digest saturated fats and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Most people without gallbladders also have trouble maintaining vitamin D and magnesium levels. 

 

Problems with the gallbladder meridian can cause Tinnitus (ringing in the ear), pain under the right shoulder blade, and gray-colored stools. Eating more fiber (like General Mills Fiber One cereal) can help feed your gut microbiota, which will help ease digestion and constipation and promote overall immunity. Fiber One tastes good and sweet (unlike other "cardboard" fiber cereals). You get 18 grams of fiber in 2/3 of a cup of cereal!

 

 

Symptoms of a Struggling Liver That People Often Aren't Aware Of

 

  • Often waking between 1 AM and 3 AM when the liver is trying to detoxify. 
  • Dry eye, gunky eyes (causing blurry vision) or macular generation
  • Deep lines between the eyebrows above the nose (like you're frowning)

 

 

Oxalate & Salicylate Toxicity

 

Oxalates and salicylates are naturally occurring chemicals found in plants that protect the plant from being eaten by insects or attacked by a disease. They can become toxic in those sensitive to them. 

 

Oxalates bind with minerals in the body, creating oxalate salts. Most of these salts are soluble and pass quickly out of the body. However, oxalates that bind with calcium solidify in the kidneys, producing kidney stones.

 

Raw plant foods contain higher salicylate contents. Commercial plant foods can be picked way too early, posing problems. Although poisonous, salicylates are usually well-tolerated when ingested in small amounts. However, consuming them too frequently can cause a wide range of symptoms. Many commercially prepared food products, personal hygiene products, and drugs, such as aspirin, contain salicylates.

 

Oxalates and salicylates can cause overlapping conditions such as Tinnitus, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bladder Syndrome, Vulvodynia (irritation of the vaginal entrance), Depression, panic attacks, headaches, skin rashes, and chronic pain conditions. See The Wellness Corner for holistic alternatives for these conditions.

The Oxalates & Salicylates Foods & Substances Lists PDF

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