Animal can carry Salmonella bacteria and Parasites. Salmonella and Parasitic infections can cause diarrhea, stomach pain and fever. These infections can be transmitted from pets (dogs, lizards, snakes, turtles, baby chicks, birds) to people by following means:

1. Via Kissing a Pet
2. Touching animal’s poop while cleaning
3. Contact with animals dander (from skin or flakes from hair)

How to Protect Yourself

1. Wash your hands with running water and soap for 20 seconds after any contact with your pet.
2. Do not kiss your pet (pet’s saliva can transmit pet’s infection to you).
3. Do not allow your pet to sleep in your bed or eat from your plate.
4. And the last resort. You can choose not to own a pet after all like I did.

Life is all about choices…

To all you pet lovers out there: please don’t hate me. I love animals too. I am just telling you as it is.

I wish You and Your family a Happy and Super Healthy New Year!

Lyza writes:

I have ulcerative proctitis and arthritis–two seemingly conflicting diseases in the food world when it comes to dietary plans!!!

This was incredibly informative…thanks for sharing. I will explain to you what I have experienced.

Last year, I went cooked vegan. I ate a very high fiber diet and one night, after eating a large amount of beans, I ended up having to go to the emergency room. I continued eating my diet (very high-fiber because I was/am trying to get healthy for another huge health reason), getting sick and lethargic, having bleeding from you know where, and just not having good experiences. I ended up going back to eating the unhealthy vegan diet, where I was able to have semi-normal digestion, but still experienced some symptoms and on top of that, my ARTHRITIS was flaring up like CRAZY from all the inflammatory, easy to digest foods.

Galina answers:

Dear Lyza,

Thank you for sharing your story. Quite often individuals with gut issues like ulcerative proctitis, colitis and IBS  suffer from arthritis as well due to leaky gut syndrome, food intolerances and abnormal intestinal flora. My advise to people who are trying to eat high fiber diet is  ADD HIGH FIBER FOODS TO YOUR DIET SLOWLY  and skip eating huge amount of beans. Too much fiber too soon can result in gas and bloating.

So, how can you eat healthy diet full of fiber without getting sick?

The answer is simple:

1. Peel your vegetables and make soup. By peeling your veggies and cooking it in water your decrease the amount of insoluble fiber, which makes veggies easy to digest.
2. And for fruits – peel your fruits and make a smoothie.
3. And to minimize bean problem– cook them with seaweed and make a bean dip or hummus.

Be smart with your fiber; learn how to use it properly. For more information please subscribe to our free newsletter at www.knowyourgut.com

Please watch this video and judge for yourself.

Video

So, how can you get infected with this MAP bacteria?
There are 2 possible sources for MAP infection:
• Water
• Manure of infected Cows & Milk

A family living in part of Germany with water “poorly controlled hygienically” was reviewed. After 6 months moving to this area of Germany, mother developed ulcerative colitis and her 2 kids developed Crohn’s disease few years later. Normal water filtration and chlorination does not kill MAP bacteria.

“MAP is excreted in infected animal’s feces and secreted in its milk.” Furthermore, European studies show that up to 20% of pasteurized milk sold in supermarkets contain MAP bacteria.
People usually assume that drinking pasteurized milk is safe. But what most of us do not know that pasteurization usually uses temperature well below boiling point. So, milk is heated to only 71.7 degrees C (161 degrees F) for 20 seconds, which often does not kill bacteria.

Conclusion:
So, after we learned that MAP bacteria is one of the possible causes of Colitis and Crohns, how can we prevent contracting those diseases?
The answer is simple. Boil for few minutes both drinking water and milk, even pasteurized milk.
And for those who are already inflicted with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s,                        I have developed 2 natural products that are specifically designed to eliminate harmful bacteria from your gut.

References: GUT Pathology Journal 2010

WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS?
Probiotics present a group of beneficial bacteria that play the first line of defense in your gut against harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungus.
By forming colonies on the intestinal wall the good bacteria does not allow pathogenic (harmful bacteria) to get attached to intestinal cells.

PROBIOTICS BENEFITS
According to scientific studies:
• Probiotics can suppress the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens (1)
• Probiotics have the ability to reduce inflammation in the intestine, and to improve
systemic immune function. (1)

Probiotics produce enzymes, so vital for proper digestion. Without adequate amount of good bacteria in your gut, food is not being digested properly; it starts to rotten in your intestines causing gas, bloating and constipation. The whole GI tract becomes toxic and acidic, which allows fungus to multiply rapidly further suppressing your immune system.

The most famous 4 Super Hero’s in the World of Probiotics are:
1. Lactobacillus Acidophilus (DDS-1 OR NAS strain)
2. Bifidobacterium Bifidum (Malyoth strain)
3. Lactobacillus Bulgaricum (LB-51 strain)
4. Bifidobacterium Infantis

WHAT IS MY CHOICE FOR THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROBIOTIC ON THE MARKET?

For over 20 years, I recommend “Natren” probiotics to my patients with digestive problems such as gastritis, colitis, Crohn’s, candidiasis, Celiac disease, gluten intolerance and IBS.
Natren Inc. was the first company in the probiotic industry to be awarded GMP (Good manufacturing Practices) Certification by the International Therapeutic Goods Administration as a Drug GMP facility.
They use only super strains (example: DDS-1 and LB-51); all probiotics are bottled in dark glass bottles to block light; all products are refrigerated at all times from manufacture through shipping in special “cold” insulated containers to preserve potency of live probiotic product.
Nevertheless, I never believe a claim unless I tried the product myself.
Over the years, after using over dozen different probiotics, I was always going back to Natren’s products.
You know why? Because it works.

(1) J Clin Gastrointerol 2008;42:S111-S115

Research shows that if you drink diet soda, you will gain weight.

In fact, “There is a 41% increase in risk of being overweight for every can of diet soft drink a person consumes each day” according to researcher S.P Fowler at University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. This data was presented at the meeting of the American Diabetic Association in San Diego in 2005 (1). Fowler also talks about a study in which rats who were given artificially sweetened drink consumed more calories than rats that were given drinks sweetened with plain white sugar. (2)

While it is true that artificial sweeteners have almost no calories and do not elevate blood glucose levels, I would suggest staying away from all artificial sweeteners. Some studies link artificial sweeteners to weight gain, cancer, nervous system disorders and even seizures.

Here is my review of the most popular artificial sweeteners.

Sucralose (sold under brand name Splenda)

• Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar. Maltodextrin is added to Sucralose as the bulking agent. Sucralose has been linked to reduction of good bacteria in the gut, obesity and hindering normal absorption of prescription medications.(3)

Saccharin (sold under brand name Sweet’n’Low)

• Saccharin is 500 times sweeter than sugar, and it is made from petroleum.  Saccharin use is banned in Canada since 1977 because it was found to cause cancer of the bladder in lab rats.  The FDA allows use of saccharin in USA in soft drinks and as tabletop sweetener in restaurants and coffee shops.

Aspartame (sold under brand name  Equal and NutraSweet)

• Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is a combination of 2 amino acids: aspartic acid and phenylalanine, which are then combined with methanol (also known as wood alcohol). Our body converts methanol to formaldehyde, which is a toxic substance. It is known that that individuals suffering from PKU (phenylketonuria) cannot break down phenylalanine. Consuming this amino acid can result in irreversible brain damage for PKU patients.

• It is known that aspartic acid and phenylalanine can enter our brain (bypassing blood-brain barrier) and trigger numerous adverse effects: abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, memory loss, mood swings, and even seizures. Because aspartame may cause neurological damage in fetuses, pregnant women should avoid consuming products containing aspartame. (4) Over 50% of aspartame intake comes from diet soft drinks and frozen desserts.

Sugar Alcohols (also known as Sorbitol, Xylitol, Mannitol)

• Sugar alcohols are not as sweet as table sugar; however, a large portion of sugar alcohols convert into glucose in your body thereby raising your blood sugar and feeding your desire for sweets. Sugar alcohols are quite often combined with artificial sweeteners in common foods like candy, chocolate, fruit spreads, baked goods and ice cream.
• Xylitol is manufactured from the fibers of fruits, berries and corn husks.
• Sorbitol and mannitol are produced in labs from cornstarch.
• Food companies promote sugar alcohols as sweeteners that have fewer calories than sugar with less effect on your blood sugar.

What they don’t tell you that these man-made sugars are not absorbed fully in your intestines. So after eating candies, jams, baked goods or even yogurt containing these sugar alcohols, you may find yourself in the bathroom with abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea.

So, what is a healthy alternative to artificial sweeteners?

• The answer is Stevia.

Stevia herb is known as “sweet leaf” in Central and South America. It is 300 times sweeter than regular sugar and contains no calories. Stevia is sold as a liquid extract and as a powder.

I like Pure Stevia Extract Powder by Kal. It has no unpleasant aftertaste, and there is a cute little scoop inside the bottle.

So remember: when you crave sweets, be a smart consumer – read the label.

1. SP Fowler 2005. 65^th Annual Scientific Sessions, American Diabetic Association, San Diego, June 2005 Abstract 1058-P

2. Davidson TL & Swithers SE 2004. A Pavlovian approach to the problem of obesity. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 28 (7), 933-935

3. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A 2008;71(21):1415-29

4. http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-health-articles/the-dangers-of-aspartame-for-pregnant-women-and-fetuses-are-far-from-sweet-3166160.html

I love a good deal. Who doesn’t? I have just discovered something that pushed me to write a blog post instead of doing my hair and nails for New Year Party. Most of us always compare prices from different stores whatever we buy… clothing, food, electronics, furniture, and even dietary supplements, etc.

We look for best deals. And rightfully so: why overpay for something of the same quality and effectiveness?

Being a naturopathic practitioner, I use mostly herbs and natural supplements but as a trained medical professional I absolutely know that pharmaceuticals have their great value and place.

Case in point: my husband had a dental surgery, and his dentist prescribed him antibiotic, which he had to take for a week. So, I went out to shop for his prescription medication.

Like most of us, I assumed that drug prices are about the same in all major pharmacies. Before purchasing this antibiotic at nearby Walgreens pharmacy, I decided to check prices in Costco pharmacy. I was shocked to learn that you can save a ton of money on antibiotics if you know where to shop.

Then, I decided to compare prices for the most popular medications used by IBD patients. As a result of my price analysis, I understood that it pays to be a smart shopper especially if you must pay cash for your medication, and you do not have health insurance to cover the cost of your drugs.

Just take a look at the table below and judge for yourself. Costco rocks!!!

I wish a Happy and a Super Healthy New Year 2011 to all my readers!!!

Here is the quote from the e-mail I received:

“…Procter & Gamble is offering a deal where you can get $10 dollars back when you buy
$30 worth of any two or more of our GI (Gastrointestinal) brands…”, and later “…include in your post/review that Procter & Gamble is providing you with free samples of Align”.

Well, so far so good, right? I respect Procter & Gamble, a huge 170-years old company with tremendous resources. Plus, so heavily advertized Align probiotic has already caught my attention earlier.

Probitiotics are live, naturally-occurring microorganisms that promote healthy digestion, boost the immune system & contribute to general health & well-being. However, for people with impaired digestion choosing a right probiotic can be a confusing, choosing a wrong one can be dangerous.

Therefore, before jumping with both feet on such lucrative proposition, my professional reflex of clinically trained Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist has taken control.  And, as I’ve been doing for the last 25 years with ALL the products I recommend to my patients and use myself, I’ve decided to go through a routine “nutritional ingredient analysis” of the product.

I have been somewhat surprised with the results of the analysis. Read for yourself.

Align Ingredients: Probiotic strain: Bifantis (Bifidobacterium infantis 35624), 1 x 10⁹ colony-forming units (1 billion) (4 mg), microcrystalline cellulose (for even dispersal of cultures), hypromellose (vegetarian capsule shell),sugar, magnesium stearate (for even dispersal of cultures), milk protein, titanium dioxide, sodium citrate dihydrate, propyl gallate (antioxidant stabilizer), FD&C blue #1, riboflavin (colorant)

The Good News: Bifidobacterium infantis 35624

Align probiotic was developed by Procter & Gamble, a huge company with tremendous resources. They have been around for over 170 years.

Align was formulated with the Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 bacteria strain. In a 2009 review of scientific studies on IBS probiotic treatment, Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 showed significant improvement in the composite score for abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating/distention, and/or bowel movement difficulty. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 has been shown to prevent invasion of the gut lining by one of the bacteria thought to be responsible for inflammatory bowel conditions such as IBS and reduced inflammation in the gut. (1)

The Bad News:

A properly designed probiotic is supposed to work with your body, not against it. For people with impaired digestion and sensitive gut even small doses of potentially dangerous additives and fillers can diminish positive effect of a good bacteria in any probiotic. Here is what have been added to the good bacteria in Align:

1) Sugar

This is public enemy #1.  Sugar suppresses the immune system and can cause gas and bloating in people with chronic yeast infections, IBS/IBD and Celiac disease. Marketing a ‘breakthrough’ probiotic containing sugar is backwards logic!

2) Magnesium Stearate

I learned during my visits to few supplement manufacturing facilities that magnesium stearate is used as a lubricating agent for equipment used in manufacturing capsules and other dietary supplements. Magnesium stearate ensures supplement production at a faster rate, and prevents the ingredients in capsules sticking to various parts of the machines used in manufacturing. Can supplement be manufactured without magnesium stearate? The answer is YES. But it will take longer time to manufacture the same product thereby making it more expensive. In addition, individuals with sensitive digestive system might have a problem with absorption of supplements containing magnesium stearate. (2)

Czap, AL. Townsend Letter For Doctors and Patients, July 1999, Vol.192;Pg. 117-119.

3) Titanium Dioxide

Over the years I have consumed a lot of nutritional supplements; therefore, after reading numerous nutritional labels I have realized that titanium dioxide powder is a popular ingredient used in supplement manufacturing. So, I wondered: “ What is Titanium Dioxide? Am I eating a metal”? According to European Commission Environment “titanium dioxide pigment is a white powder with high opacity and brilliant whiteness. These properties have made it a valuable pigment for a broad range of applications in paints, plastic good, inks and paper. Titanium dioxide is also used in many white products including food, cosmetics, UV skin protection”. So, vitamin manufacturing companies use this titanium dioxide powder to make our supplements to look white and pretty. There is no added health benefit for ingesting titanium dioxide except if you want to admire your supplement pill on your dinner plate. Furthermore, titanium dioxide has recently been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen ”possibly carcinogen to humans’’ when inhaled. I think, we can do just fine without eating titanium dioxide. (3)

4) Propyl Gallate

This is a preservative used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling. It has been classified as a “xenoestrogen” — a substance with estrogen-like effects that is stirring international health concerns. “Xenoestrogens have been linked to a range of human health effects, including reduced sperm counts in men and increased risk of breast cancer in women”. (4)

5) Artificial Color FD&C Blue #1

FD &C Blue #1 is so toxic that FDA (Food and Drug Administration) have issued a warning to healthcare professionals about its toxicity including death in patients receiving enteral feeding (introduction of liquid food through a tube inserted into intestine. (5)

Why would P&G add such a toxic coloring to its probiotic remains a mystery to me.

Conclusion

In my opinion, Align is somewhat missing the mark, and especially so for people with impaired digestion and GI problems. The potentially harmful additives and fillers included in the product could produce negative effect. That is probably why there are over twenty comments/posts on the Amazon site talk about negative effects of Align for some people.

On a positive note, the good bacteria of Align does work in your gut, provided you are not sensitive to the coloring and the fillers. Also, P&G have done a really good job in manufacturing their products from 100% recyclable materials.

As always, I am just delivering the message. To take or not to take Align is ultimately YOUR choice.

Best of Health,

Galina

1. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 in IBS

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/46998.php

2. Magnesium Stearate

Czap, AL. Townsend Letter For Doctors and Patients, July 1999, Vol.192;Pg. 117-119

3. Titanium Dioxide

http://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text186.html

4. Propyl Gallate

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/titanium.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090302125924.htm

5. FD&C Blue #1 FDA – Public Health Advisory

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm169530.htm

I have done it in the following fashion: 5 grams (equivalent to 5000mg) every 30 minutes for a maximum dose of 30 grams. In less than 12 hours my fever was gone, and I felt so much better. In addition to the supplemental form of vitamin C, I ate 3 oranges, which are excellent source of vitamin C. One medium orange contains about 70mg of vitamins C. So, my 3 oranges contained about additional 210 mg of vitamin C. Please note, drinking bottled orange juice would not be as effective as eating fresh oranges because orange juice pasteurization destroys most of vitamin C.

Here is the summary of what I did to get rid of my flu:

1. Vitamin C Flush to kill virus and bacteria and to boost Immunity (recipe below).
2. Drink 8-10 cups of fluids (herbal teas, water with lemon plus home-made chicken broth with lots of fresh garlic).
3. Plus, bed rest and plenty of comedy shows and funny movies for hearty laughter.
4. In addition, while sitting in bed and surfing the web I came across a fascinating video about the benefits of vitamin C, and how this simple nutrient saved one mans life.

And for my scientifically inclined readers, here is the link to a study that proves amazing powers of vitamin C: study

Because my digestive system is sensitive (as it is for ALL with history of GI problems), I use Buffered Vitamin C. Buffered vitamin C includes minerals: calcium, magnesium and potassium carbonates, which are being mixed with vitamin C serve as a buffer to protect sensitive gut. Through my earlier research I have identified one of the best-buffered vitamin C formula made by Allergy Research Group. In addition to 2135 mg of vitamin C in each teaspoon, this formula contains 405 mg of calcium, 215 mg of magnesium and 90 mg of potassium. Here is the link:
Allergy Research Group -Buffered Vitamin C Powder 300 gms [Health and Beauty]

Vitamin C Flush Recipe: You will need a large bottle of buffered vitamin C powder and water.

• Start your vitamin C flush first thing in the morning before you eat breakfast.
• Mix one heaping teaspoon of vitamin C powder with ½ cup of water (room temperature) and drink right away.
• Repeat this step every 30 minutes. Continue drinking the vitamin C until you will get diarrhea.
• After that, you should stop drinking vitamin C. You have successfully completed vitamin C flush.
• Write down when and how much of vitamin C you were taking. It can take from 3 to 4 hours to do the flush. Your stool may remain unformed for a day even after you stopped the flush, but your stool should become normal in 24 to 48 hours.

Warning: Do not do Vitamin C flush during a flare-up of any GI problem since it may exacerbate the flare.

Here is the amazing video:video link

Hi Galina, I have bacteria, inflammation of the intestines, and can only digest very low carbs and proteins.  I have juiced daily for years and am a great believer in foods.  I just cannot get past the indigestion pain and bloating, been working with probiotics and gut-flora from med/herbs.  I too am overly underweight and would like to try the juice fasting, problem is I cannot do carrots or beets due to their higher carbs, as I get great pain.  I show anti bodies against milk/soy.  What do you suggest for a juice combination

Galina’s Answer:

Dear Debbie! Thank you for writing! Your symptoms of chronic indigestion, intestinal inflammation, pain and bloating could be caused by any of the following conditions:

• Celiac Disease
• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• Lactose Intolerance and/or food intolerance
• Bacterial and/or Parasitic Infection

First, you should see a gastroenterologist to identify the cause of your digestive distress.

Second, you should see a nutritionist experienced in GI problems to help you to identify your possible food allergies/intolerance.

If you want my help, I do offer personal consultations.
For your convenience, here is the link to my consultation page:link

After your food intolerances are identified, nutritionist can create an easy to digest meal plan and recommend specific gut healing supplements so you can heal you gut and gain weight. Get professional help before you decide to take any probiotics, supplements or herbs because as you were saying:” I just cannot get past the indigestion pain and bloating” despite your own experimental work with “probiotics and gut-flora from med/herbs”.

You cannot become healthy and gain weight unless you eradicate bacteria and heal your colon. I hope my explanation will help you to make a right decision.

Finally, here is my gut healing juice recipe for you:

1 potato, 3 stalks of celery, 1 small butternut squash (seeds and skin removed)

Drink for 30 days on empty stomach

I wish you peace within your gut

Galina