Gut Health Blog

May 05, 2024

What Kills Candida Overgrowth, Fast?

Hello Everyone!

I suffered from candida overgrowth a while ago, and I know how it feels to have it. This is why I delved into the subject and want to share my knowledge of what kills candida fast, in a natural way.

The symptoms of candida overgrowth (also called candidiasis) can be hard to identify because it can present in lots of ways. It is often mistaken for conditions like Chronic Fatigue and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

So, if you are looking for a fast, natural way to get rid of candida overgrowth and keep it at bay, you are in the right place.

What Is Candida?

What Causes Candida Overgrowth?

What Are The Signs of Candida Overgrowth?

How Do You Test for Candida?

Diet and Lifestyle Tips to Kill Candida Overgrowth, Fast

How to Manage Candida Die-Off

How To Stop Candida Overgrowth From Coming Back

What Is Candida?

Candida is a type of yeast, a microscopic fungus that lives in and on your body. It is part of your microflora, the community of bacteria, yeasts, viruses, and other microbes present in your gut, throat, lungs, skin, and genitals.

Candidiasis that occurs in the mouth, vagina, or on the skin (including on the penis) is often called thrush. White patches, itchiness, and soreness are tell-tale signs of a thrush infection.

Under normal conditions, candida is kept in check by other microbes. It is only when the balance of microbes is disturbed that candida has the opportunity to grow. And if it sees an opportunity, it will grow quickly!

Most candida problems can be resolved with diet, lifestyle, and in some cases, supplements. However, there is a severe form of infection called systemic candidiasis which requires medical attention. This occurs when the yeast infects major organs like the lungs and kidneys. Systemic candidiasis commonly affects people with a compromised immune system such as HIV patients, and people taking immune-suppressant drugs.

 

What Causes Candida Overgrowth?

Common causes include:

  • Stress.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Taking oral contraceptive pills or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
  • Smoking.
  • A diet high in Ultra Processed Foods and Drinks (UPFDs).
  • Chronic illness.
  • Using a catheter.
  • A compromised immune system.

These issues affect the balance of microflora in and on your body. When the microbes are disrupted, candida takes the opportunity to thrive.

What Are The Signs of Candida Overgrowth?

Signs and symptoms of a yeast overgrowth will be different for everyone, but they include:

  • Sore patches in the mouth
  • White coating on the tongue
  • Cracked corners of the mouth
  • Sore throat
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Sore, itchy genitals, and in women, a foul-smelling vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Brain fog
  • Depression
  • Athlete’s foot
  • Nail infections
  • Skin infections
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Bloating
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Memory and concentration issues
  • Mood swings and irritability
  • Sinus infections
  • PMS symptoms

If it is left unchecked, candida can start to attack the lining of the gut, causing leaky gut syndrome. Damage to the gut lining allows partially digested foods and toxins into the bloodstream. These can trigger an immune response which then leads to chronic inflammation.

How Do You Test for Candida?

Various blood, urine, and stool tests can check for candida overgrowth. And there’s also a simple home saliva test that you can do. If you follow me on Instagram, you can find it in my reels. Do check out the videos for candida support, too.

 

Diet and Lifestyle Tips to Kill Candida Overgrowth, Fast

Eat Burn Sleep’s anti-candida protocol is powerful, effective, and long-lasting.

The plan focuses on anti-inflammatory foods that support a healthy balance of microflora in your body. Unlike other candida diet plans, the Eat Burn Sleep approach doesn’t tell you to “starve” the candida because ultimately, that doesn’t work!

You don’t want to be feeding it with sugars and ultra-processed foods, but neither do you want to try and “starve” it out of existence because that won’t happen.

You need to take a multi-pronged approach to candida management that includes:

  • Foods that support a healthy balance of microflora
  • Anti-inflammatory foods
  • Anti-fungal foods
  • Foods that support your liver detoxification pathways. Your liver has to deal with the candida die-off and it needs plenty of help with this.
  • Foods to support regular, comfortable bowel movements. This ensures the dead candida leaves your system!
  • Relaxation and meditation. Stress is a big trigger for candida overgrowth. If you don’t learn how to handle stress, you are leaving the door open for candida to return.
  • Restful, restorative sleep.

We have a powerful candida protocol as part of our Premium Membership. The protocol covers the diet, lifestyle, and supplement advice you need to kill candida overgrowth quickly and naturally. You can use this protocol alongside the 6-Week Reset program which gives you food lists and meal plans to keep you motivated and inspired.

How to Manage Candida Die-Off

You will know when the candida overgrowth is dying, and it usually happens by day 3 of the protocol. It’s that quick!

When the candida starts to die off it can cause a few uncomfortable side effects like wind, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. This is when you won’t feel like yourself, but the upturn is so worth it. Oh my goodness, you will feel amazing afterward!

Just keep going, follow the plan, drink plenty of water, and rest as much as you can.

 

How To Stop Candida Overgrowth From Coming Back

Once you’ve dealt with the overgrowth and are feeling better, I recommend you follow the overall Eat Burn Sleep approach to maintain this improvement.

The EBS diet and lifestyle can keep candida at bay because it deals with the underlying cause of yeast overgrowth – poor gut health and imbalanced microflora.

The movement and meditation practices are a powerful part of this approach too. Many of our members have been surprised by the power of the neuroplasticity exercises and how their brain feels rewired afterward. By following these exercises they have been able to break strong addictions to sugar and processed foods.

Strong immunity, resilience to stress, healthy digestion, boundless energy, mental clarity, and sharp concentration – these are some of the amazing outcomes you can expect from the Eat Burn Sleep diet and lifestyle. So if yeast overgrowth is a regular occurrence for you, I  advise following this lifestyle to combat and prevent it!

 

This is what EBS member Sharon says about the program…

I’m really enjoying the EBS lifestyle, and have been following it for 10 months now, I feel the best in years, I have a flat tummy and suffer much less with bloating.

When I did the six-week reset the first week was hard but by day 5 I was feeling so good it encouraged me to keep going.

I am slimmer around my middle and have a lot of energy. My joints feel so much better. I can tell I have less inflammation in my body. The workouts are great and because they are short, I always can fit them into my day.

I love all the information and master classes on the platform, as I like to learn about health and nutrition. I will be subscribing for another year – thanks Yalda for all your work, in helping yourself, you are now helping so many people.

Want to know more? Check out our membership options now.

 

You might also like:

Habit Stacking: The Key to Making Your Health Habits Last

How Does Sleep Help With Inflammation?

Worst Foods for Gut Health

 

With love,

Yalda x

 

Yalda Alaoui is a qualified Naturopathic Nutritionist (with a foundation in Biomedicine) who studied with the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London.

She has spent over a decade performing groundbreaking research in chronic inflammation and gut health.

 

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Worst Foods For Gut Health

NSAIDS, Gut Health & Inflammation

Painkillers Not Helping Your Headaches?

November 19, 2023

Worst Foods For Gut Health

By now, you’ve likely come across information about the gut microbiome, which consists of trillions of microbes, primarily bacteria, residing in your gastrointestinal tract. You’re probably aware of the importance of consuming the right foods to maintain the health of your beneficial gut bacteria—also known as probiotics. But how exactly can you achieve this? Here are some guidelines outlining the worst foods to avoid for maintaining an optimal gut-health diet.

One of the worst culprits for gut health is a diet high in refined sugars, which are found in a variety of processed foods. Excessive sugar consumption can alter the microbial composition in the gut, negatively affecting the delicate balance needed for optimal digestive function. Moreover, the lack of fiber in processed foods further hampers gut health, as fiber is crucial for maintaining a healthy digestive system. To support gut health, it’s advisable to limit the intake of sugary and processed foods, opting instead for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber.

Refined Sugar

Minimizing refined sugar intake is advisable for several important reasons. One compelling factor is that an excess of sugar can deplete the population of beneficial gut bacteria, leading to inflammation in the body and potentially paving the way for more significant health issues. Additionally, refined sugars undergo rapid digestion in the initial segment of the small intestine, causing a spike in blood sugar levels and leaving the remaining gut microbes without sustenance.

Examples of refined sugars to be cautious of include sucrose (commonly known as table sugar), high-fructose corn syrup, agave syrup (despite its marketing as a health product), and sweetened beverages such as soda.

Maintaining a healthy gut is essential for overall well-being, as the gut plays a pivotal role in digestion and immune function. Unfortunately, certain foods can have a detrimental impact on gut health. A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) highlights the negative effects of a diet high in processed foods, particularly those rich in red and fried meats. These foods are known to disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, leading to an increased presence of harmful bacteria that can contribute to digestive issues.

Factory-Farmed Meat

Large-scale industrial meat producers frequently use antibiotics to address diseases in the cramped and crowded conditions where their livestock is raised. This common practice contributes to the proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria within the gut microbiomes of these animals, and there’s a risk of these resistant strains transferring to human gut microbiomes.

For numerous compelling reasons, we advise avoiding meat produced on a massive scale in factory-style settings. This includes industrial beef, industrial poultry, industrial pork, and so on.

Artificial Sweeteners

Research conducted in the UK revealed that artificial sweeteners have the potential to induce pathogenic alterations in specific gut bacteria. Another study investigated the impact of twelve different sweeteners on the gut microbiome and determined that many of them significantly heightened the risk of inflammation and glucose intolerance. These factors, in turn, elevate the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.

It is advisable to avoid artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame, along with artificially sweetened beverages.

Saturated Fat

Consuming excessive amounts of meat and high-fat dairy can lead to changes in the composition of gut microbes, which may not be beneficial for gut health. A study conducted at Harvard found that individuals following an animal-based diet showed an increase in Bilophila, microbes that thrive on bile, likely adapting to the increased bile production necessary for breaking down the elevated fat intake. While this may sound unappealing, it poses a health concern as Bilophila has been associated with inflammation.

To promote better gut health, consider minimizing your intake of animal products, particularly fatty meats like bacon, ribs, salami, pork rinds, and cheeses.

In addition to avoiding sugary and processed foods, it’s crucial to be mindful of the type of meat consumed. Red and fried meats, often high in unhealthy fats, can contribute to gut issues and inflammation. On the contrary, incorporating fermented foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt and kimchi, into your diet can support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, promoting a healthy microbiome. Striking a balance in your diet that includes a variety of nutrient-dense foods is key to nurturing a thriving gut and warding off potential digestive diseases.

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What Kills Candida Overgrowth, Fast?

NSAIDS, Gut Health & Inflammation

Painkillers Not Helping Your Headaches?

September 24, 2023

NSAIDS, Gut Health & Inflammation

NSAIDS May Ruin Your Health

Hello Everyone! This post is all about NSAIDS, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs most prescribed for anti-inflammatory conditions that many people use for pain.

The trouble is that depending on how often you use NSAIDS, they can worsen your condition. I will explain. Read on, and share!

What Are NSAIDs?

Common Side Effects of NSAIDs

How Many People Use NSAIDs Daily?

Why NSAIDs Are Bad For Your Health

What Are Chronic Inflammation Conditions?

Do NSAIDs Cause More Pain and Inflammation?

What Is An Alternative to Taking NSAIDs?

A female holding four blister packs of medication.

What Are NSAIDs?

NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; the medications you can buy over the counter, like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, are also prescribed by a doctor, like diclofenac and celecoxib.

Many refer to them by their brand name, like Advil, Aleve, and Celebrex. They are used for acute and chronic pain, fever, and inflammation for many conditions, except for low-dose aspirin, which is used to prevent heart attacks and strokes).

Common Side Effects of NSAIDs

Depending on how much you use them, there are side effects to longer, regular use.

The common side effects of NSAIDs are listed on the boxes as warnings and safety concerns. Several include kidney, liver, GI toxicity, respiratory, organ damage, and cardiovascular adverse effects. Bindu, S., Mazumder, S., & Bandyopadhyay, U.(2020).

A brown-haired female holds painkillers and indicates tooth pain.

Many studies link NSAIDs to peptic ulcer disease and colitis, like this study by Tai & McAlindon (2021).

Numerous studies talk about the severe side effects of using NSAIDs daily. In the British Journal of General Practice, Davis & Robson (2016) look at the dangers of NSAIDs and call for an urgent need to consider their safety.

How Many People Use NSAIDs Daily?

In a study by Gunaydin & Bilge (2018), an estimated 30 million people worldwide took NSAIDs daily!

An estimated 10 million people over 60 in the UK use NSAIDs daily, which puts them at an increased risk of adverse effects because of the natural physiological aging process that occurs, making them more susceptible. Plus, NSAIDs shouldn’t be taken with other drugs like diuretics, hypoglycaemic, anticoagulants, etc.

A female doctor handing a painkiller to her female patient who looks in pain.

I so often say that medication can save you, but long-term use doesn’t fix the source of the pain. Everyone should be screened for all potential risks and weigh the risks versus the benefits with their doctors. It is recommended that they are taken at the lowest possible dose for the shortest duration, as stated in this study by Pisano et al. (2016).

Why NSAIDs Are Bad For Your Health

NSAIDs can change the composition of your intestinal microbial community, otherwise known as gut dysbiosis, which is not good.

Gut health (with a good intestinal microbial community) is imperative to good health.

The microbes in your gut are influenced by your diet and eating behaviors, what else you ingest, like drugs, alcohol, pollutants, and so on, and stress, how you live, move, and breathe.

When you are burnt out, you can reach for things that actually make your health worse, like alcohol and the painkillers that are keeping those stress headaches at bay (but actually keep them there!).

A female stomach shown with a heart shape made by her hands to indicate gut health.

Among the microbes are bacteria, the most abundant component in your intestinal community. Over a thousand species, in fact, and they consist of good and bad bacteria!

Medication can kill off the good bacteria, shift the balance in the community, and increase the bacteria that puts your health at risk. Edogawa et al. (2018) explain the increase in the harmful bacteria and a decrease in the good bacteria.

You may like to read Side Effects of Antibiotics: IBD.

An imbalance causes gut dysbiosis, which dysregulates the immune system and leads to chronic inflammation.

You can improve gut health with prebiotic recipes like these delicious: Sesame & Sumac Lamb Chops & Coconut & Collagen Chia Pudding.

What Are Chronic Inflammation Conditions?

We need inflammation as a healthy defense mechanism against a cut, bug, or virus, but we don’t need inflammation to be running continuously. This is when it turns into chronic inflammation, which can cause pain and swelling, which is why NSAIDs are used and prescribed.

A young female sitting on a sofa clutching her stomach, indicating stomach or period pain.

There are so many conditions that are related to chronic inflammation, and many are listed here – from alopecia to cancer to depression and menopause, obesity, skin conditions, and thyroid issues.

You may like to read Signs of Inflammation That May Surprise You.

Members, access Personalized Advice for more in-depth advice for your painful and inflammatory conditions.

Do NSAIDs Cause More Pain and Inflammation?

So, the pain medication you take for your chronic inflammation condition actually causes gut dysbiosis, immune dysregulation, and chronic inflammation.

NSAIDs make your body more susceptible to pain and other diseases.

They make you less healthy than you were before.

By causing an imbalance in your gut, this explains why painkillers stop working after a while.

If you are looking to lower your cholesterol, please check this article.

Happy man looking at his pain medication and holding a glass of water.

What Is An Alternative to Taking NSAIDs?

So, if you are in the habit of popping over-the-counter painkillers for the slightest twinge or are having lots of pain, discuss it with your doctor. Everyone should be screened for all potential risks when you take any medication.

Or, if you have been prescribed painkillers for an inflammatory condition, consider an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle change, as well. Run it by your doctor.

They usually recommend a diet and lifestyle intervention for many health conditions, including stress. It’s incredible how it works. You may find that you visit the doctor less and use NSAIDs less and less, which will help your gut, which will more than likely help put your condition into remission.

As you use less, you will also see other positive changes like feeling brighter, more energy, and joie de vivre.

I wish that for you. Have a fantastic day!

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Yalda Alaoui

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What Kills Candida Overgrowth, Fast?

Worst Foods For Gut Health

Painkillers Not Helping Your Headaches?

September 03, 2023

Painkillers Not Helping Your Headaches?

Why Your Head Still Hurts With Medication

Hello Everyone! If you suffer from regular headaches and migraines, I have no doubt how it may affect all areas of your life. It can be disabling, and you may have other conditions running alongside them.

If you have had anything serious ruled out by your doctor and headache medication no longer works, I may have some good news for you.

In this post, I will explain why your migraine medicine may not work despite consistent use and how you may reduce migraines without medication.

What Are Headache Rebounds?

Why Doesn’t Your Headache Go Away?

Will a Detox Help Migraines and Headaches?

Do Deficiencies Cause Headaches and Migraines?

Will Headaches Ever Stop?

What Are Headache Rebounds?

Headache rebounds are also known as medication overuse headaches. You may have this condition if you have headaches at least 15 days a month and consistently take over-the-counter headache medicine. Chronic pain can lead to overuse of painkillers.

What we need to remember is that migraine is a chronic inflammatory condition, not curable by over-the-counter medication. Certainly, relief may be felt from over-the-counter medicine initially, but it doesn’t last and ultimately contributes to continuous headaches.

Many triggers for headaches and migraines need to be dealt with at the source to put them into remission.

Why Doesn’t Your Headache Go Away?

It may not just be headache rebounds because what else is going on is the persistent use of medication, which causes gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis causes chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation causes neuroinflammation, which leads to neuropeptides inducing a cascade of inflammatory responses in brain tissues. This then causes continuous pain-causing nerves to be stimulated.

This leads to headaches and migraines.

Medication overuse also can be very taxing on our livers, which can cause headaches and migraines.

Read NSAIDs, Gut Health & Inflammation.

This means the medication used for headaches and migraines actually triggers more headaches and migraines.

Medication reduces good bacteria in our tummies and increases the harmful bacteria.

Antibacterial resistance genes are increased, which means more health risks. We need a good balance of gut bacteria for optimal health.

The gut lining may also become perforated with medication, allowing any pathogen to leak into our bloodstream, leading to Leaky Gut Syndrome and other chronic inflammatory conditions.

Will a Detox Help Migraines and Headaches?

Medication is also taxing on the liver, and this can result in headaches and migraines. Many signs of stress in the liver can produce nausea, fatigue, and intolerance to smells, which you may be experiencing with your headaches.

The Eat Burn Sleep liver detox is in the Lifestyle Guide and is powerful and successful for many conditions. You will undoubtedly reap the benefits and reduce your headaches and migraines. Have you watched The Rewire Masterclass in gut health? I discuss why superfood and fad detox diets work.

Read: The Ultimate Liver Detox. It tells you how the detoxification process works. As you go through the healing crisis, you may experience a headache, feeling worse before you get better.

To prepare you, check out the section on: What Happens When You Cut Down on Toxins?

Once you are through it, you sail through and come out of it feeling on top of the world! So much so that you look forward to doing it another time!

This, of course, will be less of a healing crisis because following Eat Burn Sleep on an 80/20 ratio will mean that your health will be optimized and your chronic inflammation will be reduced or in remission.

Do Deficiencies Cause Headaches and Migraines?

Many triggers can cause headaches and migraines.

Deficiencies can cause headaches and migraines, and you can easily be deficient if you have anemia due to nutrient malabsorption and blood loss, like in many Inflammatory Bowel Disease conditions.

Headaches and migraines can occur through what you are not eating and what you are eating. Trendy diets, vegetarianism, veganism, drinking too much alcohol, and calorie counting can lead to deficiencies and headaches. Not to mention sleep deficiency!

Good foods and recipes like this Baked Salmon are good for reducing headaches.

Check out this post: Help With Anemia, B12, and Iron Deficiencies.

Members get extra support for Insomnia in the Personalized Advice section.

Will Headaches Ever Stop?

Headache rebounds generally stop after you stop taking the headache medication every day, as long as you reduce inflammation in your body through diet and lifestyle changes.

Remember that chronic inflammation running in the body causes headaches, and migraines can also induce chronic inflammatory conditions. It will take a few days to turn around your gut health to begin your journey to migraine remission.

To complement this anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle available for all members, I created a Migraines & Headaches protocol (found in Premium Membership. We have 30+ personalized advice protocols for a range of conditions, and add a new one monthly).

It helps you reduce headaches and migraines in various ways so you become medication-free. Most importantly, it is free of all the pain and challenges that headaches and migraines bring.

You may be interested in these articles: What Foods Help Ease Multiple Sclerosis?, Can You Put Ulcerative Colitis into Remission? How To Reduce Menopause Symptoms & Help With Anemia, B12 & Iron Deficiencies.

The only side effects Eat Burn Sleep brings are positive, like constant, safe weight loss if needed. (There is personalized advice for Weight Gain, too). Skin, hair, vitality, energy, and body composition are all boosted. Mental well-being is improved magnificently.

Do note that prescribed medications should not be stopped abruptly, so talk with your doctor about your headache/migraine medication. Certainly, run this BUPA-Global-approved anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle by them.

As always, I wish you good health and a wonderful day.

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What Kills Candida Overgrowth, Fast?

Worst Foods For Gut Health

NSAIDS, Gut Health & Inflammation

July 09, 2023

Why Aspartame Is Linked to Cancer

Aspartame and Cancer

Hello Everyone! If you follow Eat Burn Sleep, this won’t be the first time you have heard me say that the food industry and its marketing have much to answer for! Both affect our physical and mental health.

In the 1950s, artificial sweeteners were promoted for weight loss as an alternative to sugar, and everyone was buying into it. Many chemicals were approved for food use at this time. Interestingly, not long after was the onset of rising obesity and cancer.

Artificial sweeteners cause gut dysbiosis, whereby an imbalance of the bacteria essential for life occurs. Gut dysbiosis leads to chronic systemic inflammation and a dysregulated immune system. Obesity is a systemic chronic inflammatory condition. As are some cancers.

Linking aspartame with cancer starts with what happens in the gut, and despite what people are saying in the media, it is easy to consume a dangerous amount!

BBC World asked me to comment about it if you missed it! All my latest Instagram posts are at the bottom of the Home page here. 

Why Do Artificial Sweeteners Exist?

Why Is It Easy to Consume a Dangerous Amount of Aspartame?

What Foods and Drinks Contain Aspartame?

Aspartame Causes Pathological Changes

Obesity and Cancer

How To Reduce Calories Without Chemicals

Why Do Artificial Sweeteners Exist?

Artificial sweeteners were initially discovered in 1879 by Constantin Fahlberg in Ira Remsen’s laboratory at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA.

The story goes that he wondered why his bread tasted so sweet and remembered that he hadn’t washed his hands after being in the laboratory all day long. He was working with the coal tar derivative benzoic sulfimide. He called this sweet chemical saccharin, and he and Remsen went on to develop it in Germany.

It was popular during the world wars due to the agricultural crisis and sugar shortage.

During the time of the rapidly developing fast-food and confectionary industry in the 1950s, this artificial sweetener was viewed as an excellent way to reduce calories. Many additives are approved without long-term health studies to back up their safety.

The late 50s/early 60s was also the onset of the increase in obesity and cancer.

Artificial sweeteners for low calories for weight loss coincide with obesity increase because artificial sweeteners cause gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis causes chronic inflammation. Obesity and some cancers are caused by chronic inflammation.

Aggressive marketing of foods that contain additives, sweeteners, and colors that should not be for human consumption has been around for a long time. They all contribute to the rise in disease.

Artificial Sweeteners and The Link to Cancer

In the 60s, cyclamate came along to blend with saccharin to take away the bitter aftertaste. It was used to sweeten beverages in the food industry until 1970, when it was banned in the US with suspicions of it causing cancer.

In 1977, scientists discovered saccharin caused bladder cancer in rats, so it carried a cancer warning label. It took four years to be listed in the US National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens. Twenty-three years later, scientists discovered humans don’t metabolize saccharin like rats, so the cancer warning label was removed!

This was when aspartame debuted as an alternative to sugar. Again, marketed as a weight-loss product.

Two years later –  approved for the large, lucrative market of soft drinks!

Aspartame was discovered in a similar way to saccharin. Scientist James Schlatter had obtained the chemical as part of some drug research and had licked his finger!

It is 200 times sweeter than sugar!

Yet, it’s not natural, doesn’t taste the same, and has no calories. It has been, and is continuing to be, used in thousands of products since.

Food safety experts have called for aspartame to be banned many times over the years.

Why Is It Easy to Consume a Dangerous Amount of Aspartame?

It’s easy to dismiss health warnings when you hear that exposure to one particular carcinogen does not necessarily mean getting cancer.

This is true because genetics, lifestyle, exposure to other environmental factors, and the quantity and duration of exposure all come into it, but they surround us. There are so many carcinogens in what we eat and drink!

I keep hearing that experts are saying, “It would be impossible to exceed the recommended maximum amount of aspartame because that would be the equivalent of drinking 12+ glasses of Diet Coke a day.”

Unfortunately, this message is harmful to good health because aspartame isn’t just in carbonated drinks.

People may think they are safe by avoiding Diet Coke. Aspartame is in so many things! See the list below.

Aspartame rapidly hydrolyzes in your body, and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, and transforms into toxic metabolites before making lots of changes in the body, according to studies.

The intestinal microbial community and immunity are affected, and DNA, liver, enzymatic changes, levels of cysteine, metabolism, growth, disease, and mental well-being!

Let’s bear in mind we are only talking about one dietary carcinogenic here, too! There are so many additives that are capable of causing cancer. Not to mention that there are cancer promoters, too, that accelerate the growth of cancer!

Check the Red Food List, Members.

The European Journal of Oncology states half the amount (20mg per kg of body weight) of the recommended maximum amount of aspartame consumed links it to cancer.

Aspartame is used to improve taste, color, and texture and extend the shelf life of over 6000 products (and counting) without adding calories. Many food products and beverages contain it.

The compound is also in 500 pharmaceutical products because it is cheap and readily available. I have even seen it in ‘healthy’ foods.

So, it is easy to consume a large amount of aspartame in one day! 

What Foods and Drinks Contain Aspartame?

Aspartame is in many ultra-processed products and include:

    • *Sugar alternative sweeteners in little packets and dispensers
    • *Carbonated drinks like Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Sprite Zero, Diet Mountain Dew, Fanta Zero, and other ‘Diet’ and ‘Zero’ drinks
    • *Most ‘sugar-free’ products
    • *’Zero sugar’ teas and juices
    • *’Low sugar’ products
    • *’Diet’ products
    • *’Low calorie’ products
    • *’Fat-free’ products
    • *Soft powdered drinks like milkshakes and hot chocolate
    • *Chewing gum
    • *Types of candy/sweets
    • *Many ready-made desserts
    • *All kinds of dessert mixes
    • *Many icecreams
    • *Some vitamins and supplements
    • *Many workout supplements
    • *Various medication
    • *Some cough syrups and drops

 

For context purposes, a can of Diet Coke contains an estimated 200mg of aspartame!

Aspartame Causes Pathological Changes

Just this year, The World Health Organization (WHO) released a guideline on non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), stating that NSS had no value to a diet and was linked with diseases and mortality. They advised not to use them to control body weight.

Dr. Soffritti et al. have performed many studies on aspartame over the last decade and monitored the subjects throughout their entire lifetime. All with evidence of cancer-related aspartame and have stated:

• ‘Recent results of life-span carcinogenicity bioassays on rats and mice published in peer-reviewed journals, and a prospective epidemiological study, provide consistent evidence of aspartame’s carcinogenic potential.’
• ‘Our study shows that aspartame is a multi-potential carcinogenic compound whose carcinogenic effects are evident even at a low dose of 20mg/kg bodyweight.’
•  ‘When life-span exposure to aspartame begins during fetal life, carcinogenic effects increase.’

Aspartame Increases Pathogenic Gut Bacteria

In many studies, a significant difference in gut microbial diversity occurs following the consumption of artificial sweeteners. Even ones FDA-approved!

Chichger & Shil (2021) showed in their study that sweeteners increase the ability of bacteria to form biofilms (3D structures that act as a microbial battlefront). They increase the adhesion and invasion of bacteria into human gut cells. This leads to our gut bacteria invading and causing damage to our intestines, linked to infection, sepsis, and multi-organ failure.

Pathogenic gut bacteria produced by aspartame can escape into the bloodstream via a leaky gut, triggering inflammation.

Suez et al. (2015) showed the results of a human study on 4-day food intake. It showed the relationship between aspartame and microbiota and demonstrated the increase in the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae and Clostridium leptum. These are both pathogenic and inflammation-inducing. Suez et al. (2015).

Obesity and Cancer

Systemic inflammation is a contributing factor in cancer.

As a matter of fact, the risk of developing cancer in chronic inflammatory conditions like obesity also demonstrates the relationship between cancer and inflammation.

It could also be the link to why more early-onset cancers that affect the digestive system are rising!

Advancing age was always the most critical risk factor for some cancers, but with more and more children with obesity, it means that the risk of developing cancer now happens earlier than it did before.

The food industry really has a lot to answer for!

Shuji Ogino, a professor of pathology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, stated, “Many cancers involve the digestive system, which points to a big role for diet and the bacteria that live in our gut called the microbiome. I think this is an important piece because what it’s pointing to is changing exposure prevalences at early ages that are producing earlier-onset cancers.”

Being overweight links to cancers not related to the digestive system, too.

You may be interested in my BBC World interview: Does Junk Food Damage Your Body?

How To Reduce Calories Without Chemicals

Reducing calories through low-calorie, diet, zero, sugar-free, fat-free, 0%, etc., leads to inflammation. That means obesity, cancer, thyroid issues, alopecia, fertility issues, joint problems, brain fog, anxiety, depression, skin and body hair issues, and a whole array of other conditions.

I advise that you ignore these drinks and foods and ditch the calorie counting, skipping meals, fasting, yo-yo dieting, and constantly feeling hungry and unhappy! As I mentioned, you won’t avoid weight gain. Rather, you are encouraging it in the long term. 

Life is to be lived. Food is to be enjoyed. A happy, healthy body is not hungry.

A happy, healthy mind and body have a good intestinal microbial community that protects the body from disease and reduces weight naturally without risk.

If you want to avoid chemicals in food and protect yourself and your family from cancer, obesity, and other chronic inflammatory conditions, join us on a Standard Membership.

Enjoy chemical-free drinks like Sugar-free Lemonade and Moroccan Spiced Coffee.

Eat and live the Eat Burn Sleep way. It works for busy people and for non-cooks, too! We focus on reducing inflammation and looking after our intestinal microbes.

Intestinal microbial communities play a significant role in health and disease; they change by what we eat, drink, and do every day, for better or worse.

What are you eating and drinking today?

Whatever you do, I hope that your day is lovely!

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NSAIDS, Gut Health & Inflammation

June 11, 2023

Can Food Poisoning Cause Inflammation?

The Bugs in Your Tummy Can Help

Hello Everyone! If you have ever had food poisoning, you will know that it is a very unpleasant experience that you want to avoid happening again, but have you ever wondered if it was food poisoning?

If several people ate the same food as you, how come they didn’t have the same reaction?

There are many reasons why humans differ in their response to exposure to bacterial infections. For this post, I will tell you why good gut health armors against food poisoning and the subsequent risk of developing inflammatory conditions like IBS and IBD.

Food Poisoning Statistics

6 Ways to Avoid Food Poisoning:

Does Gut Health Reduce Food Poisoning Risk?

How Does Gut Health Stop Bacteria?

How Does The Body Deal With Poisons?

Our Adaptive Immunity

What Raises the Risk of Food Poisoning?

What Can Food Poisoning Cause?

Food Poisoning and Further Disease Studies

Food Poisoning Statistics

Approximately 600 million people fall ill to food poisoning a year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Most of the cases reported are caused by Salmonella and Campylobacter, which have high levels of antimicrobial resistance.

(It isn’t just food where Salmonella and Campylobacter can be harbored, as pets can spread the bacteria, and they may not show any symptoms).

Bacteria breed faster in warmer temperatures, and there is a greater contamination risk when you prepare and eat food outside.

Meat on a wooden chopping board, next to carrots and salt. Hands are seen cutting the meat with a large knife.

6 Ways to Avoid Food Poisoning:

  1. – Separate raw meat, eggs, and fish from other foods
  2. – Wash your hands and cooking preparation area, using different chopping boards and different knives
  3. – Avoid touching your mouth and face while prepping 
  4. – Cook food to a safe temperature (e.g., steak, lamb chops, and fish need to be 145 degrees)
  5. – Don’t leave food and leftovers out of the refrigerator for more than an hour (maximum of two for leftovers). Keep food in a cooler until you cook it.
  6. – Improve gut health.

 

Does Gut Health Reduce Food Poisoning Risk?

Absolutely! Ensuring that your gut health is tip-top means that if you eat contaminated food, your gut and immune system are fully equipped to fight Salmonella and Campylobacter’s maneuvers!

It will also reduce the risk of developing leaky gut syndrome, IBS, IBD, diabetes, and other chronic inflammatory conditions.

Indeed, good gut health reduces inflammation and aids in putting autoimmune conditions into remission.

Suppose you have a compromised immune system or inflammation running in your body. In that case, it will leave you susceptible to bacteria and viruses, and it will be challenging for your body to fight them.

How Does Gut Health Stop Bacteria?

The bugs in our tummies provide immune homeostasis.

As I mentioned, poor gut health (dysbiosis) is linked to a weakened immune system, making it less able to fight bacteria.

Compromised gut health is also linked to non-communicable diseases. 70% of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) resides in the gut.

GALT and the intestine are essential for the body’s immune defense. They allow tolerance to good bacteria and nutrients from our diets while dispelling invaders!

A healthy gut contains an arsenal of barriers to incoming pathogenic organisms that come in physical, immune, chemical, and enzymatic forms!

Because Salmonella and Campylobacter have high-level antimicrobial resistance (which is why they can transfer from animals to humans in the food chain), they are an extra challenge to the immune system (particularly where the immune system is compromised!).

How Does the Body Deal With Poisons?

What happens usually is that when pathogens enter the body, an inflammatory response is triggered. A lot goes on to successfully engulf and destroy invading micro-organisms in a healthy body.

The innate immune system prevents invaders from entering via:

  • *skin – keeping them out!
  • *mucus – trapping them!
  • *immune system cells – attacking them on entry!
  • *sweat and tear enzymes – which are anti-bacterial compounds!
  • *stomach acid – destroying them.

 

Our Adaptive Immunity

Our adaptive immunity is where our immune system recognizes what a pathogen is, and when it enters the body, our cells and organs create antibodies. A process of attack and destruction occurs, and then the immune system puts that bacteria that has infected you into a memory box so that you can get long-term protection from that pathogen.

During the invasion, amongst many other things, the immune system induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, too. This is where Salmonella and Campylobacter gain strength because they thrive on the proteins from this reaction.

Many gut bugs in your tummy at this time cannot survive the changed environment, which gives these bacteria an advantage as they take over!

However, certain bacteria produced in healthy, diverse microbiota before the invasion stop Salmonella from raising their internal pH to facilitate cellular functions required for their growth.

Increasing the diversity of gut bugs enhances resistance to pathogen colonization.

It’s all a complex interplay of different strains and species in the gut, where one microbe affects other microbes’ functions.

Quite like the Eat Burn Sleep lifestyle! One factor affects the other/s in a symbiotic way!

An interplay of nutrition (from recipes like these: Italian Chicken Salad & Paleo Energy Bars), lifestyle, sleep, movement, and neuroplasticity is needed for good gut and immune health.

This is why you can’t just do one thing like take some probiotics and expect them to do the trick of good gut and overall health.

Nutrition absorption and distribution is a significant fact influencing a robust bacterial community. 

In case you missed these posts: What Kills Candida Fast, Naturally?, How to Recover From Virus Infections, How to Boost Your Immunity to Fight Viruses.

What Raises the Risk of Food Poisoning?

Many people are more vulnerable to bacteria, which is one explanation why you could eat the same contaminated food as someone else, and only one of you has a reaction.

Vulnerable people include children who are under five and people who are over 65, pregnant, and who have existing conditions. Members, for advice on what to avoid for your condition, follow the personalized advice for your condition.

Here is a list of ways our immune is weakened:

  • *Poor nutrition
  • *Autoimmune diseases
  • *Chronic inflammation conditions
  • *Cancer
  • *HIV/Aids
  • *Liver disease
  • *Kidney disease
  • *Unhealthy lifestyle: smoking, alcohol, lack of exercise, high fat/ high sugar diets, low-calorie diets
  • *Lack of sleep
  • *Obesity
  • *Immune-suppressing medication
  • *Medication/antibiotics
  • *Chronic stress
  • *Deficiencies
  • *Age
  • *Isolation

Members get in-depth Insomnia advice here.

What Can Food Poisoning Cause?

Food poisoning usually clears up within 3-6 days, but there is strong evidence of how food poisoning can lead to further disease.

Leaky gut syndrome, gut bacteria imbalance, immune dysregulation, and inflammation are induced by the proteins in food-poisoning bacteria like Salmonella.

Due to the changes in the gut lining and gut bacteria imbalance, symptoms can continue once the infection has passed.

Gut dysbiosis equals immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation, and the risk of autoimmune diseases and immune dysregulation causes gut dysbiosis!

This leads to immune dysregulation and other chronic inflammatory conditions.

Food Poisoning and Further Disease Studies

So, in answer to whether food poisoning can cause chronic inflammation, the answer is yes.

A significant volume of research shows the link between disease development after food poisoning and IBS, reactive arthritis, IBD, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and other chronic inflammatory conditions.

These are just a few food poisoning and further disease studies:

Chronic inflammation can cause DNA damage, epigenetic modulation, and chromosome instability, leading to colon cancer risks. Mughini-Gras et al. (2018).

One in every nine people exposed to foodborne illness develops IBS at a rate four times higher than the non-exposed individuals, according to a meta-analysis of 45 studies. Klem et al. (2017).

IBD is linked to food poisoning, according to numerous studies. For instance, a study in Denmark noted that an episode of gastroenteritis with Salmonella and Campylobacter species tested positive is significantly associated with an increased risk of new-onset Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.

Do enjoy traveling, eating outside, and socializing, though. It’s all good for your mental and physical health, and your immunity needs you to be social (unless your doctor has told you otherwise).

Just remember, use your nose when it comes to food and drink. Don’t take the chance if they don’t pass the sniff test; if you think food is undercooked when you dine anywhere, don’t eat it. Don’t compromise your health.

It’s never too late to focus on gut health. It’s imperative to combat many health issues.

Have a beautiful day!

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NSAIDS, Gut Health & Inflammation

April 16, 2023

How Do You Live With IBS and Anxiety?

Reducing IBS and Anxiety

Hello Everyone! Here’s some good news if you’ve given up on life without IBS and anxiety!

There are 4-5 lbs of bugs in our tummies. They consist of viruses, fungi, bacteria, and protozoa, fundamental to our health.

IBS and anxiety can be reduced by changing these bugs in your tummy, and there are many ways to do that.

This post will tell you about the link between IBS and anxiety and how to put them into remission, possibly!

How Do You Develop IBS and Anxiety?

What Causes IBS and Anxiety?

How Do You Cope with IBS and Anxiety?

What Links IBS and Anxiety?

Will IBS and Anxiety Go Away?

How Do You Develop IBS and Anxiety?

Bugs are all over and inside us. Trillions of them! They support critical bodily functions and have a potent effect on physical and mental health. They have a role in the development and severity of IBS and anxiety. In fact, with many conditions, anxiety runs alongside them because of this.

A good balance of bugs in our tummies equals better mental and physical health. A good balance of diverse bugs keeps our immune system healthy and chronic inflammation at bay.

They aid digestion and absorption of food. They also defend against pathogens and regulate immune homeostasis.

What Causes IBS and Anxiety?

An imbalance of tummy bacteria contributes to IBS, bloating, digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and a whole array of conditions. The list is endless.

An upset balance of bugs means that there can be more bad guys than good. The balance is easily upset through food, lifestyle choices, stress, medication, sickness, destructive sleep patterns, thoughts, who we live with, etc.

The thing is, the dominant species proliferate. The bad bugs may take over depending on what you eat and how you live. Too many of these affect your physical and mental health immensely.

When an alteration in the normal tummy flora occurs, stomach lining permeability, inflammation, gut motility, and the quality of life change – for the better or worse.

Oftentimes, the existence of IBS contributes to things like stress, inadequate sleep patterns, and malnutrition, and this creates an endless cycle. If you suffer from IBS and anxiety, it is no wonder that you think it will never end.

If you are on medication, this may also contribute to the alteration in your tummy flora because medicine can do that!

It is no wonder that IBS often develops after a bout of gastroenteritis, an extremely stressful event, or any life stressors. People with depression, anxiety, and PTSD often have to deal with irritable bowel syndrome or some digestive issues, too, for a reason.

How Do You Cope with IBS and Anxiety?

When you have IBS, it can take over your life. Your day can be planned around it or changed at the last minute due to flare-ups! You can be in a vicious cycle because how do you stop being stressed about having IBS?

The anxiety and possibly depression about having IBS is not just because of dealing with the effects of having IBS. The gut is connected to the brain!

What goes on in the gut affects the brain, and what goes on in the brain affects the gut.

It is often described as the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

A whole load of physiological processes explains how the brain influences intestinal activities and how bugs in the tummy affect mental health.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis is explained in more detail here: Why You Need To Know This If You Have Depression.

The other thing to note is that if your gut is imbalanced, it isn’t producing the neurotransmitters that make us feel good. Read this article: 4 Secrets to Feeling Good.

Also, an imbalance means that essential vitamins needed for neuronal function are not being synthesized. This leads to fatigue, depression, anxiety, low moods, and brain fog!

The constant running to the bathroom will prevent you from absorbing nutrients, causing your tummy bacteria to become unbalanced. This can lead to low iron levels and anemia.

Will IBS and Anxiety Go Away?

I have noticed that many diets recommended for IBS include foods and compounds that exacerbate IBS symptoms. So, if you have tried an IBS diet and have not seen any positive results, this will be why.

This natural treatment for IBS I developed myself, and I suffered from IBS flare-ups for years. It truly works!

Eat Burn Sleep has many members that used to have IBS and anxiety. The great thing is that they got a handle on it early since this IBS diet and lifestyle guide are easy to follow.

Members, access the personalized advice here for the IBS flare dietary protocol, foods to avoid, foods to favor, supplements, and nutritional advice for all symptoms of IBS.

Eat Burn Sleep doesn’t mask symptoms temporarily. It gets to the fundamental reason you have IBS and anxiety, and it assists with improving both until it is no longer happening.

Increased energy, weight loss, reduced bloating and puffiness, glowing skin, better body composition, consistent good sleep, and a better quality of life are often reported side effects. Check the testimonies.

And there is nothing off-limits since this is all about limitation! Although, those tummy bugs are powerful. When balanced perfectly, cravings reduce. It does feel magical.

I hope that you have a wonderful day.

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January 01, 2023

Thyroid Health Foods & Advice

Is Your Gut Slowing Your Thyroid Down?

Hello Everyone! A very happy new year! I hope that you are well. A lot of people don’t realize that it is your thyroid gland that has a significant influence on muscle mass, weight, skin, testosterone, hair, mood… and the list goes on.

So, if your new year’s resolutions include prioritizing health, you may want to consider the thyroid-gut connection.

If you want to know how you can improve how you feel, look and burn energy, for instance, and look after your thyroid health, manage your thyroid condition, and improve overall health significantly, this article is for you.

What Does a Healthy Thyroid Do?

How Does a Healthy Thyroid Function?

The Best Food for Thyroid Health

What Can Cause Thyroid Disorders?

What Are the Symptoms of Low Thyroid Function?

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Men’s Health: Symptoms of Thyroid Issues

Some Causes of Impaired Thyroid Function

Detox Your Liver For Thyroid Health

How to Improve Thyroid Health

 

What Does a Healthy Thyroid Do?

The thyroid gland (butterfly-shaped at the front of your neck) is a small but almighty organ. Its function affects the whole body, as every cell in the body depends on thyroid hormones for their metabolism regulation. Its dysfunction is one of the most common chronic endocrine diseases.

Oftentimes, thyroid health can get overlooked, and yet it is one of the most commonly encountered incidental findings, along with chronic inflammation, at the time of autopsy, in cases where there was no apparent cause of death.

You see, chronic inflammation affects the thyroid gland. 

An estimated 20 million Americans and one in 20 people in the UK have some form of a thyroid condition. Over half of them are unaware of their thyroid condition. Symptoms of thyroid conditions are often overlooked as something else.

An estimated 40% of the world’s population is at risk of thyroid diseases due to deficiencies.

One in four adults over 65 has thyroid dysfunction, but they go undetected because symptoms can be linked to other age-related issues.

Thyroid diseases, like Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Graves Disease, affect both men and women. Autoimmunity conditions usually affect the thyroid also.

Your thyroid makes the hormones that control a significant amount of essential functions that nearly every organ.

Its good health is imperative to functions like your metabolism, body temperature, lipolysis (fat burning), heartbeat, increased cardiac output, digestion, fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis, glucose generation, and absorption, proteolysis (breaking down protein into smaller amino acids essential for the body), and development and growth of bones in children.

It also has a massive role in the maturation of the central nervous system during fetal development.

How Does a Healthy Thyroid Function?

The primary function of the thyroid is to synthesize thyroid hormones, which are needed to regulate metabolism in every single cell in the body, as I mentioned above.

These are:

Triiodothyronine (T3) and Tetraiodothyronine (commonly known as Thyroxine) (T4).

T4 is made from tyrosine, which is an amino acid.

They do this by taking essential nutrients found in foods and converting them in the liver, mostly.

So, when thyroid hormones drop too low, it all starts with the hypothalamus in the brain.

The hypothalamus regulates the pituitary and produces TSH Releasing Hormone (TRH). Which then signals to the pituitary to release TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).

The pituitary gland then releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which tells the thyroid gland to release T3 and T4 into the bloodstream.

This then speeds up the metabolism of the cells in the body, which then does all of its important functions, as mentioned above, generating energy, controlling temperature, burning fat, and so on.

When blood levels contain a certain amount, the pituitary stops producing TSH.

The Best Food for Thyroid Health

The impact of what you eat and how you live majorly affects thyroid health. Dietary micronutrients, as well as an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, play an imperative role in thyroid hormone synthesis.

I know that many varied thyroid diets online give contradictory information, and I would always advise a qualified nutritionist or dietician with credentials that you can check who has studied thyroid health and inflammatory conditions extensively. Check that they have legitimate clients with thyroid disorders that have positive, long-term results.

I also advise that the focus should never be on food alone. Going ‘on a diet’ is restrictive, unsustainable, and unhealthy for both physical and mental health.

Let’s face it: restrictive diets make you miserable!

Restrictive thyroid diets online don’t contain all the essential micronutrients needed for overall good health.

Oftentimes, popular diets have initial results, which is what gains their popularity, but they negatively impact the body and mind further down the line, opening the body up to more health issues.

The best food you can eat when you have any chronic condition must be targeted at gut health. Again, if you search online for gut-health food, you will be met with an array of contradictory information that may negatively impact gut health.

Your gut microbiota helps your thyroid, so it is essential to eat the right gut-healthy food and drinks, with specialized thyroid advice, along with an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.

Some so-called health foods that are promoted extensively increase the likeliness of a thyroid function impairment to escalate to a more serious thyroid condition, for instance.

Certain foods and drinks can particularly affect thyroid hormone levels in the blood by increasing T4 and parathyroid (regulator of blood calcium levels) hormones and lowering T3 and aldosterone (hormone produced in the adrenals that balances water and sodium in the kidneys) levels.

There are additives in foods that directly affect thyroid axis activity through increased inflammation, as I so often talk about.

The ingredients we eat and drink affect the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal barrier integrity and can dysregulate immune response.

They can also hinder the absorption of medication. Medication can also cause gut dysbiosis, too.

What Can Cause Thyroid Disorders?

Gut dysbiosis is a common occurrence in thyroid disorders. This is because of a couple of reasons.

Firstly, an unbalanced microbiota alters the immune response by promoting inflammation and reducing immune tolerance. It damages the intestinal membrane and causes intestinal permeability, exposing the body to antigens and local inflammation.

Inflammation can interfere with the important conversion and functions of thyroid hormones.

What happens also is that gut microbiota influences the absorption of nutrients, and in particular, the minerals that are imperative for thyroid health.

It is also important to note that components like iron are essential for good microbiota composition. Good composition influences iron’s availability, allowing for the utilization of vital nutrients for optimum thyroid health.

You may like to read: Help With Anemia, B12, and Iron Deficiency.

The right balance of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and immune-regulating nutrients all work synergistically together.

A good microbiota composition also provides a reservoir for T3 (one of the hormones the thyroid makes) and can prevent thyroid hormone fluctuation and disorders.

It truly is incredible how it all works.

What Are the Symptoms of Low Thyroid Function?

Symptoms of thyroid issues are shown and felt all over the body, and you will usually have multiple symptoms.

Hypothyroidism affects men and women of any age and occurs when your TSH is high and your T3 and T4 are low.

Symptoms of low thyroid function include:

  • Weight gain
  • Fatigue
  • Dry skin
  • Alopecia
  • Heavy or irregular menstruation
  • Anemia
  • Slow digestive functions
  • Slow resting heart rate
  • Brain fog
  • Slow speech
  • Cold intolerance
  • Muscle aches 
  • Joint pain
  • Constipation due to slow peristalsis
  • Depression
  • Hot flashes
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Hyporeflexia (reduction or absence of normal bodily reflexes – tested with a reflex hammer)
  • Water retention
  • Facial swelling

Chronic hypothyroidism increases total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentrations, which increase cardiovascular diseases. A T3 blood test will confirm a low level of T3 if you have hypothyroidism.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your TSH is low, and your T3 and T4 are high.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism include:

  • Weight loss
  • Tremors 
  • Decrease in muscle strength
  • Anxiety
  • Eye bulging
  • Fatigue
  • Frequent bowel movements
  • Increased heart rate
  • Restless legs syndrome
  • Low tolerance for heat

A T3 test will show high levels of T3.

Men’s Health: Symptoms of Thyroid Issues

The symptoms for men’s thyroid health issues include most of the above, but I am repeating some, just in case you came here directly. It would be multiple symptoms, not just one or two. I advise having a thyroid test if you have any concerns.

  • Decreased muscle mass – no matter what you do, your muscles are not building
  • Muscular skeletal symptoms – weakness, cramps and aches
  • Elevated testosterone
  • Decreased body temperature
  • Low libido
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Hair changes – baldness, bald spots, thinning, coarse…
  • Body composition changes – sudden weight gain
  • Skin changes – dry, itchy, pale…
  • Constipation – slow peristalsis
  • Heart palpitations
  • Tremors
  • Depression
  • Fatigue

Some Causes of Impaired Thyroid Function

  • Lifestyle significantly influences thyroid function and the development of thyroid conditions.
  • Gut dysbiosis, as mentioned above.
  • Stress – causes gut dysbiosis.
  • Chronic prolonged stress – undealt with, leads to metabolic stress and a multitude of issues where inflammation rises, and neuro, endocrine, and immune imbalances occur. Chronic inflammatory conditions develop, blood pressure increases, and, of course, thyroid and hormone imbalances.
  • Chronic inflammatory conditions – like obesity, for instance. Thyroid cancer risk and impaired thyroid function can occur with obesity.
  • Autoimmune conditions – like Hashimoto’s disease, Diabetes, vitiligo, and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Sleep duration – too little and too much!
  • Lack of nutrition.
  • Iron-deficient anemia.
  • Allergies – where the immune system becomes hypersensitive and attacks thyroid tissue by mistake.
  • Physical activity – too little and too much!
  • Drugs and medications, and more!

Members: you will be doing the absolute best for your thyroid health by following this optimum healthy lifestyle and keeping inflammation and stress at bay with the array of motivational stress management strategies on the platform.

If you have a thyroid condition, follow the specialized thyroid healing advice on what to avoid and what to do to optimize thyroid health in the Personalized Advice.

Also, access the Masterclass Lives to access all of the ones that you missed, and look out for the reminders in your inbox!

Detox Your Liver For Thyroid Health

The liver plays a crucial role in thyroid health because the conversion of T4 to T3 mostly takes place there.

A well-functioning liver will assist your thyroid health because it plays a vital role in thyroid hormone activation, inactivation, transport, and metabolism.

A less-than-optimum liver is overtaxed by medication, lifestyle, food, drinks, alcohol, and stress, and it will not perform its duties like lipolysis (fat burning).

Liver diseases are frequently associated with thyroid test abnormalities and dysfunctions, but you can’t always detect thyroid issues yourself.

Indeed, if you have any signs like a lump around the thyroid, get it checked out. They are ubiquitous; only 5 out of 100 lumps are cancerous, and thyroid cancer treatment has a high success rate, so don’t worry, but get it checked out as soon as possible.

So, to give your mind and body a good start to the year, check on your thyroid health and keep an eye on it.

Health can soon go off-kilter without us realizing it. Inflammation rising, sustained, leaves your body vulnerable to diseases and ‘switches on’ genetics. Unbalanced gut microbiota really can slow your thyroid and your whole system down.

How to Improve Thyroid Health

If you are looking for a thyroid ‘diet’ to manage your thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism, alongside your medication, in the very best way, for optimum health, you have landed in the right place but got more than you expected (a complete lifestyle change is essential).

Implementing an inflammation-lowering lifestyle with good nutrition and specialized thyroid advice with motivational guidance daily over a long-term period will ensure your success.

You will have good thyroid health, metabolism, reduced adiposity with balanced gut microbiota, a supported liver, a strong immune system, and improved mental well-being. To say the least!

Investing in your health is always worth it, and aging beautifully without health issues is possible!

Health isn’t something we can outsource, and trusted health education is the most powerful tool.

For long-term adherence, and inspiration, an optimum healthy lifestyle has to be thoroughly enjoyable and not restrictive, nor have you feel guilty when you don’t stick to it 100%. You have to live, and you have to love to live!

It’s all about damage limitation! Not perfection.

For continued motivation, results must be seen and felt early for people to realize its power.

When excellent results continue, and you feel in the best health, you don’t look back.

I hope that you have an amazing new year!

 

 

 

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What Kills Candida Overgrowth, Fast?

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NSAIDS, Gut Health & Inflammation

January 09, 2023

How To Get Rid of Chronic Inflammation

My Interview With Mo Gawdat: We Are all Inflamed!

I really enjoyed my chat with Mo Gawdat, about why and when I changed my career, my research in health, all about healing non-communicable diseases, why you need to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle that still allows pleasure, and so much more. It was so much fun!

You can watch it here:

You can hear more inspirational health advice and stories from my wonderful guests on the podcasts page and listen/read some more of my interviews here:

How to Reduce Chronic Inflammation

Putting My Autoimmune Diseases into Remission

Healing My Ulcerative Colitis & Rare Blood Disorder

Secrets for Good Health

I wish you a lovely day!

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What Kills Candida Overgrowth, Fast?

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NSAIDS, Gut Health & Inflammation

February 15, 2022

Why I Use Collagen

How Collagen Compliments the EBS Lifestyle

It takes one person in the public eye to be linked to a product’s worthiness, and  everyone is scrambling to find out more.

Some crazes get taken out of context and are rather extreme. They soon fall by the wayside (thankfully), but taking collagen powder is sticking around – and for a good reason.

In this article, I am going to tell you the reasons why I personally love and use collagen.

Discovering Collagen

Is Collagen Good for Autoimmune Diseases?

What Is Collagen?

Why Do We Need to Take Collagen?

What Is Hydrolyzed Collagen Powder?

The Benefits of Collagen?

What Shall I Look For When Buying Collagen?

Is Collagen Worth the Hype?

What Helps Collagen Absorption?

Discovering Collagen

Before I qualified as a Naturopathic Nutritionist in 2021, I studied health and nutrition (and continue to) for over ten years to find a solution for a couple of “incurable” auto-immune conditions I was suffering from.

My primary focus was to get healthier, enjoy my life, and stop spending time in various hospitals. My research into preventing, reducing, and managing inflammation in the body is why Eat Burn Sleep exists.

Of course, I enjoy sharing what I discover – and one of the amazing products I found along the way was indeed collagen during this journey of healing my autoimmune diseases.

Is Collagen Good for Autoimmune Diseases?

I suffer from Ulcerative Colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease (it’s like IBS on speed!). When people suffer from autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, food intolerances, inflammatory bowel diseases, and so on, the origin is leaky gut syndrome.

The one thing about leaky gut syndrome is that the gut should be completely sealed. No particles should go into the blood. When the gut lining is not sealed and ‘leaky’, particles go into the bloodstream. This is what causes lots of problems in the body.

So, during my healing process, I tried glutamine without much success – and then my Naturopath suggested collagen protein powder.

I have listed the benefits of how collagen has complimented my anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle below, but in brief, collagen reseals and rebuilds the gut lining.

Collagen is suitable for inside and outside your body; it began my recovery (but not by itself). If you have just joined the platform, Members, get started on the most powerful, long-lasting health reset here.

I used to be intolerant to most foods, and then through rebuilding my gut, and resetting my health, I could eat something other than chicken soup and broth! Amazing!

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, keeping it all together like a scaffold. It is formed by amino acids linking together to form fibrils, which are long, thin, supporting fibers – and are located in your muscles, your bones, skin, and connective tissues.

There are four types of collagen:

  • 1. The most abundant, representing 90% of total collagen in the body, is found in bones, teeth, skin, fibrocartilage, blood vessels, and connective tissue.
  • 2. Cartilaginous tissues which cushion joints
  • 3. Muscles, internal organs, and arteries
  • 4. Skin – fibroblasts (cells) form in the middle of the skin, where dead cells are restored and replaced, and new cells grow.

 

Why Do We Need to Take Collagen?

Natural collagen (endogenous collagen), synthesized by the body, breaks down as we age and are exposed to external and internal toxins like UV rays, pollution, smoking, and unhealthy diets. Depletion causes many issues in the body, like cartilage weakening and aging.

This is why collagen from outside sources (exogenous) comes in handy!

What Is Hydrolyzed Collagen Powder?

Hydrolyzed collagen powder is 100% pure protein powder constituted of amino acids broken down into smaller units.

It is popular because this process makes it easier to dissolve and add to shakes, tea, soups, etc. I sometimes add a tablespoon to my green tea in the morning.

It is the equivalent of bone broth in powder form.

The Benefits of Collagen

The immediate benefit of taking collagen for me was a reduction in my symptoms, which meant the collagen powder did help rebuild my gut lining initially. This may seem irrelevant to you, but it isn’t.

Your gut is the MOST IMPORTANT organ when it comes to overall health.

A healthy gut lining will stop you from having leaky gut syndrome, which is the source of many ailments – from food intolerances to auto-immune issues.

The second collagen benefit, combined with nutrient-rich foods and a healthy gut, was for my hair, skin, and nails. I noticed that my skin became plumper, more elastic, and more hydrated.

My fine lines reduced significantly. I am 44 years old, and people often compliment my skin. There might be a genetic element to it, but I am convinced my low inflammation lifestyle has much to do with it!

Collagen protein is definitely one of my best beauty products, but you can’t take it alone and expect miracles if your lifestyle is unhealthy!

I have never had any botox, fillers, or treatments done to my face. I only use natural products and feed myself on the anti-inflammatory diet I developed. You may want to read my article: Eating for Glowing Skin: Secrets Revealed!

My hair also got thicker and shinier, and my nails stronger.

The third collagen benefit I found was that it maximizes the benefits of a workout and plays a good part in any sports performance and recovery program. Again, it maximizes workout benefits because my body is less inflamed!

A protein shake made with collagen and cacao, which is so good for gut health.

I recommend my pre or post-workout shake, which builds and effectively repairs muscles and cartilage. (Because it is potassium-rich, I also recommend that shake for replenishing the body when you feel hungover!).

Regularly adding collagen powder to any of my anti-inflammatory smoothie recipes will improve your gut’s health.

Medical professionals use collagen in a plethora of methods to repair tissues.

It is to be noted that taking collagen powder alone does not cancel out harmful foods or an unhealthy lifestyle. You don’t want to waste money because good collagen powder is not inexpensive. 

In conjunction with a diet that is rich in compounds that heal the gut and with an anti-inflammatory lifestyle guide, it works beautifully. I state this because sometimes non-members wonder why it isn’t working as claimed.

What Shall I Look For When Buying Collagen?

You can find many brands and types of collagen online. I advise avoiding expensive supplements in tablet form or flavored versions.

Go for grass-fed pasture hydrolyzed collagen.

For an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle, we avoid substances that cause inflammation. It is the same with animals. If they are eating grains, then this will be collagen that will cause inflammation.

When an animal eats grass rather than grains, this will allow you to consume a product higher in Omega-3s (the good omegas that lower inflammation) and lower in Omega-6s (the bad guys which cause inflammation). You may want to read: Do We All Need Omega-3?

Check for third-party certification, too, from a credible group. I have listed the one that I use on my Yalda Loves page.

We are constantly adding lifestyle products to help with gut health and chronic inflammation to Yalda Loves. You will find many products there that will assist with living a happy, healthy anti-inflammatory lifestyle.

Is Collagen Worth the Hype?

When combined with a gut-healing diet and lifestyle, I am confident that collagen powder is worth the hype.

This is based on my experience over several years and feedback from members complimenting its effectiveness while following Eat Burn Sleep.

Maximum benefits are seen and felt in conjunction with a gut-healing diet and lifestyle. Full absorption occurs when the body is healthier.

What Helps Collagen Absorption?

Collagen compliments the anti-inflammation program, and I must reiterate that collagen alone cannot heal conditions.

Eating the right compounds in conjunction with collagen powder is essential in foods, as much as it is to avoid certain substances found in food – to maximize absorption.

Considering the properties of ingredients, the presence of some substances can cancel the good compounds’ quality and may impede absorption.

Certain compounds, for instance, are abundant in the Eat Burn Sleep recipes; substances that protect the body, which will aid collagen present in the body to get on with its job!

Eat the right foods to heal your body, feed your microbiota, manage inflammation, and protect your body from damage. 

I enjoy creating new recipes developed with healing at the top of my mind!

As you can imagine, it is music to my ears to hear the life-changing success stories from members and how my recipes nurture and delight. There are over 260 anti-inflammatory recipes now (many contain collagen-rich ingredients) on the Eat Burn Sleep program.

Enjoy this collagen-rich Oxtail recipe that is easy to digest and popular—comfort and healing in a bowl.

Coconut & Collagen Chia Pudding will surely delight your tastebuds!

You may also enjoy my collagen shake recipe, which I am drinking here:

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Yalda Alaoui

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