There is a popular new fad called a liver gallbladder cleanse that people on social media are raving about. Seems too good to be true, eh? Before you jump to do the gallbladder flush, I wanted to bring a few things to your attention. First of all, since you are not currently experiencing gallbladder symptoms, what is your primary driver to do the cleanse? Symptoms would include severe right upper quadrant pain, sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting after eating for 1-4 hours. Second of all, there use of the gallbladder flush is not backed by sound scientific evidence, it is mostly anecdotal. “Analysis of one group of passed “gallstones” revealed they consisted of 75-percent fatty acids and contained no cholesterol, bilirubin, or calcium. Further experimentation suggested the spheroids were ‘soap stones’, created by the interaction of digestive enzymes with certain components of olive oil and lemon juice” (Gaby, 2009). There are also complications associated with this method, if it really does mobilize gallstones. It may cause the stones to become trapped in the common bile duct, leading to a life- threatening medical emergency!
The good news is, gallstones are very common in Western populations. And evidence indicates that the risk can be reduced by implementing some simple lifestyle changes such as maintaining an idea body weight and consuming a healthy diet.
About 80% of these stones contain cholesterol, and the remaining 20% are pigment stones. There are also varying amounts of calcium salts, bile acids, and other components. Gallstone formation is called cholelithiasis and it can result from a combination of multiple factors, including supersaturation of bile with cholesterol and impaired gallbladder emptying. There are many reasons for this, so first, determine if any of these are a risk factor:
- Obesity / weight loss– obesity is associated with an increased risk of gallstones and weight loss may reduce the risk of gallstone formation if you are overweight. However, try to also avoid rapid weight loss, as it can promote the development of gallstones. Slow and steady
- Food allergy- do you have any known food allergies? Food allergy can be a common cause of gallbladder disease, and failure to recognize food allergies has resulted in many unnecessary surgeries. Perhaps a period on the Elimination diet is a better alternative to this cleanse. Food allergies are associated with an inflammatory response (allergic cholecystitis) as well as delayed gallbladder emptying, known to participate in gallstone formation. The risk of this is higher in celiac disease (Gaby, 2009).
- Are you eating a diet that is high in saturated fat but low in polyunsaturated fat? In observational studies, higher intake of saturated fat or trans fatty acids was associated with an increased incidence of gallstones (Gaby, 2009). In a few studies, patients who supplement with a therapeutic dose of fish oil are able to decrease cholesterol saturation of bile by 25%.
- Are you consuming too much refined sugar? Observational studies in humans have found that higher intake of refined sugars such as sucrose and fructose is associated with a higher frequency of gallstones (Gaby, 2009).
- Do you have low stomach acid? Low stomach acid is common among individuals with gallbladder formation, occurring in 52% of patients in one study (Gaby, 2009). The low stomach acid could be responsible for some of the nonspecific symptoms associated width belching, bloating, abdominal pain, and nausea. Supplementing with HCL (with pepsin) can help resolve some of these symptoms.
Rather than doing the cleanse, here are some suggestions you my want to try first.
- Eat more vegetables and less meat– In a 20-year prospective study of 80,898 women found that increased consumption of vegetable protein was associated with a decreased risk of having a cholecystectomy
- Increase your fiber– there is evidence that a high fiber diet is associated with a reduce risk of gallstone formation. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and consider a fiber supplement if needed.
- Some nutritional supplements are associated with preventing the formation of gallstones, such as Vitamin C, Iron, and lecithin. Are you low in these nutrients? If so, you may want to increase the consumption of foods higher in vitamin C (citrus fruits, kiwi), iron (grass fed beef, lentils), lecithin (organ meats, eggs, seafood, brussels sprouts, broccoli, soybeans).
- If you do become symptomatic, there is a product called Rowachol which is an herbal oil preparation of six plant monoterpenes that has been on the market for over 50 years, that has been promoted as an agent with choleretic properties, inhibiting cholesterol crystallization in bile. It also can enhance the solubility of human T-tube and gall bladder bile. Improved effectiveness is observed when the agent is used in conjunction with ursodeoxycholic acid or chenodeoxycholic acid (Doran et al, 1979). Rowachol is given at a dosage of three capsules per day, alone or in combination with chenodeoxycholic acid or ursodeoxycholic acid (Gaby, 2009). It contains menthol (32%), menthone (6%), pinene (17%), borneol (5%), camphene (5%) cineol (2%), and base of olive oil (33%).
To learn more about healing form IC naturally, please visit our website: https://ichealer.com If you are looking for self healing, we recently launched our Self Healing IC Course featuring 10 hours of video designed to help you discover your root cause. Once you know your root cause, you can start your healing journey. To find out more information about our exciting new course, please find the information below:
Here is the link to preview the course: https://ichealer.com/online-course/
Here is the Podia Course Page: https://ichealer.podia.com/course
The first module is totally FREE. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. For more insightful videos on these burning topics, simply subscribe to this page so you can be notified of up to date information.
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References
Doran, J., Keighley, M. R., & Bell, G. D. (1979). Rowachol–a possible treatment for cholesterol gallstones. Gut, 20(4), 312–317. doi:10.1136/gut.20.4.312
Gaby, A. R. (2009). Nutritional approaches to prevention and treatment of gallstones. Altern Med Rev, 14(3), 258-267.
For this blog, I wanted to explore PCOS and insulin resistance (IR). I was intrigued for a various set of reasons. I have a good friend with PCOS and may of the complications associated with it, including significant immune and metabolic issues. In addition, with launching of the weight loss app (Diet Achiever), I am certain there will be a good percentage of the folks who are struggling with their weight as a result of PCOS. This will be written in a blog format with the hopes of sharing this in the future.
What
is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormonal condition that is often associated with irregular menstrual
cycles, fertility difficulties, excess male hormone levels and small follicles
on the ovaries (Galan, 2019). Common
symptoms include weight gain (particularly around the belly), acne, hirsutism
(male pattern of facial hair), skin tags, and higher risk of miscarriage
(Glenville, 2012). Cysts are the classic
sign of PCOS. According to Glenville
(2012), to be diagnosed as PCOS 2 of the 3 criteria below have to be met:
- Infrequent or no ovulation
- Signs of hirsutism or acne or blood tests that indicate high male hormones
- Polycystic ovaries seen on ultrasound
Other characteristics include abnormal blood markers such as elevated LH, low FSH, elevated estrogen, low sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and elevated androgens (Glenville, 2012). Dyslipidemia is often common too, such as elevated triglycerides, cholesterol, and low HDL/LDL ratios (Marshall & Dunaif, 2012).
Additionally, many patients also have insulin resistance (IR), often seen with elevated fasting insulin and fasting glucose. In fact, the increased insulin promotes the liver to produce less SHBG, which lead to elevated estrogen and androgens. About 44-70% of women with PCOS also have IR, which can be a risk factor for pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and metabolic syndrome (Bailey et. al, 2019). Insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance are key drivers in the pathogenesis of PCOS. The hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, an increased oxidative stress all contribute to the onset of this condition (Bailey et al, 2019). “In fact, insulin resistance may actually be the root of one’s PCOS, playing a role in causing the condition in the first place, as well as exacerbating its symptoms” (Galan, 2019). Elevated insulin levels may also be a contributing factor to inflammation and other metabolic complications associated with PCOS. Inflammation can impair insulin action and glucose tolerance, and could be one of the links between hyperandrogenism, IR and abdominal obesity with PCOS (Bailey et al, 2012). This is often seen with elevated inflammatory markers such as CRP, IL-6, WBC, and TNF-a. Some experts suggest that the obesity associated with IR may promote the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to produce excessive androgens that then lead to PCOS. Other risk factors associated with the IR include depression, infertility and miscarriage (Galan, 2019).
Although hyperinsulinemia is common in PCOS, it is
unclear if this is due to excessive insulin secretion or decreased insulin
clearance or both (Phy et al., 2015).
“Persistently elevated
insulin levels, immaterial of its origin, can result in insensitivity of its
target cells over time, which further exacerbates hyperinsulinemia and
increases the potential for beta cell dysfunction” (Phy et al., 2015). Individuals with IR have a reduced ability to
oxidize fatty acids because of elevated insulin levels, leading to tissue
accumulation of triglycerides in skeletal muscle and further impaired insulin
signaling. The elevated insulin then
decreases expression of LPL (lipoprotein lipase) in skeletal muscle and increases
expression in fat cells, which drives lipolysis in the adipocyte, leading to
higher levels of circulating fatty acids that further impair insulin signaling
and lipid oxidation in skeletal muscle, leading to more weight gain and further
metabolic dysfunction (Phy et al., 2015). It appears to be the perfect storm.
Screening for PCOS would include testing the bloodwork for some of the abnormalities listed above. However, according to Bailey at al (2012), post-prandial dysglycemia are often more prevalent than fasting glucose in PCOS as compared diabetes. It may be a good idea to ask the physician to run an oral glucose tolerance test, as it is believed to be more relevant in terms of identifying risk for developing prediabetes or T2D in women with PCOS (Bailey et al, 2012).
What can be done?
According to Marshall and Dunaif (2012), all women with PCOS should be treated for IR (Marshall & Dunaif, 2012). Options for treating IR include lifestyle modifications, exercise, dieting and weight loss or targeted medications or supplementation. “. Given the high prevalence of obesity in women with PCOS, efforts to achieve weight reduction are an important component of treatment of the disorder” (Marshall & Dunaif, 2012). Weight loss alone has been, when undertaken with diet and exercise interventions, have been shown to reduce hyperandrogenism, increase ovulation, and improve metabolic function.
Because women with PCOS are naturally more insulin resistant, it makes losing weight and maintaining a healthy BMI more challenging. Activities that raise blood sugar should be avoided. These include living a sedentary lifestyle, eating a diet high in refined sugars and carbohydrates, and leading a high stressful lifestyle. In addition, using products with endocrine disrupting chemicals such as BPA and parabens should be avoided, as they interfere with the body’s ability to regulate hormones and can add fuel to the fire.
Dietary Strategy
The dietary strategy I have seen in literature that works best is a low glycemic, lower carbohydrate diet. Although many places are promoting a ketogenic diet, I am not convinced that this is the right approach. I have blogged about this in the past, but in a nutshell, literature indicates that a high fat diet can be problematic in context of intestinal permeability. The macronutrient ratio of a true ketogenic diet is typically 70-80 fat, 20-25% protein and 5-10% carbohydrates. A high fat diet can be problematic if the patient also has leaky gut. This is due to saturated fat’s link to endotoxemia, which can contribute to low grade inflammation which can dysregulate the “inflammatory tone” and contribute to hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and whole body, liver and adipose tissue weight gain! (That sounds a bit like the characteristics of PCOS)! The more endotoxins create more inflammation, more inflammation and insulin resistance, and immune dysregulation (High Intensity Health, 2017). LPS can bind to receptors of many cell types, but particularly has an affinity for monocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages and B cells (Fulop, 2018). As I said in my previous blog, the problem is not the fat per se, but the type of fat. In 2013, Mani et al demonstrated that meals rich in saturated fat such as coconut oil can increase postprandial endotoxin level concentrations, while meals high in omega-3 PUFA fish oil lowered endotoxins. According to a few studies I read, oils rich in DHA and EPA (fish oil, cod liver oil, algae oil) can attenuate LPS transport, while oils higher in saturated fats (coconut oil, palm oil, animal fats) can increase transport. In addition, a ketogenic diet is a difficult diet to adhere to long term and often results in lack of compliance. In addition, a true ketogenic diet would consist of 30g of total carbohydrates or less, and would typically be low in fiber. Since dietary fiber consists of prebiotics essential for a healthy microbiome, I am really cautious when advising on ketogenic dieting. It also may not be necessary to go that extreme with PCOS.
Patients with IR can benefit from a low insulin promoting diet without having to go full ketogenic. Studies have shown that diet-induced hyperinsulinemia via the consumption of a high glycemic/high insulinemic diet promotes obesity, insulin resistance, increased carbohydrate cravings and decreased fat utilization. Total carbohydrate intake of 100g per day can safely improve insulin resistance without contributing to some of the complications that may occur with a true ketogenic diet. In fact, a study in 2015 indicated that a diet of low starch/dairy can result in successful treatment of obesity and co-morbidities linked to PCOS. The study demonstrated that an 8-week low starch/low dairy diet resulted in weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and reduced free and total testosterone in women with PCOS. These were just the results of dietary interventions alone without exercise! The women in the current study showed a significant reduction in body weight, body fat percentage and waist circumference, which could be attributed to the relatively low energy and/or carbohydrate intake. (Phy et al., 2015).
A low insulin promoting diet would be high in fiber and low in simple sugars and starch/dairy. High fiber foods can be beneficial for satiety, motility and also contains polyphenols that are important for cell to cell communication. Aim for about 30g of fiber per day.
The best fiber sources for low insulin PCOS diets include:
- Avocado
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Asparagus
- Bell peppers
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Dark, leafy greens (like kale, arugula and spinach)
Lignans are also a type of fiber that may lower androgens and insulin levels while boosting SHBG which are needed to help clear some of the excess estrogen and androgens associated with PCOS. Things such as flax seeds, sesame seeds, berries and broccoli.
Dr. Glenville gave some good dietary strategies that can be considered:
- Inclusion of omega-3 fatty acids- as EPA and DHA have demonstrated to show increase in cell membrane responsiveness to insulin. In addition, omega-3 fats are anti-inflammatory driven and can inhibit inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-a. However, some omega-6 in the form of ghee is helpful for the production of butyrate for optimal GI function, so careful balance of omega 3 and omega 6 should be planned in the intervention
- Avoid dairy due to its insulin promoting effects
- Cut out alcohol as it impairs phase 1 and phase 2 liver detoxification pathways, needed to metabolize estrogen and testosterone
- Reduce or avoid caffeine due to its cortisol promoting effects
- Supplement
with vitamins and minerals (if deficient) (Glenville, 2012)
- Chromium- improves insulin sensitivity
- Magnesium- magnesium deficiency is linked to IR
- Vitamin D- deficiency can be associated with inflammation and IR.
- Vitamin E- can improve insulin sensitivity via improving membrane fluidity of cell membranes.
- Vitamin C- can improve fat metabolism during exercise (up to 300%) and also acts as a potent antioxidant. Vitamin C deficiency can also trigger higher levels of cortisol.
- Zinc- can help the body cope with stress and appetite.
- Alpha lipoic acid- contributes to improved insulin sensitivity but also is a pretty good heavy metal chelator
- B vitamins- are required for energy production and the ability to cope with stress.
- Amino acids- BCAA’s can help counteract high levels of cortisol and blood sugar, arginine helps with stress responses, carnitine is involved in fat burning and energy production, NAC improves insulin sensitivity and is a precursor to glutathione (antioxidant), glutamine is needed when under stress and also can nourish the intestinal epithelial cells and tyrosine can suppress appetite and burn fat.
Finally I wanted to mention the use of inositol that a classmate brought to my attention. Myo (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI), the most studied inositol isoforms, are classified as insulin sensitizers. In form of glycans, DCI-phosphoglycan and MI-phosphoglycan control key enzymes were involved in glucose and lipid metabolism (Lagana et al, 2016). Considering the key role played by insulin-resistance and androgen excess in PCOS patients, the insulin-sensitizing effects of both MI and DCI were tested in order to ameliorate symptoms and signs of this syndrome, including the possibility to restore patients’ fertility. Interestingly, both isoforms of inositol are effective in improving ovarian function and metabolism in patients with PCOS, although MI showed the most marked effect on the metabolic profile, whereas DCI reduced hyperandrogenism better. “Consistent with these findings, restoring inositols levels with oral supplementations ameliorates insulin-resistance, hyperandrogenism, regularity of menstrual cycles, and oocyte quality in patients with PCOS (Lagana et al, 2016). The authors of the study propose a “tailored” dosage, based on the pretreatment conditions, which may allow clinicians to improve the current knowledge about long-term outcomes in this population.
Exercise
As a fitness instructor, I cannot forget about exercise. Exercise has multiple benefits from physiological changes to improvement in moods. Exercise also has a strong influence on the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Gleeson et al., 2011). In fact, there is a strong relationship to BMI that may indicate that the decrease in inflammatory molecules may be related to decrease in visceral fat. Additionally, physical activity may further mitigate inflammation by improving endothelial function, increasing insulin sensitivity, enhancing liver health and increasing blood vessel growth and blood flow.
There are many types of exercise protocols/prescriptions. The one that I use often is called Metabolic Training. It consists of steady state cardio (typically in aerobic or dance format) with some weight training in either Tabata or some type of timed format. I typically use Rest-Based Training (RBT), which has become popular through one of my mentors Jade Teta. His philosophy is to “push till you can’t, rest till you can”. According to Teta (2017):
RBT is a system that makes rest, not work, the primary goal of the workout. It allows participants to take a rest for as long as necessary. Rest actually becomes a tool for increasing intensity, because exercisers can strategically use it to work harder than they could without rest. It also provides a buffer against overexertion, making even high-intensity workouts safe. In RBT, the protocol adapts to the individual rather than forcing the individual to adjust to it. I have found this style of exercise has been the most beneficial to improve insulin sensitivity, increase lean body mass, and improve neurological function as well. Compared to a sedentary lifestyle, aerobic exercise had the greatest effect on AHN (adult hippocampal neurogenesis), and high intensity interval training promotes neuroplasticity (Nokia et al., 2016). Conducting the exercise on an empty stomach either after an overnight fast or 3-4 hours after a meal may improve insulin sensitivity.
Intermittent Fasting
I also wanted to mention, although it was not in the literature presented in this module, but intermittent fasting (IF) may be a good intervention for IR (Arnason, Bowen, & Mansell, 2017). In an interesting pilot study in 2017 demonstrated that short term, daily IF may be a safe and tolerable intervention that may improve key outcomes including body weight, fasting glucose and postprandial variability in glucose. The IF that was discussed in this pilot study involved limiting food intake into a single 4 to 8h period daily, or fasting for 16 to 20 hours. This may need to be implemented in phases to prevent reactive hypoglycemia, so starting with a 12-hour fast is best, followed by adding 1 hour intervals of fasting periodically within the comfort level of the person. Another strategy I have used myself is to fast for 20-24 hours one day weach week and fast 12 hours on the other days. So essentially, I only eat 6 days per week. I have also conducted a full 5 and 8-day water fast that had many interesting health outcomes, but I will save that for another blog!
Another style of fasting I thought was interesting for people with adrenal dysfunction is “Bulletproof intermittent fasting”. It involves using Bulletproof coffee beans in the morning with either grass-fed butter or Brain Octane oil for breakfast, no carbs or protein. You can consume this several times until you break the fast, as it will not promote insulin secretion while still getting fasting benefits without the downsides of fasting. I would recommend sticking to decaf coffee since caffeine can sometimes be hard on the adrenals.
Here is the recipe for the Bullet Proof Coffee that can consumed during fasting
To learn more about healing form IC naturally, please visit our website: https://ichealer.com If you are looking for self healing, we recently launched our Self Healing IC Course featuring 10 hours of video designed to help you discover your root cause. Once you know your root cause, you can start your healing journey. To find out more information about our exciting new course, please find the information below:
Here is the link to preview the course: https://ichealer.com/online-course/
Here is the Podia Course Page: https://ichealer.podia.com/course
The first module is totally FREE. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. For more insightful videos on these burning topics, simply subscribe to this page so you can be notified of up to date information.
Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IC-Healer-103255207780907/
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References
Arnason, T. G., Bowen, M. W., & Mansell, K. D. (2017). Effects of intermittent fasting on health markers in those with type 2 diabetes: A pilot study. World J Diabetes, 8(4), 154-164. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i4.154
Bailey, B; Phinney, S, Volek, J. (2019). Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Insulin Resistance and Inflammation. Retrieved (2019, February 2) from https://blog.virtahealth.com/pcos-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome/
Fulop, J. (2018). High-Saturated Fat Increases Endotoxemia. Retrieved (2018, November 24) from https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2018-07/high-saturated-fat-diet-increases-endotoxemia High Intensity Health (2017). Gut Health & Keto Diets- Endotoxemia and Bacterial Diversity w/ Tommy Wood, MD PhD. Retrieved (2018, November 24) from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K2pmc4SKCU
Gleeson, M., Bishop, N. C., Stensel, D. J., Lindley, M. R., Mastana, S. S., & Nimmo, M. A. (2011). The anti-inflammatory effects of exercise: mechanisms and implications for the prevention and treatment of disease. Nat Rev Immunol, 11(9), 607-615. doi:10.1038/nri3041
Lagana, A. S., Rossetti, P., Buscema, M., La Vignera, S., Condorelli, R. A., Gullo, G., . . . Triolo, O. (2016). Metabolism and Ovarian Function in PCOS Women: A Therapeutic Approach with Inositols. Int J Endocrinol, 2016, 6306410. doi:10.1155/2016/6306410
Marshall, J. C., & Dunaif, A. (2012). Should all women with PCOS be treated for insulin resistance? Fertil Steril, 97(1), 18-22. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.11.036
Phy, J. L., Pohlmeier, A. M., Cooper, J. A., Watkins, P., Spallholz, J., Harris, K. S., . . . Boylan, M. (2015). Low Starch/Low Dairy Diet Results in Successful Treatment of Obesity and Co-Morbidities Linked to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). J Obes Weight Loss Ther, 5(2). doi:10.4172/2165-7904.1000259
Sperlazza, C. (n.d.) Reverse Insulin Resistance with Intermittent Fasting. Retrieved (2019, February 11) from https://blog.bulletproof.com/insulin-resistance/
Teta, J. (2011). Rest-Based Training. Retrieved (2018, October 8) from http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/rest-based-training
To purchase pH structured silver click here
I love to talk about things that are different than the conventional world.
I am here to talk about the benefits of Silver. As you know your body will heal itself if you give it the tools and silver is one of the tools that I use to give the body its ability to heal.
Silver destroys bacteria, yeast, mold and parasites. There is no antibiotic that can come close to that.
If you take 650 bacteria of bacteria that cause diseases and you put a broad spectrum bacteria like cipro,
And you put it in a petry dish, you know it only kills 22 out of the 650.
That’s pathetic? What happens to the other pathogens? Well, that is probably why you are here listening to this
This silver series is about Women’s issues. I have been following Dr. Gordon Pederson, the silver man. He is a naturophatic doctor with a PhD from the Toxicity program at Utah state. He is super knowledgeable and trust worthy.
He has education on silver and he particularly focuses on women. I have put a link below of his book below
I highly recommend you purchase it if you are interested in silver.
Why do I focus on women for this series? Well first, I am a woman.
Second, it is often an area that is overlooked in traditional medicine.
Silver is a women’s best friend. It destroys bacteria and yeast. It also destroys sexually transmitted diseases.
This blog series is a 3 part series on the benefits of silver relevant to women’s health. So let’s begin part 1.
The Need for Cleansing
Here is something that is not often discussed. The need for cleansing. Nobody talks about this. We clean our teeth. Some of us even do colon cleanses. But what nobody talks about is cleaning the female parts. The vaginal cavity is warm, moist cavity, and makes it the ideal place for the growth of bacteria, yeast and viruses. Problems can arise from poor hygiene, contamination, hormonal issues or genetics.
If you have pain, itchiness, foul odor, redness, swelling, cramps or abnormal bleeding, you have a problem. All of these situations respond to vaginal cleansing. Silver can destroy all the causes of vaginal problems whether it is bacterial, viral or fungal. The need for improved vaginal hygiene is evident when you research the sexually transmitted diseases, yeast infections and occurrence of viral infections that cause cancer of the uterus and cervix.
Structured Silver kills germs. These germs may be living in the pores (causing acne), in the vagina (causing a vaginal infection), in an eye (causing pinkeye), in the digestive tract (causing gas or a serious health problem), in a wound (obstructing healing or causing scarring), around a piercing (causing infection), on the cuticles (causing inflamed hangnails), on the lips (causing cold sores), in the bladder (causing bladder infection), on the toenails (causing odor or unsightly infections), etc.
Regardless of where they are growing, the problem is the same: germs are growing and disrupting your health.
If you can name an affected spot in or on your body and you can get silver into contact with germs that a growing there, that is where silver can help you.
If you keep silver in contact with the germs for six minutes, these germs will no longer be able to cause you health problems.
Silver IS the broad spectrum antimicrobial that:
Destroys pathogenic bacteria
Inhibits viral replication
Destroys many fungi, yeasts and protozoa
Structured Silver even kills antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA.
Some bacterial infections no longer respond to any drugs and problem is getting worse. However, due to the fact that Structured Silver kills bacteria differently than traditional antibiotics, it kills resistant and non-resistant bacteria alike.
Structured silver is remarkably safe. It can be used internally in any orifice of the body-vagina, bladder,ears, eyes
If taken internally, it selectively kills pathogenic bacteria while leaving healthy bacteria (probiotics) unharmed. The way this selection happens is similar to the way probiotics are able to survive within the harsh environment of the stomach and digestive tract.
Additionally, silver is already being used in hospitals, space shuttles, washing machines, water filters and many other settings for its ability to control unwanted microbes.
Yet it is so safe and non-toxic that it would take a spill of over 12 million gallons of 10 ppm silver before the EPA would consider it a reportable spill.
Silver is great for prevention- as little as 2 tsp per day is recommended for general use. And yes, this includes UTI’s
Unlike conventional antibiotics, which are only available by prescription and are typically not recommended for long-term use, Structured Silver is able to combat pathogens without creating resistance.
Silver passes through the body unmetabolized- which we will talk about later.
The result is that Structured Silver is just as effective at disinfecting when it is leaving the body (killing the germs that cause bladder infections and urinary tract infections) as it was when it was swished in the mouth several hours earlier (killing the germs that cause gum disease, bad breath, cold sores, etc.)
In between drinking and excretion, it will have been equally effective while circulating through the bloodstream (killing pathogens wherever the blood flows) or traveling through the digestive tract (killing pathogens like E. coli or Salmonella a person may have swallowed at lunchtime.)
For women who experience frequent bladder and urinary tract infections, this is welcome news. As urine gathers in the bladder and is excreted, the same silver that eliminated germs throughout the body will disinfect these organs as well. In the next blog, I am going to talk about a very unique characteristic of silver
To purchase pH structured silver click here
To learn more about healing form IC naturally, please visit our website: https://ichealer.com If you are looking for self healing, we recently launched our Self Healing IC Course featuring 10 hours of video designed to help you discover your root cause. Once you know your root cause, you can start your healing journey. To find out more information about our exciting new course, please find the information below:
Here is the link to preview the course: https://ichealer.com/online-course/
Here is the Podia Course Page: https://ichealer.podia.com/course
The first module is totally FREE. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. For more insightful videos on these burning topics, simply subscribe to this page so you can be notified of up to date information.
Exposure to toxins may have detrimental effects on humans and animals, even at low concentrations. Specific probiotic and bacterial strains may have properties that enable them to bind to toxins we are exposed to in our environment, such as food and water. Different strains vary in their ability to bind and detoxify, often times relying on pH, contact time, and viability on the binding capacities. Below are 3 bacterial strains and a summary of their mechanisms of action on human biochemistry regarding detoxification.
Mycotoxin Degradation – Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi, and are capable of producing disease and death in humans (Chlebicz & Slizewska, 2019). Humans are exposed to mycotoxins while consuming plant foods such as nuts (hazelnut, almonds, pistachios), peanuts, grains and some fruits. They are also exposed to them in the environment such as often reported in mold that is found in homes that have been water damaged. Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, and it has been estimated that 4.5 billion of the world’s population is exposed to aflatoxins (Wild & Gong, 2010). The aflatoxins occur mostly in tropical regions with high humidity and temperature. They accumulate post-harvest when food commodities are stored under conditions that promote fungal growth. The naturally occurring aflatoxins are AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2, with AFB1 the most abundant, toxic and carcinogenic, and are linked to liver cancer. “However, in agriculture, other adverse effects, including toxicity, growth and immune impairment, have been widely reported and these end points are rightly of increasing focus in studies of exposed people” (Wild & Gong, 2010).
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is considered to possess the highest toxicity among various types of secondary metabolites produced by a larger number of Aspergillus spp., and classified as a Group I carcinogen for humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Chlebicz & Slizewska, 2019). It has been reported that AFB1 could induce growth retardation, liver cancer, and may suppress immunity. Relevant studies indicated that AFB1was mostly metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP 450) enzyme systems after being absorbed in the GI tract. “Subsequently, under the action of CYP 450, including CYP1A2 and CYP 3A4, AFB1 was transformed to exo-AFB1-8,9-epoxide (AFBO), which could bind to DNA, proteins, and other critical cellular macromolecules to exert its carcinogenic effect” (Chlebicz & Slizewska, 2019).
Below are two probiotics that show promise in detoxification of mycotoxins:
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae var boulardii- (note the authors indicate that since S. cerevisiae and S. boulardii are closely similar in molecular structure, they should not be viewed as separate species taxonomically, so they have been renamed as saccharomyces cerevisiae van boulardii). Inhibition of mycotoxin absorption in the GI tract is one of the mechanisms of action of this strain. The mechanism of detoxification by yeast is due to the adhesion of mycotoxins to cell-wall components. In addition, this strain can biodegrade mycotoxins (such as AFB1) to prevent adsorption of these components inside the intestines on those who consume the food that is contaminated with the aflatoxin. As a side note, Saccharomyces cerevisiae var boulardii can also degrade phytates that are also found on many of the same foods that mycotoxins are found, and this may improve adsorption of iron, zinc, magnesium and phosphorus binding (Moslehi-Jenabian, Pedersen, & Jespersen, 2010). This could be viewed as a secondary mechanism involved in detoxification.
- L. plantarum—Lactobacillus species are also able to bind mycotoxins. Via hydrophobic interactions, they are able to bind to mostly cell wall peptidoglycans, polysaccharides and teichoic acid (Chlebicz & Slizewska, 2019). L. plantarum has demonstrated to have good AFB1binding ability in vitro. It can also “increase fecal AFB1excretion, reduce lipid peroxidation, and reverse antioxidant defense systems to alleviate AFB1 toxicity” (Chlebicz & Slizewska, 2019). L. plantarum may also play a role in the suppression of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 expression to enhance glutathione-conjugating activity and promote detoxification (Chlebicz & Slizewska, 2019). It has been reported that some lactic acid bacteria such as L. plantarum can remove AFB1 or have protective effects against AFB1. Some relevant studies demonstrated that lactobacilli could inhibit the production of aflatoxin as well as the growth of Aspergillus spp. (Huang et al., 2017). L. plantarum also demonstrates strong free radical scavenging activities and can improve antioxidant status, protecting against the effects of AFB1. “L. plantarum might also act as a biological barrier in the intestine under normal conditions, thereby reducing the bioavailability of AFB1 ingested orally and hence avoiding its toxic effects” (Chlebicz & Slizewska, 2019). I attached a chart that demonstrates some of the mechanisms of L. plantarum on detoxification of AFB1., which includes increasing AFB1 excretion, decreasing AFB1 epoxidation catalyzed by CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, coupled with enhancing the activities of different antioxidant enzymes and GST detoxification which are connected with the NrF2 signaling pathway (Chlebicz & Slizewska, 2019).
- Bacillus subtilis– This spore forming species of bacteria had some interesting mechanisms in detoxification.
Pesticides- Cypermethrin
Cypermethrin belongs to a group of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides which widely used in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, public health and households for the protection of textiles and to check pest infestation (Gangola, Sharma, Bhatt, Khati, & Chaudhary, 2018). . Cypermethrin is also constitute common ingredients of household insecticides (Gangola et al., 2018). Cypermethrin is an environment pollutant because of its widespread use and toxicity. Persistence may lead to serious damage to non-target organisms and various ecosystem (Gangola et al., 2018). Metabolism of cypermethrin is important because cypermethrin possess antimicrobial activities hence it prevents the beneficial microflora.
The mechanism of action is the laccase enzyme that can degrade the pesticide. Bacillus subtilis strain demonstrated to completely metabolize cypermethrin in just 15 days under laboratory conditions. The bacterial isolate harbors the metabolic pathway for the detoxification of the cypermethrin. It can also completely degrades cypermethrin without leaving any persistent or toxic metabolite (Gangola et al., 2018).
Heavy metals (Syed & Chinthala, 2015)
It is estimated that over one billion human beings are currently exposed to elevated concentrations of toxic metals and metalloids in the environment. It is also estimated that several million people may be suffering from subclinical metal poisoning. “In addition, adverse effect of heavy metals includes suppression of the immune system and carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, mainly in children, and inhibition of the activity of some critical enzymes related to synthesis of vital biomolecules along with accumulation in the body of different organisms causing biomagnifications” (Syed & Chinthala, 2015). B. subtilis has greater ability to bind metals than Gram-negative ones due to their different cell wall structures (Cai et al., 2018). Interestingly, bacterial isolates of B. subtilis showed significant biosorption of lead. Heavy metal biosorption is the ability of bacterial cells or components to adsorb, chelate, or precipitate metal ions in the solution into insoluble particles or aggregates which can be removed either by sedimentation or filtration from the solution. Lead biosorption modifies groups like carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amino where other metal ions cannot compete offering it more affinity. The main agents in the uptake of heavy metals by B. subtilis are carboxyl groups, the sources of which are the teichoic acids associated with the peptidoglycan layers of the cell wall (Cai et al., 2018).
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References
Cai, Y., Li, X., Liu, D., Xu, C., Ai, Y., Sun, X., . . . Yu, H. (2018). A Novel Pb-Resistant Bacillus subtilis Bacterium Isolate for Co-Biosorption of Hazardous Sb(III) and Pb(II): Thermodynamics and Application Strategy. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 15(4). doi:10.3390/ijerph15040702
Chlebicz, A., & Slizewska, K. (2019). In Vitro Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1, Deoxynivalenol, Fumonisins, T-2 Toxin and Zearalenone by Probiotic Bacteria from Genus Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins. doi:10.1007/s12602-018-9512-x
Gangola, S., Sharma, A., Bhatt, P., Khati, P., & Chaudhary, P. (2018). Presence of esterase and laccase in Bacillus subtilis facilitates biodegradation and detoxification of cypermethrin. Sci Rep, 8(1), 12755. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-31082-5
Huang, L., Duan, C., Zhao, Y., Gao, L., Niu, C., Xu, J., & Li, S. (2017). Reduction of Aflatoxin B1 Toxicity by Lactobacillus plantarum C88: A Potential Probiotic Strain Isolated from Chinese Traditional Fermented Food “Tofu”. PLoS ONE, 12(1), e0170109. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170109
Moslehi-Jenabian, S., Pedersen, L. L., & Jespersen, L. (2010). Beneficial effects of probiotic and food borne yeasts on human health. Nutrients, 2(4), 449-473. doi:10.3390/nu2040449
Syed, S., & Chinthala, P. (2015). Heavy Metal Detoxification by Different Bacillus Species Isolated from Solar Salterns. Scientifica (Cairo), 2015, 319760. doi:10.1155/2015/319760
Wild, C. P., & Gong, Y. Y. (2010). Mycotoxins and human disease: a largely ignored global health issue. Carcinogenesis, 31(1), 71-82. doi:10.1093/carcin/bgp264
