Tag Archives: Candida Treatment

Questions & Answers

Skinny Genes: What You Need To Know

Do skinny genes really exist, or are they a myth?

I think skinny genes exist, and so do scientists.

There have been many studies on the genetics of weight conducted over the years.

If we go back decades, there was a professor at Arizona State University who was studying genetics using Drosophila (fruit flies). This scientist found that some fruit flies were fat and some were quite lean. The fat fruit flies had a significant advantage because their extra weight could carry them through tough times. The same can be said for polar bears – they need a lot of fat to survive difficult circumstances. However, that’s not what humans living in New York City or L.A. need.

The gene that resulted in bigger fruit flies was named “adipose.” This gene has been studied in mice and rats as well. It turns out if the activity of the adipose gene is upregulated, mice live longer and burn fat faster.

Further readings:

In another study of close to 100,000 people, it was discovered that about 1/2000 people have a variation on chromosome 16. There is a small patch of information on this chromosome that isn’t present in the other 1999/2000 people.

This extra genetic code resulted in a lower than average appetite. These people ended up very lean and sometimes underweight to the point of concern.

You probably know a lady or a guy that can eat whatever they want, and they just don’t put on weight. That could be part of this chromosomal aberration that we’re talking about here.

In some people, it’s dangerous because no matter what they eat, they can’t gain any weight. It’s just as awful being in that situation as it is being 300 or 400 pounds.

In my opinion, genetics also influences personality. In turn, the personality will also naturally drive up or down the endocrine system. Hypothalamic, pituitary, and thyroid activity could all be a bit higher or a bit lower depending on genetics. The hormonal activity can then influence weight.

Remember, it’s not just about genetics. Your weight also reflects the food you eat, how much you move, and your lifestyle.

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Questions & Answers

The Connection Between Your Mood And Your Microbiome

How do gut and bacteria affect your mood?

It’s interesting. All the years that I practiced as a naturopath, I had this strong feeling that gut health had a significant impact on mood. I saw the relationship quite early on in my practice.

I noticed years ago that people who ate vegetables, lean meats, fruit, seeds and nuts, and whole grains with only light alcohol consumption had a much better mood than those eating potato chips, pizza, and soda pop. People who ate a lot of junk tended to be much more depressed.
Scientists are now validating my observations.

I think one of the first people that noticed the link between the GI tract and mood was a doctor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Dr. Sven Peterson is an experimental biologist who made the connection between the gut and the brain way back in the 1980s or 90s.

Now, I’m excited by all the different research institutions which are researching the impact of the microbiome on mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Dr. Cray is a scientist who has compiled a list of about 60 substances in the gut that impact neural response. We know that that a lot of the bacteria in the gut produce chemicals that affect nerve endings. These chemicals can influence whether your mood is good or bad.

Further readings:

There are gut bacteria called Dialister and Coprococcus that can influence the brain.

Coprococcus produces butyrate, an anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acid. Coprococcus also can impact the dopaminergic pathway, which is the pleasure pathway in our brain. In other words, this bacteria may be able to make people feel better.

We don’t know yet what factors are causative and what factors are just associated. But we can say there is a connection between the gut flora and our brain.

That’s the reason I tell people to avoid artificial sweeteners. I recommend getting rid of all the junk in your diet.

If you eat junk, you’re going to feel awful. If you eat great food, you’re going to look and feel great.

Eat well, feel well. That’s a motto worth following.

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Questions & Answers

The Effect Of Cooking Method On Gut Flora

Is it better to eat cooked or raw food?

We already know that the microbiome is influenced a lot by the type of foods you eat. Studies about how raw versus cooked meals affect gut flora have been less abundant. That’s why I was particularly interested in a study conducted by Harvard University and the University of San Francisco.

In this study, rodents were fed raw meat and cooked meat as well as raw and cooked sweet potato. They found no discernible difference between how raw and cooked meat affects gut bacteria. However, they found a significant difference between the impact of raw sweet potato and cooked sweet potato.

The researchers propose that the raw sweet potato was digested at a slightly different region of the digestive tract than the cooked version. It was also noted that certain raw vegetables, including sweet potato, contain compounds that are harmful to gut microbes. In other words, it’s in our best interest to cook certain foods.

In my opinion, tubers should always be cooked. If you look at indigenous people, they always scrubbed and cooked tubers, potatoes, and cassava.

Further readings:

In my experience, once you cook sweet potato, it’s exceptionally good for the large intestine. People who eat sweet potatoes regularly tend to be much healthier than people who don’t eat any.

I like raw meat. I like the texture and taste. I’ve done that now all my life. If you look around the world, many populations and many cultures have eaten a combination of raw and cooked foods for many years.

In my opinion, there is no doubt that partially cooked food is often better than food that is cooked right through. I like to keep a bit of snap in my stir-fried vegetables, for example. Partially cooked food still allows your gastric acid and enzymes to digest your meal efficiently but without destroying valuable phytochemicals.

So, am I a fan of raw food? Yes, I am. Am I a fan of cooked food? Yes, I am. I’m a fan of all sorts of foods, as long as it’s healthy food prepared in the right way. Some foods are simply not meant to be cooked. For example, I would never cook alfalfa sprouts.

And remember, your gut flora doesn’t just reflect how you cook your food. It also reflects your lifestyle and habits.

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Questions & Answers

Vegetable Glycerin: Yes Or No?

Vegetable glycerin is a polyol and a type of glycerol. It’s a compound made from plant oils. It’s non-allergenic, non-mutagenic, and it’s not teratogenic.

It doesn’t do much really, but it’s used a lot as a base for extracts. For example, if you don’t want an alcohol-based herbal preparation, you can have a glycerol-based on instead.

Further readings:

Glycerol can extract things from plants quite effectively. For example, when I used to make up echinacea for a young child, I would often use glycerol as the base. Vegetable glycerin tastes quite nice, so it helps the medicine go down.

Vegetable glycerin is also used in pet foods, toothpaste, cosmetics, and e-cigarettes. Some people use it as a sugar substitute, but I don’t think it’s a great everyday food.

To be honest, I don’t think vegetable glycerin offers any benefit when it comes to treating Candida. As I said, it can be used as a base for herbal medication, but as a stand-alone treatment, it has nothing to offer.

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Questions & Answers

How CanXida Restore Can Help You Lose Weight

A 2013 study found that there is definitely a link between the microbiome and body weight. The researchers found that the larger a person was, the more disordered the bacterial content of their gut. Healthier, leaner people had a more stable microbiome than people who were obese.

It’s very, very, very important that you have a healthy microbiome. It’s more important than having a big bank account. You could have $1 billion in the bank, but if you’ve got a crappy digestive system, you’re going to suffer significantly. You can buy a lot of things, but you can’t buy a good gut.

You’ve got to develop that gut with your lifestyle and your diet. Ample studies now show that there is a link between gut flora and obesity. We can’t say it’s the cause, but we can see there’s an association between the two.

A disordered bowel with dysbiosis and obesity seem to go along with each other. Conversely, there have been many studies linking beneficial bacteria with weight loss. For example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, one of my favorite Lactobacillus, has been linked to weight loss.

Further readings:

That’s one of the reasons why I like Lactobacillus rhamnosus; it stabilizes the gut. This particular probiotic powerfully improves the immune response in the GI tract and helps to drive down many different species of harmful bacteria and yeasts.

I included Lactobacillus rhamnosus in CanXida Restore because of the compelling evidence that it is very beneficial to gut health.

Based on the feedback I’ve received, women tend to lose a bit more weight, and to do it faster, than men. I don’t know the reason for this difference, but I’ve definitely noticed this pattern. Studies have also found a difference between men and women when it comes to the benefits of probiotics.

Maybe it’s because women take the supplements more regularly, or there may be differences in lifestyle such as alcohol consumption.

I think the probiotics can help people lose weight. But, keep in mind that there are several factors associated with going from lean to obsess. Increased caloric intake, including artificial sweeteners in the diet, and a disrupted circadian rhythm are all associated with weight gain.

A person who’s not sleeping properly, or they’re shift working, will often end up with a weight problem. If you’re overweight and you’re a shift worker, it’s probably time to get rid of that job if at all possible.

If you’re going to take a probiotic to help yourself lose weight, make sure you take it regularly. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and cut out the junk and excessive fat from your diet. Small amounts of healthy fats are fine, but you don’t want to be filling your plate with trans fat and the like.

Lastly, you’ll get more bang from your probiotic buck if you also include sufficient prebiotics in your diet.

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