[Daniel]

Hey ,

I hope you enjoyed your summer! Good to have you back 🙂

Peptides are a short string of amino acids. For example, glutathione is a peptide made of 3 amino acids and is therefore called a tripeptide. Creatine is also a peptide. Secretly you already know a few peptides.

There is no real good answer to your question since there are many peptides with different kinds of roles in the body. Consider amino acids as Lego building blocks. Depending on how you connect the blocks, the function can differ.

GABA is for example a “neuropeptide” which is made of glutamate and a glutamate variation attached under the influence of vitamin B6. GABA is an example of a neurotransmitter. But even hormones can be peptides. Examples of peptide hormones are for example insulin,  glucagon and prolactin.

Collagen peptides are often used for skin, hair and nail health. The function can therefore vary considerably.

Here are some peptides sold as supplements that are lesser known

BPC-157 is a peptide that is often used for joint recovery. NMN is a peptide which is an intermediaire of NAD+.

Maybe you could specify what supplements you are curious to? 

[Daniel]

,

A while ago I wrote a tip about non-toxic pots and pans. I will link it right here. Maybe this helps to guide you!

[Daniel]

Hey ,

A leaky gut can indeed make you react to foods or break down products of gram-negative bacteria called LPS (Lipopolysaccharides). It is easier for undigested foods and LPS to get into your body which means the immune system needs to get busy. As a result, the immune system gets more busy.

This is why you have more LPS antibodies for example.

I don’t think all results are bad and it’s also important to put these values into the context of your healing journey.

For example:

If you have changed your diet by consuming foods/supplements that kill gram-negative bacteria while your gut is still leaky, you will expose your body to higher levels of LPS. If this causes reactions, you might want to use a milder approach and dial down a notch with these foods/supplements. In this case some gut healing nutrients like quercetin and zinc L-carnosine. Aloe vera can help as well.

On the other hand: if you have mold colonized in the gut (which damages the gut lining) and you are feeding the mold, your gut lining might have taken the hit. You might want to check to do the next few things:
• Reduce simple carbohydrates like sugar
• Check if you’re eating moldy foods (dried fruits, coffee, tea, grains, dairy products, etc)
• Check if you’re still exposed to mold from your environment. 

It also helps to eat gluten-free. Gluten will give rise to zonulin production. Zonulin opens the doors(tight junctions) between the cells in the lining of the gut. It makes the gut more leaky and will give your body more exposure to LPS and other stuff that happens inside the gut.

Are there things you are currently doing from the list above that you feel you could improve on?

[Daniel]

Hey ,

Thanks for showing! I’m only seeing one product though. It is a stainless steel pan, but when I take a look at the product materials, they mention that there is aluminium in it.

For that reason, I agree with you and wouldn’t call this a non-toxic pan.

[Daniel]

Hey ,

What awful news..! I’m really sorry to hear this. I wish you, your father and your family strength and luck!

Let us know how things went! 

[Daniel]

Hey ,

It is the environment of a fully functional stomach that changes and keeps H. Pylori in balance. If the environment changes, that could give rise to an overgrowth of H. Pylori.

When there is an H. Pylori infection present, the inflammation caused by the infection can damage the stomach lining. Usually, I like to help rebuild the stomach lining and address the infection before stimulating the acidity of the stomach. The acid, when the stomach lining is damaged, can irritate the stomach.

I know apple cider vinegar has some benefits. But it is still acidic in nature. There is anecdotal evidence that apple cider vinegar (ACV) helps with acid reflux. Studies unfortunately are hard to find. This 2022 review has this to say about ACV and acid reflux:
“ACV was used in the gum formulation mentioned above, and while subjects found beneficial effects in relief of heartburn and acid reflux, it is challenging to elucidate whether this effect was due to the ACV or the other ingredients.”

That doesn’t mean you can’t use it, that’s not why I’m sharing this. The research isn’t clear on it. The evidence for that is anecdotal.

Here are some tips if you like to use apple cider vinegar.
• Start low and slow by diluting 1-2 tablespoons with water to reduce the acidity and see how someone responds.  With ulcers, people can react really sensitively to apple cider vinegar and I would stop if someone doesn’t react well to it.
• ACV wouldn’t be my approach to fighting an H. Pylori overgrowth. Mastic gum, Matula Tea or some recommendations from this video are better backed up by research. And although ACV helps anecdotally with reducing acid reflux, fighting H. Pylori is more specific.
• We use different strategies to heal the gut lining, but they are also explained in the same video.

I was wondering what inspired you to ask this question. Is it something you like to use or recommend?

[Daniel]

Hey ,

I would just like the antifungal supplements to rotate the antifungal teas every 4-6 weeks. I personally like combinations as well. The reason for that is that sometimes one herb is very potent for fighting one form of mold (or a strain of a certain mold species) and less potent for fighting another strain.

You could choose a few different teas and rotate them every 4-6 weeks with another combination.

It is possible to choose your foods, herbs and supplements wisely and target multiple health conditions. I would advise you to prioritize only one health condition.

For example, in the case of high cholesterol, it would be great to have something that brings it down. Oleuropein (the active ingredient in olive leaves that has been related to cardiovascular benefits) could help reduce inflammation and inhibit LDL cholesterol oxidation (if you like to learn more, read this article).

If it makes the number of lifestyle choices very complex, I would prioritize one above the other.

It could very well be that just focusing on mold could bring cholesterol values down. A diet that would reduce mold would show much resemblance to a diet that helps balance blood sugars, which is a common root cause of elevated cholesterol levels.

More targeted mitochondrial support requires you to know how mitochondria are affected. An OAT for example can provide you this level of detail. I do believe the supplements mentioned in the video “Strengthen Defences – Mitochondrial Support” are pretty good. From that selection, I like Mitochondrial NRG from designs for health a lot since it has a wider combination of ingredients that can support the mitochondria in different ways.

Another product that I like for the same reason is Nerve Support Complex from Thorne (you can find it here). They rebranded the name, but it used to be called Neurochondria. It is a little higher in CoQ10 as Mitochondrial Support and it has a little more L-carnitine (which is necessary for fatty acid oxidation) and alpha lipoic acid (which improves mitochondrial function by boosting respiratory enzymes).

Mitochondrial Support has the benefit that it has a wider range of B vitamins, some magnesium and manganese (which is necessary to form the enzyme Superoxide Dismutase which helps reduce oxidative damage).

They are both good choices, but just support in a little different way.

[Daniel]

Hey ,

If understand you correctly I believe you like to try Betaine HCl low and slow. Just in case you’re considering the product from the label you shared.

Is it by any chance ‘Digestive Enzymes Ultra’ from Pure Encapsulations? Just asking, because this product is plant-based or rather based on yeast fermentation. Often Aspergillus is used to produce these enzymes. They might not be the best choice if you’re dealing with mold as well.

[Daniel]

,

You’re right. Pepsin is made in the stomach and starts protein digestion there. Protease assists when food passes through the stomach and prepares it for absorption in the small intestines.

[Daniel]

Hey ,

HUT stands for ‘Hemoglobine Units on Tyrosine Basis. It’s a procedure to determine the proteolitic activity of proteases. The test is based on what happens when these proteases do when they are exposed 30 minutes of a hemoglobin substrate at a certain pH level and a certain temperature (pH 4.7  and 40°C).

The other units are also units that tell you how effective these enzymes work under certain conditions.

For example DU is a unit that tells you something about how well this enzyme converts starches to dextrin molecules. It’s short for Alpha-amylase Dextrinizing Units.

HUT numbers are usually somewhere between 30.000 and 60.000 for most supplements.

As far as I can asses, the lipase (the enzyme that breaks down fats to fatty acids) has a good value as well. I’ve seen numbers varying from 300 to 1100 FIP. 3000 looks pretty good.

Glucoamylase, which is an enzyme that helps break down starches to glucose. Good values would be above 10 AGU.

Lactase is the enzyme that helps break down lactose.  If you’re lactose intolerant the amount of lactase might not always be sufficient. I don’t think you are worried about that, but if you like to learn more you can find more information here and the other link I will share.

From what I can asses from the label is that this product is pretty potent.

If you like to learn more about the other enzymes, this reference could help you. I warn you, you might need a few digestive enzymes to digest this article as well.

[Daniel]

Hey @,

In addition to Bernadette’s excellent suggestions, I would like to add that having well-formed bowel movements at least once per day (preferably 2-3 times per day) and drinking enough water are simple and powerful basics to optimize opening the drains.

All the other options in the movie Bernadette mentioned are powerful as well but in order of operations: if these basics aren’t right, optimizing these would be on top of my priority list.

If some form of constipation is at play, there is a program available (right here) that you could follow.

[Daniel]

Hey ,

I can feel your worries and I’m sorry to hear! Let me help you by giving you what could cause this. If you are worried, I would go to a doctor and do at least a check-up. A doctor could help you determine what is at play. Sharing these results can help Bernadette and me to find a natural path to address the root cause.

UTI
Frequent urination can have different causes. The most common one would be a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI can also cause your urine to become clouded. In some cases, blood can even be seen in the urine. Most of the UTIs are caused by an infection of the bacteria E. coli.

Other symptoms you might experience are:
• Pain or pressure in the abdomen, the pelvic floor or the lower back
• Pain when you pee
• Pain during sex.
• Fever/chills
• Urinary incontinence.

For some rapid relief, I usually recommend my clients the next things:
• D-mannose at 1000mg, 2x/day to counter an existing infection.  
• Uva ursi at 2-3x/day, the maximum recommended dose on the supplement label.  Uva ursi is not safe for everyone by the way: it is not recommended for children or individuals with liver disease (but you can still use the d-mannose on its own which is often quite effective!)
• Uva Ursi is more effective when the urine is alkaline. If you’re taking supplements like vitamin C it would be a good idea to stop them temporarily. Some foods can make the urine more acidic as well. Avoid for the time being the following foods as well if you like to use this supplement: soda, coffee, black tea, cow dairy foods (especially cheese), too much animal protein, and grains.

Kidney Stones
A kidney stone usually will not cause symptoms until it moves around within the kidney or passes into one of the ureters. (The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys and bladder)

Kidney stones can also cause the urine to look cloudy. typical other symptoms that might present are:
• Severe, sharp pain in the side and back, below the ribs
• Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Pain or burning sensation while urinating

Most kidney stones are made of calcium and oxalate (approximately 80%). If this is the case, removing oxalates from the diet will help. Foods that are high in oxalates are for example peanuts, black tea, rhubarb, spinach, beets, Swiss chard, chocolate and sweet potatoes. However…

Gut microbes can also produce oxalates. If you have an overgrowth of certain bacteria, the oxalates might be endogenously produced. Balancing out the gut will help resolve this problem.

To make sure calcium is brought to the right spots in the body, we need vitamin K2 and magnesium will help. If kidney stones are causing urination, these supplements I usually recommend my client. If you have however other kidney problems, magnesium is not a good idea.

The citrate in lemon juice can be helpful as well. Just squeeze 1/2 a lemon 2x per day in a glass of water. The citrate binds to the calcium and this makes it easier for excretion. The citrate will also prevent the calcium from precipitating out into crystals.

Insulin resistance/Diabetes
We do have a full course about this topic, but if you experience symptoms that are mentioned in this movie or this one, it is more likely that your blood sugar balance isn’t optimal. This can cause frequent urination as well.

STI
Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) will produce an inflammatory response in the body, which can result in an excess of white blood cells that cloud your urine. These infections can also cause frequent urination.

Stress & anxiety  
High cortisol levels can cause frequent urination as well. Stress hormones can impact the nervous system, and cause the muscles to tense up. If the muscles put pressure on areas like your blade and abdomen, this can cause frequent urination as well. It is however less likely to have cloudy urine as a result of this.

Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant, this could cause frequent urination as well. Just as with stress, cloudy urination isn’t likely in this case.

Let us know if you need any help!

[Daniel]

That’s great! I belief these belts are also effective because of compression. The belt works by gently pressing the contents of the hernia back inside the abdomen.

I’m glad this can bring you some relief !

[Daniel]

Hey ,

Don’t worry about being missing in action… although it’s good to see you back!

With dietary strategies, there is always a trade-off to consider. If you’re trying to balance out the microbiome and there is an overgrowth, some of the gram-negative bacteria will die off if you’re consuming antimicrobials.

Coconut oil is such an antimicrobial. LPS, which are part of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, get released when these bacteria die off. If your load of LPS is high or the amount of white blood cells is low and the LPS get into circulation, this can cause a reaction in your body.

That doesn’t mean coconut oil is bad, but some people might need some gut healing first before they start working with antimicrobials like coconut oil.

This is why we like to support the immune system (like for example with vitamin D, vitamin A and Zinc) and advice people to address increased permeability of the gut lining (leaky gut) with supplements like zinc L-carnosine, bone broth, vitamin D (which is necessary to keep the doors closed between the cells in the gut lining)

I’m not exactly sure to which study Kiran refers. Maybe this one where the effects of different oils were examined on how that would influence endotoxin transport. In this study, they saw that saturated fats, that were transported on ‘cabs’ much like LDL and HDL in the gut called chylomicrons increased absorption of endotoxins.

However… this research was done on pigs. 24 pigs were divided into 4 groups (and one group was a control group). The 3 other groups were given fish oil, vegetable oil and coconut oil. They did see an increase in LPS in the blood of these pigs, but it’s hard to do statistics on a group of 6.

Another factor to consider is the natural diet of a pig. Although pigs are omnivores and in theory eat everything, they prefer vegetables – and a low-fat diet – if they have the choice. It’s hard to estimate how pigs will deal when they are given more fat.

I do think the research is interesting. I’m not sure what research Kiran is referring to. But chances are this study was done on animals since most of this type of research is done on animals.

Back to humans!

Coconut oil might increase LPS since it is antimicrobial. If you might experience symptoms, it can be a good approach to reduce antimicrobial foods so the body can deal with the current situation in the body first.

It could be that saturated fats, like coconut oil, increase LPS absorption. To what degree is hard to say. However, in healthy humans, this is probably not a big issue since LPS concentrations are usually low in human blood. Compared to pigs, the human diet contains more saturated fat and this is usually not a problem.

Food for thought!

[Daniel]

Hey ,

Yes, there is! Thorne has a product that I often recommend. It used to be called biogest, but these days it’s called Advanced Digestive Enzymes. You can find it here!