Ever since we began to understand microorganisms, scientists and doctors have largely regarded microbial life as something to be feared and exterminated. Antibiotics were one of the greatest medical breakthroughs of the twentieth century – and to be fair, they did save a lot of lives. In fact, they were so successful that they are still regarded as one of the primary methods of disease control. To this day, antibiotics are often the first (and only) action taken when someone has a contagious illness. In many cases, the prescribing physician doesn’t know exactly which microorganisms are causing the problem. It could be bacteria, which will respond to antibiotics, or it could be viruses, which will not. Dirty work has always been feared as a possible source of illness, and a plethora of antibacterial products has evolved in our attempts to stay healthy. But is there a dark side to our war on microbes?
The Dark Side Of Our War On Microbes
The problem with antibiotics and antibacterial products is that they kill microbial life indiscriminately. In recent years, much new research has revealed the complex relationships we have with the invisible world of microbes. In fact, microbes are essential for our survival. They perform many functions for us that we cannot do for ourselves. And when we wipe them out indiscriminately, we are depriving ourselves of the benefits provided by the friendly ones in our attempts to control the harmful ones.
It is essential that our microbiomes are able to interact with the environment around us. We need exposure to microbes from outside ourselves in order to keep our resident populations healthy. When this doesn’t happen, our microbiomes dwindle in health and diversity.
Have you ever wondered why sometimes the people who are the most fastidious about household cleanliness seem to be the ones who get sick a lot? Well, there could be a reason for that. Recent research suggests that dirty work and outside play are not only good for us but essential to our long-term health.
The Web Of Life
One of the more recent developments in the field of microbial research has been greater collaboration between unrelated science disciplines. Microbiologists, immunologists, geneticists, botanists, ecologists and agronomists have all been reaching similar conclusions: we are not an isolated species in a sea of other isolated species. Far from it. The web of life that supports us is an integral part of who we are as human beings. We are completely unable to separate ourselves and still survive. This is leading to a shift in the way we have traditionally seen many fields, from agriculture to medicine. The typical twentieth-century approach has been that humans can and should dominate, manipulate, and control every environment. Humans must subdue nature, from the miniature world of microbes to vast landscapes.
In recent times, however, the leading thinkers and researchers in an array of fields are coming to similar conclusions: to treat the web of life around us gently. Open minds have questioned conventional wisdom and found vast new fields of study opening to view. The results of this paradigm shift (which is still in its infancy) are that the way we are to treat the world around us is radically different from our methods of the past. Our health and survival depend on so many external factors, most beyond our direct control. We can no longer afford the arrogant assumption that humans will prevail over nature at all costs.
Dirty Work: Health Begins With Dirt
European researchers discovered that children who grow up on farms are healthier, enjoying fewer allergies and less asthma. But not just any farms: the healthiest children live on farms that care for the ecosystem as a whole. Cultures of the bacteria found in their homes revealed a diverse mix of microbes, most of them found in soil.
Scientists believe that anyone who is exposed to the vast array of microbial diversity found on a farm is more likely to be healthy. Microbes found in soil, manure, animals, and plants add extra diversity to the human microbiome, giving greater protection against diseases. Microbiome diversity fights disease in two ways: some microorganisms produce substances that directly attack disease-causing pathogens. Others consume resources and occupy habitat that would otherwise be utilized by pathogens. With little to eat and nowhere to go, pathogen populations are limited in number.
Why The Soil Microbiome Matters
Dirty work matters. At least, the way we do it does. The soil microbiome is much like the human microbiome: it consists of unique communities of microorganisms with complex relationships. These microorganisms have varied functions, but as a whole, they greatly affect the health of our food plants. Microbes growing in the soil directly around plant roots have the ability to enhance or hinder the plant’s uptake of nutrients from the soil. These are the same nutrients we will receive when we eat the plant. Thus, without knowing, we are consuming food that is either nutritionally dense or nutritionally lacking. It all comes down to the health of the soil.
Conventional farming methods don’t do much to protect the soil microbiome. Awareness of the importance of soil health is growing, but quantifiable, convincing research in the field is still sparse. Many farmers wonder why it would be worth the time and expense to change their farming practices. Science is yet to produce a repeatable pattern with reliable results that will convince farmers that it is worth their while. Having said that, there are already farmers thinking outside the box and working towards the goal of caring for the whole ecosystem of the farm, not just what’s visible above ground.
Healthy Farm, Healthy Food, Healthy You
So intertwined is the relationship between farm and food, that it’s fair to say the health of the farm that grows your food will directly impact on your own health in the long term. So what can you do to ensure that you are eating the best food for your health? Measuring nutritional density is not an everyday option, and even organically grown food does not guarantee soil health.
Daphne Miller, MD, and author of Farmacology: What Innovative Family Farming Can Teach Us About Health and Healing suggests eating organic as much as possible. In addition, she recommends getting to know the farmers who produce the food you buy. She recommends that you buy from farmers’ markets or other local sources. She asks: do the farmers live on their farms? Resident farmers are more likely to care for their farm as well as they care for their families. Get to know them, talk to them about their soil management practices, and how they view their farms.
Daphne Miller’s other suggestion is to grow your own food. It doesn’t have to be absolutely everything you consume – that would be impractical and overwhelming for many people. But she says that even a small amount of homegrown food is good for you. It means that you have control over the entire process from start to finish, and you are able to influence the health of the soil you are using.
Dirty Work: Friend Not Foe
Dirty work matters. Dirt is important. And once we begin to see it as a friend instead of a foe, we will be able to incorporate care for the world around us into everything we do. The choices we make today will have an impact tomorrow and beyond. We will enjoy better health and wellbeing when we practice mindful living and care for the web of life that we are part of.
References:
http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/how-to-eat-like-our-lives-depend-on-it/how-dirt-heals-us
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/23/soil-quality.aspx
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Is fungus making you sick? Do you suffer from digestive disorders such as bloating and cramps? Unstable moods? Allergies? Low energy levels? Thrush? Altered bowel function – ie constipation or diarrhoea? Do you have frequent urinary tract infections? Ladies, do you have menstrual problems? If you can answer yes to many of these questions, it might be worth considering if you have a problem with internal fungal infections.
The most common internal fungus in the human body is candida, which causes the symptoms of thrush. Babies tend to get it in their mouths, and women get vaginal thrush. Obese people can also suffer from it, particularly in hot and humid weather, when it gets under skin folds and causes infections. Other forms of fungal infection are less common, but still cause problems. In most cases, however, the basic underlying cause is due to one thing: the body’s mechanism for controlling fungus is out of balance. The microbiome is not in good health and is therefore not doing its job the way it should be.
The Microbiome
When the microbiome is in good health, it consists mostly of beneficial microorganisms that help to keep pathogens (the bad bugs) under control. In every microbiome, there are some harmful bugs such as viruses, fungi, and harmful bacteria, but in a healthy microbiome, these are not a problem.
To improve the health of your microbiome, and help your body fight its own battles, consider these helpful tips:
- Eat plenty of fibre-rich raw foods, such as green leafy vegetables and other raw fruits and veggies. The fiber in these foods gives the good bugs in your body something to live on, and it’s one of the most important things you can do to help your microbiome stay healthy. Include these foods regularly in your diet to help the good little critters continue to thrive.
- Include fermented foods in your diet – these contain populations of the good bugs and will help to replenish depleted populations in your gut. Fermented foods include fermented vegetables, yoghurt, kefir, miso, pickles and sauerkraut, and fermented soy products such as tempeh.
- Avoid things that harm your microbiome. These include processed foods, sugar, and antibiotics.
- Relax! Stress is another microbiome – killer, so help your good bugs by chilling out. Find ways of slowing down your life, calming down, and relaxing on a regular basis. Getting some exercise outdoors is a great way of clearing your mind and relaxing.
Testing For Fungus
Conducting a definitive test for fungal infections is not easy, and there needs to be more research in this field. Our knowledge is limited, so one of the best ways to determine if you might have fungus is to examine your diet and lifestyle, looking at some of the factors which are known to contribute to the problem.
- Antibiotic use. This is one of the most common causes of a microbiome that is out of balance. If you have regularly used antibiotics in the past, there is a very good chance that it has contributed to a fungus problem.
- Steroids and hormones can also lead to an imbalance in your system.
- Is your diet high in sugar and processed carbohydrates? Low in fibre?
- Is your immunity good? Or do you catch every bug that comes your way?
Symptoms Of Fungus Infection
These symptoms are not an exhaustive list and are known to occur with other conditions. However, they are also known to occur with fungus infections, although you may not experience all of them.
- Bloating, gas and intestinal cramps
Symptoms of fungus infection include bloating and stomach cramps - Thrush, vaginal or oral
- Loss of energy
- Decreased libido
- Chronic fatigue
- Frequent bladder infection, and irritable bladder (interstitial cystitis)
- Menstrual irregularities
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Depression
- Lack of focus
- Allergies
- Poor immune function
- Chemical sensitivities
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Toenail fungus
- Cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods
Diet Matters
When it comes to microorganisms, there are really only two dietary options: either you feed the good bugs, or you feed the bad ones. It sounds simplistic, but the reality is, every bite of food you put in your mouth is tipping the balance one way or the other. So what foods are best if you want to clear up a fungus infection? Which ones should you avoid?
Foods And Chemicals To Avoid
- Sugary foods. These include lollies or candy (obvious culprits!), jams, cakes and pies, and rich condiments and sauces.
- Avoid highly processed foods. These include processed meats, baked goods, and anything with white flour in it.
- Try to stay away from yeasty foods. These include bread, spreads, cakes and anything else made with yeasts or raising agents.
- Avoid the use of antibiotics, hormones, and steroids if at all possible.
- Try not to eat members of the fungi family such as mushrooms.
- Don’t eat mouldy foods such as certain types of cheese.
Foods To Eat
- Whole foods – foods that are as unprocessed and unaltered as possible.
- Fruit in moderation, as it contains fructose, which in large amounts could feed a fungus infection.
- Fermented foods (see above)
- Always wash fresh foods well to remove any chemical contamination or any fungus spores that might be present.
- Eat organic foods if possible.
Try A Challenge
You can try a challenge diet. Eliminate all foods that you should avoid for five days. Note how you are feeling when you are not eating those foods. Are you feeling better? Has there been a change in your symptoms?
Next, on day six, eat the foods that you have been avoiding. What happens? Do you feel worse? Have more symptoms? If so, this is a good indication that you might benefit from an antifungal diet for a few months or more.
Additional Help
Although changing your diet might help, you could still find that it’s not enough. You might need extra help from antifungals, in the form of herbal remedies, or a pharmacy drug such as Nystatin. Just be aware – if you have great success in killing off the excess fungus in your body, it could cause symptoms of “die off” – a reaction to toxins released by the fungus as it dies. This can make you feel quite awful for a while. It’s best to start the antifungal diet a week or so before you try anything else, to give your body a head start on dealing with the problem by itself.
Herbal Antifungals
- Wild oregano oil. This is a potent antifungal but should be used with care because it is so strong.
- Garlic is good for your immune system and is a powerful antifungal
- Citrus Seed Extract – the power is in the phytochemicals, which have been found to have strong antifungal properties
- Berberine
- The tannins found in bark and tea leaves are useful for their antimicrobial properties
Take A Probiotic
One of the best ways to help your microbiome get back on track is to take a good quality probiotic. While the jury is still out as to whether these microorganisms actually repopulate a depleted microbiome, it has been established that they are beneficial to the bugs already there, although more research needs to be conducted as to how this actually works. Choose a probiotic that has a high microorganism count (the higher the better), and one with a variety of strains.
Fungus Be Gone!
While the symptoms of a fungus infection can make you miserable, you don’t have to live with it for the rest of your life. Take charge, evict the intruders, and you will soon find that you are feeling much better.
Further reading:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/fungal-infections-skin
Fungi are all around us. In fact, they are part of our microbiome – the trillions of microscopic flora and fauna that enable us to exist, doing many things for us that we are unable to do for ourselves. In small quantities, fungus is harmless, and in some cases may even be beneficial. It is when the microbiome gets out of balance and fungus begins to rule that there are problems, leading to an outbreak of fungal infections.
Those Pesky Fungal Infections
Fungal infections can affect the skin, the genitals, and various internal organs, depending on the type of fungus. One of the most common is candida albicans, which can cause infections in the mouth, genitals, and under fingernails and toenails. Tinea is a different kind of infection that causes itching, peeling skin, and bleeding on the feet and hands. On the rest of the body, it presents as ringworm – which is not a worm at all!
So what causes fungal outbreaks? Are they just a random event?
Look After Your Resident Bugs
The answer lies in the health of the microbiome. When it is in balance, the good microorganisms keep the potentially troublesome ones (such as fungi) under control. Immune dysfunction comes about when the microbiome balance is altered – through foods that are unfriendly, stress, alcohol, harmful chemicals, smoking, and the use of antibiotics. These things are deadly to the good bugs in your body, and the result is often that the harmful ones flourish instead.
So what can you do about that toenail fungus?
On The Outside
1. Tea tree oil.
This powerful antifungal substance can be used on the affected area several times a day. A little goes a long way, so you don’t need much. (Avoid using tea tree oil if you are pregnant).
2. Wild Oregano Oil
This is another very potent antifungal agent. You can use equal parts wild oregano and olive oils, and dab it on the affected area. Be sure to get the wild oregano oil, as standard oregano oil is different and you won’t get the results. Also be sure to buy pure oil with no alcohol or additives.
3. Plain Yoghurt.
The probiotics in yoghurt will help to bring the fungus under control. In the case of nail infections, you can apply the yoghurt as a paste, cover with a sock or glove, and leave for thirty minutes. Then rinse and pat dry – do this two or three times a day until the infection clears. In the case of vaginal infections, use a tampon dipped in yoghurt, and leave in for two hours.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
You can dilute apple cider vinegar by using equal amounts of vinegar and water, then apply directly to the affected area. Leave it on for thirty minutes, or soak the affected area for thirty minutes, then pat dry. Do this several times a day until the infection is gone.
5. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has excellent antifungal properties and is so mild that it can be used all over the body without harm, even internally. Rub the oil onto the affected area several times a day until the infection is gone. In the case of a vaginal infection, soak a tampon in the oil, and leave in for two hours. Rinse the area with warm water afterwards.
On The Inside
1. Raw Foods
Get that microbiome in great shape by including lots of raw foods in your diet. A healthy microbiome means that fungal infections will be kept under control, and the good bugs love raw foods, especially those full of “fermentable fibre”, such as carrots, celery, green beans and leafy greens.Sometimes known as prebiotics, these foods create the right environment for the “good bugs” to grow and multiply.
2. Garlic
Garlic is a useful antifungal food, inside and outside. Include some with your meals to strengthen your immunity from the inside out, and to help keep fungal infections under control.
3. Probiotics
Include a good quality probiotic supplement in your antifungal arsenal. The best time to take it is with food, or half an hour before eating, so it does its job as your food is digesting. Taking it after a meal renders it less effective.
4. Wild Oregano Oil
This potent oil is useful internally as well as externally. Add 3 – 5 drops to a glass of water and drink. It’s quite strong, so you might prefer to add it to juice. Seek professional advice before giving to children, and avoid this method of use with a child. Stop taking once the infection has cleared.
5. Olive Leaf
Take two spoons of the tincture a day, or make a tea out of the dried leaves, and drink two cups daily. This will strengthen your immune system and give all those good bugs a boost in their fight against fungal infections.
6. Fermented Foods
Fermented foods such as yoghurt, miso, fermented vegetables (kim – chi), sauerkraut, pickles and kefir are invaluable in keeping your microbiome in top shape so they can keep fungal infections under control. Include them regularly in your diet, and your body will thank you.
[contact-form]You wake up feeling blue, and you don’t know why. You’re starting to wonder if you have something wrong with you – but you don’t have any specific symptoms. You feel anxious, with no real cause for anxiety. All of this is quite worrying, and from your belly up, you feel miserable. Does this sound familiar?
Perhaps the answer does indeed arise from your belly up. Exciting new research reveals that the brain is more closely connected to the gut than previously thought. Of particular interest to researchers is the connection between gut microbes and their effect on the brain. Previously thought to have a different system of immunity to the rest of the body, it’s now believed that the brain shares many of its immune responses with the rest of the body. This means that what is happening in the gut directly affects the brain, via the enteric nervous system, known as the gut-brain axis, which is the communication pathway between gut and brain.
Researchers, scientists, and medical professionals are excited by a new find: a network of lymphatic vessels in the meninges of the brain, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Previously, it was believed that no such structure existed, and thus the brain was without a lymphatic system – an important part of the immune system in other parts of the body. The discovery of this structure means that in the future we will know a lot more about the connection between the gut and the brain, and how they share immune information, responses – and failures. The implications for the treatment of previously difficult – to – treat medical conditions is huge.
Two Brains
Researchers have known for a while that we have “two brains” – many of the cells found in the brain are also found in the lining of the gut, forming an extensive network of neurons that are part of the enteric nervous system. Neurotransmitters enable the “two brains” to talk to each other, and this is why we can be physically sick from anxiety or get butterflies in the stomach when we are nervous.
Obviously, the “belly brain” is not capable of conscious thought, or rational decision making, or making moral choices. Its task is more concerned with physiological matters – the immune response to an invader, for example. It’s this immune connection that has researchers excited; for decades there has been a puzzling but undiscovered relationship between autoimmune disorders and mental health conditions. In understanding the immune link between the belly up to the brain, it is hoped that effective treatments can be found for some of the most troublesome conditions on the planet.
Diseases That Defy Doctors – Until Now
As early as the 1930s, researchers were aware of a link between abnormal immune patterns and mental health issues such as schizophrenia. In more recent times, research indicates a strong connection between autism and compromised gut health. Multiple sclerosis has long been associated with an altered immune function, and inflammatory gut disorders such as Crohn’s disease have had a long-established relationship with mental health conditions. Many experts now believe that some forms of depression trace their origins to gut health. Alzheimer’s disease is currently being studied, to examine a suspected link between the collection of amyloid plaque in the brain, and the immune dysfunction believed to be responsible.
Immune System Failures
When your immune system fails, it’s often because things aren’t right in your gut. If your microbiome is out of kilter, bad bacteria can take over because there are not enough good ones to keep them under control. These bad bacteria can escape through the walls of the bowel. They enter the bloodstream, where they are able to communicate with the brain through the cells in blood vessel walls. The brain can then be under siege by bad bacteria that are out of control. Experts also believe that it’s possible for bad bacteria to communicate directly with some cells in the brain. Of particular interest are areas of the brain associated with emotions and stress – often immune system failures occur during times of stress and emotional upheaval. 
This system is a two-way street: the brain can directly influence the makeup of the microbiome, and in turn, the microbiome produces chemicals and metabolites (the by-products of digestion) which influence the brain. Good health – or bad health – can go either way: from the belly up or from the brain down.
Belly Up Healing
In the growing field of Nutritional Psychiatry, an awareness is emerging: the critical role food plays in mental health. Through this complex system of the microbiome, the gut, and immune responses, what you eat is important. Very important. In reality, probably more important than any other method of managing the symptoms of some mental health conditions, because it strikes at the very root of the problem. Keeping symptoms under control with medication masks the underlying condition. A holistic approach calls for addressing the cause of the problem rather than just treating the most obvious symptoms, and the same applies to other conditions that are not specifically labelled mental health conditions.
Scientists have discovered what they call a positive feedback loop between your microbiome and the foods you crave – your internal flora and fauna are demanding to be fed. Got sugar cravings? You probably have an army of Candida organisms ordering lunch. Craving healthy foods? Your good bacteria are hungry. Look after them, and they will look after you.
The good news is, even after long periods of poor health, or specific conditions, the body is very resilient. When you give it the right conditions for healing, you can improve your health from your belly up to your brain.
Better Food, Better Mood: Heal Your Condition
One of the most crucial aspects of healing your gut-brain health is giving your microbiome the right conditions for good health.
The Dos
- Include fermented foods in your diet, such as fermented vegetables, sauerkraut, unsweetened yoghurt, kefir, and miso. Fermented vegetables, in particular, are a great source of good bacteria, and you should aim to eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup every day. If you suffer from a compromised immune system and microbiome, you might need to start with a teaspoon or less. Build up the amount you eat gradually to avoid gut chaos.
- Include prebiotic foods in your diet. These are foods with high levels of naturally occurring fibre. When your body breaks down this fibre, fermentation occurs, which produces by-products that feed your microbiome. These foods include celery, chicory, bananas, almonds, greens, leeks and legumes.
Avoid Processed and Treated Food and Drinks
- Avoid microbiome – destroyers. These include sugary foods (starve that Candida into submission!), and processed foods, which contain a whole host of no-nos: preservatives, colours, flavours, chemicals, additives, and empty calories. It also includes High Fructose Corn Syrup, which is potentially devastating for your hormones, especially insulin. Artificial sweeteners are in the same category of troublemakers.
- Avoid drinking chlorinated water. Chlorine kills off bad bugs in the water supply, but in the process, it kills off your good bacteria. Invest in a good quality filter, and ban chlorine.
- Go easy on the red meat, especially if you don’t know if it has been contaminated with antibiotics, which indiscriminately kill off both good and bad bacteria. Studies show that eating a lot of red meat can increase the bad bacteria in your gut, creating a direct link between gut organisms and an increased risk of heart disease.
Gluten, Dairy & Soy are Suspects Too
- Avoid gluten, which can cause leaky gut syndrome, over time leading to all kinds of inflammation-related problems. If you suffer from tummy problems but don’t know why, consider gluten: it’s one of the worst offenders. From the belly up to the brain, it affects your whole system.
- Dairy is another offender. While not a problem for everyone, if your immune system is overreacting or not working as well as it should, it’s worth considering as a culprit. It can be harmful to the microbiome, so minimise it even if you don’t have a problem with intolerance. Gut imbalances caused by dairy lead to inflammation, poor digestion, and excess insulin production, leading to weight gain.
- Avoid GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), which often contain substances that are hard to digest, or are harmful to digestion. Much of the corn and soybeans we eat are GMOs, and it can sneak into food without us noticing. Read those labels!
- Be wary of soy. As a staple food in Asia, it is usually fermented, helping to break down phytic acid. Naturally occurring toxins cause bloating, gas, and also cause concern for thyroid health.
New Pathways
Research is taking us on a journey down new pathways, with new finds constantly arising. Anyone who thinks that we already know everything about the human body is in for a surprise. Vast new fields of discovery await, with life-changing potential for people suffering from previously incurable conditions. From the belly up to the brain is incredibly important for good health. Isn’t the body amazing?
References:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/important-link-between-the-brain-and-immune-system-found/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/06/25/brain-immune-system-connection.aspx
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/
http://www.redbookmag.com/body/healthy-eating/advice/g2395/bad-foods-for-gut-health/?slide=10
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