B-12 ~ Why you NEED it.

Crohns, Colitis, IBD patients ability to absorb B-12 is greatly diminished. Did you know B-12 is produced in the ileum?
Unfortunately many Crohns patients have had that part of bowel surgically removed, therefore it is critical to supplement.

I've researched and found what I believe to be the best buy on the market.

How you can get more out of life ....

The B vitamins help you feel energized, focused and upbeat – when you feel like this, life is fuller and happier. If you’re not already feeling this way, you might be missing an elegantly simple solution. 

Why B vitamins are so essential to your wellness ......

Your brain and nervous system must have sufficient quantities of B vitamins to function properly. Yet as you age, your body’s ability to absorb B vitamins diminishes.
Furthermore, many other risk factors in your life can deplete your body’s Vitamin B reserves even more. When this happens, many undesirable health problems can occur, such as


Brain erosion

Depression

Personality change

Heart disease

Dementia...and more. 

Another one of the better known health problems related to Vitamin B-12 deficiency is anemia.
In this condition, your blood is low on healthy, oxygen-carrying, red blood cells. This results in all sorts of other problems, including a chronic feeling of tiredness. And anemia is more common than you might think: 

According to the National Anemia Action Council, over 3 million Americans have been diagnosed as anemic, and millions more could be undiagnosed or at great risk.
If you know someone who is battling anemia, then read more about it and a wonderful potential solution using Vitamin B-12. 

Memory loss, lack of focus, mental confusion, brain fog -- many people are also affected by these conditions, especially as they age.
And the loss of mental abilities such as memory and concentration, are one of the more fearful aspects of growing older. Yet for so many, their fears could be put to rest with a solution as simple as using a more powerful form of Vitamin B-12. 

The best B vitamin option .....

Basically, there are three ways to get more B vitamins into your system and meet your body’s
Vitamin B needs:

(1) diet, 

(2) B-12 shots

(3) vitamin supplements. 

Diet – for so many people, this doesn’t work due to a variety of factors such as stress, prescription medications, "digestive disorders" and even growing older.

B-12 shots – these also don’t work for many people because of their great inconvenience, pain and expense.

Vitamin Supplements – these tablets are handy in that they are readily available, primarily through daily multi-vitamins, B vitamin complexes and finally, sublingual B vitamin formulations.
The problem with most supplements, however, is that they need to be swallowed. This method reduces both the speed and the potency of the B vitamins entering your body’s system.

In contrast, the sublingual method (tablet under the tongue) is vastly superior.

When you consider the above assessment, it’s clear that the sublingual method is the best way to meet and maintain your body’s crucial B vitamin needs.
But to maximize this advantage, you also need the best type of sublingual B vitamin supplement available. 

TriVita Sublingual B-12 is that supplement. That’s because our Sublingual B-12 supplements use the original, patented Sublingual B-12 process invented by Dr. Libby. It’s available exclusively from TriVita. 

Dr. Libby … a preeminent nutraceutical pioneer … a holder of five doctorate degrees … and a long-time associate of two-time Nobel Prize Laureate, Dr. Linus Pauling. 


Experience Dr. Libby’s original, patented sublingual process for yourself – order our Original or Super Sublingual B-12 today.


Discounted ordering for readers of this blog

Sign the Petition to Pre- Approve Pain Medication for Crohn's Disease

Change.org Federal-and-local-drug-enforcement-administration-pre-approve-pain-medication-for-crohns-disease

Sign the Petition to Pre- Approve Pain Medication for Crohn's Disease

H2Change.org Federal-and-local-drug-enforcement-administration-pre-approve-pain-medication-for-crohns-disease

The Crohn's News Blog: Featuring the latest research about Crohn's disease and and the coolest digestive facts

The Crohn's News Blog: Featuring the latest research about Crohn's disease and and the coolest digestive facts

Crohns News and Views Updates. Subscribe and add comments to the blog.

Who is affected by Crohn’s Disease (Demographics)

About half a million Americans, or 7 people out of every 100,000 have Crohn’s disease. Of these, about 4% are children under age 5, and 10% are under age 18. Most people are diagnosed with the disease between ages 15 and 35, although they may have had the disease before that. In the United States the rate of Crohn’s disease has been increasing since the 1950s.

Although most common among non-Hispanic whites, the rate of Crohn’s disease among American blacks, especially urban blacks, has been steadily increasing. Jews who trace their ancestry middle Europe are 2-4 times more likely to develop the disease than the general white population or Jews who trace their origins to other regions. Internationally, Crohn’s disease is rare in Africa, Asia, and South America. It is more common in urban areas than in rural areas, suggesting that environment plays a role in the disease.

David Garrard and Congressman Crenshaw fight Crohn's disease

David Garrard and Congressman Crenshaw fight Crohn's disease

Phases of Crohns Disease/ IBS/IBD

PHASES of Crohns Disease

I just finishef posting on another board and I must say there are so many people with this dreaded illness.  

I've read all the different phases people are going through ;

First Anger that seems to linger

Second Hate, goes without saying

Third, Distrust of the medical professionals, understandable. 

Fourth, Confusion, from lack of information

Fifth, Denial, think they'll be the ones to beat it. 

Sixth, Depression, from hopelessness

Seventh, Frustration, from having a good day then next day bad. 

Eigth, Giving in, accepting this is the new way of life. 

Ninth, Taking ownership and dealing with it. 

Finally TENTH, being positive and all the other stages and living life anyway, the best they can. That's where we need to be!

Quizno's Special from Groupon

Heads up, we're running a deal with Quizno's tomorrow (Wednesday, May 18, 2011). For $26, consumers get eight regular-size subs at a location of their choice.

QUIZNO'S

Jordan Rubin's "New" Direct Sales - Organic Foods (Pre Launch Phase)

Beyond Organics

Independent Mission Partner

You can lock in your position as a Mission Marketer with Beyond Organic and now have the opportunity to invite others to become an Insider as well and officially start building your downline. You can build your downline by giving out your enroller code or by sending out your personal team building link. 

 As an Insider you will be one of the first to learn about and have a chance to try our delicious, nutrient rich products.

Our goal at Beyond Organic is to create a company that is focused on 3-dimensional success.

We want to make a difference in your life by empowering you to:

Change Your Diet… by consuming the world’s healthiest, sustainably produced foods and beverages.

Change Your Life… by getting educated on the foods & beverages that you consume daily and creating a residual income to help you achieve your goals and dreams.

Change Your World… by educating others about Beyond Organic and by partnering with domestic and international organizations around the world to provide food, shelter, and clothing to widows, orphans and those in need.

Therefore, as you begin to share this opportunity with others, you will want to make sure that you stay completely informed about the Beyond Organic products and mission. 

On the Beyond Organic Insider website you will find several videos by Jordan Rubin, which will help get you on your way to becoming a seasoned Mission Marketer.

Finally, on our website you will also find up-to-date information about our training events and online webinars, as well as opportunity presentations happening around the country.

Be sure to stay tuned as we approach our official launch in October 2011.

BEYOND ORGANICS INSIDER

Here's My Story - What's Yours?

FACEBOOK - Crohns News and Views

CROHNS NEWS AND VIEWS ON FACEBOOK

Hi everyone. Hope you'll had a pain free symptom free day.
I wanted to share some things that I've learned in managing Crohns that later became Colitis and Crohns.
First like many others here, I've lived with Crohns 25 years. Two yrs after diagnosed, had first bowel resection at common ileum bend. After that I was symptom free for exactly 10 years with no meds. I was young and rather ignored and neglected check ups.
Back to Gastro for emergency surgery and ever since spent time in and out of the hospital.
15 yrs in I had first ileostomy, second 17 yrs ( changed locations on abdomen) then 2 yrs ago colon removed.
Symptom free now and take no meds. I do swear by acidolphilus which helps me tremendously. Also I asked to maintain remission by getting remicade which my doctor agreed would be a good idea.
I have days zapped of energy but that's expected due to nutritional factors we share.
I keep telling people that I've always been on the good side of Crohns. I also avoid sugar ( carbs, starches) because It exacerbates flares. I've learned what I can eat and can't.
Back in the 80's I was told to avoid ruffage such as salads, broccoli, etc which I did. I now only avoid onions, nuts and corn. I am never without my 16 oz 2go cup courtesy of many hospital souvenirs.
Know that we dehydrate easily so get in the habit of drinking water all day if you don't already do so. You'll feel sick, lethargic and nauseous otherwise.
Above all stay positive. Visualization works. A great book to keep your hopes high is The Power of Positive Thinking. Order on amazon cheap.
When I tell my story, I get the usual , wow and sympathy comments. I tell everyone- that I'm playing the cards I was given. Someone else has a different set of cards to play. We all have "something".
A special note to remember is I'm not a doctor, I don't play one in real life but I do know better than any doctor what works for me. Amazingly my many doctors tell me I know more than they do. I think we all do. Trust your body and symptoms. Make mental notes of your good days, enjoy the he'll out of them and duplicate your eating and daily activity of that good day.
Don't forget beer and wine are loaded with sugar TRY to avoid. Smoke a toke instead lol. Did I just say that? Lol.

Healthy Days News

(HealthDay News) -- People with Crohn's disease -- a type of inflammatory bowel -- are prone to being malnourished.

The University of Maryland Medical Center offers these suggestions to help people with Crohn's better manage their diet:


Snack throughout the day on small amounts of food, rather than eating big meals.
Drink plenty of water.
Stay away from spicy foods, and stick to bland, softer offerings.
Steer clear of foods that are high in fiber, such as popcorn, seeds, beans, nuts and bran.
Don't eat foods that are greasy or fried, and avoid heavy and fattening sauces that contain cream, butter or margarine.
Restrict milk and dairy products if you are lactose intolerant.
Limit caffeine and alcohol.

Jordan Rubin- Gluten

From Jordan's Desk: Goodbye, Gluten. 

If eating conventional pasta, bread, crackers or other standard grain products create less-than-optimal gut responses, then you may suspect wheat as the culprit, but it may be gluten—the protein found in wheat, rye, barley and possibly oats.

For that reason and others, gluten has become a “sensitive topic.” In fact, an estimated one in 133 Americans has celiac disease, which occurs when ingesting gluten makes the immune system turn on the intestines by damaging the villi—tiny, fingerlike projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients from food.

That’s not to say that gluten in and of itself is inherently bad, but for those who are gluten-sensitive, it can turn ugly when gluten proteins and gluten-derived peptides encounter the immune system. For some, gluten intake—even in small amounts or from "hidden" gluten in foods and other products—can cause an immune response that attacks the gut and more. For those people, the body creates antibodies to fight off gluten, thinking it’s a foreign invader.

When the immune system attacks, it damages the small intestine’s membranes, leaving holes in the membranes that can let in large proteins. Once through the ravaged intestinal membranes, the large gluten molecules enter the bloodstream, which carries the gluten system-wide in the body. Wherever those gluten molecules settle in the body, that’s where the immune system attacks. That’s why those with gluten sensitivity can experience unhealthy effects in the intestines and even way beyond the gut—including malnutrition that can lead to anemia, osteoporosis, mental unhealth and more. 

Unfortunately, there may be as many as three million Americans who have celiac disease, but many may not even recognize it because it is so difficult to pin down. "It takes most adults about 12 years to get a definitive diagnosis of celiac disease," says Michelle Pietzak, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist and professor of pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.

Diagnosis has its own challenges. In the past, celiac disease was diagnosed by blood tests and intestinal biopsies, but those would turn up positive only if there was villi damage. Nowadays, however, there are less invasive tests that are much more expedient.

Celiacs aren’t the only ones dealing with this sensitive topic, though. As many as one in seven folks may have what’s termed Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or NCGS. For those with NCGS, celiac testing has turned up negative or inconclusive results, but they know something needs to change. Obviously, many with NCGS start by changing their diet. They avoid gluten at all costs. The problem, however, is that it’s easier said than done since gluten is in so many products including standard grain products, salad dressings, toothpastes, lipsticks and much more.

While NCGS is not celiac disease, it’s certainly not a lightweight problem. It may cause malabsorption, abdominal pain or distention, weight loss or weight gain, muscle wasting, peeling nails, bone pain, joint pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, nasal discharge and more.

For those with NCGS—and celiacs as well—lifelong, full removal of dietary gluten is important. For them, there’s no safe amount of gluten. They will need to keep a watchful eye, too, because studies indicate that amounts of gluten as low as 0.1 grams can lead to relapses and negative changes in intestinal tissue.

That’s why many are saying, “Goodbye, gluten.”

Gluten

GLUTEN

 

By Jenny Thompson

 

In patients with gluten sensitivity or full blown celiac disease, gluten reduces the small intestine's ability to absorb nutrients. But when you start looking for gluten in your diet, it's sort of like "Where's Waldo?" You know it's there, but it's often hard to spot.

Gluten is a component of several grains. As a primary ingredient of flour, gluten delivers protein and gives bread a higher rise.

Dr. Alan Spreen offers this acronym to help you remember the four primary sources of gluten: BROW. That's barley, rye, oat and wheat. If you're gluten sensitive, give those four a wide berth.

But gluten is often hidden in foods such as soups, soy sauce, low-fat or non-fat products, and even in candy. Which brings us to the problem in answering Panna's question. A list of every gluten product would fill a book.

But don't despair. The best way to steer clear of gluten (besides avoiding BROW) is to know what phrases and terminology to look for on ingredient panels.

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF), ingredients that may tip off hidden gluten content include:

Unidentified starch
Modified food starch
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
Hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP)
Texturized vegetable protein (TVP)
Malt and other natural flavorings
Binders, fillers, excipients, extenders
Note that the last item on that list would include certain dietary supplements and medications that use binders and fillers. This is one of the reasons you sometimes see the statement "no binders or fillers" printed on supplement containers

Artificial Sweetners and Your Health

A new study concludes that there could be negative consequences associated with artificial sugar substitutes -- including a much higher risk of strokes.

The study is somewhat controversial; some critics have argued that since the participants voluntarily reported how much diet soda they consumed, the results do not come from a rigorously controlled setting.

According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer:

"Researchers used voluntary participants to examine factors related to stroke and heart attacks. About 900 participants said they drank no diet soda, and about 160 said they consumed more than one diet soda every day."

Sources:

  Seattle Post Intelligencer February 10, 2011
  Paging Dr. Gupta February 10, 2011
 
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
    
 
 
These latest findings have not yet been published; the research was recently presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference.

However, it's still worth paying attention to, as there are already hundreds of published studies linking artificial sweeteners like aspartame to serious health complications. Cori Brackett's documentary film Sweet Misery -- is an excellent summary of the problems with aspartame. I believe it's one of the best documentaries out there on this topic.

This, however, is the first time diet soda consumption has been linked to an increased risk of strokes and other vascular events.

Can Diet Soda Really Raise Your Stroke Risk?

In this study, volunteers were followed for over 9 years. About 900 of them reported not drinking any diet soda, while about 160 reported drinking one or more diet sodas a day.  At the end, diet soda consumption, as well as salt intake, was linked to higher rates of strokes, heart attacks and other lethal vascular events.

In terms of salt intake, after close to 10 years, those consuming more than 4,000 mg of sodium per day doubled their risk of stroke compared to those consuming less than 1,500 mg per day.

As for diet soda, the researchers concluded that:

"This study suggests that diet soda is not an optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages, and may be associated with a greater risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death than regular soda."

While more research will likely be needed to confirm this potential link, there’s plenty of evidence showing that aspartame can be dangerous to your health. I believe aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous artificial sweetener on the market. Reports of adverse reactions to the US FDA also supports this, as aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA!

Long-term and Acute Adverse Effects of Aspartame

Acute reactions following aspartame ingestion, as reported to the FDA, include:

Headaches/migraines
Nausea
Abdominal pains
Fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain)
Sleep problems
Vision problems
Anxiety attacks
Depression
Asthma/chest tightness.
Studies have also linked aspartame consumption to a wide range of health problems, including but not limited to:

Emotional disorders
Epilepsy/seizures
Fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome
Parkinson’s disease
Memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease
Cancer
Premature birth, and birth defects
Pregnant Women Beware!

Pregnant women in particular need to beware of artificially sweetened beverages and foods as they can have an adverse effect not just on the mother, but also on the unborn child.

One of the most recent studies published on the health effects of aspartame revealed that daily intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks may increase the risk of preterm delivery by as much as 78 percent!

In response to these disturbing findings, some British public health experts are now advising pregnant women to avoid aspartame-containing foods and beverages to protect their unborn child, as preterm delivery exposes the baby to a number of health risks, not to mention staggering health care costs.

The researchers found that pregnant women who drank:

An average of just one diet soda per day increased their risk of going into labor before the 37th week by 38 percent.
Four or more diet sodas a day increased the risk of premature birth by 78 percent.
No link was found between sugar-sweetened beverages and preterm delivery.
So please, if you're pregnant, or planning a pregnancy, please consider avoiding ALL sources of aspartame and other artificial sweeteners, and if you know someone who is pregnant, please share this information with them too.

What Makes Aspartame so Dangerous?

Aspartame is made up of:

Phenylalanine: 50 percent
Methanol (aka wood alcohol/poison): 10 percent that is formed from breaking the ester bond linkage of aspartic acid and pheylalanine.
Each of these comes with its own set of health hazards, which you can read more about on my aspartame page. Additionally, diketopiperazine (DKP) is created as a byproduct of aspartame metabolism in your body, and DKP has been implicated in the occurrence of brain tumors.

Those who defend aspartame argue that phenylalanine and aspartic acid are a harmless and natural part of your diet. Indeed, both of these amino acids can be found in most of the protein foods you eat.  However, phenylalanine and aspartic acid  can only be considered natural and harmless when they are consumed in combination with other amino acids in the correct ratios and not as isolated amino acids.,

When they are consumed as free amino acids not part of food, they enter your central nervous system in abnormally high concentrations, causing excessive firing of brain neurons and potential cell death. This concept has been termed "excitotoxicity" by Dr. Russell Blaylock, a prominent neurosurgeon.

There are close to 500 scientific references showing how excess free excitatory amino acids, such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid (about 99 percent of MSG is glutamic acid) in our food supply causes serious chronic neurological disorders and a myriad of other acute symptoms.

Again, going back to the dangers of  aspartame during pregnancy, it's important to know that the blood brain barrier, which normally protects your brain from excess glutamate and aspartate (as well as other toxins), is not fully developed during the fetal period and childhood, so the risks are significantly magnified during that time.

Other high-risk categories include the elderly, and those with certain chronic health problems.

Are Your Health Problems Related to Aspartame Consumption?

You might not realize you're having a reaction to aspartame. In fact, most people don't make the connection, and a tremendous amount of time and money is spent by aspartame "reactors" (people sensitive to the chemical), trying to find out why they are sick.

To determine if you're a reactor, take the following steps:

Eliminate all artificial sweeteners from your diet two weeks. (Note: If you typically consume aspartame in caffeinated drinks, you'll want to gradually reduce your intake in order to avoid caffeine withdrawal symptoms.)
After two weeks of being artificial sweetener-free, reintroduce aspartame in a significant quantity (about three servings daily) and avoid other artificial sweeteners during this period.
Do this for one to three days and notice how you feel, especially as compared to when you were consuming no artificial sweeteners.
If you don't notice a difference in how you feel after re-introducing aspartame, it's a safe bet you're able to tolerate aspartame acutely, meaning your body doesn't have an immediate, adverse response. However, this doesn't mean your health won't be damaged in the long run by this chemical and its breakdown products.
For more information on the dangers of aspartame, visit http://aspartame.mercola.com.

Probiotics AND Prebiotics- What are they?

Each year, 3.8 million men and 3.4 million women die from heart disease around the world, and at least 90 million people in the US alone report having chronic illnesses like infections, diabetes and cancer.
These figures are astonishing, but the medical community has learned about a new way to reduce risk for coronary heart disease and to boost immunity at the same time.

The humble onion is actually a natural prebiotic- it can feed the friendly bacteria, or probiotics in your gut without encouraging the growth of harmful pathogens.
Prebiotics are one of the newest fields of nutritional research and offer promising benefits for your heart, your immunity and more. Prebiotics stimulate the growth of healthy microflora that populate your large intestine. When these healthy microflora (beneficial bacteria) are allowed to flourish, they help keep you healthy and strong.
Due to stress, the Standard American Diet (full of processed foods and sugar), lifestyle choices and regular use of antibiotics and other drugs, you may be lacking the microflora your body needs to maintain healthy digestion, to fight illness and disease, and to make sure your body gets all the nutrients it needs.
And just as important, if parents lack a healthy inner ecosystem, they may pass this on to their children, setting the stage for a whole generation with lowered 

Prebiotics and Probiotics
In a healthy body, your inner ecosystem contains enough good bacteria (microflora or probiotics) to outnumber the bad and help maintain control over them. Probiotics may be a buzzword in the health and wellness industry, but you need to consume plenty of prebiotics, to ensure you have enough probiotics populating your gut.
Prebiotics are derived from insoluble fiber and fructooligosaccharides or FOS (carbohydrate molecules made up of a relatively small number of simple sugars).
If you make fermented foods and drinks at home, you know that you have to add a prebiotic, like honey or EcoBloom, as food for the microflora.
While sweets like honey feed yeast and are not recommended on the Body Ecology program, the microflora in our Body Ecology fermented food and drink Starters "eat" the sugar up in the fermentation process, leaving us with all the healthy benefits of fermented foods.
In fact, the combination of prebiotics and probiotics, as in fermented foods and drinks, have a combined beneficial or synbiotic effect for your health, which is why these foods and drinks are emphasized on the Body Ecology program.
In your body, prebiotics nourish the microflora (probiotics) and encourage them to work more efficiently, keeping you healthy and strong. The synbiotic effect from fermented foods and drinks means that not only do they help populate your intestines with beneficial bacteria, they also help improve the survival, implantation and growth of newly added microflora strains.
Once you've re-established your healthy inner ecosystem and have conquered viral, bacterial and fungal infections, you can add naturally sweet foods, like fruit, to your diet, which will also feed the microflora in your gut.
Until then, you have better choices for prebiotics, which I will outline below.

Types of Prebiotics
Anything with sugar in it can be a prebiotic, since microflora love to consume sugars.
Inulin - Inulin is found in 36,000 plants such as:
Herbs - chicory root, burdock root and dandelion root
Fruits - such as apples, bananas
Sweet vegetables - such as onions, garlic, asparagus, leeks and Jerusalem artichokes
Raw apple cider vinegar
EcoBloom - Body Ecology's prebiotic dietary fiber supplement
§ Mother's milk for babies
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a subgroup of inulin, is also a prebiotic and is often added to dairy foods and baked goods. It improves the taste and stimulates the growth of the beneficial bacteria, bifidobacteria.
Dairy products - studies are starting to show that lactose may be considered a prebiotic.1

What Can Prebiotics Do For You?

Heart Health
Prebiotics have been shown to moderate cholesterol and triglyceride levels- both indicators of heart disease. Specifically, one study shows that inulin can reduce artherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries by 30%.

As heart disease becomes more widespread among men and women, new approaches to treatment and prevention that do not involve medications are proving to be effective and have the added benefit of being side effect free, unless you count improved health as a side effect!
Immunity

From an immunity standpoint, who doesn't want to feel better and get sick less often? In preliminary research, prebiotics boost white blood cells and killer T cells, and may even improve your body's response to vaccinations. 

Children in one test group who ate yogurt containing inulin had fewer daycare absences, fewer doctor visits and took fewer antibiotics.
Chronic Illness and Digestion

Because prebiotics act in your intestines, they have a profound effect on the pathogens and bad bacteria in your body that can cause disease. 

NOTE;
Prebiotics are being used to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn's Disease, and may also prove useful for treating cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes.

Prebiotics and Body Ecology
Think of a fish tank: to keep your fish healthy, you need to keep their environment clean and give them food. Microflora are very similar: they need water and prebiotics (food), and since they are anaerobic, they do not like oxygen.
Pathogenic yeast (like the fungal infection, candidiasis) also feast on sugars and starches that easily break down into simple sugars. So the key is to focus on prebiotics that don't feed these pathogens so you can encourage the growth of friendly microflora.
I created the gluten-free, casein-free, sugar-free Body Ecology system to starve pathogenic and infection-causing organisms while simultaneously feeding immune-enhancing good bacteria. So how do you feed the microflora but starve the pathogens (like candida)?
Fermented Foods & Drinks - The Body Ecology program has a large array of fermented foods and drinks that you can choose from to get the synbiotic effect of prebiotics and probiotics. In the intitial stage of the Body Ecology program, here are some options: cultured vegetables, Coco-Biotic and Young Coconut Kefir. 

In the later stages (after about 3 months or when you conquer candida and your inner ecosystem is re-established), add milk kefir and fermented soyfoods (like natto, miso and wheat-free tamari).
Sour Fruit - In early stages of the Body Ecology program when your inner ecosystem is still being recolonized by good bacteria, take special care to avoid all sugars, even natural ones found in fruits. Initially, we recommend only these sour fruits: lemons, limes, unsweetened black currants and unsweetened cranberries.
Gluten-Free Grains - While grains like wheat act as prebiotics, they also feed yeast. Body Ecology grain-like seeds (amaranth, quinoa, millet and buckwheat) are gluten-free alternatives that act as prebiotics AND don't feed pathogenic yeast. For more information on our recommended grains, read: The Risks of Choosing Typical Grains and the Healthy Grains to Choose Instead.
Sweet Vegetables - Vegetables are 80% of the Body Ecology Diet, so you can eat plenty of asparagus, leeks, onions, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes and other sweet vegetables to feed healthy microflora without feeding pathogenic yeast.

GLUTEN FREE "Challenge".

GLUTEN FREE FOODS
Onion, garlic, leeks, Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus, chicory root, jicama, dandelion, banana, agave, jams, Prebiotin

MILK PRODUCTS
Whole, low fat, skim, dry, evaporated or condensed milk; buttermilk; cream; whipping cream; Velveeta cheese food; American cheese; all aged cheese such as Cheddar, Swiss, Edam and Parmesan
 
MEATS and byproducts
100% meat (no grain additives); seafood; poultry (breaded with pure cornmeal, potato flour or rice flour); peanut butter; eggs; dried beans or peas; pork

BREADS
Cream of rice; cornmeal; hominy; rice; wild rice; gluten-free noodles; rice wafers; pure corn tortillas; specially prepared breads made with corn, rice, potato, soybean, tapioca, arrowroot, carob, buckwheat, millet, amaranth and quinoa flour

FATS AND OILS
Butter, margarine, vegetable oil, shortening, lard
 
FRUITS
Plain, fresh, frozen, canned or dried fruit; all fruit juices

VEGETABLES
Fresh, frozen or canned vegetables; white and sweet potatoes; yams

SNACKS AND DESSERTS
Brown and white sugar, rennet, fruit whips, gelatin, jelly, jam, honey, molasses, pure cocoa, fruit ice, carob

BEVERAGES
Tea, carbonated beverages (except root beer), fruit juices, mineral and carbonated waters, wines, instant or ground coffee

THICKENING AGENTS
Gelatin, arrowroot starch; corn flour germ or bran; potato flour; potato starch flour; rice bran and flour; rice polish; soy flour; tapioca, sago

CONDIMENTS
Gluten-free soy sauce, distilled white vinegar, olives, pickles, relish, ketchup

SEASONINGS
Salt, pepper, herbs, flavored extracts, food coloring, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, cream of tartar, monosodium glutamate

"Sample Menu"
BREAKFAST
Cream of rice - 1/2 cup
Skim milk - 1 cup
Banana - 1 medium
Orange juice - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1 tsp

LUNCH
Baked chicken - 3 oz
Rice - 1/2 cup
Green beans - 1/2 cup
Apple juice - 1/2 cup
Ice cream - 1/2
* Ice cream should be made 
   without wheat stabilizers.

DINNER
Sirloin steak - 3 oz
Baked potato - 1 medium
Peas - 1/2 cup
Fruit gelatin - 1/2 cup
Butter - 1 Tbsp
Tea - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 tsp


"MAY" CONTAIN GLUTEN
Sour cream, commercial chocolate milk and drinks, non-dairy creamers, all other cheese products, yogurt

Meat patties; canned meat; sausages; cold cuts; bologna; hot dogs; stew; hamburger; chili; commercial omelets, souffles, fondue; soy protein meat substitutes

Packaged rice mixes, cornbread, ready-to-eat cereals containing malt flavoring

Salad dressings, non-dairy creamers, mayonnaise

Vegetables with sauces, commercially prepared vegetables and salads, canned baked beans, pickles, marinated vegetables, commercially seasoned vegetables

Custards, puddings, ice cream, ices, sherbet, pie fillings, candies, chocolate, chewing gum, cocoa, potato chips, popcorn

Cocoa mixes, root beer, chocolate drinks, nutritional supplements, beverage mixes

Commercially prepared soups, broths, soup mixes, boullion cubes

Flavoring syrups (for pancakes or ice cream), mayonnaise, horseradish, salad dressings, tomato sauces, meat sauce, mustard, taco sauce, soy sauce, chip dips

All medicines - Check with pharmacist or pharmaceutical company.

DOES CONTAIN GLUTEN
Croquettes, breaded fish, chicken loaves made with bread or bread crumbs, breaded or floured meats, meatloaf, meatballs, pizza, ravioli, any meat or meat substitute, rye, barley, oats, gluten stabilizers

Breads, buns, rolls, biscuits, muffins, crackers and cereals containing wheat, wheat germ, oats, barley, rye, bran, graham flour, malt; kasha; bulgur; Melba toast; matzo; bread crumbs; pastry; pizza dough; regular noodles, spaghetti, macaroni and other pasta; rusks; dumplings; zwieback; pretzels; prepared mixes for waffles and pancakes; bread stuffing or filling

Cakes, cookies, doughnuts, pastries, dumplings, ice cream cones, pies, prepared cake and cookie mixes, pretzels, bread pudding

Postum™, Ovaltine™, malt-containing drinks, cocomalt, beer, ale

Wheat starch; all flours containing wheat, oats, rye, malt, barley or graham flour; all-purpose flour; white flour; wheat flour; bran; cracker meal; durham flour; wheat germ