Why I Don’t Have Fermented Food on My Blog – Part 2
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So today I’m continuing the story of my looong path of trying to get fermented foods into my diet.
In Part One of Why I Don’t Have Fermented Food on My Blog, you read of my ups and downs with gut health and itching and my basically throwing in the towel numerous times as I tried to add these “health foods” to my diet–
–and failed time and time again.
I can be really stubborn.
About some things.
First of all, I’m sure any of you long-time followers are happy to see that Part Two is done already. Sometimes life and stuff gets in the way and I don’t finish my series as quickly as I would like to (like with my Could You Have Heavy Metal Poisoning and Not Know It? series that has yet to be continued.)
Sigh.
Please forgive me for being a real person who doesn’t always have her act together :-).
So let’s move on. Today’s post is another longish one. Stick with me. This is good stuff.
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Fermented Drink Trial #6
aka The Big Guns
I told you in Part One that I was given the chance of a lifetime while trying to sort out fermented foods and my health.
I got to talk with an expert in superfoods and probiotics to see what he thought about my situation.
I figured he’d be super busy and I’d get about 5-10 minutes, but I got over an hour.
And this was not just some health food guy who thinks probiotics are important.
This is the man who developed the fermented superfood powder that I’d been taking since July 2012.
His name is Czerral, and here’s just a peek at his resume:
- in 1979 became well known for his role in bringing spirulina to the world market
- in 1994, he introduced the first and only “Certified Organic Spirulina” to the
Southern Hemisphere
Pretty impressive, no?
I went through the whole sad story with him–my adrenal and candida issues, and how I’d tried over and over again to add fermented foods to my diet with no luck.
His thinking?
Histamine or Die-off?
This is really interesting.
Czerral said that it was unlikely that I was reacting to the powdered superfood probiotic (or that I would react to the liquid one) because:
1. The probiotic powder and the drink are made up of foods.
2. They are fermented in a similar manner to how the foods are dealt with in the body, so the resulting product is predigested foods that have been acted upon by bacteria similar to how our body digests them.
3. The probiotics are both fermented in carefully controlled environments to make sure the resulting products are pure and not contaminated with stray yeasts or bacteria.
So unless you react to the foods in the probiotics, you shouldn’t react to the probiotics.
(And even then, since the foods are predigested, people often can tolerate the foods in these products even if they are sensitive to them.)
The Plan for Introducing Fermented Foods
Czerral said I should “pound the heck out of my gut with a heavy saturation of good bacteria (yes, those were his words–I took a lot of notes :-).)
The powder I was already taking (InLiven) was good, but he recommended a liquid (Fast Tract) that has higher bacteria counts so it would have a more intensive effect on my gut.
Here are the nuts and bolts of his recommendation:
1. Buy 4 bottles of Fast Tract (not quite the boatload I mentioned in Part One)
2. Drink 1 bottle per week–Each bottle is supposed to last for 1 month. Talk about flooding my system, huh?
His thinking was that my gut is still really overrun with the “bad guys” and that I needed to totally overwhelm them with beneficial bacteria to get my gut back in balance.
Well, I was pretty nervous about it.
Nervous about
- spending the money (I’m
cheap-er-frugal, remember?), and - about what I might experience (I’d had enough bad experiences with itching and the like. If I drink a whole bottle in a week, what might happen to me? Might I become one giant itching, flaky mess?)
I talked it over with my husband, and we decided to purchase 1 bottle for a trial run to make sure it didn’t kill me.
Really, I’m kidding, but I was worried about spending a bunch of money and not being able to use the product.
So, I bought it.
And drank it.
The Results of Intense Fermented Food Trial
I started with about 1/2 the daily dose.
I had a pretty intense reaction immediately.
Bad, bad itching in my ears.
Then–nothing. No other itching or side effects.
The bad itching happened once or twice over the next few days, immediately after taking the probiotic drink. But after about 2 weeks, the ear itching is almost gone. And they aren’t really peeling much anymore either.
I kept upping the dose a little and eventually got brave and just downed the daily dose plus a little.
And I’m taking the full dose of the fermented superfood powdered probiotic on alternating days, with no bad effects.
And–I’m having a few swigs of water kefir (homemade) now and then.
Hmmmmm.
I’m thinking that the candida bugs are on their way out and that if I give them “The Big Guns” (the 4 bottles) I just might have a renewed gut.
I’m getting pretty excited about this.
What’s Next?
Flooding My Gut with Probiotics & An Opportunity for You
Now that I’ve seen that I am tolerating these fermented food probiotics, I am going to order those 4 bottles (not a boatload, but a small bucket’s-worth) and start “pounding the heck” out of my bad bacteria with a flood of the good guys.
And I have more planned in the way of fermenting.
I am starting some home ferments and will be doing more. And I will be sharing with you as I learn.
But what’s next for you is a great deal and a great opportunity.
I arranged for you to be able to hear from and ask questions of Czerral in a live teleseminar.
Czerral was the maker of InLiven and Fast Tract, two food-based probiotics from Miessence, a company that I have been learning more about for awhile now (InLiven is the superfood probiotic and Fast Tract is their liquid “Big Guns” that I am going to be flooding my gut with. Lookout, bad guys, here it comes!)
I interviewed Czerral about
- what probiotics are
- why we need them
- when to take them (time of day/with food or without)
- genetically modified probiotics (for real. GMOs are everywhere)
- and more
and was a great Q&A time with this superfood probiotic expert who helped me sooo much.
So it you too are “itching” to talk to someone about your gut health and probiotic questions, now is your chance.
Just click here to sign up to hear the recording.
FOR MORE ON FERMENTED FOODS AND PROBIOTICS:
Click here for part one of Why I Don’t Have Fermented Food on My Blog.
Click here for part three – Why I WILL Have Fermented Food on My Blog
Details About the The Teleseminar on Fermented Foods
1. The teleseminar lasted about 1 hour – about 45 minutes for the interview and 15 minutes for Q&A–give or take.
2. Czerral and I were joined by Lacey of KV Organics. She’s a gem of a gal and she and I have talked about probiotics and InLiven for about a year now. She’s helping me out because I had never handled a webinar and she’s been sooo helpful to me in this whole journey, so we decided to work on this together.
When you sign up for the teleseminar, you’ll be getting communications from her because I am just swamped and Lacey has offered to handle the webinar registration and everything to take a load off of my plate. What a blessing. Just so you know, you’ll be getting communications from her, as opposed to from me :-).
3. If you are interested in taking a closer look at the products that I am taking, you can check out this link to all of Miessence’s superfoods.
(Disclaimer: I signed up as a rep with Miessence so that I could get a discount and that link is to my store. The products are very high quality and they are not cheap, so I wanted to get them for a more reasonable price so it would work for my family’s budget. And you also get 20% off any future order as long as you order once per year.)
Getting to pick Czerral’s brain about this was super fascinating.
I really encourage all of you to sign up. I feel like I am on the cusp of some more deep healing, and I am extremely passionate about sharing what I learn with you all.
I’ve got a lot of learning to do, but one step at a time, right?
More later about how my new journey is going…..And I am putting my whole family on InLiven, so you’ll get to see how that is all going.
**The source of the top photo is Michaela of Vicariously Vintage. She’s another gem, and you can see she’s a real pro at fermenting. **
So—what do you think?
Feel free to ask questions about fermented products or my progress in the comments below.
Remember: I am not a doctor and can’t medically advise. You should talk to a medical professional before making any changes to your exercise or health protocol. Please read my disclaimer here.
I was looking at their other products (probiotics) and they are not gluten free..
would you recommend the Strata Flora instead?
Hi Jenetta. If you mean that the InLiven probiotics, the Fast Tract is gluten free. The InLiven isn’t but it is predigested foods so there are many people who can handle it though they are sensitive to gluten. Of course, you would need to make your own decision about that. Let me know your thoughts and I can help you with the Strata Flora info if you would like more info.
Oops, nevermind. I didn’t see it a few days ago when I read the article. Got it now. You can delete my comments to reduce clutter. 🙂
Sure—it’s not clutter. Thanks for commenting and let me know if I can help in any way.
Can you tell me more about how to get 20% off this month?
Hi Adrienne!!
Have you used Chinese herbs to kill the candida? (Specifically Phellostatin?)
I just looked at the prices of the In-Liven and the Fast Tract — even with the discount, it’s beyond my budget. Obviously he doesn’t feel the In-Liven is enough to get the gut back up to par? I’m in the same boat as you, in the sense that this candida has been an incredibly nasty, strong bug and doesn’t want to leave me. And I’d love to do this program but my budget would only allow for one thing (sadly, as a single gal, it’s frugal living all the time).
Yes, I do use that. Not up to the maximum dose but I don’t know that it’s “doing it” for me. I think he felt that the InLiven wouldn’t be as potent for a bad case. But that would be a great question for him on the teleseminar – are you going to attend? I hear you on the budget. There’s a 20% off code for this month – would that help you? And you can enter the giveaway after the talk. I couldn’t afford it either but if you think you would recommend it to others you can start earning towards your monthly order which is where I am now. I am getting a decent proportion off each month and am stretching out what I take (not taking the max dose each day) which helps me get better and save money at the same time. Hope that helps. :).
I’m in the same boat! I can’t seem to get up to the max dose of the Phello — I go through a horrendous, uncomfortable die off when I try to get up past 7. I’ve been on 7 a day for several months. So, obviously the little buggers just aren’t dieing off. I upped my probiotics this week and I’m having that exact itching you described — so I know I’m having more die-off. The problem is that it never solves it permanently. Yes, I’d like to register for the seminar… though I just went to take the dog to the park and my purse got stolen out of my car so I’m at a bit of a loss at the moment. 🙁 I’m on hold cancelling my credit cards while I’m typing. *sigh*
I seem to tolerate it but I forget to do it. But I think for me the Phello isn’t enough. I do have quite a few bottles of it so I hope they do something. I am so sorry about the purse. That kind of thing sends me into a horrible mood. I have bad dreams about it.
GMO probiotics. Are saying this is a good thing?
I don’t think GMO anything is a good idea.
Adrienne:
If I were to ask for blood work concerning candida in my system, what exactly would I ask for or request, and would my GI doc be able to do that for me? I feel like I have so many candida type issues, but have not been formally tested for it, and I don’t know where to begin.
Thanks!
Annette
I would think so. I personally don’t know if that is necessary since there are self-evaluating tests on the internet. I did both and felt that, for me, it wasn’t helpful to have the blood results. But, am not a dr and can’t advise you. Did you see my posts on candida? I linked to a site that has a decent self-evaluating test on it.
The question I have for Czerral, how long can you take probiotics? I have been taking probiotics for over a year. When I stopped two weeks later I felt bloated. I started taking them again, but not sure if long term is ok.
Good question!
What are the liquid probiotics you’re taking?
The link is in the post now :).
Thank you!
I am so very sick of fighting Candida in my body. I have been sick for years and years (easily 20 with major symptoms) but after my two pregnancies my body is truly worn out. I have struggled finding doctors to help me and have been trying to heal myself because who else will help me when doctors think I need an anti-depressant?!? I can assure you. I am not depressed. The last holistic testing I could afford was in 2008/2009. The natural doctor was surprised that I had such high levels of candida in my gut and that I had “three kinds”… something this doctor had never seen. I am really looking forward to this webinar(?). Once I am done breastfeeding (next six to nine months). I am going to hit my candida hard with all that I have been learning. I long to be free of the extreme fatigue (and other symptoms)! And then I need to heal the guts of my precious boys. I don’t want them to have the same life long battle I have had.
I am so sorry. It is horrible. Have you gone on a candida diet? You could do that while breastfeeding as long as you run your diet by your doctor.
It all makes a lot of sense. I’ve been fighting with candida for years. I also have ME (CFS) and PCOS.
I did a detox/candida diet some months back now where I took Candistroy and had no sugar in my diet. For about a month I spent so much time in the loo with the runs every single time, and four or more times each day, I couldn’t handle it any longer, and had to give it up.
I have had problems with candida, much like yourself, for a long time, and I thought originally it was a result of taking antibiotics for adult acne and other stuff, but with having read what I have about mercury poisoning (and it linking with candida), here on your blog, and elsewhere, I am now starting to wonder if that’s the cause of all the ME problems, especially as mine came on as a result of a flu vaccine, and we keep hearing about how vaccines have mercury in them.
I also have amalgam fillings and once had an old mercury thermometer break on me, so I would imagine I have more mercury in me than is healthy.
Sadly I can’t afford the Fast Tract, as here in the UK it seems to be about 50-60 GBP for the 750ml bottle, which is way outside my price range right now. Nor am I able to sign up for the teleseminar as it will be at 2am ish here in England, and my body doesn’t allow me to stay up that late.
But I hope to hear more about gut healing and rebalancing of flora, detoxing from metals, etc in future posts. I think it might be the route back to full health and fitness for me and many others.
The biggest thing we now need is for the medical profession to get on board and admit that there’s an issue with mercury poisoning. Then we can treat the cause, rather than what happens at present, which is that people with ME (maybe that should be MP?) are ignored and left to rot or die.
HI there. I wanted to make sure you know that you can listen to the teleseminar after the fact so go ahead and sign up…and you might win the giveaway :). Also, there are ways to save money on them. You can get 20% off this month for starters so let me know if that makes it more in your price range and there are other ways to make it more affordable. I am reading a lot about how metals and candida are connected to stay tuned and I’ll be sharing more as I can. Maybe Czerral has some thoughts on that as well.
wow, interesting. I am looking foward to the webinar! I have just signed up!! How do i sign up for the giveaway for probiotics?
I just updated the post. The giveaway sign up will be after the teleseminar (I had the word wrong at first b/c it will just be sound :).) Good for me. I don’t need to pretty myself up :).
Thanks for sharing all of this, Adrienne. I attended a webinar with Czerral and Lacey just last month and he is fascinating! After the webinar, my family and I have started taking InLiven (for about 2.5 weeks now) but I have been disappointed to not notice any changes to speak of for any of us just yet. 🙁 I, too, think I may have a candida issue. I am very eager to hear your story unfold. I bless you with health and wholeness!
Hi Erin. I don’t know that everyone notices things immediately. Thank you for your kind words. I am about to order more bottles of Fast Tract.
I was reading part two today of Why I Don’t Have Fermented Food on My Blog and when I saw the name Czerral. I was thinking as I read his name I have heard a Czerral speak on a few webinars, could it be the same person? So I kept reading and then I saw InLiven. I have been using many of the Miessence products for 5 years(I love them) and InLiven for about 2. I have not added the Fast Tract yet, but after reading your article I will be adding it to my next order.
Thank you for your detailed post Adrienne. I find them so interesting and I am thankful that I found your blog through our mutual Blessings U.
Yes, it’s the same. I am so glad to hear you like them. I am thrilled as well. Blessings to you as well.
This is really interesting! Did you per chance ask him about a protocol using the high doses of probiotic foods in order to heal food allergies? For your kids, are they starting off with the recommended daily dose, or are you starting them off lower as well?
We have done GAPS for a couple of months to try to do some gut healing, and I hope to go back to it in the fall after we PCS this summer. Probiotic foods are a really big part of that diet, and when we started eating homemade sauerkraut we definitely saw die-off and detoxing as a result. I did not care for sauerkraut when we first started eating it, nor did my kids, but now I really enjoy it, and they eat it no problem! Still working on my dh 😉
If you need a place to get started with culturing your own food, I found this video by fermenting expert Sandor Katz to be really helpful and easy to follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=i77hU3zR-fQ
Another one I just tried recently is this simple recipe for cultured applesauce – nice to know that not all cultured probiotic foods have to be sour/tart 🙂 My kids enjoy it, and I made it using unsweetened applesauce that I had made and frozen last fall when I bought bushels and bushels of pesticide free apples! https://thecoconutmama.com/lacto-fermented-apple-sauce-2/
Looking forward to hearing the results of such an intense load of probiotics to your gut.
Sorry so late…sigh. i have been swamped! I started my youngest on 1/2 tsp and my oldest on 3/4 or a level tsp.
Thanks!
Yes, I did. I look forward to reading it when you get a chance to post it. 🙂
Thanks so much for this article series. I signed up for the webinar and am excited to hear it! I’m hoping probiotics can also help with healing all the metal I have in my body. (I have about 10 mercury fillings – ugh). Looking forward to learning more about your journey!
Hi Tracy. I think it will be great. Probiotics are so helpful for me. This is just a new level of them. Did you read my metals post? More on that coming soon too…..
I admit I wish you were sharing the final outcome of the big guns right now, but I understand you are in a process. I hope you will let us all know right away how the big guns went when done! Even if it’s the shortest post ever to at least get the results out. 🙂 Be well – I truly hope this is the beginning of a new era for you!
I will. I need to order it tonight :). So I really am not done. But my family is taking the InLiven. Thanks for the well wishes. I have other things I can’t wait to share also. Other long standing conditions have already been reversed.
Look at Pickl It. Lots of good info about fermenting foods on there.
I’ve looked at them -thanks. Having trouble getting responses though….
I wonder if you can tell me where to order Fast-Tract.
Thanks!
I am so sorry this got buried in my comments inbox. If you are still interested in the probiotics superfood here is where to do it. I would be more than happy to talk with you if you have more questions. Thanks! https://us.one.organic/collections/superfoods-1?aff=711
So, in retrospect, do you feel that your strong reactions to ferments in the past were a result of die-off?
Yes, I do. I have a history of bad detox reactions, which I will share more about later. But that is what I am thinking now.
Hmmm…interesting. I’m currently on a 35-day G. I. Wellness program that helps promote cellular healing, so this is interesting to me. 🙂
Tell me more if you have time. This is all sooo interesting. My detox story is a whole other thing. So many stories…..I need more time :).
Oh, I meant to also mention that the three-day bone broth fast that I did in preparation to the program really gave a boost to my gut. (I never did the GAPS intro.) This program is divided into three phases: 1) Pathogen Purge – G. I. Tract (15 days); 2) Prepare the Terrain (10 days); and 3) Reseed the Culture (10 days). After this, a simple test (urine) is done to see what the next step *my body* needs. This program uses System Formulas, started by Doc Wheelwright’s grandson, who is a biochemist. I’ve been interested more and more in epigenetics, so by God’s grace, I really do believe that my body can heal–excited!
The epigenetics stuff is about looking at genetics and trying to heal that way, correct? I tried some of that and it made me crazy. I personally think that metals and environment can turn genes on and off so it’s a murky thing. Interesting what you say. I have been considering GAPS.
Yes, that is most of it–that metals and environment can turn genes on and off. Although I don’t have any fillings, my mom did when she was pregnant with me. And, of course, we can get metals from other sources as well. The program that I started coincides with GAPS. So, we’ll see. I know how disheartening it is to spend money on different wellness avenues, only to be disappointed. And, you’ve tried many that I have not.
‘Sorry to keep adding to this, but I also wanted to say that my friends and I have also seen beneficial results from [coconut] oil pulling.
I do that on occasion as well.