One of the ongoing symptoms that I was experiencing was an upset stomach and indigestion. My family practice doctor ran some stool tests which did not point out that anything was wrong. She had me take Pepcid, which did clear up the situation only to have it return as soon as I stopped taking the Pepcid. Pepcid has some pretty unsavory long term effects so I just learned to ignore the symptoms and stayed close to a bathroom most of the time.
Dr. Young, my naturopath doctor also ran a microbiology profile from a stool sample after finding evidence of prolific yeast during a routine examination of my mouth. So it was no surprise to her that my test came back with some defecits in my expected/beneficial flora, specifically Escherichia coli and Lactobacilius spp. These expected/beneficial flora are part of the bacteria which comprise the majority of the total microflora in a healthy GI tract. Collectively, beneficial flora aid in the manufacture of vitamins, fermenting fibers, digesting proteins and carbohydrates, and propogating anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory factors. A good balance goes a long way in preventing diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, gas, chronic disease and food sensitivities. They also enhance the immune function and prevent the proliferation of yeast.
As a result of the insufficient levels of good bacteria, certain bad bacterias were moving in and thriving in my GI tract. And my tummy was screaming out for help!
I have a long family history of Diabetes and other blood sugar related issues. For me, I have lived with varying levels of insulin resistance most of my life. The yeast was growing in the sugar that my body was storing instead of metabolizing. So the strategy is two fold: get rid of the bad stuff while building up the good stuff.
To get rid of the bad stuff, it was necessary to cut off its food source. Dr. Young put me on a very low sugar diet. No processed sugar, flour, rice, etc. Basically, no white foods. And lots of fiber and low fat protein. Chicken, turkey, low fat cheeses, salads, vegetables and very small portions of fruits.
To build up the good stuff, she prescribed a FOS (fructooligosaccharides) free probiotic. While FOS is a prebiotic that works well for many, they are actually the product of simple carbohydrates. In my case, a probiotic with FOS or Activia with probiotics would add far more sugar and yeast than any favorable flora it might add.
So, for now, pass by me with the potatoes, pasta and pie. So much for being comfort foods!
