Resources From This PHLI Training Session
The Brain That Changes Itself – Norman Doidge
Reversibility Expanded in Module 4 Q&A Session Part One (starting at 6:02 but the entire video is worth the watch)
How to Walk Correctly / Slo Motion Walking
Magic Moment / The Holy Triple
How To Ferment Vegetables: The Basic Culturing Process
Ultra Flora Balance (the probiotic I generally prescribe) – Email support@corewellnessinstitute.com if you’re interested and I can set you up with our online supplement store.
Checklist for probiotic quality and clinical use guide for probiotics
Hi Dr. Steve,
I have been eager to make probiotic food a more regular part of my family's diet. Also, I have been lactose intolerant for most of my life, but I struggle to eliminate dairy from my diet; for one, because dairy is such a staple for my wife and two children. So, in hopes of killing two birds with one stone, I have started culturing milk with kefir grains. My hope is that making kefir a part of my diet will enhance my gut flora so that I can tolerate dairy foods. I know that you often advise dairy elimination, but can kefir change your gut so that your body accepts dairy instead of rejects it?
From my research, it seems that milk kefir is the most diverse probiotic food. I’m interested in culturing coconut milk in the future, but why wife doesn’t like coconut taste. I am also interested in water kefir and will possibly try that next.
Also, I’ve seen the candida diets craze and am curious about your thoughts on consuming yeast probiotics? It makes sense to me that a high sugar diet could cause yeast overgrowth and upset the balance and diversity of your gut flora. I see where some people claim kefir can cure yeast infections, but others claim that they cause them. Are some people just sensitive to yeast and others tolerate it fine? Any of your thoughts or input would be appreciated.
-Chris
Hi Chris…great question. It is possible to improve the health of your intestinal epithelial cells which produce lactase, the enzyme you need to break down the lactose.
There is still some lactose left in kefir but most is transformed to lactic acid in the fermentation process. This article showed a way to further reduce lactose in kefir http://www.culturesforhealth.com/reducing-lactose-content-kefir
But ultimately, I believe it's possible unless you have a significant genetic issue with ability to create lactase.
Keep culturing and try to use raw milk as much as possible.
Chris Kresser has a great article about it here http://chriskresser.com/how-to-cure-lactose-intolerance
As far as yeast probiotics, they are definitely best to take when you have to use an antibiotic because of their proven protection against diarrhea from clostridium difficile
As far as specific probiotics for yeast / candida issues. That's a tough call. lactic acid forming bacteria (acidophilis / bifidus / etc) have a better chance at helping with candida vs the yeast culture made in something like kombucha.
Kefir has a little of everything so it may be OK…or not.
Sorry Chris, the yeast probiotic for candida is a controversial subject and I don't have a perfect answer. Respecting biochemical individuality and trial and error may be the best approach here.
Thanks Dr. Steve.
My sister was "cured" of lactose intolerance from a bad bout of Salmonellosis. So, I know that a "cure" is possible. I'll keep drinking kefir with hopes of achieving the same result from a less traumatic experience.
Interesting…the human body…and especialy the microbiome…never ceases to amaze me.
Good luck, my friend.
drh