Getting Probiotics From Food

One of the inherent problems with mold and mycotoxin exposure is the destruction of colonies of good bacteria in the gut. These colonies aid in a number of tasks that are beneficial for health; they are critical for proper digestion, immune health, production of certain nutrients and a number of other tasks. The destruction of these colonies results in the loss of the benefits therein, but it also leaves room for another microbial species to take root: Yeast.

Yeast colonizing in the gut is often where symptoms start for someone who may be suffering from a fungal condition. Yeast can proliferate from there. In fact, some practitioners believe that if you have a fungal problem anywhere on or in the body, you likely have it in your gut. This is a condition known as dysbiosis. Dysbiosis takes place when yeast gain a stronghold in the gut.

There are ways to combat this

primarily through diet. A Kaufmann 1 Diet eliminates yeast’s preferred food source––sugar. This will aid in starving yeast in the gut. Anti-fungal supplements, such as oregano oil, clove oil, grapefruit seed extract or olive leaf extract may be beneficial in helping eliminate yeast from the gut, as well, and supplements such as these are recommended as part of the Kaufmann 1 Diet. Adding insoluble fiber to your diet, such as psyllium hulls, will help keep the bowels moving, with the added benefit of binding to toxins (such as mycotoxins) and sweeping them out of the gut.

There remains, however, the same void of flora as before. To help recolonize the gut, probiotic supplements are a great choice, and in the minds of many practitioners, they are critical for maintaining good, overall health. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting probiotics from supplements, and they remain perhaps the most potent way to recolonize your gut. But is it possible to incorporate foods containing probiotics into your diet, as well?

There are a number of foods containing beneficial bacteria. These include foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha, tempeh, miso soup and other fermented foods.

Fermented foods can be a touchy subject for health types, with some touting the benefits and others being less enthusiastic. While there are health benefits associated with many of these foods, approaching them from the perspective of the Kaufmann 1 Diet raises some questions.

Many of these types of foods are off limits because of certain ingredients therein. Kombucha, for example, is made with different types of yeast, as is miso. Tempeh contains soy. Kimchi contains vinegar. Kefir contains kefir grains. Because of the presence of certain ingredients in many types of fermented foods, they are discouraged on the Kaufmann 1 and Kaufmann 2 Diet.

One food containing beneficial bacterial cultures that is recommended on the Kaufmann 1 Diet is plain yogurt. Yogurt is high in probiotic cultures and is allowed on Kaufmann 1. Look for varieties with live active cultures and avoid varieties containing added sugar or colors.