Tag: modified citrus pectin

Choosing the Best Fiber for Gut Health

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

 

Because of carbon’s ability to form diverse and flexible bonds with other things, it is considered the building block for all organic, living organisms on earth. Carbohydrates are hydrated carbons, or rather, carbons that are hydrated, hence the term, ‘carbo’-‘hydrates’. Carbohydrates could have easily been also called, “carbo-oxy-hydrates”, since they consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Carbohydrates are used for energy and to store energy, both for plants, animals and other living organisms. These carbohydrates consist both of simple and complex sugars and are divided into: simple sugar, starch and fiber. In this article, I will be discussing the fiber constituent of carbo-hydrates, the best forms, specifically that of soluble fiber. As an added bonus, I’ll also be discussing resistant starch, and the beneficial short chain fatty acids that can also be derived from them.

Carbohydrates include both fiber and starch. Fiber is divided into soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and may form a gel. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. Insoluble fiber is not recommended for regular use, since it is harsh on the digestive system and does not feed the probiotics soluble fiber and resistant starch are known for doing. Insoluble fiber is therefore for temporary use only, for severe constipation. 

In simple terms, the best fiber for gut health, is soluble fiber! This is beneficial for maintaining gut mobility, keeping the microbiome healthy and sufficient, blood sugar balance, cholesterol lowering, the removal of toxins, weight management and cancer prevention.

 

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber might help you to move your bowel more efficiently, but that’s probably not its main job. Its main job is to provide nourishment and fuel for your gastrointestinal microbiome, and to manage blood sugar levels.  

There are many forms of soluble fiber. Some are frankly, better than others. If psyllium husk, Metamucil, Citrucel, and inulin come to mind when you think about soluble fiber, keep in mind there may be safer options. Keeping it short and simple, think the best forms of soluble fibers might be pectins, acacia gum and beta-glucan.

Pectins: Pectins are found in fruits like apples and citrus peel, including the “modified”, Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP). 

Modified Citrus Pectin is an altered form of pectin where large pectin molecules are broken down into smaller, low-molecular-weight fragments. This modification makes it water-soluble and bioavailable, creating a higher absorption rate within the body, and for use as a detoxification agent by binding to bile acids and heavy metals.

Acacia (Senegal) gum: Also known as gum arabic, this can be found from the sap of the Acacia senegal tree and is sold as a powder; shown to be particularly beneficial for constipation patients with IBS.

Beta-glucans: A type of polysaccharide found in grains, particularly oats and barley. The “best” form of beta-glucan depends on the health goal, with yeast and mushroom-derived beta-glucans being superior for immune support, while oat and barley-derived beta-glucans are most effective for lowering cholesterol and blood sugar. Yeast and chaga beta-glucans, for instance, have shown stronger immune-modulating effects in studies compared to grain-derived versions.

 

Resistant Starch 

Some types of starches are resistant to digestion, hence the term resistant starch. Resistant starch acts like insoluble fiber in the stomach and small intestine. But don’t let that discourage you. In the large intestine, it acts like soluble fiber — fermented by gut bacteria as a food source. This fermentation process produces beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) — particularly butyrate — that promote gut health and other physiological benefits. Resistant starch is also known to produce even more beneficial butyric acid than regular soluble fiber; and by specifically bypassing other cells to travel to and seek out colon cells, it offers unique benefits there, like reduced inflammation, and potential protection against colon cancer. 

Perhaps the best sources of resistant starches are from green bananas and green plantain. 

 

Food-source fiber

Perhaps the best sources of food-derived fibers are simply from beans, specifically adzuki beans and black beans. These beans should be soaked for about 12 hours, then thoroughly rinsed, before boiling. Do not expect that these food-derived fibers will resolve constipation!

 

Daily Recommendation 

The current RDI for daily fiber intake for male and female are about 30 and 25 grams, respectively. I find this an impossible number to achieve. Most food-source fiber is only 2 or 3 grams per serving, such as carrots. Furthermore, soluble vs insoluble fiber was not distinguished in the RDI data. 

Instead of 30 grams of fiber to create peristalsis (bowel movement), I think it would be more practical to focus on increasing vitamin B1 intake, which actually helps create peristalsis.  And I may prove it. The same things often mentioned for increasing fiber, are the same things needed to increase B1: [black] beans, green peas, oats, [sesame] seeds, [sunflower] seeds , etc.

 

What to do!

If you are confused about which is the best fiber to take for your particularly situation, think soluble fiber is your best bet. If your goal is to manage IBS, think Acacia Senegal (fiber). If your goal is to detoxify heavy metals from your body, think pectin, especially MCP. If your goal is to build your immune system, lower inflammation and prevent cancer, think beta glucan.

Resistant starch may also be more beneficial than soluble fiber for feeding the microbiome of the colon.

Insoluble fiber — such as wheat bran, flaxseed, quinoa and chia seeds — should serve as your last resort for stubborn and chronic constipation. Consider supplementing with vitamin B1 for a few days instead, as chronic constipation is often more of a muscular coordination disorder rather than a direct, digestive problem.

Heal Acne Permanently!

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Acne (acne vulgaris) is manifested as a skin condition, affecting the bust of the human profile, i.e., the face, neck, chest, back and shoulders, and sometimes even extending to the buttocks — often causing extreme self consciousness and indignation to its victim. Acne is materialized when the oily secretion of sebum, that lubricates the hair follicles and skin pores become congested with dead skin and condensed sticky oil debris. Bacteria then proliferate to agitate the condition and cause further inflammation. Many of the alcohol-laden and dehydrating creams and techniques used today do more harm in exacerbating than in fixing an acne problem.

This skin disorder is often a condition caused by some sort of repressed hatred for something, or someone. Hate in traditional Chinese medicine is stored and built up in one particular organ: the liver. Furthermore, if you have strong emotions stored in the liver, then you also have clogging of that liver, with either sludge, gallstones or intrahepatic stones. If these things occur, then bile — a substance that the liver produces to digest fat — is reduced. Our liver should ideally produce one quart or over of bile per day — that’s a lot! If your liver is compromised, then you may not be even producing fifteen percent of that. If you have acne problems, most likely, you have bile problems.

Why is bile so important? Bile helps digest fat, turning it into smaller molecules so the digestive system can handle and the small  intestines can absorb it. If fat is not being digested, then retinol also is not being metabolized. Retinol is needed to nourish the skin and keep it oily. Otherwise, you have dry skin, or sticky skin, susceptible to toxins and bacteria. Furthermore, if bile is not being produced to digest fat, then the animal protein you eat is also not being digested, since protein needs fat to digest properly.

Furthermore, if bile is not being produced properly to digest fat, then calcium is not being digested and absorbed properly; then vitamin D, E and K are also not being absorbed properly. Then carbohydrates and other sugars are not being digested properly. Thus the lack of bile, caused by an angry liver, causes a cascading event leading to a toxic liver, and toxic blood, and congested lymphatic system, and toxins ultimately depositing in our skin from the inside-out. The manifestation of acne is only the visible iceberg to the real chunk of ice beneath the layers.

On surface, we see acne manifested as pores consisting of blackheads and whiteheads — from air and non-air exposure respectively. We also see it as nodules and pustules — bump-like growth beneath the skin and pimples with pus respectively. And then sometimes we see it as devastating cysts — a form (cystic acne) that penetrates deep from within the skin! Many suffering from this condition, in desperation, overly wash and scrub their faces hard — spreading the infection and making things worse.

So, what is the solution? There are fortunately many avenues you can take to heal acne. But your focus should be on fixing the liver, increasing bile flow, reducing anger, and cleaning toxic blood.
As a superficial quick-fix, guduchi powder mixed with amla powder into a paste will quickly heal up acne when applied for a period of time to the infected areas. As a prolonged healing process, these two herbs should be used internally, as a tea or in capsule form for a time to help heal the root of the problem.

Another topical application would be to make a paste out of a fine clay called pascalite. This clay differs from regular bentonite clay in that it doesn’t swell up when wet. It may very well remove acne when applied regularly over a period of weeks or months! You can order at pascalite.net.

As previously mentioned, since your liver is clogged, this produces toxins in the blood and clogs the lymphatic system. An herb called manjistha will reinvigorate the blood, and will help unclog the lymphatic system, so that it may drain toxins properly once again.
To speed up the process of detoxifying the blood, you can also add modified citrus pectin, which binds to toxins, and take them out of the body through the alimentary canal.

Food-wise, you want to reduce artery clogging animal muscle meat and dairy, while simultaneously start eating more grassfed/grassfinished liver (6 ounces per week). Why? This contains bioavailable retinol, copper, zinc and vitamin B12 — critical nutrients needed for someone with acne. You may also use oysters, (about 3 ounces per week) for its very bioavailable copper, zinc and selenium content. Oysters from the Atlantic ocean is ideally free from toxins.

You may also want to donate blood every six months to a year if you are suffering from amenorrhea. Bacteria thrives in a body filled with unbound iron. Unbound iron causes rust and inflammation of the organs. Donating blood will help mitigate this.

And finally as an added bonus, you may want to try organic bee pollen for its natural B vitamin content. B vitamins are essential for anyone with digestive, neurological or skin problems. Particularly vitamin B5 in a derivative form called Pantethine (in moderation) will nourish the  adrenal glands, thus reducing cortisol, thus reducing stress, thus reducing eventually, acne. (Taste test the pollen to make sure that you are not allergic.)

So in summary, acne, as well as many other skin conditions are caused by an angry liver, lack of proper bile flow, congested blood and a clogged lymphatic system. To effect healing, try

– Externally: Guduchi + amla + manjistha paste to affected area: Honey or coconut oil can be used to make the paste

– Externally: Pascalite clay (paste) applied for twenty (20) minutes to an hour, per day

– Internally: Guduchi + amla + manjistha in tea or capsule form

– modified citrus pectin (on an empty stomach)

– Reducing muscle meat and dairy

– adding grassfed/grassfinished liver (organic)

– adding Atlantic oysters [or sesame seeds] (for copper content)

– Donating blood every six months to a year to reduce unbound iron (optional)

– adding organic bee pollen + Pantethine (for B vitamins).

Ovarian Cyst: What Culprit is Behind it?

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Cysts are sac-like fluid formed on the ovary/ovaries. Differing in types and specific location, the most common forms of ovarian cysts are follicle cysts. Cysts in general develop as a result of severe lymph congestion. Example, ovarian cyst form when there is lymphatic congestion in the cysterna chyli vessels located in the abdominal cavity. Cysts are formed to protect the nearby organ/tissue from the acidity caused by the unhealthy toxins produced by foods being digested/metabolized, namely dairy, eggs, vegetable-oils, trans-fats like margarine, and the highly praised omega 3 fatty acids.

If you have a cyst, then most likely there is congestion of your liver and gallbladder with gallstones also. To effect healing your body, we will need to start with what we believe are the most important, to least important.
1. Cleanse your liver and gallbladder.
a. Eat one orange (or more) per day around 9-11 am. This clears excess estrogen. Oranges are most digestible in the mornings at this time period.
b. Use TUDCA after meals. This bile acid will help clear the gallstones/gall-sludge.
c. Take the ayurvedic herb called kutki. It will process healing your liver.

2. Decongest your lymphatic system. Either Red Root or Manjistha are good for unclogging the lymphatic system.

3. Clear your body of excess sulfur. Excess sulfur causes your body to hold unto heavy metals. Molybdenum will clear excess sulfur. Take 6 times the normal dose for about two weeks. (Keep in mind that molybdenum can interfere with copper absorption, so you will need to make sure you’re getting enough copper-rich food, like oysters; or you’re supplementing with ionic copper.)

4. Clear your body of heavy metals. Modified Citrus Pectin will bind to these heavy metals, increasing the body’s ability to eliminate them through the digestive tract.

5. Destroy pathogens. Pau d’arco tea and olive leaf extract are excellent natural antibiotics to destroy pathogens, including resistant bugs.

6. Reduce bloating. P5P — the active co-enzyme form of vitamin B6 — will reduce edema.

7. Clear congestion and infection in your head. A few drops of 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide in each ear once or twice per year will aid in this effect.

8. Boil water for 20 minutes. Put in thermos, and take hot one or two sips every half an hour, throughout the day, to cleanse your internal organs/tissues on a cellular level.

Ovarian cysts are most often caused by consuming dairy — specifically milk products, such as milk itself, cheese and ice cream. This then thickens mucus. This then clogs the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining and removing metabolic wastes and dead cellular debris. It’s interesting to note that all milk contains pus.
Sea kelp is good for this condition as well. Also is detoxified iodine temporarily. If you have hyperthyroidism, you should avoid iodine to prevent your thyroid from swelling. In this case, you will want to add more food-sourced selenium and natural vitamin C. To speed up healing, we must emphasize:

1. Avoid dairy. This may prevent ovarian cysts in the first place.

2. Manjistha — as mentioned — is an ayurvedic herb that will unclog the lymphatic system, thereby eventually dissolving the cyst, and other ailments, caused by congestion.

3. Increase your copper intake. Most female problems are initiated by insufficient copper levels. Copper regulates hormonal balance. Good sources of natural copper include organic bee pollen, amla or acerola berry, oysters, and organic grass-fed/ grass-finished liver.

Aluminum toxicity: What We Need to Know

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

 

Above all, aluminum is one of the most evasion heavy metals found in our daily lives. Where is it found? Better yet — where is it not found? It is in the air we breathe, in the water we drink, in the soil, in aluminum cookware and utensils, in some sugar, salt and flour; in vaccines, medication and antacids; in antiperspirant and in processed (American) cheese. And the most obvious , it is in aluminum foil. In other words, aluminum is everywhere.

Aluminum is a drying agent, cheap and flexible — used to dry things: flour, sugar and the underarm as antiperspirant sweat suppressant. But it dries up other things we don’t want dried up, like our energy and stamina, our glutathione antioxidant, our dopamine and serotonin, 5-Htp, reducing enzymatic activity. Since it crosses the blood, brain barrier (BBB), it is a prime suspect in reduced brain function and dementia.

Getting rid of aluminum may not be as easy as one thinks. It can sometimes take years even if you are doing everything right, with the right ingredients. If you have aluminum toxicity, then this means you probably or automatically have mercury toxicity. If you have mercury toxicity, might as well we add tin toxicity, lead, thallium, cadmium, nickel, arsenic and cesium.

So aluminum affects the brain more than any other system of the body, impairing memory and cognition. It replace nutrient minerals in enzyme binding sites. When this occurs, the metal alter thousands of enzymes meant to feed the mitochondria — thus starving the cells of nutrients and functionality. We then need to talk about not autophagy, but mitophagy: the cells’ necessity to destroy mitochondria in hopes of replacing them with new and better ones.

Generally speaking, to get rid of heavy metals, you need a chelator — something that grabs the heavy metal. And you need a binder, something that directs the heavy metal out of the body.
I am currently using IP-6 and modified citrus pectin to accomplish both, at night on an empty stomach. IP-6 (aka phytic acid) must be taking away from foods and supplements because it depletes said, on contact.

How to know if you have heavy metal toxicity?

Perhaps the most convenient plus effective way to test for aluminum toxicity is a 24 hour urine collection test. Aluminum is primarily excreted by the kidneys.

Another test is the Serum Aluminum (blood test). This may not be reliable for chronic aluminum toxicity, since aluminum quickly leave the blood and accumulate in the bone and brain.

Another test is the Hair Mineral Analysis test, which may be inaccurate if the aluminum is externally adhered to the hair from air, water or cosmetics.

How to get rid of aluminum toxicity?

Since aluminum is mostly excreted through the kidneys, a proper functioning kidney is essential. Herbs such as astragalus and dandelion root will help ensure proper kidney function and excretion, respectively.

Any metal toxicity means the individual is mineral deficient. The two best minerals to help detox aluminum from the body are blatantly silica and magnesium! Interestingly, silica and magnesium are also two main minerals needed to reverse osteoporosis. Magnesium is essential for proper calcium absorption and bone health, potentially helping to balance the effects of aluminum on the skeletal system. Some studies have suggested that silica helps with bone regeneration and might help balance calcium metabolism

Silica, in its absorbable forms (silicon dioxide and orthostatic acid) may bind to aluminum, preventing it from entering cells and tissues, especially the brain. This binding effect may lead to improved excretion of aluminum through the kidneys.

Magnesium and aluminum are both metals that compete for the same receptor sites of cells. Increasing magnesium may enhance the outcome of it becoming a dominant competitive inhibitor to these sites. A decrease or depletion of magnesium increases aluminum’s chances for taking over these cellular receptive sites. Bottomline, to reduce the effects of aluminum, increase magnesium.

What about chelators?

To gently help excrete heavy metals from the body, turmeric (with black pepper or coconut oil) has been the legendary go-to for that. Turmeric is an anti inflammatory and a chelator. It also contains a moderate amount of magnesium.

Turmeric is poorly absorbed, that is why black pepper or some type of oil should be included to increase its absorbability.