LYME DISEASE & YEAST OVERGROWTH


HOW TO FIGHT AN YEAST INFECTION?

Not only Lyme patients struggle with yeast overgrowth! Most of those who suffer from a chronic illness have a weakened immunity system. The yeast infection usually starts in the mouth and slowly makes its way down, spreading to the intestinal tract.

Thus the oral hygiene plays a crucial role as it is the first line of defense against yeast. Antibiotic treatment, a diet high on sugar and highly processed foods are a sure a recipe for yeast overgrowth and other abnormal bacteria. If you are on antibiotic treatment, you are already familiar with the devastating effects of meds on your intestinal flora.

 

HOW TO PREVENT YEAST OVERGROWTH?

There are many factors that you need to keep in mind when addressing this problem. Oral hygiene and diet are two of the main things you will need to tackle.

If you follow a gluten-free, sugar-free and yeast-free diet, chances of developing an yeast overgrowth are considerably smaller. Also avoiding alcohol intake can improve your chances of keeping yeast under control. You should avoid consuming excessive carbohydrates.

In addition, after each meal, you will need to have probiotics such as Kefir or yogurt as they help replenishing the beneficial bacterias. Try to drink 4 oz of kefir per day or have two capsules of acidophilus probiotic after each meal.

white coat on tongue yeast overgrowth lyme disease
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE THRUSH?

What are the indicators of oral thrush (oral yeast)? 

  • Sticky coating on your tongue (white or beige colour)
  • Bad bread
  • Bad taste in the mouth
ORAL HYGIENE RECOMMENDATIONS 
  • Use an alcohol-free mouthwash, especially if you are prescribed medicine such as Flagyl as it can lead to a reaction or a side-effect.
  • Brush your teeth after each meal or snack using a fluoride!
  • Use a sodium laureth sulfate-free toothpaste !
  • You should also brush the gums, inner cheeks, the palate!
  • After you clean your mouth, use an antiseptic mouthwash. Keep it in the mouth for thirty seconds and move it around to ensure the gums, roof of your mouth, teeth and tongue, they all get cleansed. Rinse with water two or three times to remove it completely.
  • After the antiseptic mouthwash, have a bit of yogurt or take a small tablet of acidophilus and chew it to ensure to have a normal oral flora.
  • Don’t drink or eat anything on empty stomach in the morning before cleaning your mouth!
  • Use a tongue-scraper to remove the yeast-coat from your tongue!

 

A thorough daily routine will help you follow all the steps religiously and stay yeast free or at least decrease it to a minimum.

yogurt for yeast overgrowth

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF YEAST OVERGROWTH IN THE INTESTINAL TRACT?

  • Gas
  • Bloating
  • Heartburn
  • Abdominal pain
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Woozziness
  • Post-meal fatigue.

 

Why is it important to be on the Lyme diet? Because the yeast germs feed on sugars and starches, turning them into acids, gas and alcohol, causing the above mentioned symptoms.

 

That means you will to stay away from simple carbohydrates and fruits. If your diet includes a lot of fruits, maybe you should stick to grapefruit, lemons, limes and avocado as they are low on sugar.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO HELP COMBAT YEAST?

  • Include fermented foods in your diet! By consuming regularly sauerkraut, kombucha, pickles and kefir, you can nourish, support and rebalance the intestinal health.
  • Don’t drink alcohol! Besides the fact that it can interact with your medication, it can increase your symptoms.
  • Check the quality of your water! If you are used to drink water from the tap, have it tested or ad a filter.
  • Drink decaffeinated green tea! Have 2 o 4 cups per day as green tea is a very potent antioxidant. If you don’t see yourself sipping tea, then you could try having the green tea capsules which are a nice alternative. You should take one to three capsules per day.

 

LYME HAIR LOSS IS REAL!

Lyme never comes alone. Besides the co-infections, the people infected with Borrelia Burgdorferi may experience a myriad of symptoms, from those specific to the illness to some unexpected ones.

Each day brings a new struggle. The Lyme journey is anything but boring! In fact, it is a learning experience, as the Lymies have to learn on their own how to navigate their path towards  their recovery.

 

As if dealing with a multitude of symptoms on a daily basis was not challenging enough, Lyme sufferers have to overcome other disheartening problems such as hair loss or nailbreaking.  Many of the patients complain about losing close to 50% of their hair. Men and women equally are affected by this undesired and stressful experience.

 

Since the bacteria has the ability to evade the immune system, would you be surprised to learn that Lyme is the culprit for the hair loss? More than thirty years ago, research shown that Lyme had the ability to cause a hair loss similar to a telogen effluvium.

 

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES CONTRIBUTING TO HAIR LOSS?

  • Stress (physical and mental)- all Lymies have it skyrocketing!
  • Mineral Deficiencies – iron, zinc and magnesium
  • Vitamin Deficiency – vitamin B and vitamin D
  • Hormone Disruption – low hormonal levels
  • Autoimmunity – The inflammation from Lyme and autoimmune conditions can attack the hair follicles and lead to hair loss.
  • Drugs -prescribed medicine, antibiotics
  • Toxicity build up – difficulty to flush out toxins due to an overload

 

HOW TO SUPPORT HAIR REGROWTH?

  • Switch to an anti-inflammatory diet
  • Ensure you have sufficient levels of iron and vitamin D as Lyme depletes your iron levels. Vitamin D stimulates hair follicles, so a deficiency may lead to hair loss.
  • Take supplements ( biotin, gelatine, collagen as well as primrose oil)
  • Inquire the doctor or the pharmacist about  the side effects of your medication.
  • Choose a natural shampoo without any of the following ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulfates, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Myreth Sulfate, Siloxanes Derivatives of Lauryl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol (Antifreeze), Olefin Sulfonate (Deodorized Kerosene). You may want to look for one in a natural products store. If not you can try out Nizoral for couple of months.
  • Do not blow dry your hair!
  • Do not bleach or dye your hair. If you do, ensure you use natural products!
  • Use less hair products!

 

HOW TO BOOST THE GROWTH OF YOUR HAIR?

Try some of the following:

  • Do a hair treatment with organic coconut oil at least once in two weeks!
  • Apply olive oil, organic primrose oil, almond oil, argan oil or jojoba oil as they hydrate and stimulate the growth. You can apply a small amount (the size of a quarter) on damp hair and work it through your ends.
  • Rinse with colder water in order to protect the inner layer of your hair and retain hydrating oils.
  • Once in a way try rinsing with apple cider vinegar to restore the pH balance in your hair. You can mix 2-3 spoons of apple cider vinegar with water and pour the mixture after you had applied the shampoo and conditioner. Let it sit for a few minutes then rinse again.
  • Apply herbal tinctures or simply fresh plants such as aloe, rosemary, sage, witch hazel or parsley to the hair, as they are known to help with hair grow back.
  • Create a daily detox routine and stick to it! It can be a bath, a sauna session, oil pulling, massage, a smoothie, anything!
  • Love yourself and keep an eye on your energy levels.
  • Laugh and make room for healing!

LYME MOVIES

 

GRACE NOTE  is a recently released short movie (November 2017), based on true story, featuring Tracy Mulholland, Yael Grobglas, Jake Stormoen.

LYME ON THE RISE  reveals the stories of two Lyme sufferers who have been misdiagnosed for years. The video manages to  link their illness to the environmental changes we are currently experiencing.

 

 

UNDER OUR SKIN 1 (trailer)  a 2008 documentary about Lyme Disease.

UNDER OUR SKIN 2 -EMERGENCE (trailer) a 2014  documentary raising more awareness about Lyme Disease.

 

UNDER OUR SKIN (Director`s cut)

 

 

THE TRUTH ABOUT LYME DISEASE

Years back I developed a daily habit of a looking online for news regarding Lyme Disease. Today I stumbled upon a video uploaded on Youtube by the King Institute, The Truth About Lyme Disease They Don’t Want You To Know.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that they said out in the open that Lyme is number #1 infectious disease within USA.

The lecture offers a lot of information about Lyme and the co-infections. It is worth watching it!