Kefir will replace organisms that we need in our GI tract.

Lifeway here in US has 12 strains...more than yogurt does.

But many bacteria are killed by antibiotic use, and not available in probiotics. Probiotics only have some.

The newest research involves the microbiotome of our GI tracts being the starting point for illness. The PD forum is already posting alot about this. In fact there are new companies making fecal transplants...capsules from volunteers who have the bacteria that have been destroyed by antibiotics or whatever.

This is a recent thread...about thiamine etc but does mention the fecal transplants too.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread215273.html

In doing a little more looking at gene reports, I've just realized that my FUT2 status (non-secretor) has a negative impact on gut flora.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3098274/

"The secretor status determined by the FUT2 gene was strongly associated with the bifidobacterial diversity and composition. The non-secretor individuals only had about half of the bifidobacterial diversity and richness present in the secretor individuals based on the PCR-DGGE analysis. In addition, the non-secretor individuals had significantly reduced bifidobacterial abundance in comparison with the secretor individuals as measured by qPCR. Moreover, the non-secretor individuals lacked, or were rarely colonised by, several bifidobacterial DGGE genotypes, which were related to species B. adolescentis, P. catenulatum/pseudocatenulatum and B. bifidum, and were common in the secretor individuals."

English explanation and some suggestions...

http://bodyecology.com/articles/can-...t#.VMmqfWh4rYg

Many are convinced, and I think it's probably true, that bacteria in the gut (GI tract) are very important to health. I'm hearing there are normally something like 500-1000 species there. Antibiotics due horrible damage to them, of course. And who has never taken an antibiotic? The population of the gut with these great bacteria begins with what the infant gets from his/her mother during the process of birth, then we give them an antibiotic for the first ear or sinus infection (which would go away untreated) and wipe them all out. The gut has an enormous number of nerve endings and some believe that the food we eat, combined with the bacteria, communicates with these nerve endings and affects our health. The gut is responsible for most of our immune system, something like 2/3, don't quote me, and produces many of the neurotransmitters. But these bacteria are not patentable and are not making the drug companies any money, so why worry about them, right?
Ron

I can tell you one thing, this thread has really given me a lot to chew on.

With all the gut discussion and knowing that fermented foods are supposed to be really good for it, I had some sauerkraut tonight. Now I know it has always had some unpleasant gastric effects on me, but what I am also experiencing tonight is a horrid case of the "pricklies" and seriously increased SFN discomfort. I have never made that correlation before, but it's blatantly obvious right now. I was having a pretty good day symptom-wise until I did that.

I have never been able to tolerate sauerkraut .. Or cabbage
In general. The kefir is much better and more gentle
If you do a little at a time to start with.

Most stores have Lifeway now , plain and fruit flavored.
It is suggested to use kefir or a good probiotic spaced around
The Candida Support. I am not having any side effects with
Only one a day so far and have obvious gains in just over
A week. So I am pleased so far. Starting slowly may be
Best for people who have a high load of longtime Candida.
Fermented foods have high histamine
Content and this may cause that reaction for you.
There is a histamine thread in the subforum above.

I also have this. It seems to hit me out of no where when I am in a very relaxed state. It sometimes wakes me up. It is the worst when it jolts me awake just as soon as I doze off. That is hellish! Its very disconcerting.

Thank you for sharing. Although I don't like knowing others are suffering from this craziness, it's at least a little comforting to know that I'M not crazy, and these sensations are real.

I will be going out to get Lifeway tomorrow. I'm still trying to watch my sugar/carbs, but I'll give up another dairy product to make room for it.

Cabbage may very well be a no-no for me as well. I had a really bad day last Saturday and couldn't figure out why. I had coleslaw at a friend's house, so maybe it set me off.

The Now Candida Support is on its way from Amazon, so I'll have it soon and will do some reading before then. Do you take a probiotic as well as the Kefir?

I'll read the histamine thread as well. I was wondering if that was the cause of my alcohol intolerance and actually bought some Histame at one point, but I noticed no improvement with that problem. Maybe I'll eventually find a use for it.

Thanks for all the great information!

We have always had yogurt here. So no I don't do probiotics (yet)... but the Kefir is just as good I think. I've been using that for 2 yrs now.

When they get more organisms into the probiotics, I might consider them.

Stagger your Kefir with the Candida support... I've seen that suggestion in some of the reviews. The caprylic acid may kill off some useful bacteria. Next week I will try twice a day --a gentle increase. Already I have less gas and bloating, and a clearer mind. My arthritis pain levels are coming down... I am rarely using OTC pain relievers now during the day. I still take my Arthritis strength Tylenol, at bedtime so my throbbing hand doesn't wake me up, but that is better now too. Such a small change, and even the dentist said my gums look better today as he fit my new crown on that back molar that broke just before Xmas! Imagine 68yrs old and still nice gums! LOL

I thought I had LD since it all started in hands and feet. But now it is all over. Here's to hoping we ALL feel better soon. Yes, the sunburn being rubbed is allodynia.