Other then the sugar issue, is there any reason why I can't eat yogurt while getting treatment for lyme?
There isnt anything that would affect the abx, supplements, or overall treatment is there?
I only ask because Im looking for different foods to eat, have always enjoyed yogurt, but cut back when the LLMD said to watch out for sugar in it... But if my sugar level is fairly low, Id like to add it back in. Any problems with that?
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Some abx say "NO DAIRY" as milk products can inactivate the medicine. Be sure to see your RX patient information page.
Patients with inner ear conditions are often advised to avoid diary products due to increased phlegm production (sort of "gums up the ears" and phlegm hanging around the throat or sinuses can be a breeding ground for germs).
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I went back to re-read your question. I missed some stuff, so I'm backing up here:
if you are on antibiotics (abx) . . . every kind of abx destroys the natural bactera in your gut and it can result in a body wide infection from the yeast - various kinds of candida - taking over.
Sugar feeds yeast. And that is not pretty. Therefore, for anyone on abx, sugar must be avoided for the entire treatment and a time following.
Dark berries and tart apples might be okay if you have been on top of treatment to keep candida in control.
I'd advise getting a copy of "The Yeast Connection" by Dr. Crook. It is invaluable.
Believe me, with stevia, you won't even miss sugar. And, if you require any chocolate, you can try a very dark 83 percent or higher - immediately after a meal. The little amount of sugar in that will blend with all your other food and should have minimal effect if you have less than one ounce a day.
However, that would be only if candida has not developed. If is has, that is best to put off and try dark cocoa powder, stevia, in unsweetened rice or almond milk.
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If you are an medicines that do allow dairy, still, yogurt with added sugar has absolutely no therapeutic effect.
ONLY unsweetened yogurt is the good stuff. You can add a bit of STEVIA. Dark berries, too, make it delicious.
Adding herbs (dill weed, etc.) for a topping to salmon, etc. is a very nice touch.
Adding sugar to yogurt is counterproductive.
Also try to get yogurt from which the cattle have NOT been treated with rBGH. Organic is best if you can get it and try to buy from suppliers in your region so it's not hauled 3,000 miles.
I don't know what regional diaries you have but Mountain High or Horizon are two with national distribution who make unsweetened yogurt.
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A note about sugar. Most table sugar is loaded with chemicals from processing.
In addition to STEVIA (found in the supplement sections of health groceries - I like SweetLeaf Stevia Clear the best) . . .
AGAVE nectar (from a catcus) might be okay in small amounts. It is not supposed to mess with blood sugar levels. Still, for anyone with candida, this may be best avoided.
AND - for those who have no candida issues (but anyone taking abx does have to be concerned with candida) . . . there is honey. Honey is a wonderful food.
The closer to the earth you find all your foods, the better. Sugar has become one of the most processed products around. It's not good for anyone, really, it this form.
Lyme patients also usually have trouble with insulin and glucose levels. To avoid that, it's best to avoid simple sugars that can create a roller coaster effect.
Sugar is also bad for the adrenals. But, because so many of us are exhausted we are drawn to the quick energy - but that will drop us fast in no time.
When you have good adrenal support - and a good level of B--vitamins, Fish oil and magnesium and chromium, you will not crave sugar.
If you do, gymnema sylvestre can help. I'll be back with a link.
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Also, be sure to also take probiotics. You will not get all that you need in your yogurt. While the unsweetened type has some good bacteria, you will need more.
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[ 02. December 2008, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
WHAT IT DOES: Gymnema is bitter in taste, and cooling in action. It improves blood sugar control in diabetics, numbs the taste of sweet completely (for about 20 minutes), and decreases appetite (for about 90 minutes).
RATING: yellow
SAFETY ISSUES: None reported. Should not be used by people with low blood sugars (hypoglycemia).
STARTING DOSAGE:
* 1:1 extract: five to 10 ml per day * Pill: 500-1000 mg three times per day
Gymnema actually means "sugar destroyer." It grows in the wild forests of central India, all the way to Western Ghats and up to the Himalayas.
Research indicates that gymnema stimulates insulin secretion or release of insulin from the pancreas. Japanese studies have shown that it improves glucose tolerance in animal models of diabetes, and other studies show that the effects can last for up to two months after discontinuation.
This herb is a good long-term tonic for Type I and II diabetics. Results are best seen after long-term administration, over six months to a year. I prefer to use it in combination with several other herbs for blood sugar control, because it affects only a few aspects of the imbalance.
In case you're curious, sugar tastes like sand for twenty minutes after you chew on a little gymnema.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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As you probably already know, artificial sweeteners can be dangerous. Aspartame/Nutrasweet/Equal can create hyperexcitability of the nerve cells in the brain and cause a toxic reaction. Even a trace amount in gum or cough drops can be neurotoxic, especially for patients with toxic infections such as lyme as it just adds to the load.
Here's something that, while it is not officially a "sweetener" according to the FDA, is a plant extract that is very sweet.
Stevia is a naturally sweet plant native to Paraguay whose leaves are 30 times sweeter than sugar in its unprocessed form. When purified, it can be 250-300 times sweeter than sugar.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Pardon me for highjacking the thread. Last post, promise. It's my "wake up my brain with basic research" exercise for the day and since I'm sure you'd want to know everything about something you might consume, this is a good start.
"A critical review of the genetic toxicity of steviol and steviol glycosides"
Excerpt:
. . . Application of a Weight-of-Evidence approach to assess the genetic toxicology database concludes that these substances do not pose a risk of genetic damage following human consumption.
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And, there are many other fascinating abstracts about Stevia through the PubMed site.
Stevia leaf is sweet in taste and neutral in action. It sweetens without adding calories and contains antioxidants that reduce inflammation.
SAFETY ISSUES: None known. Do not use in excess.
Excerpt:
. . . Stevia really stands out in that it has numerous health benefits. Animal studies show antixoidant properties, improvements in insulin sensitivity, antiinflammatory properties and mild blood pressure lowerinf effects. . . .
posted
Wow... No problem on all the info. All good stuff. Im actually going to post another Q in a related topic in a minute related to diets...
Just a summary...yogurt...good for probiotics...bad for sugars unless you get certain kinds..
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