Just about every CFS/FM specialist that I have found prescribe special diets and nutritional supplements along with their favorite medical treatment. Since we have also read anecdotal reports from folks who have simply changed their diet and added nutritional supplements and have had significant lessening of "brainfog" and pain, it makes me wonder whether those medicines or the diet have created whatever successes incurred. Seemingly, it certainly blurs the research they've done. I also have never heard that anyone who has changed their diet and added nutritional supplements who has not improved their condition.

What is the reason that we *have to* boost the metabolism and/or feed our systems larger-than-normal amounts of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc?

Because, it would seem, we're compensating for Leaky Gut Syndrome (a.k.a. increased intestinal permeability). Despite the research which shows that increased intestinal permeability problems are the cause of or complicates the lives of people with asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS, and/or AIDS, we seem to think our intestines are made of steel.

Any one of the following can cause Leaky Gut Syndrome:

• Antibiotics because they lead to the overgrowth of abnormal flora in the gastrointestinal tract (bacteria, parasites, candida, fungi)
• Alcohol and caffeine (strong gut irritants)
• Foods and beverages contaminated by parasites like Giardia lamblia, cryptosporidium, blastocystis hominis and others
• Foods and beverages contaminated by bacteria like helicobacter pylori, klebsiella, citrobacter, pseudomonas and others
• Chemicals in fermented and processed food (dyes, preservatives, peroxidized fats)
• Enzyme deficiencies (e.g. celiac disease, lactase deficiency causing lactose intolerance)
• NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ASA, ibuprofen, indomethacin, etc.
• Prescription corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone, hydrocortisone, DepoMedrol, etc.)
• High refined carbohydrate diet (e.g. candy bars, cookies, cake, soft drinks, white bread)
• Prescription hormones like the birth control pill
• Mold and fungal mycotoxins in stored grains, fruit and refined carbohydrates

In addition to the creation of food allergies by the Leaky Gut Syndrome, the bloodstream is invaded by bacteria, fungi and parasites that, in the healthy state, would not penetrate the protective barrier of the gut. These microbes and their toxins, if present in large enough amounts, can overwhelm the liver's ability to detoxify. This results in symptoms such as confusion, memory loss, brain fog or facial swelling when the individual is exposed to a perfume or to cigarette smoke that he or she had no adverse reactions to prior to the development of the Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Leaky Gut Syndrome also creates a long list of mineral deficiencies because the various carrier proteins present in the gastrointestinal tract that are needed to transport minerals from the intestine to the blood are damaged by the inflammation process. For example, magnesium deficiency (low red blood cell magnesium) is quite a common finding in conditions like fibromyalgia despite a high magnesium intake through the diet and supplementation. If the carrier protein for magnesium is damaged, magnesium deficiency develops as a result of malabsorption. Muscle pain and spasms can occur as a result. Similarly, zinc deficiency due to malabsorption can result in hair loss or baldness as occurs in alopecia areata. Copper deficiency can occur in an identical way leading to high blood cholesterol levels and osteoarthritis. Further, bone problems develop as a result of the malabsorption of calcium, boron, silicon and manganese. (from the web page of Dr. Zoltan Rona, Toronto, Ontario)

From: MCS-IMMUNE-NEURO MCS/Chemical Injury Support on behalf of Andi DesJardins

The Natural Way February 1997

Yeast problems have been around for a long time. The culprit--candida albicans, a type of fungus--creates minor conditions such as vaginitis and skin rashes. Allowed to multiply unchecked, it can cause a long and complicated list of symptoms--headaches, irritability, digestive problems, allergies and depression. In people with seriously compromised immune systems, yeast can enter the bloodstream and be fatal.

Unfortunately, an overgrowth of yeast is not always easy to detect. Some women (candida albicans usually favors women) simply get annoying, recurrent vaginal yeast infections. Mary Thomas had them like clockwork four times a year for 15 years. When her symptoms flared up, she treated them with a topical pharmaceutical application. They would disappear gradually over a few days, only to recur in two or three months. At her wit's end, Mary consulted an herbalist who, after a thorough examination, recommended a high oral dose of grapefruit seed extract. Her symptoms quickly disappeared. Suitably impressed, she sought treatment that would help her control her yeast infections and maintain her health.

Not all sufferers are so lucky. Candida does not always manifest itself as a simple vaginal infection, making it extremely difficult to detect and treat. In fact, for Martha Ashe, vaginal yeast was never a problem. All she new was that her stomach became distended after dinner, she often felt depressed for no apparent reason, and her joints and muscles often ached. Just prior to her periods, Martha's headaches and general sense of "spaciness" intensified, leaving her exhausted and more depressed. Most medical doctors dismissed her "vague" symptoms as psychosomatic or simply stress related, sending her home more discouraged than ever. Thinking her symptoms might be diet related, Martha turned to an herbal nutritionist for help. The nutritionist recommended a thorough examination of Martha's digestive tract, wrote up a complete heath history and ordered blood work done. The results showed that Martha suffered from rampant polysystemic candidiasis. After carefully following a strict diet coupled with herbal treatments and vitamin supplements for a year, Martha feels she's finally yeast-free.

The Unfriendly Tenant

Although candida-related illnesses have plagued women for decades, it wasn't until 1968 that anyone in the medical profession was able to connect an overgrowth of yeast with a host of symptoms and complaints. While treating a patient for a vaginal yeast infection, C. Orion Truss, M.D., of Birmingham, Ala., noticed that her migraines and depression also disappeared. Fifteen years passed before Truss's work received notice through the publication of The Yeast Connection by William G. Crook, MD.

Candida albicans occurs naturally in the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, as well as on the skin. Ninety-five percent of us have yeast growing in our bodies by six months of age. Candida shares the intestines with billions of bacteria, which perform many necessary functions, including producing vitamins and lowering cholesterol. Yeast competes for space and food with these "good" bugs. If we have enough healthy intestinal flora, our system will keep yeast under control.

In a healthy person, candida yeast are present in very small numbers. We don't know of any benefit from them being there--they seem to live off us, but are basically harmless. However, anything that promotes yeast growth can lead to an imbalance and trigger a yeast-related disease.

Candidiasis typically progresses in a very systematic way. The symptoms escalate in four stages. First, imbalances begin in the digestive tract. As the candida begins to dominate the intestinal environment, people develop characteristic symptoms such as heartburn, gas, bloating , anal itching and vaginitis. As body defenses weaken, candida and other fungi can infect other body areas, causing athlete's foot, jock itch, skin and nail infections.

Although yeast cannot invade bodily tissue directly the way bacteria and viruses can, like other fungi, it produces root-like structures that penetrate the lining of the gut. This damage provides a site for incompletely digested dietary proteins to enter the bloodstream. The body sees these proteins as antigens and responds by developing an allergic reaction to that particular food. Candida sufferers are plagued by multiple food sensitivities, a condition that creates a vicious circle of immune suppression, further candida and allergy.

As candidiasis progresses, yeast cells attach themselves to mucous membrane surfaces, form a colony and transform into a fuzzy "mycelium" (think mold on bread). As their roots penetrate the tissues, searching for nutrients, the yeast produce toxins that damage the tissue and cause inflammation. Any tissue that has been colonized by yeast will be plagued with symptoms---vaginitis, diarrhea, heartburn or "thrush" (yeast in the mouth). Yeast cells can also show up in the sinuses, ears and eyes.

As the toxic by-products of a yeast infection circulate through the bloodstream, they can trigger symptoms in distant parts of the body. This tissue upset can result in conditions as diverse as asthma, sinusitis, lupus, PMS and kidney stones, according to Dr. Ralph Golan, writing in Optimal Wellness. Symptoms depend on which organ has been affected by the toxins. Damage to the brain can cause fuzzy thinking, while skin damage will cause itching and rashes.

As the immune system becomes compromised, the body becomes hypersensitive to otherwise benign levels of such common chemicals as gas fumes, perfume and pesticides.

The yeast-damaged body becomes so overwhelmed that it can produce antibodies against its own tissues, causing conditions like severe PMS. Along with classic allergy symptoms like hay fever and hives, as the sufferer becomes more allergic and chemically sensitive, she can develop reactions including headache, joint pain and nausea.

A third set of symptoms occurs when a yeast infection involves the central nervous system, and mental symptoms such as headache, irritability, confusion and lethargy begin. Finally, in an advanced case of candidiasis the body develops symptoms of organ and hormone dysfunction. The most common of these is hypothyroidism, followed by adrenal failure, but any organ can be involved. In children, the symptoms usually start with chronic ear infections and colic.

What Triggers The Invasion?

Candida truly is a disease of modern life. All of the factors that aggravate yeast overgrowth are consequences of modern living. Healthy people do not get yeast infections.

Antibiotics are thought to be the single greatest contributor to candida. True, antibiotics kill unwanted bacteria, such as those that cause teenage acne, but they also nonselectively kill the good bacteria in the digestive tract and vagina, allowing the antibiotic resistant candida albicans to flourish. Women often develop vaginal yeast infections after using antibiotics and frequently trace their first onset of candidiasis to a potent course of antibiotics, often years before. Once candidiasis develops and the gut is overgrown with yeast, the body's colony of beneficial bacteria cannot be reestablished without treatment.

Yeast also loves sugar. Remember, yeast is used to ferment sugar in bread and beer. White sugar, especially, is the perfect yeast food. It also suppresses immune response, which increases the likelihood that a yeast infection will spread. Sugar is not the only dietary culprit: All carbohydrates feed yeast to a certain extent and can contribute to episodes of symptoms.

Women are more at risk for the yeast syndrome, at least during their fertile years. Progesterone, produced in abundance prior to menstruation, favors yeast, and many premenstrual women see an increase in their yeast symptoms. Progesterone is a principal ingredient in oral contraceptives, which, not surprisingly, provoke yeast. When the body is in balance, taking oral contraceptives shouldn't cause significant yeast problems, but when candida is out of control, birth control pills can be a serious complicating factor.

During pregnancy, women develop higher blood sugar and higher progesterone. What could be better for yeast? In fact, many women trace the onset of their symptoms to their first pregnancy.

Finally, of course, women have a vagina---one more dark, moist, warm cavity for yeast to call home. A recent study showed that women with vaginal candidiasis had one-sixth the normal level of beta carotene in the cells of the vagina. Reduced levels of beta carotene, a recognized immune-enhancing antioxidant, suggest suppressed immunity in those tissues, leaving them more susceptible to vaginal yeast.

Numerous other circumstances favor yeast development. Incomplete digestion of carbohydrates, especially when combined with diarrhea, brings food to the yeast that inhabit the large intestine. A number of drugs, especially cortisone, encourage the growth of yeast, as does exposure to damaging amounts of environmental chemicals, such as pesticides. Allergies, glandular disorders from any source (including diabetes) and trauma (such as surgery) also contribute to candidiasis.

Clearly, none of these factors alone causes yeast disorder, which is what makes the condition so elusive. To treat the problem successfully once yeast has gotten firmly established, you must "search and destroy" each of candida's building blocks one by one.

The Counter-Attack

Candida can be controlled with a multi-pronged approach aimed at normalizing and strengthening immune function, killing yeast in the digestive tract (and other areas it has colonized), replacing beneficial flora in the intestines and stabilizing the nutritional status of the body as a whole.

Diet. Eat whole foods that nourish you--not the yeast. You knew all along I was going to say it: No Sugar. The more you minimize simple carbohydrates in favor of complex carbohydrates, the better. Most people need to eliminate fruit for a period of time, and some can't even tolerate high-starch vegetables like potatoes.

Essentially, the diet that starves yeast while supporting the immune system avoids sweets, refined flours and all allergy-producing and mold-containing foods (if sensitive to them). Such a diet includes adequate protein, a lot of fresh vegetables, complex carbohydrates appropriate to the case and moderate fat and fruit only as tolerated.

Food craving can be a big problem on an anti-yeast diet. When full of yeast, people feel a tremendous pressure to feed the fungus with sugar. Dr. Crook likens eating sugar in these circumstances to throwing kerosene on a fire. For cravings, he recommends protein, such as raw nuts or baked tofu. Ironically, when people have multiple food allergies, they are often addicted to the very foods that produce the allergic reactions and have classic withdrawal cravings without those foods.

Supplements. Many natural medicines work well to control yeast. One of the most important is "friendly flora," the bactobacilli that belong in the gut. Because the yeast has colonized the membranes of the intestines, large doses of lactobacilli are necessary to overpower the candida and replace its colonies. Use powdered acidophilus from the refrigerator case. A typical dose is two tablespoons per day for two weeks. In addition, you can use five mg of biotin per day or try Caprylic acid (begin with 200 to 300 mg a day, working up to 6,000 mg a day after two to three weeks).

Herbs. Many herbs act as anti-fungals. Basically, we can separate them into those that kill yeast directly and those that control it by supporting the immune system over time. Some do both.

Getting control of yeast requires a holistic approach to your total lifestyle. The world---and our bodies with it---is covered with yeast, and you will never be able to kill enough of the fungus to escape it. Only by adjusting your diet, de-stressing your lifestyle and supporting your immune system can you conquer candida. For this whole-person problem, with a little discipline, you will find a whole-person solution.

Yeast Risk Factor -- Antibiotics, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, cortisone and other immunosuppressant drugs, sugar, high-fat high-sugar nutrient-poor diets, environmental chemicals, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, allergy-producing foods, malabsorption of nutrients, chronic diarrhea, chronic viral infections, anti-inflammatory drugs, ulcer medication or acid blockers/antacids used for prolonged periods, emotional trauma.

Indulge -- Fresh lemon, fresh lime, most vegetable juices except carrot and beet, most vegetables, fresh garlic, fresh ginger

Avoid -- Fruit, potatoes, mushrooms, tomatoes, ketchup, all alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee, dried-herb teas, milk, vinegar

MCS-IMMUNE-NEURO is a support/information/positive action list to help those with chemical injury and resulting immune and/or nervous system problems manage their illness and lead fulfilling lives. Ginny Kloth

Dr. Allen Tyler from Thorne Research states that both the central and autonomic nervous systems are involved and there is a physiological change in the connective tissue. Muscle pain creates physical inactivity, resulting in muscle weakness. Hypersensitivity to pain can

It is very easy to plunge into hopelessness and helplessness when one is suffering from intense pain and ineffective treatments. Yet, there are answers to this dilemma. The most important is that of lifestyle change, which includes stress management, bodywork, nutritional support, stretching exercises, yoga or tai chi, and one's outlook on life.

Calcium

Magnesium

Potassium

What are they?

How do they help?