@Annie – there are many brands that provide supplemental glutathione only, and that’s where Fullscript’s catalog can be really helpful to sort through the different brands and compare ingredients as well with their filter features.

I often recommended Seeking Health’s Liposomal Glutathione (original mint) to clients, but there are many other brands too.

Hi @Annie – we have a few places where you can search for things. There’s the main search bar in the main header that searches the entire website. The search results will then be categorized into their locations like blog posts, forums, forum replies, etc.

You can also search individual forum categories, handouts, guest expert calls, etc. So for example, if you recall having written or reading a post in this category, then you can search in the search bar directly above that specific forum category to scroll only this category.

I also recall your question and also couldn’t locate my reply. Unfortunately, the transfer over to the new platform did cause some loss of content which we are working hard to recover manually. It’s a very tedious and timely process, but we’re getting there.

In the meantime, here was my reply to your previous post:

I’m going to direct you to Dr. Jolene Brighten’s website. She wrote this excellent contraception guide about the different types of contraceptive options available with pros and cons discussed for each.

My preference of non-hormonal birth control is a combination of non-toxic condoms during the fertile window along with fertility tracking.

It’s a non-invasive combo and doesn’t have any negative health impacts.

If you’re curious about fertility tracking devices, take a look at Daisy and Lady-Comp. Both of these track your body’s basal temperature and synch with a tracking app. They have very high accuracy rates.

Here’s Daisy’s “how it works” video to explain it better.

Using the combination of condoms and fertility tracking is not for everyone, but definitely is empowering to know your body’s rhythms and have better control.

Hope this helps!

drbrighten.com

The Contraception Guide

My definitive guide to contraception. Find out which birth control method is best for your body. Is your current contraceptive harmful to your health?

@naslam1603 – was this a formal diagnosis? What I see is that DAO is low, which is contributing to higher histamine levels. DAO is produced in the brush border of the gut lining, therefore is highly influenced by microbiome balance and overall gut health. Since you already know that there is dysbiosis from the GI Map and borderline SIBO tests, it’s not surprising that histamine would be elevated since gut infections & inflammation can be major drivers of prostaglandins and histamine release.

This is corrected in the same way SIBO, dysbiosis and constipation are corrected, which I cover in the Gut Health Masterclass. It’s important to be optimizing and supporting the 3 main digestive players to ensure the downstream digestive function is also working well (i.e. stomach acid, bile flow, and digestive enzymes). Hope that makes sense?

@naslam1603 – I would encourage you to search through Amrita Nutrition’s catalog to see what’s available near you since that’s often a limitation for you.

I have also recommended Quicksilver’s liposomal vitamin C before, but it may have the same effect as Seeking Health’s product. A capsule in that case might be a better option to provide some buffering and reduce the likelihood of irritation. Capsules are often gentler on the stomach and may help ensure better tolerance while still delivering the benefits of vitamin C supplementation.

Hi @naslam1603 – was that a formal diagnosis that was given to you? Are you currently experiencing symptoms? If so, please list them out.

Hi @Annie – unfortunately, microbiome testing is still in its infancy, meaning all tests currently have limitations. The ones I currently use for helpful insights on microbiome balance and overall gut/digestive health are Diagnostic Solutions GI Map or Genova’s GI Effects tests.

I 100% agree with the notion that the gut microbiome and mind are interconnected, and this is why I brought in Dr. Sabine Hazen, an incredible gastroenterologist pioneering this field, as one of our guest experts to talk about microbiome health. I’ve also donated to her research because I strongly believe that this is the future of medicine.

I believe I’ve already shared with you her recent study on how familial fecal transplant helped cure autism in a young man. They’re also conducting research on cures for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if this also helped those with schizophrenia.

If you haven’t already watched her session, you can watch it HERE. You may want to reach out to her to see if familial fecal transplant could possibly help your brother. They currently do these as part of clinical trials, but you never know if a spot opens up!

@Annie – ah yes, it’s mixed with other antioxidants in the “other ingredients”. But it’s normal to have phospholipids like choline to help with absorption.

In that case, checkout Readisorb’s Liposomal Glutathione (cleaner & much higher dose per serving) and Design for Health’s Liposomal Glutathione as other options without phosphatidyl choline in the main ingredients.

@Annie – that’s amazing to hear! If you don’t mind sharing the cost and if it’s possible to do familial fecal transplant through self-pay, I’d love to know so I can pass on the info to others who may need it in the future.

And I’m so happy to hear that your brother has improved as well! Don’t underestimate the toxic effects of mold – even after someone has left the moldy environment as it can colonize in the body. I believe we discussed saunas/sweating in a different thread, correct? Sweating is a great way to detox mold & mycotoxins. I really like the Therasage Portable Sauna, as it keeps the head out of the direct heat. I have an affiliate discount code: BERN for 10% off.

@naslam1603 – I replied in a different thread. I’ll recopy my reply about supporting better bile flow here:

Please watch this video from the gut health masterclass to understand how to better support liver health and bile flow for various situations.

Bile flow can also be supported by consuming bitter foods. Please see this handout for a list of foods and/or bile support supplements.

@naslam1603 – yes you can test vitamin C status in blood with a fasting plasma ascorbate test. It’s very important that it be fasting and that vitamin C supplementation be avoided a day before testing because vitamin C will transiently rise to high levels after acute intake even in deficiency.

@naslam1603 – I encourage you to read this article which looks at the possible mechanisms behind MCAS (commonly seen in long-haulers), PASC, POTS, and the possible role of antihistamines in treatment.

DAO enzymes can be helpful in reducing overall symptoms since these help break down histamine, as opposed to simply blocking histamine receptors with anti-histamines.

Hi @naslam1603 – please watch this video from the gut health masterclass to understand how to better support liver health and bile flow for various situations.

Bile flow can also be supported by consuming bitter foods. Please see this handout for a list of foods and/or bile support supplements.

@Annie – yes I knew she was coming out with her own test, but if I recall it’s to look at bifido strains specifically. She discovered during Covid that those with low levels of Bifidobacteria had the worst outcomes and vice versa. She has a cute slogan/hashtag called #savethebif 🙂

Do keep us posted if you hear back from her regarding your brother possibly joining one of her trials (if it’s even possible). You can mention that you came through me/B Better if that helps.

As for ordering a comprehensive stool test, I explain what they offer and their utility in this video and this video from the Gut Health Masterclass course. It can provide a general overview of microbiome health, but not what you’re expecting it to do. For example, if there’s overall low levels of bacteroidetes and firmicutes, then adding in a variety of fermented foods, high dose multi-strain probiotics, and consuming prebiotic-rich foods would be helpful. Even if there’s a particular commensal strain that is low or not detected, supplementing with that specific strain is not really how the microbiome works. If you watch Dr. Sabine Hazen’s session, you’ll understand this concept better. If someone is low in bifidobacteria, it’s not as simple as consuming more bifidobacteria strains from a probiotic.

How is your brother doing? Has he fully removed gluten from his diet? Are you noticing any improvements? How about his environment – has your mom implemented any of the recommendations from Dr. Jill’s course while still living in mold?

@naslam1603 for my sensitive clients with compromised digestion, I usually recommend the Biocidin LSF version (or liquid if cost is a concern) to help with absorption. The starting dose could be anywhere from 1 to 3 drops per day, and gradually increasing it to 5 drops, 3 x per day for 30 to 60 days.

And yes, that product contains many natural antimicrobials like garlic, oregano berberine, etc, which is effective, but again, may not be suitable if constipation is still present and the 3 main digestive players are not well supported.

Hi @naslam1603 – weaning off famotidine can take time, especially if you’ve been on it for a while. If you couldn’t tolerate 150mg, I’ve had clients buy empty capsules and dump half the content into another capsule to reduce the dosage even further. It should also be taken mid-meal to avoid that burning sensation. Even a low dose or a tiny sprinkle will be better than none at all, so I would discuss that with your practitioner to resume the work you had started. This really should be priority as it will rectify so many of the downstream consequences you’re experiencing. How is constipation? If that’s still an issue, this should also be considered priority – even if it’s with natural rapid relief solutions in the meantime.

Yes, both sIgA & calprotectin will be positively impacted by essential fatty acids.

And yes, ghee is actually a better source of butyrate, especially if it’s from a grassfed cow. Source is always important.

That coconut milk kefir product looks great! Definitely consider introducing that into your diet in small quantities initially, starting with a teaspoon and gradually increasing to 1/4 cup+ daily if tolerated. This will provide beneficial probiotics that will continue to help with microbiome diversity and balance.

Nuts and seeds are not considered resistant starches. Please read this handout on Fiber, Prebiotics & Resistant Starch for a list of resistant starches and the differences between the different fibers and prebiotics.

Yes, it seems your liver markers seem suboptimally elevated. Unfortunately they left out direct bilirubin which would help us see if there’s possible congestion in the biliary tract that can be contributing to suboptimal fat digestion and some elevation in steatocrit.