Hi @ivona_n – sorry to hear you’re not feeling well.

You didn’t mention the doses you were taking of each, but when I or a family member get sick, I always use my go-to immune supportive protocol which includes arabinogalactans and high doses of vitamin D, vitamin A, and zinc for up to a week. You can find more details about that protocol on p.8 of this medicine cabinet must-haves guide, including products I use on p. 3 & 4.

And if it’s viral/flu, there are other supportive remedies that can help including homeopathic support which are all listed in the virus/flu support protocol HERE.

Hope these help offer additional ways to support your body’s immune system, and wishing you a swift recovery.

Hi @Annie – remineralizing teeth is all about the health & pH of your saliva. This is a subject that was discussed in detail by Dr. David & Agnes Roze HERE. If you fast forward to 57 minutes, you’ll get to that explanation and suggested tips. It’s super interesting.

They also share a summary of all the therapies on p.53 of the presentation which you can download below the video. Here’s their DIY pH balancing recipe and green tea mouthwash.

Hydroxyapatite is an ingredient that’s very helpful at mineralizing teeth, so you can consider switching toothpaste from regular ones to RiseWell toothpaste for example which includes hydroxyapatite. We also have a discount code BERN10 for 10% off.

If you have time to watch the whole session with Dr. David and Agnes Roze, please do. Dr. Agnes is a biological pediatric dentist and shares lots of helpful tips about child oral health.

Hi @Annie – I follow a few good accounts regarding foot health that you might be interested in following. Barefoot Universe is a good one in particular because they offer education which empowers us to make more informed choices.

Here’s a great article they wrote about the best type of shoes for babies and toddlers, including brand recommendations that I think you’ll find really helpful!

barefootuniverse.com

The Best Baby & Toddler Shoes: Why Soft is NOT Enough? - Barefoot Universe

Find the best shoes for toddlers learning to walk. Learn how to support healthy foot development with the right footwear choices for your little one.

Hi @Annie – I know that you follow Lead Safe Mama so by “clean” and third party tested, I’m going to assume heavy metal free — correct? Unfortunately, the current regulations for heavy metal testing thresholds are not as strict as we’d hope. Even companies that test for heavy metals may have trace amounts when compared to the much lower standards outlined in the Baby Food Safety Act.

That said, there are better options available that conduct third-party testing and hold organic certifications. Some brands I’d recommend are:

• Simply Organic
• Frontier Co-op
• Mountain Rose Herbs

These brands are known for their commitment to quality and safety, so they may align with what you’re looking for. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Hi @Annie – you can find that discussion thread here: https://bbettermembership.com/forums/discussion/5137223/#post-15772

I’ve updated the links as well to my comment. Thanks for letting me know. With the migration over to the new platform, we unfortunately lost a lot of our links so we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to add them back. If you notice any other links missing, please let us know! Thanks.

Hi @Annie – castor oil is special in that it has the ability to cross into the middle layer of our skin (dermis) where our lymphatic system and circulation flow. And since it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (i.e. rest and digest mode), lymphatic flow and reduces inflammation it’s benefits are many when applied topically to the abdomen region or over the liver/gallbladder area.

You can learn more about how to do a castor oil pack in this handout. And yes, as long as it’s done topically and not anywhere where the baby can ingest it, it’s considered safe during breastfeeding. Your point about promoting detoxification is a good one though. Limiting the use of the packs to 20-30 mins a few times per week can help avoid over-detoxification.

Hi @sara_alm369 – I noticed you posted this question in the lyme, mold and heavy metal category. Was that by mistake or do you know if he’s struggling with any of those environmental toxins?

Has he been seen by a doctor or dentist already? Was a diagnosis provided? If you can share more about this symptom, we can help you figure out the root cause better. Questions to consider:

1. When did it start?

2. Describe the symptom: any pain? sensitive to touch? does it appear only on the lip or also elsewhere in the mouth?

3. Does it come and go or always there?

4. Was he recently sick?

5. Did he bite his lip?

6. Are there any known allergies or sensitivities to certain foods, medications, or products?

7. Have there been any environmental changes (e.g., new toothpaste, water source, or exposure to allergens)?

The more information you can provide us, the better we can help.

@kritissoni you’re so welcome! Please report back if you do get testing done so we can help guide you further.

Hi @Annie – unfortunately, it’s out of our scope of practice to provide a diagnosis. Also, with skin related concerns it’s always best to get it checked by a dermatologist for confirmation.

Please do keep us posted however if you do get it diagnosed by a medical professional so that we can offer some guidance on root cause approaches and/or rapid relief measures.

@Annie Mary Ruth has great products for kids which you can checkout here for vitamin C and here for vitamin E.

Glutathione is generally safe but should be avoided by those with G6PD deficiency, sulfur sensitivities, or active infections. Cancer patients and those taking certain medications should also talk to their doctor as it may interfere with certain treatments. And of course, there’s not much research done on pregnant women so caution is warranted there.

When it comes to breastfeeding, Seeking Health states that their liposomal glutathione is designed to accommodate various needs, including those of bariatric, breastfeeding, vegetarian, vegan individuals, and even children aged 4 and up. It’s often recommended to start with lower doses when trying a new supplement for the first time to assess individual tolerance.

When it comes to vitamin C dosage, taking too much can often result in having looser stools so keep an eye out for that to assess what works best for you.

Fermented foods are generally high in histamine, but the levels can vary significantly depending on the type of ferment and the amount consumed. For example, coconut kefir tends to have much lower histamine levels and may be better tolerated compared to sauerkraut, which is higher in histamine. If histamine intolerance stems from gut dysbiosis, then introducing beneficial microbes from fermented foods may actually help address the root cause. The key though is finding the right amount/dose that supports gut health without triggering histamine-related symptoms. Hope that makes sense.

@Annie – none of those ingredients are harmful, even if ingested. I would recommend you search B Better’s Fullscript catalog to find supplements that fit your budget & requirements because there are many different brands to choose from.

For example, for “blue green algae” type in “spirulina” in the ingredient search bar of the catalogue and it will populate all the brands that offer spirulina. You can then filter by form (liquid, powder, capsule, etc) and other parameters to suit your needs to refine your search. For the purpose of the recipe, you’ll likely want to find them in “powder” form so that you don’t have to open up a bunch of capsules.

For spirulina, since it can be cultivated from uncontrolled freshwater environments, it’s best to look at brands that source it from controlled environments and/or do testing to ensure purity. Dr. Mercola’s spirulina for example is certified organic and also has the USP and GMP quality certifications. I’m not sure if they do 3rd party heavy metal testing though. Another company called Raw Living Spirulina does share their 3rd party testing directly on their site: https://www.rawlivingspirulina.com/laboratory-tests/

Regarding the controversy over hydroxyapatite in toothpaste involves the use of nano vs. non-nano particles. Nano-hydroxyapatite particles are smaller and can penetrate enamel more effectively for remineralization, but concerns exist about potential absorption into tissues or long-term health effects, especially since the EU takes a cautious approach to nano-materials in consumer products. Non-nano hydroxyapatite avoids these risks while still providing effective enamel repair.

Dr. Roze has developed a new toothpaste featuring the highest concentration of hydroxyapatite available on the market, utilizing non-nano hydroxyapatite for effective remineralization while minimizing potential safety concerns linked to nano-technology. But I’m not sure if he ships worldwide yet. I’ve reached out to ask him… will let you know when I hear back.

@Annie you won’t find a barefoot shoe with a heel – that goes against the principle of healthy feet. 🙂

If you do need more support though as you transition to barefoot technology, you can checkout this article which also shares brand recommendations for various wide style shoes with extra cushion for men and women.

barefootuniverse.com

15 Best Wide Toe Box Shoes With Extra Cushion (Not Barefoot!) - Barefoot Universe

Discover the best wide toe box shoes with extra cushioning. Explore our curated list of comfortable, thick-soled footwear.

@Annie – in terms of materials used, the Ninja Food 10 in 1 Pro Air Fryer seems to use stainless steel material on the inside so it checks that box. I personally haven’t tried it so can’t comment on effectiveness, but if you look at reviews, that might help you make a more informed decision about it.

And yes, if you’re looking for a pressure cooker, the Instant Pot is also made from stainless steel interior. And while lead was found in the heating element (food does not touch that part though), it was one of the appliances tested by Lead Safe Mama that was found to have the lowest levels. You can read more here.

No worries at all @Annie – do keep us posted if you do get a proper diagnosis so that we can help you dig deeper with how to support immunity and natural rapid relief if needed and appropriate.

@Annie since you do experience gut related symptoms, it may be worth investing in a comprehensive stool test like the GI Map with Zonulin to get an overview of overall gut inflammation, digestion, gut immunity, intestinal permeability, and possible overgrowths like H Pylori, microbes/yeast, etc.

If it’s cost-prohibitive, they offer an H Pylori only stool test, as a bare minimum since you suffer with reflux and inconsistent bowel movements.

And given that you lived in a moldy home, I would also invest in a MycoTox urine test. Many of the symptoms you described, including histamine intolerance, made me immediately suspect mold.

An organic acids test (OAT) would also be my preference if choosing between a full GI Map or OAT test. However, I would still add on H Pylori.

So in addition to the blood tests I suggested, I would look at the following functional tests:

–MycoTox, H Pylori & OAT

I linked the tests so you can learn more about each one.