Stubborn fat falls off and energy soars!
News from the NIH: Sneaky bacteria armored by biofilms are keeping 99% of women fat, foggy and fatigued. Discover the fast-acting fix!
Think back to your last dental appointment. As part of your cleaning, the hygienist likely used a tool to scrape away the sticky plaque that builds up around the gums (no matter how diligently you brush and floss). This residue, called a biofilm, is formed by the bacteria that make their home in the mouth—and left unchecked, it can trigger inflammation and bad breath.
Now science from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has revealed that a similar film encases bad bacteria in the gut. “Biofilms are created as a protective coating by communities of bacteria,” explains Raphael Kellman, M.D., founder of the Kellman Center for Integrative and Functional Medicine in New York City. In a healthy gut, he says, this film is thin and harmless. “But in a gut that is overrun by high levels of bad microbes, biofilms can grow into thick, sticky masses. And once bacteria are encased in this coating, they remain out of reach of the immune system as well as medications or probiotics.” In fact, Princeton University biologists found that when heath-sapping microbes are encased in biofilms, they are 1,000 times harder to eradicate.
Thick, sticky biofilms pull us into a sick/fat cycle. Michelle Schoffro Cook, Ph.D., author of The Cultured Cook, explains that good bacteria typically keep the population of bad bacteria in check. “But when bad bugs are protected by biofilms, they end up driving out the good bugs—and that leads to weight gain because there are not sufficient numbers of beneficial bacteria in the gut.” What’s worse, communities of bad bacteria encased in biofilms secrete an enormous amount of metabolic waste, which creates a significant toxic load in the body. And filtering these toxins falls to the liver. “The liver is the body’s major detoxifier,” Cook notes, “but constantly filtering out toxins can leave it sluggish and too overworked to optimally perform its other important duties—including fat burning.”
Biofilms can exacerbate a variety of other health concerns, asserts Dr. Kellman. Any health issue caused by bad microbes—from fatigue to seasonal allergies to sinus and yeast infections—can become chronic and seemingly incurable due to the presence of the sticky film. “Biofilms are one of the main reasons people ‘try everything’ but don’t see any health improvements,” adds Cook. Indeed, researchers from the NIH estimate that 80 percent of difficult-to-cure infections are attributable to biofilms.
Despite howdamaging biofilms can be, it’s possible to quickly eliminate them.Cook has developed a six-week protocol that uses enzymes to eradicate biofilms and floods the bodywith probiotics to eliminate bad bugs. “Biofilms have a protein membrane, and protein-digesting enzymes work like little Pac-Men to literally digest and break down biofilms,” Cook explains. “When themicrobes come out of the disrupted biofilms, the probiotics fight them off.”
As gut balance is restored throughout the body, the liver’s toxic load is lessened, allowing the organ to fire up fat burn. The payoff:Women lose up to 6 pounds every week, plus they are able to keep the weight off long-term—one woman we interviewed has maintained her happy weight for more than three years!
Weight loss is just the beginning. Women FIRST spoke to report experiencing sky-high energy, clearer skin, better focus and sunnier moods.And Cook adds that the plan is especially beneficial right now. “Removing biofilms eliminates a key source of low-grade inflammation that can amplify seasonal allergies, so this plan may also eliminate itchy eyes and runny noses during hay fever season.” It may cut the risk of colds and flu too: “When the body isn’t expending so much energy trying to fight biofilms, it’s better able to fend off infections,” Cook explains. What’s more, studies suggest that eliminating biofilms can lower joint pain by 67 percent, cholesterol by 41 percent and diabetes risk by 40 percent. Read on for the protocol that will help you look and feel your all-time best!
Eliminating the biofilms that protect bad gut bugs kick-starts weight loss—plus improves immunity, mood and energy. The key, says Michelle Schoffro Cook, Ph.D., is pairing enzymes that break down biofilms with probiotics that fight off bad bacteria. “The combination is really a one-two punch against biofilms.”
To get started, Cook recommends taking two enzyme capsules first thing in the morning. “If there’s food in your stomach, the enzymes will begin digesting that, so it’s important to take the enzymes on an empty stomach,” she notes. For best results, select a supplement that contains both protease and amylase,which work in tandem to dissolve biofilms and break down the sticky fibers that bind them to the gut wall. “Make sure your enzyme doesn’t contain HCL, which can irritate an empty stomach,” Cook advises.One that fits the bill: Enzymedica Digest Basic , Enzymedica.com).
Note: Women who have had ulcers or are pregnant should never take enzymes on an empty stomach.
As the enzymes work to immediately break down biofilms, the fat-promoting microbes taking refuge inside the sticky masses will be released. That’s why Cook recommends taking a probiotic supplement about an hour after the enzymes to help fight off those bad-acting bugs. “The more helpful bugs you have to fight the harmful bacteria, the better,” says Cook. “Having those beneficial bugs handy as biofilms break down is ideal.” Look for a probiotic with 'Lactobacillus rhamnosus', 'Bifidobacteria breve' and 'Lactobacillus acidophilus' (bacteria strains proven to help eliminate the bad-acting bugs that live in biofilms) as well as 'Saccharomyces boulardii', a beneficial yeast strain that prevents biofilms fromreattaching to the gutwall once they’ve beendissolved. “After biofilms are broken up, the bad bacteria want to reform their protective armor—but this helpful yeast attaches to the gut wall, so there’s no space for biofilms to take root,” says Cook. One that contains all four beneficial strains: Garden of Life Primal Defense,LEF.com/ffw).
Throughout the six-week protocol, you’ll also want to fill up on leafy greens (which supply nutrients to recharge an overworked liver), favor whole grains (which help good bugs thrive) and limit foods with added sugars (which feed bad bugs). This combination of supplements and diet tweaks will get you on the road to vibrant health—and for even faster results, add these success strategies:
1. SAVOR THIS HONEY. Sweeten your coffee, yogurt and other treats with manuka honey. “It is antibacterial andhas natural sugars that feed beneficial bugs,” says Cook.And researchers at the University of Southampton in England found that this variety of honey reduces the growth of existing biofilms by 46 percent and cuts the formation of new biofilms by 77percent. Cook stresses it’s important to select honeywith aUMF rating of at least 10+,which indicates its antimicrobial properties.One to try:Happy Valley UMF 10+ Manuka Honey . Cook suggests eating no more than 1 tsp. per day, so a single jar should last about five weeks.
2. SIP A PROBIOTIC TONIC. “Apple cider vinegar is loaded with beneficial probiotics and acids that help break down biofilms,” says Cook. To get the benefits,mix 1tbs. of the vinegar into 4oz. of water and sip before meals. Just be sure to select a product that isn’t pasteurized since the process kills off the good bugs.
3. FAVOR HEALTHY-GUT FOODS. “One really effective way to fight biofilms is to eat fermented foods,” says Cook, pointing to sauerkraut, kimchi, plain yogurt, kefir and miso. “They’re loaded with beneficial bacteria that help the body restore balance as biofilms are broken down.” Looking for inspiration? Cook offers a variety of tasty probiotic-rich recipes in her latest book, "The Cultured Cook" (New World Library, 2017).
Following this plan for six weeks will break up biofilms and support the growth of good bacteria, which will make it easier to keep biofilms at bay. Cook says you can repeat the protocol once or twice a year for a week to target any newly formed biofilms. And to really ensure that biofilms can’t take root, consider cutting sugar (except manuka honey) and processed foods. “When you eat sugar and processed foods, you feed the bad bacteria so they can grow stronger and form biofilms,” says Cook.
Another smart move? Seasoning meals with onions and garlic. “They’re among Mother Nature’s greatest weapons against biofilms,” she says. “They’ll keep bad microbes in check.”
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Adults with gut biofilms are 65 percent more likely to have elevated cortisol and stress levels, according to a Brazilian study. The good news: A separate study in the journal "Psychiatry Research" points to a remedy. In the study, people who ate the most probiotic-rich fermented foods were least likely to suffer from stress and its effects, like social anxiety. “There is a profound connection between gut flora and mood,” says naturopath Raphael Kellman, M.D. “Healthy bacteria produce key neurotransmitters that express optimism, confidence and calm. [Good] microbes also send messages to our hormone system to modulate the body’s production of stress hormones, which can help prevent anxiety.” To get the perks, Dr. Kellman advises eating 6 tbs. daily of sauerkraut, kefir or yogurt. Also key: supplementing with enzymes to break down biofilms.
In the magazine "First for Women" USA, October,2, 2017, excerpts pp.28-30. Digitized, adapted and illustrated to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.
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