Go here: http://www.healthyawareness.com/forum/
Scroll down until you get to the topic: "Do probiotics methylate mercury? "
I was wondering what you lot think.

Cheers.

Interesting to see this post as I've spent hours on the internet searching for an answer to this...and not found one. Everytime I try to take the highly recommended probiotics for my problematic digestive system, my mercury symptoms worsen. This has made me suspicious that there might be something bad happening between the mercury and probiotics. I know it's not die-off from candida or such.....

This makes no sense. I read somewhere that we can't get rid of the candida bacteria when we still have fillings because, although they are nasty little critters, they help to protect us from the mercury by ingesting it. So, the bad guys are good. Now you're telling me that the good guys may actually be bad! I am so confused! Can anyone shed some light on this? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Ok, I've spent ages on the net again searching.....and actually found this:


Bacteria and Yeast
When people have mercury amalgams or just has elevated mercury in their body, the friendly bacteria (probiotics) will convert the mercury into methyl mercury, which is at least 100 times more toxic than ordinary mercury. Research shows that oral bacteria, yeast and probiotics all methylate mercury, so you should minimize any contact between the bacteria and your mercury. The methylation of mercury could explain some of the adverse reactions reported by parents and patients who have begun detox with massive doses of probiotics to correct dysbiosis.


Dysbiosis is a pressing problem, but the production of large amounts of methyl mercury is much worse. Methyl mercury exacerbates damage to the nervous system and even further promotes dysbiosis by further compromising the intestinal immune system. One theory holds that the body deliberately builds up the population of candia as a coping strategy to deal with the heavy metal poisoning. The body actually fosters the presence of candida in a heavy metal toxic patient because the cell walls of the candida binds up the mercury and other toxic metals, providing a measure of relief. If the candida cell walls are destroyed, the cell walls release their toxic metals back into the system, causing symptoms. This release of heavy metals is possibly one explantion of Herxheimer's reaction, in which the patient feels more ill, and even more toxic, after the candida is attacked and killed. By using NDF (Nanocolloidal Detox Factors), an oral detox supplement, containing cell wall broken probiotics, the bacteriocins from the probiotics drive pathogenic bacteria and yeast away from their territory without breaking their cell walls. This competitive exclusion effect is safer than breaking the cells of the candida.

Thanks for your help.

I remember reading about candida being good for mercury sufferers as it soaks up the mercury. So when candida is destroyed the mercury that has accumulated there will disperse throughout the body if it's not removed via bowl movements.

I'm unsure what to do. I know I have to remove the candida in order to regain good bowl health. I'm tempted to carry on. I could suffer the symptoms whilst knowing that at least it's leaving me. But then this mercury will also damage my central nervous system. Should I risk that?

That NDF is too expensive for me.

Anyway, they say probiotics do this. But surely anything that 'kills' the candida will mobilise the mercury from the candida? Thoughts?

Personally, I'm going to keep away from the probiotics for now. They just aggrevate my mercury symptoms, especially the mental ones. Do you notice anything like this whilst taking probiotics?

I'm taking a fiber supplement twice a day, in between meals/chelation suppl., to increase elimination. I'll now also focus more on diet, eating lots of vegetables and a little low-sugar fruit. And (try to) stay away from sugar/refined products because of candida prob.

I'm thinking this way my bowel will haveto deal with the mercury (with the help of fiber from suppl. and vegetables/fruit)itself, and not allowing the metal to get trapped inside candida which I'll haveto get rid of eventually anyway. This way I'm keeping my digestive tract in good shape hopefully reducing the bad bacteria and not deliberately increasing the good, which both seem to increase methylezation (sp?)....What do you think? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I forgot to mention.....candida hates fiber, but the colon loves it. So I'm not going to aggresively kill candida with anti-fungals, just try to create a good, healthy environment which they won't like <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I'm also on fiber; although I stopped taking it as it seemed to stop working - I'll start taking it again.

It's strange you should mention mental problems. I have been experiencing more headaches of late, my tinnitus has gotten so bad it prevents me from sleeping and my brain seems to hurt when I move my head around too much. I can't decide if this is a migrane or not. But let's put it this way: i'm currently going through the exam seasion at university and my headaches have gotten so bad I'm unable to revise; I'm going to miss my exam tomorrow and try and get my doctor to give me a note detailing why I couldn't take the exam (I'm obviously not going to mention mercury).

In brief: I'm also going to stop taking probiotics. Do you think garlic has the same affect?

Just a thought. If one were to take probiotics and the candida were to die and give off their mercury, if the person also was taking algin or activated charcoal, would the mercury be absorbed?

Hi Steve

Just checked in before going to sleep. I haven't considered garlic. That might be a good idea actually. Cos it contains lots of sulphur (chelates) AND kills candida. So garlic (the sulphur) might bind with some of the mercury being released from the yeast it is killing. Hmmmm, definitely something worth looking into.

I'm sorry you can't do your exam tomorrow, that sucks! I hope you get another shot at it.....

Ann

Hmm. Seems to be the same Idea Ann had in regards to garlic.

We need to experiment! I'll be only taking garlic now anyway. I'll see how it goes.

Dallas, maybe that would be the case, that algin absorbs some of the released mercury. In addition Steve, and also I are concerned that probiotics might have a direct effect on the dynamics of mercury. Turning it into an even more toxic form, especially to the nervous system.

Ok, I'll try garlic too (and probably loose some friends in the process <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />) Hey, anything to get well right??

Ann

You can buy it in ordourless tablet form. Try and make sure it's the powerful kind though.

This is a difficult one, and I have struggled with this. I found that every time I detoxed mercury with chlorella and NDF, after about two weeks I would have a candida flare-up, and that was a sign to me that I had indeed removed some of the mercury from my gut. After the second attempt, the candida flare-up was so bad it made me very ill and weak - I had leaky gut and was totally debilitated with crippling fatigue, food intolerances, hot flushes etc. I found by following the candida diet very strictly - no complex carbs, sugar, yeast, no just about everything - and taking an SBO probiotic, I have regained some territory and some energy. In his book Andy Cutler says that fixing the gut is essential in order to be able to absorb the supplements, otherwise these just become expensive sewage. I have found that, for me, keeping the candida at bay with probiotics (not with FOS), while detoxing mercury enables me to deal with both problems at the same time, as I wait to have my amalgams removed. I feel I have improved absorption and gained a tiny amount of weight. I haven't noticed that using probiotics makes my mercury symptoms worse, but then I feel generally unwell most of the time. For me, letting the candida proliferate out of control was a big mistake. Everyone is different, and will respond differently, and it's only by trial and error that we will find out what works for us. Good luck everybody.

What is an SBO probiotic? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

A soil-based organism probiotic. It is claimed that these are more effective in enabling the beneficial bacteria to stay in the gut. Have a look at this link. The testimony about the woman with amalgam poisoning and candida convinced me.

http://www.kiki-health.co.uk/view_testimonial.asp?url=4_Natures_Biotics.html

When I first started taking these I went straight into a Herxheimer's die-off, and then gained more energy. I am now taking 8 a day.

I noticed a product on that site called Nature's Living Superfood. This is the same as "Nature's Best Greens" - the American & Canadian name for the same product sold by Dr. Ben Kim in Canada (but shipped from the USA when you order it on line).

I am mentioning this because I have started taking it and feel more energetic on it.

What's that "die off" like?
I'm currently feeling the worst I've felt in years.
Headaches, tinnitus, barely enough energy to walk, muscle aches.
If it's not methylated mercury then maybe it's the die off.
But I can't express how awful I feel at the moment.

Die-off for me starts with chills, normally at night, followed by a hot toxic rush, like I'm being sandblasted. Then the next day I feel foggy, hungover, fatigued and headachey. I drink lots of water, take lots of Vit C, and know that the toxins are in freefall. This can last for a few days. The only problem is distinguishing between what is real Herxheimers, and therefore an improvement in the body, and what is an exacerbation of symptoms, as they are similar, if not the same, for me.

I have found that when my symptoms are very bad, and I feel very toxic, a 'sweat bath' really helps. Run a bath as hot as you can stand it, pour in a few handfuls of natural salt (Himalayan salt is best but very expensive) and sit and sweat for half an hour. Fill the bath only to waist level, so your upper body can really sweat and lose toxins. Drinks lots while you're in the bath, to push the toxins through, and drink afterwards and take Vit C. This makes a real difference to me - I feel almost clear-headed the next day. After a few days I start to feel toxic again, and know that I have to have another bath. I do this twice a week. You might get some relief from your symptoms this way Steve.

I've been taking probiotics for the past 4 years or so and have never really made any bad connection to them. I did have candidia in 2003 and was becoming very bloated so that I couldn't wear my pants anymore. I started on Kyolic garlic 3 times a day and within 3 weeks I had lost the bloating along with several pounds. Then it got ugly-I continued to lose about 2 lbs. per month until I had lost a total of 18 lbs. and got down to 92 lbs. I think now that I must have released a lot of mercury and it was too much for me. I then had my amalgams out. Now I can't wear my clothes because they are all way to big! I haven't lost anymore weight since then, but I haven't been able to regain either.

I think that you probably should be careful about killing candidia off too fast.

Did you get an answer to your question?

Just a thought. If one were to take probiotics and the candida were to die and give off their mercury, if the person also was taking algin or activated charcoal, would the mercury be absorbed?


Email s1@stealthpost.com thankyou

I would think not, if your elimination channels are working well and colon has good transit time, I would think most of it would be passed.

Sandi
xoxo

Can someone explain methylation to me? I have looked online for a simple explaination, but have found none?

This might help answer your question...

http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/methylmercury.html

As yeast dies off it gives off a toxin called acetaldehyde and that is what methylates mercury.... It acts as a catalyst.

That also is why we get so sick when we drink alcohol. The acetaldehyde formed from consuming alcohol methylates the stored merucury into the most lethal form...methyl mercury.

Hope this helps.

Sandi
xoxo

Thank you, Sandi. That link and your explaination were both a big help.

Very interesting. Wanna hear something weird? Before I knew about all this, I was taking Alpha Lipoic Acid as a supp (yeah, I know). Anyway, one thing ALA does is stop a hangover from happening. Completely.

And oddly enough, since i've had symptoms, I don't get hangovers anymore when I drink (it's been weeks since I've had a drink, though). I wonder what that means...

Now, If I could market it with that in mind, maybe I could finally start making some money <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Actually, my brother is a bartender and he discovered that good doses of evening primrose oil would stop a hangover completely. He made quite a few buck selling it down at the bar he works at.

Now, doesn't that sound like the ADA or AMA? Create a medical problem and have the solution ready for distribution <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />



No, I don't believe it would. The Algin (especially) would absorb the mercury and allow it to pass. That's what algin is best at.

Hope this helps.