I’m not very knowledgeable about the gut biome or naturopathy, but I’ve heard from friends with chronic and unexplained diarrhea that taking nutritional yeast can help. I have a friend out in the boonies, who doesn’t have access to reliable internet or health food stores, who makes her own bread or pizza dough and eats 4 nickel-sized balls of raw dough each day. She stores it in a zip-lock bag in the fridge and, just before it begins to sour (about 1 week after making it), she makes bread sticks or pizza with whatever is left. It’s strange, but she said it ends the diarrhea as long as she eats it every day. (Caveat - she says it makes her a little … um, gassy 😳.)
She believes she ruined her gut biome by taking in too much apple cider vinegar for too long a time. Naturopaths, like numberonepal or little jeremiah, may want to weigh in on this idea, but I think it beats taking pharmaceuticals, as long as it works. I don’t think it will hurt you, though you may live in an area where you can easily buy nutritional yeast instead of eating raw pizza dough, which has a bit of the “ewww!” factor.
Here is a book by a naturopathic doctor on naturopathic medicine which may help you understand it. It's easy reading with a lot of good advice for your general health. You'll never look at the medical industry the same way again...
"Everybody Is Sick And I know Why" by Peter J. Glidden, ND.
Incidentally, Dr. Joel Wallach (author, "Dead Doctors Don't Lie") is a Naturopathic Doctor as well as a world class veterinarian (he wrote many of their medical reference books). But he was blackballed from that career by the CDC because he went against CDC dogma on cystic fibrosis (he proved them wrong!) even though he was employed in a very responsible position by them. He tells the story in his book. Fascinating reading.
Thanks for your interest and concerns. I will keep it in mind. Right now I am starting a one week dietary prep for a special test, so I need to be cautious. Truthfully, sometimes it would be easier to just stop eating. 🤷
Oops. Forgot the ping.
Hmm...don’t know about raw dough...I’m more or less Ayurvedic in health viewpoints and understanding, and also use some western herbs. Sounds like a good discussion topic for the health thread; I have been looking into GI/digestive problems for a couple of people lately. I’ll post on this tomorrow and put a link to it on the Q thread.
...it beats taking pharmaceuticals, as long as it works...
I agree with that principle, always. I think it’s also important to remember that we’re all different. What ‘works’ for one may not for another. For example, my major food group is raw salads, but I’ve lost count of how many people who’ve told me “I could NEVER do that, it would give me diarrhea!” But it doesn’t do that to me. (I *am* as regular as clockwork, though.)
I’ve heard thousands of ACV success stories, and only a few poo pooing the idea. But I’ve never heard of it ruining someone’s gut biome. I reckon you can over use damn near anything, however. It’s not good to eat a lot of yeast as far as I know. It’s actually heavily discouraged because yeast is a fungus. Fungus will make you crave sugar (like candida). If she were my client I would recommend more fermented food, and possibly a high quality probiotic and pre-biotic.
I fear she doesn’t have enough hydrochloric acid in her stomach. I’d ask if she has reflux. Lemons are the answer to that.
Her bread sticks may actually be starting to ferment after a week resting. The yeast isn’t activated much because it’s in the fridge. Her gassiness is from the yeast eating carbs from the flour. In other words, it’s “proofing” in her gut. That could be dangerous.