Chlorella = bloating

I just started taking chlorella. Bill Rawls says it’s the most important supplement for gut restoration.

I quit all abx and went on the GAPS diet bc I felt so bad. I was feeling relief for a day or two but seaweed and chlorella make me feel very bloated.

Any thoughts whether I should quit it, or it’s working too well on toxins that I should keep at it?

I got my free book last week and it explains leaky gut so so well.

I’m just confused because Rawls says it’s really really good FOR healing the gut

I dont understand where you are supposed to get your carbs from on the GAPS diet?

no grains, no potatoes, no rice, no wheat etc?

not sure I could do that

also its very similar to the anti mold diet which is low-something or other diet, cant remember.

Lapis_29 said...
I dont understand where you are supposed to get your carbs from on the GAPS diet?

no grains, no potatoes, no rice, no wheat etc?

not sure I could do that

also its very similar to the anti mold diet which is low-something or other diet, cant remember.

Oh, I use “GAPS” as a shortcut explanation - I’m actually doing the protocol Rawls spells out in his book. But as far as I know there’s not really a “Rawls Diet” so I didn’t want to confuse people.

Rawls allows white and wild rice, low-lectin veggies like squash, asparagus, pod legumes like peas and green beans, and fruits like apples and pears- but all cooked.

On any of the gut healing diets, the strictest part is only a few days to maybe 2 weeks. It’s hard but I had an amazing day yesterday just in time to encourage me to keep at it.

Hi BabsBunny -

I think Rawls has great info on leaky gut and healing... and I'm so glad you're working on that.

But I totally disagree with his promotion of chlorella for many people, particularly those with GI challenges.

One primary reason is that chlorella is a little controversial in that it doesn't really bind to heavy metals very well and could, in fact, redistribute them. You may or may not have a heavy metals problem and may or may not realize it if you do. But the last thing you want to do is try to chelate while you're treating Lyme & Co or healing leaky gut ---just too complicated.

The other reasons were shared by Chicken Arise's excellent post.

But some people swear by it and hey - if it works for them, great. But I think in order to use it effectively in your case, you would need to know this already. I wouldn't try it out at this time.

And also, it is NOT the best GI binder. I would restate what he says about GI healing - a binder is key to healing gut for many people... and that can include many other OTC products.

I am rushed for time but there is info about leaky gut in the yeast/fungus post in the "New to Lyme?" thread at the top of the page that helps explain why a binder is so helpful - and we've had quite a few great discussions about it here, too if you want to do a search. Although Rawls' other info on it is very good:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1606610&g=3644275#m3644275

The bloating could be from the stricter diet and just be coincidental regarding the chlorella, too. The reduction of grains and simple carbs and sugars is bound to cause some natural die off as your GI microbiome tries to get rebalanced.

Hope this is helpful -

-p

Sorry - this stage of the diet can be really uncomfortable. But probably rewarding the end if you can stick with it. The binder will help remove the toxins and off-gassing from die off that is likely causing the bloating.

-p

Pirouette said...
Sorry - this stage of the diet can be really uncomfortable. But probably rewarding the end if you can stick with it. The binder will help remove the toxins and off-gassing from die off that is likely causing the bloating.

-p

Thanks, P. I really need some guidance here because no one I know is willing enough (or sick enough?) to do the GAPS diet and I didn’t buy the book. (I never buy books. I’m afraid they’ll be bad or require MORE books and have been a waste of money. Rawls was free, so he wins the advice position!)

The first two days I was sooo hungry, then that calmed down. I had some pretty clear headed days but other issues (mostly my teeth hurt, and still freaking Candida). Then the stomach cramping began. I just finished my first full week of no ABX and a diet of mostly broth, boiled meat, rice, and steamed veg.

the biggest gains are in mood/depression, fatigue, and pain. While still a little too emotional, I’m smiling, singing, and have a bounce in my step. Fatigue is not nearly as crushing as it was in the last month. Almost no pain.

I want to keep at it until my stomachs feels good, then slowly add some ABX back in. (My rush is that I spent a crazy amt of money on liposomal doxycycline which will expire if I don’t use it. Liposomal removed the nausea and diarrhea I had from regular doxy.)

Maybe going forward I will break from abx every month or so and try to heal my gut in between rounds.

Update: after two weeks on the Rawls/GAPS diet, and pulling back on probx, the bloating went down. Back on doxy and it’s finally NOT making me sick! The gut healing was really important.
So now I tried Chlorella again, and no bloating.
This is the tricky thing about changing protocols or adding or subtracting anything- you never know what’s causing reactions.