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Fungal connection/Know the Cause/Beta Glucans and Shark Cartilidge

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/8/2009 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
HI Folks

Someone posted a week back (I can't find the post) a article or a page from a book about fungal connection. Or it was a study done by the Mayo Clinic, I think. I also had posted the link months back. I was wondering if anyone has taken beta glucans/shark cartilidge which said is to boost the immune system and help achieve remission. There was a case study with those with Chrons and UC and some 80% went into remission by gearing up the immune system, instead of surpressing the immune system.

Has anyone tried the beta glucan from maitake mushroom (the fungus part is removed from the mushroom) and shark cartilidge by a company called Seagate? Also, anyone read Know the Cause by Kaufman I believe.

I started the Beta Glucans today. I will post in the near future and let you know how I'm doing.

I'm going to Florida for a week, my divorce was final on Monday and I'm feeling brand new.

Linda

Posted 1/8/2009 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure about the shark cartilage. I don't see anything about it that glucosamine, chondroitin, and/or MSM couldn't do. I also don't support anyhting with shark cartilage due to its overharvesting (similar to elephants and ivory). I read that somewhere and it turned me off of that supplement.

The beta glucans have been getting alot of attention lately. Usually the best products are yeast based and are fragmented (micronized) for better absorbtion. Look for the 1,3 1,6 active arrangement on the info panel of the product. It is usually specified as active linkages. If it just says beta glucan, it is a waste of money cause not only will it not absorb into the M cells in the gut lining but it will not have the immune magnification it is to be taken for. Its good for people with autoimmune diseases b/c it doesn't overstimulate.

Also, one cannot just eat products with beta glucan in it as it is an undigestible polysaccharide. Some bg's are derived from mushrooms and certain plants. It must be fragmented first. However, you can go around that with the help of our friends probiotics to do the fragmenting for you. I have taken a legit beta glucan product and didn't get sick or flared while on it. I'm waiting for my next flare :( to see if it helps speed recovery.
Posted 1/8/2009 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
How often do you flair?
Posted 1/8/2009 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
When I was first Dx'd in '95 it was about 8-10 bad flares a year. The more I learned, studied, and experimented the less the flares came in frequency and severity. Since about 2002-3 I have knocked them back to about 2 times a year. I usually get hit in October and March. A few mini flares here and there but only a few days in length because I address them early.

It skipped March this year and hit me hard in June. May was tough with a broken arm, antibiotics for a neglected molar, and/or some weird diarrhea from drinking the water in Vegas. Come June it was flare. I'm pretty sure there was a C.Diff complication because it was the worst ever in 14 years. Got better in 2 months and back to normal. I'm aiming to achieve 1 per year and eventually skip years. All med free.

I'm not sure who you were asking in your question but I replied anyway.
Posted 1/8/2009 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks ucwarrior for the positive news. It's good to hear that you have been able to get your flareups under control. I'm hoping to be able to do the same thing.
Posted 1/8/2009 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Ucwarrior.. I was wondering how you keep your UC under control or bring it under control without meds? What's your secret? Do you follow a special diet?
Posted 1/8/2009 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
There's no real secret, it's just doing what has worked in the past thru trial and error.

No fancy diet just eating what my body has told me to eat and what to avoid by keeping a food diary. I take the supplements that have worked in the past. I've always felt that being off meds, although dangerous and unorthodox, allows my colon to heal completely between flares so that each flare is a separate entity and does not build on the last unhealed occurrance.

Recognition of flare warning signs and immediate action has allowed me to live the life I choose to live. Other than that I couldn't really pinpoint how or why I am able to do it? I'm not sure if its youth, experience, knowledge, luck... maybe none or maybe all.
Posted 1/9/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Linda,
Yup, I know what you are talking about. It is because of Doug Kaufmann (www.knowthecause.com) that I am well again. He also has a TV health show where I first was introduced to him and his research. It was from him I learned about a fungus link to UC symptoms, as well as other diseases.

I started taking beta-glucan ( a micronized yeast-based form with harmful yeast proteins removed) about 3 years ago. Not a sniffle or symptom of any illness since. I also try not to stray too far from a modified anti-fungal diet, as it was the diet that helped me get well again. What brand of BG are you taking?
Posted 1/13/2009 11:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Kim,

I take Seagate Beta Glucan with Shark Cartilidge I just started and I'm taking their olive leaf starting tomorrow. I have inflammation still, so they said give it a couple month try to feel better and I am. I watch the TV show and I have read paif of the book, very interesting. I was in Florida, sorry for the delay. How many capsules do you take a day?

Thank you,

Linda

Posted 1/13/2009 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Linda,

I take one BG before bedtime. I don't take o. leaf now, but when I did, I took 2 pills 3X a day to get rid of the fungus faster. Eventually tapered to 1 pill, 3X daily. Went overkill with the die-off. I will probably start taking it again for maintenance...just in case the fungus is creeping back. Seagate products are supposed to be good. I take nsc24 beta-glucan. Are you changing your diet at all?
Posted 1/14/2009 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
I've always felt sugar was slowly killing me and I used to love anything with it!!! But thanks to some here I'm now on Caprylic Acid, Curcumin and enjoy a cup of unsweetened chamomile tea every evening, I've cut sugar way down and now even more to about half of my already reduced intake and am staying away from most carbs except rice and some egg noodles and cut out mushrooms (even shyitakes which my nutritionist says are good for UC??? )...seem to be a bit better and I'll see how I'm doing over time.

Doesn't beta-glucan rev-up the immune system and aren’t we UC’ers people with immune systems already working too well?

Thanks
Posted 1/14/2009 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
Beta Glucan doesn't overstimulate the immune system and is ok for auto immune diseases.
Posted 1/14/2009 5:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Kim123, no I can check the box below, I'm back to work so my response time will be quicker :)

I take the beta glucans with shark cartilidge 3 throughout the day. I take 4 olive leaf a day 2 in the am and 2 in the pm with meals. Yours manafacture is recommened by Kauman too, so I believe were both taking the best they offer out there.

I did inquire about the LDN low dose study and sent the info to my GI. I'm not currently on any meds, but when I bleed too much I take the oral liquid retention enemas, but they me feel out of breath in the morning and very, very, very tired throughout the whole day.

I have changed my diet, I eat basically gluten free, sugar free and  I eat rice bread in place of grains.

When did you notice the beta glucans starting to work? Did it help with the bleeding? My urgency is very little, I can never have dry gas and I have chronic diarreah :( so what bums me the most is I don't run that much anymore, which I loved.

Blessings,

Posted 1/14/2009 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
here ya go- http://www.nautilusproductions.com/sandtigersharks/scam.html

Supporting this kind of horrific cruelty is disgusting to me- you all should be ashamed of yourselves for buying into these scams! At least if you're going to believe something ludicrous, why can't it be some plant-based crap???? Start eating tons of shiitakes instead! nono

Posted 1/14/2009 5:25 PM (GMT 0)

The beta glucan is derived from Mitake mushroom. Thank you for sharing the info on the shark cartilidge.

Posted 1/14/2009 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Kim123 I did notice when I take the beta glucan my sinus really clear up, like I can breath right up the frontal part of my forehead, it's weird. Since you take yours at night maybe you don't notice anything good or bad when taking them or do you?

Posted 1/14/2009 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with you on the shark cartilage stuff. I don't see it as a valid or necessary ingredient in any supplement. I do believe there is validity, however, to "reputable" beta-glucan supplements, and support the use of natural anti-fungals such as caprylic acid and olive leaf extract to help combat fungal issues.

Therearemiracles- I'm thinking it is the anti-fungals helping with your sinus problem. Sinusitis has been found to have a fungal etiology. I take my bg at night while my body is resting and healing itself from the busyness of the day. The bg don't give me "noticeable" results that I can pinpoint specifically. I just have not been sick since taking them. Good enough for me! For me, I believe it was the o. leaf/caprylic acid that helped with my UC issues, not the bg, as I got rid of my symptoms before I started taking them. The bg helps me stay well.
Posted 1/14/2009 11:06 PM (GMT 0)

The reason I asked:

Beta 1,3-D glucans are being referred to as biological response modifiers because of their ability to activate the immune system.[3] However, it should be noted that the activity of Beta 1, 3-D glucan is different from agents that stimulate the immune system. Agents that stimulate the immune system can push the system to over-stimulation, and hence are contraindicated in individuals with autoimmune diseases, allergies, or yeast infections.

And this:

http://www.aboutbetaglucan.com/strengthen-immune-system.html 

For those with normal immune systems BG does not seem to cause it to go over active, but I wonder about those that already have overactive immune systems? Thanks...just trying to understand what this stuff is all about before I take it.

ucwarrior said...
Beta Glucan doesn't overstimulate the immune system and is ok for auto immune diseases.


Posted 1/14/2009 11:11 PM (GMT 0)

Look like it comes from 3 different kinds of shrooms...so are these shrooms safe to eat when on an antifingal diet?

One of the most common sources of Beta 1,3-D glucan is derived from the cell wall of baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). However, beta-(1,3)(1,4) glucans are also extracted from the bran of some grains such as oats and barley. The Beta 1,3-D glucans from yeast are often insoluble. Those extracted from grains tend to be both soluble and insoluble. Other sources include some types of seaweed,[1] and various species of mushrooms such as Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake.[2]

therearemiracles said...

The beta glucan is derived from Mitake mushroom. Thank you for sharing the info on the shark cartilidge.


Posted 1/15/2009 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
The "micronized" b. glucan I take has the harmful protein yeasts removed and does not permit re-aggregation, or clumping after exposure to water in the digestive process. This has a direct bearing on the degree of immune potentiation.
Posted 1/15/2009 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks.  What do you know about triterpenes (Reishi mushrooms are chok full of them) they are supposed to be very powerful anti inflammatories.  BTW, are the good mushrooms ok to eat with an anti-fungal diet?

kim123 said...
The "micronized" b. glucan I take has the harmful protein yeasts removed and does not permit re-aggregation, or clumping after exposure to water in the digestive process. This has a direct bearing on the degree of immune potentiation.

Posted 1/15/2009 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
bbc- I wrote a little tid bit on an earlier post that I will cut and paste here for you about Beta Glucans:

Its application for cancer: From what I remember, a surface receptor of neutrophils (w. blood cells not normally involved in the fight against cancer) has two receptor sites itself. The first site binds to a blood protein that has bound to a pathogen antibodies have already tagged. The second binds to the [foreign] carb on the pathogen. If, and only if, both of these sites are activated the neutrophil gets the green light and the pathogen is terminated.

The tricky part is that tumor-bound inactive neutrophils recognize cancer cells as "me" due to their lack of ability to bind to a foreign carb. Therefore it does not complete the second signal and the cell is left alone. Fragmented Beta Glucan binds to the second site, called priming, and allows the neutrophil to treat the cancer cell as a pathogen after it binds to the already tagged tumor cell. Termination ensues.

I would imagine that this could also be the mechanics that allows Beta Glucan its increased immune responses to infectious diseases. This priming with fragmented Beta Glucan has the neutrophil roaming the body waiting on just one signal and looking for a fight. As soon as the pathogen is tagged by an antibody- ZAP! Foreign carb or not...

Beta glucan is a polysaccharide. The best bang for the buck is the yeast-based kind. It has something to do with its molecular structure and increased bio activity over the other kinds. I think the mushroom kind might be good too. Not sure.

Just eating the foods containing beta glucan does not work cause beta glucan must be fragmented, or activated for it to absorb into the body and to work its mojo. There are alot of junk products out there containing beta glucan in its raw state.

When shopping around look for beta glucan derived from yeast. Then look at the info panel for percentage of active linkage. Active linkage (the 1,3/1,6 arrangement) is what you are looking for. The FDA only makes the product companies list milligrams of beta glucan. If it is not activated it is worthless. A good product will describe percentages of active linkages.
Posted 1/15/2009 8:10 AM (GMT 0)

kim123 said...
Linda,
Yup, I know what you are talking about. It is because of Doug Kaufmann (www.knowthecause.com) that I am well again. He also has a TV health show where I first was introduced to him and his research. It was from him I learned about a fungus link to UC symptoms, as well as other diseases.

I started taking beta-glucan ( a micronized yeast-based form with harmful yeast proteins removed) about 3 years ago. Not a sniffle or symptom of any illness since. I also try not to stray too far from a modified anti-fungal diet, as it was the diet that helped me get well again. What brand of BG are you taking?

Hej

Can I bother you with som questions - in my search for permanent remission?

1) So you believe this could be they key?

2) Do you take meds as well?

3) How severe where you hit prior to taking Beta-glucan?

4) What are the primary guidelines in your anti-fungal diet?

Personally I removed all sugar 4 weeks ago and all diary except yoghurt. Limited meat intake.

I have lost 15 lbs since late November - look great now with six-pack abs and everything  tongue   but kind of don't wanna loose more weight now. A bit affraid of eating to harm myself, so what is safe to eat??

Posted 1/15/2009 3:15 PM (GMT 0)

This is the first I have heard of beta glucan. I found these on a local health stores website:

http://www.jarrow.com/product/383/Beta_Glucan

They have the specifications ucwarrior said, would these be okay?

Posted 1/16/2009 3:08 AM (GMT 0)

Qvist- I believe, for me, that an antifungal diet along with natural antifungals were the key. I took bg after my symptoms cleared to boost my immune system and try to keep well. I think we need to be careful looking for a "get out of jail free" card. There isn't one. I know that there are varying amounts of strengths in beta glucan products, and one may need a higher dose than the one I take. I take a 3 mg dose, where someone with greater issues may wish to take 10 mg to start. Cancer patients who take radiation are encouraged to take that does, for instance, to help alleviate after-effects.

To answer some of your questions, I weaned myself off meds 3 years ago, and am not even taking the antifungals right now. From time to time I take them again just to keep the fungus away, in case it's starting to creep into my system again. At one point when I had UC, my colon looked like ground hamburg, and I had 5 polyps removed. I'm sure I had all the same symptoms as most of you have, or had....bleeding, pain, mucous, cramping....

As fas as the diet goes, I can't explain it any better other than to refer you to the website that gives some background science of fungus and disease, as well as outlining the basic diet itself....www.knowthecause.com. Look under FAQ section. If you are really interested, I can email to you the specifics of what I did, and ate, with the results I had, but it is pretty well much the same as what I told you here on this forum. Sometimes I also watch the TV shows link, that provides some information on fungus and disease. Sometimes the shows are related to digestive diseases, like UC, other times not. But the host usually does a good job of teaching you more about fungus and how it can affect ones health.

Have you been feeling any better after eliminating sugar for a while? On this diet, you can eat all the meat/fish/poultry you want. It did not affect me negatively at all. The best advice I can give is to "change". If you always do what you've always done, (i.e. eating the same foods, taking the same drugs, and not getting any better) you'll always get what you've always gotten. No one can predict if an antifungal program will help you get well again. You need to give it a fair shake though, with no cheating, if you decide to try it. But, you should know if its right for you in less than a month.... by Valentine's Day you could be noticing improvement in symptoms, but there are no guarantees. There's no quick fix.

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