How non-dairy ‘probiotic’ foods are boosting immunity
An interview with Carly Balsz, founder of Healing Movement in Santa Monica, California
As a healer, your mission is to help people develop a balanced inner ecosystem by supporting them to create healthy digestion. How did you get started on this journey?
C: My journey began as an R.N., but I wasn’t healthy. My problem was a severe overgrowth of Candida (yeast or fungus). I found the “Body Ecology Diet” book, a system of healing by Donna Gates that recommends adding cultured foods into the diet such as coconut water kefir and raw cultured vegetables. I was already feeling better after a series of colonics, but it was changing my diet that significantly shifted my health. Just like our planet has ecosystems full of organisms responsible for balance, our bodies have inner ecosystems. Inside our gut are colonies of bacteria and yeast, both good and bad. When dealing with Candida overgrowth, all sugars (even fruit in the initial stage), wheat and dairy must be removed from the diet because these foods feed the yeast. As the yeast die-off begins, it’s important to cleanse your system. Colonics will help speed up that process. Again, it’s imperative to add these foods because they contain the richest source of probiotics or “friendly” bacteria needed to balance the system.
How do you know if you have a problem with Candida yeast overgrowth?
C: Donna Gates says eight out of 10 people have a systemic yeast infection. One of the most common symptoms is gas and bloating – even if you’ve just eaten a healthy meal. Women will have chronic vaginal yeast infections. Men will get ‘jock itch’ or ‘athlete’s foot’. Often skin disorders, including acne and eczema, are signs of a yeast problem. If you have severe sugar cravings, that’s a sure sign.
The long-term danger of an overgrowth of yeast is a severely compromised immune system. Seventy to 80 percent of what controls our immunity is a result of what’s going on in the digestive tract. If you suffer from autoimmune diseases like fibromyalgia, allergies, or are susceptible to virus breakouts, you should consider whether you have a yeast problem. Start by doing your own research – go to the Body Ecology (B.E.D.) website, find a certified B.E.D. coach near you or visit a holistic health practitioner. It will be important to cleanse the body, then replenish with good bacteria in fermented foods.
Do you prefer eating ‘probiotic’ foods to taking probiotic supplements?
C: Yes. I really believe that adding probiotic foods is the missing link that will change people’s health forever – and most people don’t know how profoundly they work.
First, these foods are non-dairy for those on vegan, raw, B.E.D., or lactose intolerant diets. Second, probiotic food is simply the best way to get friendly bacteria into your intestines. Often microflora from a supplement cannot survive harsh stomach acid so they don’t get into the gut to colonize.
Are raw cultured vegetables available in stores? Can you make them at home?
C: You can find them in most health food stores. A few brands, like ours, can be ordered online. Look for the brands that don’t add sea salt to the fermentation process, which is how traditional sauerkraut is made. Sea salt slows down bacterial growth, lowering counts of lactobacillicus. You can add sea salt once they’ve cultured, as well as dressings, oils and seasonings.
One of the B.E.D. principles is that everyone has unique dietary needs depending on their inner ecosystem. I’m a proponent of a diet containing as much raw food as is healthy for the individual. But most people have some degree of Candida or other digestive issues (indigestion, IBS, constipation, etc.), so I suggest lightly steaming veggies and soaking nuts and seeds for easier digestion and nutrient assimilation. Eliminating all natural sugars (fruit, dates and agave, for example) is also crucial initially. Often people say that they can’t eat raw foods because it gives them gas – raw cultured veggies are the answer because they provide the enzymes needed to aid in digestion.
It’s simple to make them at home. We make ours using Body Ecology’s Veggie Culture starter. It has the Lactobacillus Plantarum, a very strong strain of friendly flora that is resistant to antibiotics. As you know, taking antibiotics also kills the good bacteria and, if taken for long periods of time, the gut can become imbalanced and fungus can grow. Our website has a cultured vegetable recipe, including tips on how to enhance the taste of these sour foods.
Can I find coconut water kefir in stores?
C: Not often. We recommend making it at home; there’s a recipe on our website. Our kefir is sold in stores in the Los Angeles area, but it’s challenging to ship due to the fermentation process. It’s best to make it from Young Thai Coconuts, but you can also ferment regular coconut water.
The kefir has amazing cleansing properties for the heart, kidneys and liver. Rich in minerals, potassium and sodium, it provides excellent adrenal support. It is also a good source of vitamin B, and corrects hormone imbalances.
To support digestion, drink 4 ounces upon waking, as well as with each meal – and 8 ounces at bedtime. When the body is resting, the microflora can populate. I love the taste of the kefir, but some people add stevia, cranberry juice, lemon, etc. Drinking it also helps prevent sugar cravings!
Is there a link between digestion and children who develop autism?
C: Children being diagnosed with autism lack a healthy inner ecosystem that should have begun developing at birth. I believe the Body Ecology Diet can prevent autism. When the beneficial bacteria in the gut decreases, there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria and toxins that get absorbed through the gut wall, enter the bloodstream and are carried to the brain causing neurological dysfunctions. Each child is different, but at the core, digestion needs to be improved. There are many stories of children recovering from autism when placed on a sugar-free, gluten-free, casein-free diets, and adding the cultured foods and beverages.
According to Donna Gates (who has been a pioneer in preventing autism), newborn babies today have not had time to build strong immune systems and, in many cases, should not be vaccinated. Today, detoxification pathways in babies are not as vital as they were generations ago. Vaccinations were originally created for people with strong immune systems. Every newborn needs to be able to purify or cleanse toxins inherited from its parents and grandparents. In fact, parents of an autistic child will tell you that their child was constipated from birth.
If you are a parent of an autistic child, you can find a wonderful supportive community at www.bedrokcommunity.org. Another great resource is Defeat Autism Now (DAN) at www.defeatautismnow.com.
You’re also a huge proponent of colon hydrotherapy. In fact, you became a certified colon therapist. Can you explain why this therapy is so important?
C: I met a colon hydrotherapist on a yoga retreat in Maui. After explaining to her some of my health concerns, she recommended I begin colonics. Immediately I felt improvements in my overall well-being. As a R.N., this therapy was natural to add to my skill-set so that I could help people like me.
I encourage my clients to start healing by paying attention to how well they digest food. It’s ideal to have two soft, yet well-formed bowel movements per day. At the most, it should take between 18-20 hours to completely digest and eliminate food. The problem today with the American Diet is that it’s taking much longer. People are eating food that lacks enzymes, and they aren’t digesting properly. When food takes longer to digest, it can accumulate in the gut, leading to the development of leaky gut, yeast overgrowth, diverticulitis, IBS, and it gets worse from there, including autoimmune disorders. In addition, most medications, including antibiotics, disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria in our digestive tract by also killing off good bacteria.
How often to you recommend colon hydrotherapy?
C: If someone has had a healthy diet for 10 years or more, they’re probably in much less of a need for a colonic than someone who has been struggling with weight, yeast infections and constipation. I recommend a series of 10 colonics, starting with at least three sessions within the first 1 to 2 weeks. Then, once a month is usually a good maintenance program. My experience is that when people adhere to this routine, they prevent health problems.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
C: A huge part of people’s healing process revolves around their attitude and their belief systems. It’s important to appreciate and love your body - trust that it will get better and to know that all the work you’re doing is making a difference. Keep setting intentions for healing, and passing along the information to others. We make changes in the world when we start with ourselves. We can change the vibration we are creating on this Earth by starting with our own, by focusing on how well our bodies function.
Carly Balsz is a R.N., Body Ecology Coach, a Certified Colon Hydrotherapist, and is certified with the Nutritional Therapy Association. She founded Healing Movement with a mission to support people on their path to wellness by providing resources in digestive health (www.healingmovement.net). For more information about the Body Ecology Diet, visit www.bodyecology.com.