Re: Coconut aminos/vinegar, die-off?, phenols, and my pathogens
My question is:
-one of my pathogenic strains is Citrobacter, which thrives on FOS. The vinegar contains FOS, which is vital for the good flora to prosper....
I don't see FOS listed on either product to begin with. And there is no reason to add FOS to the vinegar.
but it also would be great fuel for the Citrobacter (and possibly the other strains). If I use the vinegar, would I be doing more harm than good?
Again, I do not see FOS as an ingredient anywhere. And any naturally occurring FOS would have been destroyed in the fermentation. Even if it were present though I would not worry about it. As I mentioned before the FOS would be fed on primarily by the beneficial flora that would suppress the other bacteria as they grow.
Also, do the Aminos contain FOS?
There is no reason to add FOS to amino acid supplements.
How do the Aminos support good bacteria?
They don't. The flora are fed by fibers and some fats. The only close association would be that some amino acids can help with the gut membrane. But then again the amino acids compete for absorption. So taking them all together, especially with a meal, will prevent some amino acids from being properly absorbed.
I need to support the good guys, but I don't want to give the bad dudes any more fuel than they already have. Any opinion?
Building up the good flora will suppress the bad bacteria. As the flora grow they produce acids, peroxides and bactericides that kill bad bacteria. The good bacteria also compete for the available food and space. The beneficial flora will win out if fed as they get rid of their competition as they grow. So it really does not matter if the bad guys get a little food, which is going to happen regardless. This is why they are still alive despite not being fed things like FOS. But again as the good flora are fed they will destroy their competition and increase in numbers crowding out pathogens as well.
Another queston: I've been experiencing massive cramps, gas, bloating all day long for several days. Is this die-off? I haven't really changed anything, except I changed to a more potent probiotic (but it is grown on dairy/soy)...so am I reacting or is this die-off? It's really uncomfy.
Most likely it is the lactose from the dairy component of the probiotic.
Lastly, I discovered I'm very sensitive to phenols/thiols/sulfur...most likely due to the mercury toxins (many people have issues with phenols if Hg toxic). Any advice on this? I'm bummed b/c garlic is such a good thing to eat, as well as tumeric and eggs...but they really bother me.
I don't think you really want to get me started on the mercury issue, which I think is EXTREMELY over hyped. And between the phenols, thiols and sulfur you pretty much have nothing to eat since these are common compounds in food. As far as why you are sensitive to those things this could simple be allergies. Sulfur compounds are found in most foods, so if it were the sulfur compounds you were reacting to then you would have issues with virtually all foods.