Let's dive into what supplements are best to improve your digestive and immune health. These two systems are inextricably linked, as a malfunction in one system can lead to a malfunction in the other.
If your digestive system is not functioning properly, you might have the wrong type of bacteria or other pathogens (foreign invaders), and/or maybe not enough enzymes or hydrochloric acid to break down food (and therefore nourish your cells). Your immune system suffers as a result.
The goal here is to help you understand what supplements help improve both digestive and immune health in a lasting way and to teach you how to use them in a safe, effective manner. By the end of this blog, you should be able to pick and choose a few supplements targeted to your current state and future health goals.
If you are prone to yeast, candida, bloating, weight-loss resistance, skin issues, constipation, food allergies and systemic inflammation, keep reading about how to fully support your gut and create lasting results. This is also important for those with autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Healing from the root cause is truly the best way to support a healthy gut.
The most common questions we receive about probiotics are:
Probiotics are live microorganisms which are able to survive exposure to stomach acid and bile. They grow and maintain balance within the intestines. They also help us to digest food and to keep our immune system strong.
Probiotics can help support against infections (both within the gut and the rest of the body), regulate inflammation, regulate bowel motility (decrease constipation), support immune function and enhance nutrient absorption. Over 70% of the human immune system is located within the digestive tract.
MBC is a very high potency, ten-species, enteric-coated, spore form, probiotic formula designed to re-colonize the Gastrointestinal Tract microbiome with beneficial, high-attachment species (meaning they stick around and contribute to lasting good gut health). These probiotics support healthy immune function, healthy digestion, and the processing of vitamins which support the brain and cellular metabolic processes. This is the probiotic to take if you have to go on antibiotics or need to recover from having taken antibiotics in the past. It’s for people who have a significant leaky gut, persistent fungal infections, or for folks who eat a lot of sugar, have significant stress, and drink a lot of alcohol. It’s not a probiotic to stay on per se. You take it for 21-30 days only, hoping that your body then takes over and can make your own probiotics again, provided you are eating a healthy diet that includes fermented foods and prebiotics (fiber).
MBC provides rare and effective strains that help to create a diverse ecosystem, which is why we have it freshly made for our Gut Thrive program.
A broad-spectrum soil-based product which includes spore-forming bacteria is a good choice, as they have the ability to seed the digestive tract with over 25 different strains of beneficial bacteria. A soil-based product is great for those who have bacteria in the wrong places (if you have SIBO or small intestine bacterial overgrowth, this is the right type of probiotic for you as the others will be too strong and could feed the fire you are trying to put out).
You’d know this if you’ve had trouble tolerating other probiotics in the past (if they created bloating or pain). Soil-based probiotics contain a natural shell which allows the probiotic strains to withstand the acidic environments within the stomach and upper intestines.
Digestive enzymes support the body in digesting food better, so more nutrients can be delivered, which is especially important during times of healing. The use of digestive enzymes are helpful when having a large meal or experiencing bloating and gas, heartburn or reflux, after meals. When food goes undigested, it has the opportunity to ferment and create a bacterial imbalance (which results in bloating and gas).
Enzymes are full of benefits. When taken with meals, they support the intestines in properly absorbing nutrients. When taken away from meals, certain enzymes can actually provide support in disrupting biofilms (the little houses bad bacteria and other bugs live in) and inflammation.
You can always use a few extra bottles of these for eating out or when traveling. Digestzymes are made up of full-spectrum digestive enzymes, meaning they include a variety of different enzymes to support the breakdown of a diverse meal. Lipase is used to break down fats into fatty acids so we can use the fat that we eat, read more about lipase in our fat malabsorption blog. Protease supports the breakdown of protein into amino acids so that we can think straight and build muscle, and amylase breaks down the carbohydrates needed to make energy.
These also provide added support for the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. They include betaine HCL to fight foodborne illness, such as food poisoning or infections due to harmful bacteria. Betaine HCL is beneficial as these infections cannot survive in an acidic environment.
I take two every time I eat out or whenever I eat a big meal. If you have bloating, gas, constipation, or heartburn, you should consider taking two digestive enzymes with each meal for 30 days.
Proteolytic enzymes eat up foreign proteins or antigens that do not belong in your body and they process them out via your bowels. They are especially helpful for benign tumors, fibroids, and pathogens (bad bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc).
Bacteria, fungi, viruses, and yeast are all protected by protein structures, so breaking down these structures so that their contents can be escorted out of the body is very cleansing.
Because they are intended to cleanse our blood, they are to be taken away from food where they can directly enter the bloodstream and assist in healing.
Once you understand how to use probiotics and enzymes to meet your needs, the next step is to gently eliminate (remaining) constipation, seal the lining of the gut and add in a few key detox supplements to break apart biofilms.
Biofilms are a group of opportunistic bacteria which form together to protect themselves from the immune system and potentially many antibiotics. Botanicals and natural herbs, on the other hand, can actually disrupt these biofilms and interfere with their reproduction through binding to the opportunistic bacteria and removing them through proper detoxification.
Biofilms are like tiny little plastic shells that pathogenic bacteria live in. They are their shelter and protect them from attack. This section is helpful for those that have done a cleanse or detox and have gotten nowhere, as well as for those who struggle with constipation and bloating and only find short-term relief.
So, if you are looking to heal and seal your gut and remove pathogenic overload to unburden your immune system, removing biofilms is important because you will not be able to reach the pathogens if you do not dismantle their forts first.
Your biofilm-busting killer which helps to eliminate parasites, fungus and specifically, candida. When I discovered diatomaceous earth, my health transformed (I was FINALLY able to kick my candida for good), AND the healing success in my practice skyrocketed. Diatomaceous earth is old tiny fossils that act like razor blades to the biofilm shells, basically slicing them open (without harming the human body) so they can be removed and we can actually get to the pathogens.
If you’d like to learn more about candida, watch our Randy & Christa show called “Kick Candida for Good and Lose Weight Permanently.”
We must combine the diatomaceous earth with bentonite clay because the two work as a team. Bentonite is a healing clay which aids the body in detoxification. Once the “shells” have been opened up by the diatomaceous earth, we need the bentonite to bind to them and carry them out of the body.
Along the exit path, clay will bind to other toxins that keep you sick (like heavy metals) and pull them out. We use the finest, cleanest clay I could find after literally looking all over the world. There is A LOT of junk in clay these days, which is why you have to make sure it’s clean.
Many formulas for constipation can be harsh and habit-forming (even the natural ones) because they scrape the lining of the intestines. This is why I love Triphala so much. It’s a combination of three Indian fruits that synergistically work together to moisten and nourish the lining of the intestines rather than scrape at them like cascara sagrada and senna can do.
Absolutely no other herb or product holds a candle to this miracle-working product to gently cleanse and nourish your intestinal lining. 3-4 at night before bed for 30-60 days is the standard protocol and especially when removing biofilms from the body.
When revamping the gut and disrupting biofilms it can mean a lot of detoxing, which can be hard on the body. Genetic mutations and the onslaught of environmental toxins, coupled with poor nutritional intake of B Vitamins, such as B-9 and B-12, means that many people are suffering for methyl molecules.
Our bodies primary method of detoxification is through methylation, a biochemical process that occurs in every cell and tissue in your body. Methylation supports detoxification, the stress process, genetic deactivation of disease processes, the proper production of neurotransmitters, and proper immune function.
I recommend taking 2-4 of these methyl donors daily whenever you’re cleansing to help your body not have to work so hard or feel so bad along the way. If you always feel bad when you cleanse, it might be a sign that you’re not methylating properly and that methyl donors may really help you.
Methylation support can also be a game-changer for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, multiple miscarriages, mood swings and nervousness.
Whether it’s viral or bacterial, we got you covered. These are supplements you should stock in your medicine cabinet to help fight colds, cases of flu and some viral infections. They can be taken at the first sign of a cold or flu either when you’re getting sick or when someone else you live with, or you’re in close proximity to, is getting sick.
These supplements are part of a comprehensive gut healing strategy that we use in our Gut Thrive program to help regenerate the entire digestive and immune system within a detailed five-step strategy because they drive out harmful bacteria, protozoa, parasites, yeast, and fungus, and chase active viruses dormant.
So you might not be the cold and flu kind of sick, but rather than dealing with more chronic symptoms like bloating, constipation, gas, eczema, psoriasis, insomnia, and brain fog – all signs that you need to do a digestive overhaul – these supplements can help.
It is important that these supplements are taken only after the body has been primed and prepped with the other formulas we shared with you above. Then you can go in and oust harmful bacteria, protozoa, parasites, yeast, and fungus, and chase active viruses dormant. These supplements should not be taken long-term. However, they're great to keep them in the medicine cabinet as your first defense during cold and flu season.
A must-have in the medicine cabinet for the whole family anytime someone comes down with a cold, flu, or virus—I take a few drops in water daily in the wintertime or if I feel I need a little digestive tune-up.
Your gentle, yet incredibly powerful immune rejuvenator to combat viral infections (shingles, Epstein-Barr, and infectious mononucleosis to name a few) and train your immune system how to be stronger and more resilient.
Works amazingly well combined with ATAK to kick out unwanted viruses in the gentlest fashion. Very helpful for those who have any kind of virus living in their system that tends to come out during stressful times in the form of canker sores, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes virus.
These two supplements are your antifungal and antiviral match made in heaven. Oregano oil is the most potent antifungal found in nature and Tai Ra Chi rejuvenates the body and addresses viruses, fungi, and bacteria at a cellular level. It is derived from the inner bark of the amazing Pau d’Arco tree.
This is your most crucial defense system when dealing with issues associated with viruses, fungi, yeast, and bacteria. If you are getting itchy, yeasty, or bloated and tend toward yeast or fungal infections, taking one oregano oil daily along with a few drops of Tai Ra Chi in water can go a long way.
Once you get rid of the biofilms and inflammation and your “pipes” are flowing, you’ve got to heal and seal leaky gut.
I love GI-Encap because it offers a comprehensive approach to supporting our gut lining, which is the barrier with blood vessels within it between the inside of the small intestine and the outside. This is otherwise known as the mucosal lining.
DGL, which is the de-glycyrrhizin form of licorice helps support the mucosal lining against ulcers and H. pylori infections.
Slippery elm bark and marshmallow root together help rebuild your intestinal mucosa—creating a thin, slippery barrier between your gut wall and the stuff that passes through the gut. That healthy barrier helps keep bad pathogens and food particles on the right side of the fence. These herbs soothe and heal you so you feel better and can help to reduce food sensitivities so you can eat more things.
Depending on the severity of symptoms, this formula can be taken with two meals a day for 30-60 days. GI-Encap is ideal for those with bloating, gas, constipation, gut pain, or food sensitivities; it’s helpful also for gastritis, ulcers, and brain fog.
Speaking of healing and sealing leaky gut, Lion’s Mane is a great product to take in addition to GI-Encap. It is the number one mushroom for nerve repair and growth; ideal for those with anxiety, neurological issues, or PTSD—Lion’s Mane is also great for leaky gut, as it supports the mucosal lining. It is a win-win for the brain-gut connection AND the gut-brain connection.
That’s the scoop, friends.
I hope you learned something about how to best use specific supplements in a way that adds lasting value to your long-term health.
We're huge believers in “teaching a man how to fish” so that you are educated and equipped to make the best choices for yourself and your family.
Have a beautiful day.
MBC Probiotic
A high-dose probiotic used to recolonize your microbiome after antibiotic use.
JUST THRIVE SOIL-BASED PROBIOTIC
A broad-spectrum soil-based probiotic with the ability to seed the digestive tract.
DIGESTZYMES
Digestzymes are made up of full-spectrum digestive enzymes to support the breakdown of a diverse meal.
PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES
Eat up foreign proteins or antigens in the body, processing them out via your bowels.
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH
Your biofilm-busting killer which helps to eliminate parasites, fungus and specifically candida.
BENTONITE CLAY
A healing clay that aids the body in detoxification.
TRIPHALA
A combination of three Indian fruits that synergistically work together to moisten and nourish the lining of the intestines.
MORS (METHYLATION DONOR)
Methylation support can be a game-changer for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, multiple miscarriages, mood swings and nervousness.
BIOCIDIN
A potent broad-spectrum botanical compound designed to support the GI & immune systems against all types of microorganisms.
ATAK
Assists the body to rid itself of entrenched organisms and provides important support for the lymphatic system.
T-VIVI
This formula helps the body when dealing with viruses.
OIL OF OREGANO
The most potent anti-fungal found in nature.
TAI RA CHI
A crucial supplement for dealing with issues associated with virus, fungus and bacteria.
GI-ENCAP
Supports the health of the esophagus and stomach.
LION'S MANE
Supports the brain and nervous system & assists in the repair of tight junctions in the small intestine.
