Q: I think you have discussed this, but could you talk about fermented food (home made versus, store-bought fermented veggies--For example, Bubbies pickles in moderation- which my family loves!) Are these ever safe? End of treatment?  After treatment? Aren't fermented veggies in small amounts similar to raw milk?

A: Store bought is always weaker than home made. Fermented foods are NOT a good idea until a person is strong enough to handle them. When there is leakage into the lymph from the gut, those little organisms, will just infiltrate the system, not in a good way. You cannot put those foods in until your gut is strong enough. This is why I use tiny doses of probiotics and prescribe them along with other herbs to help them assimilate properly into the body when I am dosing. As for Raw milk or yoghurt or kiefer vs. things like sauerkraut. I am a fan of raw milk and kiefer and yoghurt. Sauerkraut is good too, but, again, must be much later when the gut is strong enough to be more rebuilt and is no longer leaking non stop into the rest of the system.

 

Q: Is salt curing the same as fermenting? For example, are salt-cured capers and salt-cured olives safe on later lists? 

A: I do not think these are the same. I THINK salt curing is preserving a state rather than allowing to ferment. Please feel free anyone to correct me if I am mistaken. However, look out, because olives are often in wine or vinegar so for this reason often a problem until one is very strong and well.

 

Q: Finally, is any vinegar allowed after treatment? Is raw apple cider vinegar in moderation for cooking (as touted by some health professionals) better than other vinegars? Or is all vinegar too strong for us?

A: Vinegars are loaded with yeasts and I dont think of it as one of the healthiest foods. I do eat salads out when I am not at home, but, I save vinegar for those occassions and we do not use it at home-ever. However, having said that Boaz and I were both raised in Mediterranean/Middle Eastern homes so, this is/was the custom. Maybe there is a reason for that? I don't know. However, if i compare lemon to vinegar-it's lemon hands down. Our kids love it too. So, later in treatment I think occasional vinegar is just fine. Apple cider vinegar medicinally, in my opinion is never a good idea, as it is loaded with yeasts, and it alkalizes the body. Alkalizing the body purposefully is never a good idea. The idea should always be to keep the pH down the middle and how to do that is to get the body balancing itself. You are not supposed to control your heart rythm right? You arent supposed to control your pH either! When you do, trouble starts.

 

 

Dr.M