Can These Three Sweets Help You to Heal Lyme Disease?

Greg Blog 2 Comments

house_of_cards

For people with Lyme disease and co-infections who crave sweets and carbohydrates
by Greg Lee

Have you ever been glued to watching your favorite TV series? I’m often left with more questions at the end of an episode of House of Cards. Has Frank gone to far? Will this finally be his downfall? What will be the backlash of losing a hostage? My brain goes round and round with what might happen next season.

How is thinking about a captivating TV series similar to food cravings in people with Lyme disease?

Just like the drama in a popular TV series, people with Lyme disease can have unstoppable cravings for sweets
Many patients diagnosed with Lyme disease report craving carbohydrates, gluten-rich foods, sugar, and sweet fruits. They go back and forth with thoughts like, “Eat the ice cream, you deserve a treat!” “Don’t eat the ice cream, it’s bad for you.” Many of these people report an increase in their symptoms after giving in to the “EAT IT!” voice. Multiple studies correlate similar types of cravings with decreased levels of serotonin[1], melatonin[2], leptin[3], or dopamine[4]. Patients diagnosed with Lyme, co-infections, or mold can have lowered levels of serotonin[5], melatonin[6], or dopamine[7]. Unfortunately, these people can have difficulty overcoming their cravings.

People with Lyme disease often need more than dietary restrictions to overcome cravings
Most Lyme diet guideline tell people to avoid dairy, gluten, and refined sugars. These foods can increase inflammation which may increase symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, and pain. However, these restrictive diets often increase the intensity of cravings in patients which often leads to an inability to stick to the “recommended” foods. If the craving for carbs and sweets is related to an underlying deficiency, then increasing the deficient compound(s) could effectively reduce or eliminate the cravings.

What else beside dietary recommendations can help people with Lyme disease to stop cravings and fight infections?

These three sweets help reduce cravings and support the immune system to fight Lyme disease
Studies on obesity often recommend healthier replacements like stevia and xylitol in place of artificial sweeteners or refined sugars which people have become addicted to[8]. Fortunately, these sweeteners can reduce cravings and can help people to fight infections. These and other sweeteners can protect vital organs from toxic compounds and enhance the neurological functioning. Processing these sweeteners into a micronized particle called a liposome, enhances their delivery inside cells[9], into the nervous system[10], and into biofilms[11].

Lyme Healing Sweetener #1: Stevia
A big challenge in experiments is how to kill persistent “antibiotic resistant” forms of the Lyme bacteria. In one experiment, whole leaf extract of stevia was effective in eliminating persistent forms of Lyme as well as biofilms that they hide under[12]. In another study, it lowers blood glucose and serum triglyceride levels[13]. Other studies indicate that stevia has anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory effects[14]. In addition to stevia, xylitol is a natural sweetener with additional healing properties for people with Lyme.

Lyme Healing Sweetener #2: Xylitol
Xylitol has shown in multiple animal and lab studies to inhibit different microbes including: H1N1[15], Streptococcus mutans and it’s biofiims[16], and Streptococcus pneumoniae[17]. It also has a bacteriostatic effect on Listeria Monocytogenes[18]. This sweetener also had a protective effect against Clostridium difficile in a mouse study[19]. Xylitol inhibits multiple oral biofilms in lab studies[20]. When combined with lactoferrin and silver, xylitol has enhanced anti-biofilm properties in wound healing studies[21]. A third sweetener, royal jelly can help with healing the damaging effects of Lyme.

Lyme Healing Sweetener #3: Royal Jelly
Royal jelly (RJ) is the food that is given to queen honey bees and larvae. Since the only way to develop queen bees is to continually feed them RJ, this sweetener enhances the genetic expression of larvae[22]. In one study, RJ had antifungal activity against Candida species[23]. In another study, RJ has been demonstrated to possess numerous functional properties such as antibacterial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, vasodilative and hypotensive activities, disinfectant action, antioxidant activity, antihypercholesterolemic activity, and antitumor activity[24].

In one study, RJ protected mice embryos from toxic oxymetholone[25]. In another mouse study, RJ enhanced bone regeneration[26]. In another rat study, RJ protected the colon against chemically induced colitis[27]. It also protected rats against chemotherapy kidney injury in another study[28].
Another study on rat pup brains showed how RJ increased gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), dopamine, and serotonin levels in response to toxic tartrazine[29]. Bees fed tyrosine, a compound in RJ, had increased levels of dopamine[30]. Rats with chemically induced brain injury, had greater memory recall and spatial learning when fed RJ[31]. In another experiment, RJ facilitated the differentiation of different neural cells and it’s compound HDEA facilitated neural growth[32]. RJ is most commonly mixed with honey. One caution, some people may have an allergic reaction to royal jelly. The sweeteners provide a sweet answer to food cravings in patients with Lyme and co-infections.

These sweeteners can help people with Lyme disease to stop food cravings by increasing deficient neurological compounds
Just like watching the “reveal all” episode that stops the obsessive thinking about the characters in a TV series, these sweeteners can be helpful at resolving food cravings by satisfying the underlying deficiencies in neurological compounds like dopamine and serotonin. These sweeteners can also help people to fight stealthy forms of infections, penetrate biofilms, and reduce the damaging effects of Lyme and co-infections. When encapsulated into a liposome, these sweeteners may have even greater penetration into the places where germs hide and provide deeper protection for the brain and other vital organs. Since some of these sweeteners have cautions on their use, work with a Lyme literate herbal practitioner to develop a proper, safe, and effective strategy for your condition.

– Greg

>> Next step: Click here to take our What Lyme Brain Type are You? Quiz to help identify underlying causes of neurological Lyme.


P.S. Do you have experiences where sweeteners helped you to fight and heal Lyme disease and co-infections? Tell us about it.


[1] Shabbir, Faisal, Akash Patel, Charles Mattison, Sumit Bose, Raathathulaksi Krishnamohan, Emily Sweeney, Sarina Sandhu, et al. “Effect of Diet on Serotonergic Neurotransmission in Depression.” Neurochemistry International 62, no. 3 (February 2013): 324–29. doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2012.12.014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23306210
[2] Sandyk, R. “Treatment with Weak Electromagnetic Fields Attenuates Carbohydrate Craving in a Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.” The International Journal of Neuroscience 86, no. 1–2 (July 1996): 67–77. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8828061
[3] Licinio, J., A. B. Negrao, and M.-L. Wong. “Plasma Leptin Concentrations Are Highly Correlated to Emotional States throughout the Day.” Translational Psychiatry 4 (2014): e475. doi:10.1038/tp.2014.115. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25350298
[4] Blum, Kenneth, Panayotis K. Thanos, and Mark S. Gold. “Dopamine and Glucose, Obesity, and Reward Deficiency Syndrome.” Frontiers in Psychology 5 (2014): 919. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00919. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25278909
[5] Bransfield, Robert C., Jeffrey S. Wulfman, William T. Harvey, and Anju I. Usman. “The Association between Tick-Borne Infections, Lyme Borreliosis and Autism Spectrum Disorders.” Medical Hypotheses 70, no. 5 (2008): 967–74. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2007.09.006. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17980971
[6] “The Biotoxin Pathway | Surviving Mold.” Accessed April 3, 2016. https://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis/the-biotoxin-pathway.
[7] Sava, V., O. Reunova, A. Velasquez, R. Harbison, and J. Sánchez-Ramos. “Acute Neurotoxic Effects of the Fungal Metabolite Ochratoxin-A.” Neurotoxicology 27, no. 1 (January 2006): 82–92. doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2005.07.004. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16140385
[8] Bilton, Rod. “Averting Comfortable Lifestyle Crises.” Science Progress 96, no. Pt 4 (2013): 319–68. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24547668
[9] Pumerantz A, Muppidi K, Agnihotri S, Guerra C, Venketaraman V, Wang J, Betageri G. Preparation of liposomal vancomycin and intracellular killing of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2011 Feb;37(2):140-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2010.10.011. Epub 2010 Dec 3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21130608
[10] Alhariri M, Azghani A, Omri A. Liposomal antibiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2013 Nov;10(11):1515-32. doi: 10.1517/17425247.2013.822860. Epub 2013 Jul 26. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23886421
[11] Jones, Malcolm N. “Use of Liposomes to Deliver Bactericides to Bacterial Biofilms.” Methods in Enzymology 391 (2005): 211–28. doi:10.1016/S0076-6879(05)91013-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15721384
[12] Theophilus, P. a. S., M. J. Victoria, K. M. Socarras, K. R. Filush, K. Gupta, D. F. Luecke, and E. Sapi. “Effectiveness of Stevia Rebaudiana Whole Leaf Extract Against the Various Morphological Forms of Borrelia Burgdorferi in Vitro.” European Journal of Microbiology & Immunology 5, no. 4 (December 2015): 268–80. doi:10.1556/1886.2015.00031. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26716015
[13] Ritu, Mathur, and Johri Nandini. “Nutritional Composition of Stevia Rebaudiana- A Sweet Herb and Its Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidaemic Effect on Patients with Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.” Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, January 19, 2016. doi:10.1002/jsfa.7627. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26781312
[14] Ferrazzano, Gianmaria Fabrizio, Tiziana Cantile, Brunella Alcidi, Marco Coda, Aniello Ingenito, Armando Zarrelli, Giovanni Di Fabio, and Antonino Pollio. “Is Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni a Non Cariogenic Sweetener? A Review.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 21, no. 1 (2015). doi:10.3390/molecules21010038. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26712732
[15] Yin, Sun Young, Hyoung Jin Kim, and Hong-Jin Kim. “Protective Effect of Dietary Xylitol on Influenza A Virus Infection.” PloS One 9, no. 1 (2014): e84633. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0084633. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24392148
[16] Marttinen, Aino M., Patricia Ruas-Madiedo, Claudio Hidalgo-Cantabrana, Markku A. Saari, Riikka A. Ihalin, and Eva M. Söderling. “Effects of Xylitol on Xylitol-Sensitive versus Xylitol-Resistant Streptococcus Mutans Strains in a Three-Species in Vitro Biofilm.” Current Microbiology 65, no. 3 (September 2012): 237–43. doi:10.1007/s00284-012-0151-2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22645015
[17] Ruiz, Vicente, Violeta Rodríguez-Cerrato, Lorena Huelves, Gema Del Prado, Plínio Naves, Carmen Ponte, and Francisco Soriano. “Adherence of Streptococcus Pneumoniae to Polystyrene Plates and Epithelial Cells and the Antiadhesive Potential of Albumin and Xylitol.” Pediatric Research 69, no. 1 (January 2011): 23–27. doi:10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181fed2b0. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20885335
[18] Morón de Salim, Alba Rosa, and Luis Guillermo Ramírez Mérida. “[Bacteriostatic effect and/or xylitol bactericide of crops on Listeria Monocytogenes].” Archivos Latinoamericanos De Nutrición 63, no. 2 (June 2013): 173–79. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24934074
[19] Naaber, P., R. H. Mikelsaar, S. Salminen, and M. Mikelsaar. “Bacterial Translocation, Intestinal Microflora and Morphological Changes of Intestinal Mucosa in Experimental Models of Clostridium Difficile Infection.” Journal of Medical Microbiology 47, no. 7 (July 1998): 591–98. doi:10.1099/00222615-47-7-591. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9839563
[20] Badet, Cécile, Aurélie Furiga, and Noélie Thébaud. “Effect of Xylitol on an in Vitro Model of Oral Biofilm.” Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry 6, no. 4 (2008): 337–41. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19178100
[21] Ammons, Mary Cloud B., Loren S. Ward, and Garth A. James. “Anti-Biofilm Efficacy of a Lactoferrin/xylitol Wound Hydrogel Used in Combination with Silver Wound Dressings.” International Wound Journal 8, no. 3 (June 2011): 268–73. doi:10.1111/j.1742-481X.2011.00781.x. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21457463
[22] “Royal Jelly.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, March 19, 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_jelly&oldid=710878679.
[23] Koç, Ayşe Nedret, Sibel Silici, Filiz Kasap, Hatice Tuna Hörmet-Oz, Hikmet Mavus-Buldu, and Bariş Derya Ercal. “Antifungal Activity of the Honeybee Products against Candida Spp. and Trichosporon Spp.” Journal of Medicinal Food 14, no. 1–2 (February 2011): 128–34. doi:10.1089/jmf.2009.0296. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21128826
[24] Viuda-Martos, M., Y. Ruiz-Navajas, J. Fernández-López, and J. A. Pérez-Alvarez. “Functional Properties of Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly.” Journal of Food Science 73, no. 9 (November 2008): R117–24. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3841.2008.00966.x. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19021816
[25] Zahmatkesh, Ensieh, Gholamreza Najafi, and Vahid Nejati. “Protective Effect of Royal Jelly on In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Male Mice Treated with Oxymetholone.” Cell Journal 17, no. 3 (2015): 569–75. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26464831
[26] Özan, Fatih, Bayram Çörekçi, Orçun Toptaş, Koray Halicioğlu, Celal Irgin, Fahri Yilmaz, and Yasin Hezenci. “Effect of Royal Jelly on New Bone Formation in Rapid Maxillary Expansion in Rats.” Medicina Oral, Patología Oral Y Cirugía Bucal 20, no. 6 (November 2015): e651–56. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26449428
[27] Karaca, Turan, Yesim Hulya Uz, Selim Demirtas, Ihsan Karaboga, and Guray Can. “Protective Effect of Royal Jelly in 2,4,6 Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Colitis in Rats.” Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences 18, no. 4 (April 2015): 370–79. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26019800
[28] Ibrahim, Abdelazim, Mabrouk A. Abd Eldaim, and Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim. “Nephroprotective Effect of Bee Honey and Royal Jelly against Subchronic Cisplatin Toxicity in Rats.” Cytotechnology, February 27, 2015. doi:10.1007/s10616-015-9860-2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25720368
[29] Mohamed, Amany Abdel-Rahman, Azza A. A. Galal, and Yaser H. A. Elewa. “Comparative Protective Effects of Royal Jelly and Cod Liver Oil against Neurotoxic Impact of Tartrazine on Male Rat Pups Brain.” Acta Histochemica 117, no. 7 (September 2015): 649–58. doi:10.1016/j.acthis.2015.07.002. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26190785
[30] Matsuyama, Syuhei, Takashi Nagao, and Ken Sasaki. “Consumption of Tyrosine in Royal Jelly Increases Brain Levels of Dopamine and Tyramine and Promotes Transition from Normal to Reproductive Workers in Queenless Honey Bee Colonies.” General and Comparative Endocrinology 211 (January 15, 2015): 1–8. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.11.005. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25448251
[31] Zamani, Zohre, Parham Reisi, Hojjatallah Alaei, and Ali Asghar Pilehvarian. “Effect of Royal Jelly on Spatial Learning and Memory in Rat Model of Streptozotocin-Induced Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease.” Advanced Biomedical Research 1 (July 6, 2012). doi:10.4103/2277-9175.98150. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3507025/
[32] Hattori, Noriko, Hiroshi Nomoto, Hidefumi Fukumitsu, Satoshi Mishima, and Shoei Furukawa. “Royal Jelly and Its Unique Fatty Acid, 10-Hydroxy-Trans-2-Decenoic Acid, Promote Neurogenesis by Neural Stem/progenitor Cells in Vitro.” Biomedical Research (Tokyo, Japan) 28, no. 5 (October 2007): 261–66. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18000339

DISCLAIMER:-

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-practitioner relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

Please consult your health care provider, or contact the Two Frogs Healing Center for an appointment, before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Two Frogs Healing Center expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. The Two Frogs Healing Center does not endorse specifically any test, treatment, or procedure mentioned on the site.

By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by the Two Frogs Healing Center. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter this site.

Comments 2

  1. Greg, I have been on a Lyme cocktail which has been very beneficial.
    It is bio-pure liposomal health 1 tspn, stevia 2 dropperfuls, bio-pure liquid artemesinin 2 dropperfuls and then essential oils from you, which you made up specifically for me after testing me. put in shaker.

    I take it twice a day. my protocol says 3 times but its too much for me. I had to start with once a day and build u slowly.

    use a good source of stevia. now that Coca-cola is using it in one of their drinks there’s probably a lot of gmo stevia around. use one in alcohol – Nutrmedix one is great.

    Hope that helps. Also have a delicious sugar, gluten and dairy free zucchini bread made with xylitol and stevia if you would like me to share that.

    1. Post
      Author

Leave a Reply to Greg Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *