Zeolite

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Magyar
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Zeolite

Post by Magyar »

Hi,

I'm trying something new called esdifan (info. can be found at www.esdifan.com). It's comprised primarily of a mineral called zeolite. It's supposed to eliminate D. It seems to help if I take a large dose (6 capsules) but my results haven't been that consistent.

Has anyone else tried this? I am also taking bentonite, which is a type of clay mixed with water. It doesn't seem to do much for me.

Thanks,
M
Celiac (gluten-free since 2000), Lymphocytic colitis since 2000.
Jean
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Post by Jean »

I have to say that I would be unwilling to try it because their site doesn't list it's ingredients. I'd be afraid that it contained one of my intolerances. Does it list ingredients on the bottle?

Love, Jean
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Polly
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Post by Polly »

Hi Magyar,

I feel like Jean does. I am reluctant to put anything in my mouth unless I know every little thing in it. Basically, I use no supplements at all, except for flax oil. I figure that if I have genes that make me intolerant to so many foods, then surely I might react to other, non-food items. I prefer to use the PUREST foods I can find - organic whenever possible.

With the flax oil, I do not take a measured amount. I just add some every day to soups, salads, etc. - probably it amounts to one or two tsps. a day.

Polly
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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Magyar,

and welcome to our new board. If I remember correctly, I researched zeolite previously. Natural zeolite is a form of volcanic rock, and synthetic zeolite is made in many different forms, to do many different jobs.

I believe the product you are using is probably designed to absorb liquids in the colon, and thereby reduce the likelyhood of having D. I don't believe that it is likely to hurt you, but it wouild take a substantial amount of it to absorb a large enough percentage of the volume of water present during a full-blown MC reaction, to provide a significant benefit. If I remember correctly, it would take something like several pounds of it to do the job in a typical case of active secretory D, caused by MC.

I'm not aware of any way that bentonite will help to control the symptoms of MC, (bentonite is the same clay used as a binder in the sand used to make moulds, used for casting metal parts in foundries, by the way), but I'll tell you something that it will do. It will neutralize mycotoxins in your food, if any are present.

Mtycotoxins, such as aflatoxin, vomitoxin, etc., are powerful carcinogens, and are sometimes found in peanuts, corn, soybeans, cottonseed, and a few other things, grown under stessed conditions. If a cow eats corn that contains aflatoxin, for example, it will show up in her milk, and the milk then becomes carcinogenic. Mycotoxins can cause other diseases, and cause other problems, as well. For example, aflatoxin will slowly destroy the liver, if present in the diet, in sufficient quantities. It only takes about 100 parts per billion, (ppb), of aflatoxin, to cause serious problems for some animals, especially some birds.

About 10 or 15 years ago, a major university, (probably TAM, but I'm not sure), demonstrated that pigs, fed a ration that contained large amounts of aflatoxin, were unaffected by it, if a small amount of bentonite was also added to their ration.

Though it has never been documented, I have little doubt that this effect would also apply to humans, since humans and pigs, have very similar digestive systems. In fact, various internal organs have been successfully transplanted from pigs into humans.

The point is, it's entirely possible that the bentonite might protect you from mycotoxins that occasionally slip into the food chain, (although this doesn't really have anything to do with MC, obviously).

Wayne
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Magyar
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Post by Magyar »

Hi Everyone,

I'm glad to see the CC/MC/LC online discussion is still alive! Thanks to all of you for maintaning this site!

Tex - Zeolite is supposed to function by removing toxins from the digestive tract. Both it and bentonite and purported to reduce D in animals and humans. So, it's not a matter of simply absorbing water, but also absorbing what is hypothesized to be the source of the inflammation --- toxins. There was a study done in the 1960s by Dr. Frederic Damrau that showed that bentonite reduced chronic D within 3.8 days of his patients taking it. Unfortunately, I have not had the same experience.

I'm still not sure if this stuff really works. The only other ingredients in Esdifan are calcium carbonate and Vitamin B12. Bentonite is just clay mixed with water.

Interestingly, bentonite seems to really improve my skin and it doesn't taste as bad as it sounds.

Polly -- I've heard that flaxseed oil has a laxative effect. I really want to try it, though, because I've heard that celiacs are typically very deficient in omega-3s and because I've heard it's good for pregnant women (helps fetuses' brains develop). Do you use a specific brand that prevents the laxative effect?

Maybe I'll try the elimination diet next.

Thanks,
Magyar
Celiac (gluten-free since 2000), Lymphocytic colitis since 2000.
Polly
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Post by Polly »

Hi Magyar!

Too much of ANY oil can cause D - it does indeed have a laxative effect. (We treat chronic constipation in kiddies with regular doses of mineral oil).

I would suggest using very small doses at first and then you can work up. Maybe a tsp. or less initially.

Do you eat corn? Several here are intolerant.

Take care,

Polly

P.S. That's wonderful that you are pregnant!!! Tell us all about it.
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