Focus:
On our intuition (or “instincts” if you like that word better) and allowing it to guide us and releasing the desire to follow the urgent directions of our dysregulated nervous system.
Repetition:
I was gifted intuition (or instincts).
I KNOW the voice that was placed so lovingly within me to help guide me through my day.
I will learn to listen to my gifted voice instead of the voice of urgency which is in opposition to love and healing.
Microbes You May Need
Below are some microbes that you may find you need in your journey that Mary Ruddick has shared. Do 9 to 12 months for microbes just in case. Soil microbes and birth microbes are usually 3 months. Plantarum do not permanently colonise, so keep those around in yoghurt to eat from time to time.
You can learn more about each microbe by putting its name into whatever AI chat platform you currently use — Bacdive.com can also be helpful. If you do not use one and would like a suggestion, I use Claude AI, Opus 5, for more detailed information.
Microbe Profiles
Akkermansia (cannot be made into a yoghurt) improves gut-brain signalling via mucosal support, enhances endocannabinoid tone (key in sensory and emotional regulation), and is often low in inflammation and histamine intolerance, GLP-1, improved liver, immune, cardiovascular, mental and metabolic health. You may take up to 6 per day if needed for obesity. Make sure to have a cold herbal tea daily to feed this microbe. We have already introduced this microbe.
Reuteri 6475 (BioGaia brand) is already introduced. Increases collagen absorption by 400%, oral, metabolic, mental health. Protects against colic in infants. Enhanced immunity, enhanced nutrient absorption.
Fermentum CECT 5716 if you are sensitive to supplements.
Lactococcus lactis for DAO production, metabolises histamines.
Babies that were born C-Section — Fermentum CECT 5716, Rham GG, BB536, Fermentum ME3, Bifido 34624 are crucial for circadian rhythm, sleep issues, and HRV. S. boulardii, Plantarum 299V, Bifido Breve M16, Bifido Breve 1714. Feed birth microbes with a few bites of plantain per day (not if you are starving out overgrowths in the protocol, but add these in as soon as the two-year mark is over — just a few bites per day, and we will discuss this more in the future). Cycle in soil microbes like HU58 when a little older. Keep an eye out for products that provide microbes for C-Section babies — we all need them, and hopefully they will come on the market. Will be protective for eczema, sebum, skin issues. You may also use this as an adult if you were born by C-Section.
Top microbes for dopamine that are easy to get on the market — B. Longum BB536, Plantarum 299V, Rham GG, Bifido Breve, yoghurt (streptococcus).
Dairy intolerance — Rhamnosus GG, also produces GABA, stabilises mast cells and reduces histamines, improves vagal tone and reduces HPA axis hyperreactivity.
Bifidobacterium Longum 1714 for production of GABA, reduces cortisol response to stress, improves emotional processing and HRV, modulates the insular cortex (key in misophonia).
Butyrate is a fatty acid that prevents cancer. Bifidobacterium BB536 and Akkermansia produce it — colon polyps and other colon issues are often a sign it is lacking.
Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 — a strong IL-10 inducer (anti-inflammatory cytokine), improves gut barrier and serotonin signalling, often missing in C-section or formula-fed individuals.
Streptococcus thermophilus ST21 — produces butyrate (supports GABA production, lowers neuroinflammation), enhances serotonin receptor expression, protects against LPS-induced neuroinflammation. Streptococcus thermophilus ST21 also enhances L-DOPA production, modulates dopamine tone (important in sensory filtering), and is often missing after antibiotic overuse.
Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 (may not be able to ferment into a dairy) produces PSA, which calms immune reactivity in the brain and has been shown in mice to restore social behaviour and reduce sensory sensitivity.
Roseburia hominis (may not be able to be fermented into a dairy) is a butyrate producer, linked to higher resilience to stress and anxiety, and is commonly depleted in those with early trauma or antibiotic use.
Streptococcus thermophilus ST21 converts tyrosine into L-DOPA and feeds dopaminergic pathways in the brain — often missing after long-term antibiotic use or a lack of fermented dairy (substrate: tyrosine, casein).
Bacillus subtilis PXN 21 stimulates dopamine production, reduces oxidative stress in dopaminergic neurons, and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (substrate: shrimp shells/chitosan, collagen, gelatin from meat stock).
Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 supports dopamine tone and receptor sensitivity, and enhances resilience to stress and social rejection — often missing in those with poor dairy digestion (substrate: whey proteins, fermented dairy).
Lactobacillus casei Shirota increases plasma dopamine levels and reduces cortisol and anger, and is often lost from modern Western microbiomes (substrate: fermented dairy).
Enterococcus faecium T-110 produces dopamine directly in the gut and influences vagal transmission of dopamine signals — a transient but powerful dopamine booster (substrate: amino-acid-rich meats, tyrosine).
Bifidobacterium breve A1 protects dopaminergic neurons from inflammation and has been shown to preserve dopamine levels in Alzheimer’s models — often depleted by formula feeding (substrate: onions, garlic, chicory tea, human breastmilk).
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 stimulates dopamine biosynthesis and enhances mucosal immunity around enteric dopamine sites — a beneficial strain of E. coli (substrate: carrots, onions, garlic, green plantain, which is a food for after the two years of the protocol, not now).
Microbes Everyone Can Benefit From
Plantarum 299V is amazing for histamines — and they are the reason we have such delicate, dysregulated nervous systems. It protects from infections, reduces anxiety and inflammation, degrades biogenic amines (like histamine), and improves serotonin bioavailability. It is also an antagonist to Leptospira (linked to sensory dysregulation).
Nissle 1917 (when you are about 80% better) turns off MTHFR genes, rebuilds your mitochondria, produces folate, B1 and B12, and kills pathogenic E. coli.
Akkermansia (Vitamatic brand).
Gasseri 2055 for breast cancer or men with bellies.
B. Longum 35624 (Align brand) for REM, deep sleep, and HRV.
Bifidobacterium BB536 and/or PS128 for dopamine.
Rham GG for overall birth microbial protection, turning off autoimmunity, making vitamins, and general protection.
L. Fermentum ME3 for pulling toxins out.
S. boulardii 745 can take 6 months to show benefits. S. boulardii produces Vitamin B1, B6, and will assist with small fibre neuropathy, which is very painful — less tingly. It also provides B9, which is especially important for those with low ferritin, enhances absorption of zinc, magnesium and calcium, and creates glutamine and tryptophan. It is an antagonist to salmonella, E. coli, C. diff, and H. pylori. You can take this every few hours for E. coli because it prohibits attachment to the cell. It inhibits norovirus and rotavirus and 3 types of Candida, and reduces histamine-induced inflammation. It increases serotonin by 25%, reduces intestinal permeability by 30% over 8 weeks, and improves overall immune response by increasing IgA. It can be freeze-dried. We usually have an overgrowth of fungi, so we want to take the beneficial ones. Helps dogs get over giardia, too. If it is freeze-dried, it will say that it does not need refrigeration. If you get a probiotic with FOS, HMO, inulin, etc., it already has a food source built in, and that can cause gas — just keep going with it. B1 deficiency plays a massive role in SIBO, and S. boulardii happens to make it. It helps regenerate the nerves and moves the stool along in the migratory motor complex.
Movement This Week
Notice this week if you are using your arms to stabilise or help you when sitting down, getting up, going down stairs, etc. Practise using no hands when getting up from the floor or sitting down, and use hand rails lightly, not for stabilisation. Sit on the floor as often as possible — get down without using your hands and get up without using your hands.
Food Additions
Keep going with your soup — you may now bring in all fermented vegetables. If you see them in your stool, chew more or puree before eating. You may also bring in coconut manna mixed with coconut oil, coconut water, or coconut cream as a treat — just keep an eye on your ketone numbers.
Listen to your body for macros, increasing carbs and proteins once you are safely into higher numbers of ketosis. For example, if your ketones are 3 and above and your body wants more veggies and meat, it is safe to increase them and see how much you can have of each. If your ketones dip below two, simply readjust.
It is a great time to really listen to your body and its needs. Your intuition should be singing at this stage!
I am so proud of all you are learning and how much you are healing!