I might have the answer for toenail fungus, but don't get excited yet... - Nail Problems Message Board

thebluedog · 12-18-2005, 10:20 PM

I may have the answer for getting rid of toenail fungus. The solution may be to get more probiotics into your diet, i.e. good bacteria. Probiotics can help rid your body of fungus. Yogurt and kefir are very good sources of probiotics. Kefir is the best. Do a google search and see for yourself.
Here's my story...
Just 6 weeks ago I went to a dermatologist to get my big toenail checked out. I was certain I had toenail fungus, but a year ago another dermatologist looked at it and said that it was "nothing". (My big toenail was very ridged and thickened with white spots. My toenail has worsened over the last 5 years.) So, I got a second opinion. The dermatologist immediately said it was toenail fungus. So, he wrote me a prescription for Lamisil. I did some research on Lamisil and decided that I wasn't going to take it b/c of the side effects. So, I did some research and decided I would take a more natural approach. However, I never really came to a decision on which one I would try. Here's how I discovered that maybe probiotics can influence toenail fungus.
I started drinking kefir and eating yogurt for their probiotic health benefits. Ironically, I added yogurt about the time I saw my dermatologist and kefir just weeks ago. Now, it may be just coincidence, but my toenail is starting to grow out perfectly smooth! It's about a third grown out now. I am extremely excited and hope this continues!
Here's a little history of how incorporated kefir and yogurt in my diet:
About 7 weeks ago, I started eating 1 or 2 yogurts per day and about 4 weeks I started drinking kefir. Now, I've only been consistenly drinking 8 ounces of kefir per day for 3 or 4 weeks. I must point out that I only realized that my nail was growing out smoothly and normal looking about a week and a half ago. This is the only thing that I can attribute to the changes in my nail. Nothing else in my diet has changed and I am not taking any prescriptions. I did try probiotic pills about a year ago but didn't take them for very long. In the last two weeks I have added them to my diet, so I don't know if they work as well using yogurt and kefir.
Try it for yourself. Yogurt and kefir are good for you anyway. You can buy kefir at health food grocery stores and at some grocery stores that have health food sections. Or you can make it yourself.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

thebluedog · 12-28-2005, 11:14 AM

I just wanted to report my progress. My big toe nail is still growing in smoothly and normal looking. It's about 40% grown in now and looking great!
Has anyone tried my suggestion? I'm curious to find out if anyone else will have similiar results.

Rhonni · 01-01-2006, 04:27 PM

what does kefir taste like? Does it have a nasty taste to it? Were you eating plain yogurt or flavored?

thebluedog · 01-07-2006, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhonni

what does kefir taste like? Does it have a nasty taste to it? Were you eating plain yogurt or flavored?

Rhonni,

Kefir tastes similiar to yogurt and its sort of like a drinkable yogurt b/c it's thick. My wife and I think it tastes good plain. However, I add a couple ounces of a concentrated drink, such as cherry, blueberry, or pomegranate.

I mainly eat vanilla flavored yogurt, but you can eat any flavor. It's the quality of the good bacteria/probiotics that are in the yogurt that matter. I eat mostly Stonyfarms and Horizon brands. They are both organic, good quality, and have more active cultures than other brands.

However, I think Kefir is more powerful. Here's more info on Kefir. It's good for so many things...

Kefir's Health Benefits

In addition to kefir's ancient reputation as a healthy drink, it has been famously credited with the extraordinary longevity of people in the Caucasus. Hospitals in the former Soviet Union use kefir-especially when no modern medical treatment is available-to treat conditions ranging from atherosclerosis, allergic disease, metabolic and digestive disorders and tuberculosis to cancer and gastrointestinal disorders.

A number of studies conducted to date have documented kefir's ability to stimulate the immune system, enhance lactose digestion, and inhibit tumors, fungi, and pathogens- including the bacteria that cause most ulcers. This makes a lot of sense as scientists have since discovered that most ulcers are caused by an infection with the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori and not spicy food, stomach acid or stress, as physicians erroneously believed for years.

Scientists are now discovering that a great many inflammatory diseases (including certain types of heart disease) can be triggered by a bacterium. And that provides all the more reason to enjoy kefir as part of your daily diet