Probiotics are NOT all the same. And probiotics may not be the best place to start for many of you. Don't get me wrong, we ❤️ probiotics. Like really love them. BUT there's a time and a place.Slow motility issues? (reflux, heartburn, slow gastric emptying, constipation, SIBO, etc.)❌Probiotics aren't the place to start. Rapidly motility issues?Probiotics MAY not be the place to start.How is Ultimate Probiotic different than ________'s probiotic? To start off, the type of strains in Ultimate Probiotic are completely different than reseeding probiotic supplements. Comparing reseeding probiotics to gut management probiotics is like comparing apples and oranges....

Enzymes break down food that turns nutrients into substances that your digestive tract can absorb. Simply stated, they aid in the digestion process. In a healthy gut and when you are young, your body makes enough enzymes that should not need to to be supplemented. Enzymes are a basic, first step product for nutrient absorption. They work quickly. You take them with food and they help with the digestion of that food. Not all enzymes are the same and most don't provide full coverage. Other basic, first step products/ingredients for nutrient absorption are Regularity or Reflux with MucoSave®. There are...

Sinus infections...they are miserable and last forever! If you are interested in a product for sinus "problems" would anyone be interested? Let us know by liking or commenting below! (It also may be super helpful for colds, flus, and sicknesses.)

When our children were small, the doctor's solution to constipation was laxatives. When our daughter was diagnosed with CRPS (a chronic pain syndrome) at 12, the only solution to her constipation from the doctor was laxatives. When I used to get sick from colds & flus all winter long, antibiotics were the answer. When I had reflux and heartburn, acid blockers were the suggested solution. No one ever mentioned that acid blockers may make things worse or that the issue was most likely not from too much stomach acid. When I was on antibiotics, the answer was to go to...

They sure look the same to me. How about you? Without doing a lot of testing, how might you know which one you have?Brain fog and joint pain are more closely connected to Celiac Disease while headaches are more commonly associated with gluten intolerance. For both issues there are "no known cures." They both may be put into remission and then, when managed, stay that way. Want to reintroduce gluten? Talk with your medical professional but also include a plan for ongoing gut maintenance. Obviously a gluten-free diet is the go-to with both celiac and gluten intolerance. Here are some...

If acid blockers are a major contributor to low stomach acid and if low stomach acid is one of the primary reasons behind all of your issues (including reflux and heartburn) do you use more of them or less? I suggest maybe less. People keep telling me that the secret is baking soda and water, which is like taking antacids (blocking acid). It is cheap and convenient. But how is that helping with the actual cause of the problem (low stomach acid) and is that a good long-term plan? Not according to most. But it is cheap and a great...

If gastritis is the result of an inflamed mucosa then wouldn't it make sense that soothing, repairing, and rebuilding the mucosa is the answer? And once the mucosa is getting the help it needs, doesn't it make sense to also address the potential H. pylori overgrowth possibilities?Be mindful, herbs and immunoglobulins aren't drugs: dosing matters, how long you use the ingredients matters, and doing everything in the proper order matters. MucoSave® at 800-1200 mg per day for 60-90 days may be most helpful for initially providing serious help to the mucosa. Do not take a flavor of MucoSave® that has...

Most constipation products and protocols don't work. Why? ⁠They focus on forced motility OR they focus on gut imbalances ONLY with probiotics. It is very tough to clean up something that is clogged up. ⁠⁠There are 4 keys to helping with constipation issues:⁠1) Motility activation (not the forced dependency motility provided by laxatives)⁠2) Soothing and calming the system. When the system is flared up it is going to be clogged up. Motility issues are an inflammatory issue. ⁠3) Lubrication. A dry colon produces dry waste that causes painful bowel movements.⁠4) Microbial imbalances. It is good to start this process, but...

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. One way to possibly consider addressing autoimmune diseases, like Celiac disease, is to decrease immune activation by way of toxin binding and strengthening the gut barrier. Oral immunoglobulins, for example, are shown to help decrease immune activation. Given what we know about Celiac disease, the answers to help address this may be in addressing microbial imbalances, gut barrier integrity, inflammation, and strengthening the immune system. A gut health protocol may want to consider high doses of immunoglobulins, building up the gut barrier, increasing...

The most common way to treat SIBO is with antibiotics and diet changes, right? AKA - Kill the bacteria causing all the problems and don't eat the foods that cause bloating and gas. BUT...How do antibiotics increase gastric juices and improve motility for someone with SIBO? How long do people like to avoid foods and how simple is that? Sounds very difficult to follow long-term. Why not increase natural acid production correctly, help regain normal motility, and clean out the gut w/o hammering the beneficial gut bacteria as a way to approach SIBO problems? If high doses of immunoglobulins over...

Why doesn't Silver Fern™ Brand's K2D3 have more vitamin D in it?Because most people don't need it. The lion share of people already have magnesium deficiency. There is no need to intentionally make it worse. And if you need more Vitamin D in higher doses then please consider adding a magnesium supplement. I personally prefer Magnesium Glycinate and Magnesium L-Threonate together. The current recommended range of daily Vitamin D is 600 to 800 IUs. If you are low in Vitamin D you can up to 1,500 to 2,000 IUs per day (or 2 K2D3 capsules). But unless a doctor suggests...

Why would you focus on blocking acid secretion if too much stomach acid isn't the issue? (What if the issue is inflammation, low stomach acid, gastroparesis, obesity, etc.?) But let's assume your issues are too much stomach acid. Let's look at H2 blockers anyway. They are not as strong as PPIs so they are considered to be safer for long-term use. They are inexpensive. They are effective. They are easy to find. Doctors prescribe them a lot and the FDA has found them safe for short-term use. For bad reflux and heartburn issues though, most people end up taking PPIs....

There is probably a very good reason that magnesium is added to most acid blockers. Magnesium deficiency is a cause for reflux and heartburn problems. Isn't it interesting that instead of addressing nutrient absorption along with taking magnesium (malate or glycinate) for helping with the underlying issues of reflux and heartburn, most people actually double down and do more harm to nutrient absorption with acid blockers? I find it super confusing. But acid blockers are super cheap! That is definitely a plus. If you don't want to live on acid blockers consider an aggressive reflux and heartburn protocol. If you...

Acid blockers are cheap and readily available for sure. But...For all inflammatory issues in the esophagus and stomach, rather than blocking acid maybe consider building up the body's natural defense shield to protect against acid levels. MucoSave® does not block acid. If anything, it will help with normal stomach acid levels. You need to take MucoSave® in a drink form to coat the esophagus and stomach (if you have GERD, LPR, EOE, and Gastritis issues). Capsules don't work well here. And MucoSave® is a bitter ingredient. It tastes bitter. If you are on acid blockers, do not suddenly stop taking...

Start your gut health journey with slow motility issues! This is where most people should start unless you have chronic diarrhea or no constipation (in our opinion). How do you clean something up that is clogged up? You don't. Even if an imbalance is the culprit for the slow motility issues, please consider starting with slow motility issues before doing an aggressive clean up. Even people with weight gain issues would do well to start with helping with motility issues. BTW - starting with a protocol for slow motility also means helping with inflammatory processes, gut barrier integrity, nutrient absorption,...

I had seasonal allergies for as long as I could remember. Back in the 80s, I had to get allergy shots to work on our family ranches/farms.My allergies never really got better as I got older. Along with my shoddy immune system, my allergies drove me crazy. I took antihistamines, Flonase, etc. all the time. That was my management plan for allergies. It wasn't until after 8 months of a heavily focused gut health protocol that I noticed my allergies really start to drop off. This happened about the same time I noticed I was no longer getting sick every...

While antidepressants work well for many people (and I am not suggesting that people not take them), there is another key to depression that most overlook: gut health. Antidepressants work by increasing neurotransmitters (like serotonin and noradrenaline). Gut bacteria also produce a variety of neurotransmitters that can trigger positive feelings. While taking antidepressants, it may be helpful to focus on some of the side effects of antidepressants (slow motility issues, etc.) as well as work on making sure you are managing gut bacteria balances. The combination of both efforts may prove to be very effective. If you have questions, please...

If you are interested in making your digestive issues worse then start worrying about it. Even better yet, really fret it and worry about it. That will lock things up super fast. ⁠⁠Stress causes constipation. ⁠Stress slows down digestion. ⁠Stress is a motility stopper. ⁠Stress causes bloating.⁠Stress causes inflammation. ⁠Stress causes cramping.⁠Stress causes the gut to have imbalances. ⁠⁠If you chase gut health like many do the stock market (hourly and daily), you are likely going to make things worse. Get on a protocol. Do it the right way. And give it the time it needs to work. A 90...

What About Fungal Overgrowth? If all the belching, bloating, reflux, nausea, diarrhea, and gas issues aren't SIBO, then they are often SIFO. Addressing motility issues may or may not be step 1 for you. If you are having rapid motility issues, then you can jump to the high doses of immunoglobulins. Otherwise, please start with a slow motility plan. Oral immunoglobulins use immune and steric exclusion mechanisms to bind to and eliminate fungus. Dosing matters. Taking them for long enough matters too. We suggest that gut health protocols do best when they focus on motility first and then do a...

Does gut health affect mental health? Yes! Each year more and more research shows that an unhealthy imbalanced gut loaded in inflammation causes mood issues. The research (in Psychology Today) also suggests that pairing gut health measures with antidepressants showed significant improvements in mood compared to the placebo. Maybe gut health measures should be considered as part of a way to help with mental health issues? If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram @silverfernbrand, or visit https://www.silverfernbrand.com/#quiz-5XHJMn for our protocols.

"How did my gut get so messed up?" "Why do I need to keep maintaining my gut health after I finish the protocol?" Many factors affect our gut health daily, this is why maintaining your gut health is so important. The good news is that once your gut health is on track, maintaining it doesn't require a lot and its pretty simple. If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram @silverfernbrand, or visit https://www.silverfernbrand.com/#quiz-5XHJMn for our protocols.

Anyone feel like their minds are locked up? Do you or anyone you know suffer from lingering depression and anxiety issues? Has anyone gone through years of therapy with little to show? If you or anyone you know struggles with mental health issues, the research on the advances in psychedelics may be super interesting to you. I try to keep up on the research of psychedelics because I am close to people that struggle with depression. And I myself struggle with anxiety. For years psychedelics were under attack by the government (partly out of ignorance and partly out of the...

Do you remember My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the complete fixation on using Windex to treat everything? Lol ⁠⁠Apple cider vinegar seems to have a similar following. Whenever I do a post on reflux, heartburn, bloating, gas, etc. about everyone responds with apple cider vinegar comments.⁠⁠I too add Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar to my smoothie in the morning. I see it as a good way to increase acetate. It also is a good way to help with lowering blood sugar levels. I think it probably does help with digestion. ⁠⁠From my personal experience, I add this product into...

"Just mix baking soda, water, and honey together. That fixes heartburn and it's super inexpensive. Why go spend $75 per month on a protocol? That's just dumb!" Is it? What exactly is baking soda and water fixing? The short-term symptoms or the underlying issues? Is baking soda addressing the causes of heartburn?❌Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis)❌H. pylori overgrowth issues❌Vitamin and mineral deficiencies❌Stress ❌Gastroparesis❌LPR❌GERD❌Obesity❌The mucosal barrier's integrity The truth is that baking soda and water aren't solving anything. Is baking soda a viable long-term solution? 👎🏼Nope!However, it can be a quick temporary help while you do other things to address the...

Do you wonder how or why you have low stomach acid?⁠⁠The simple answer is that something has affected the gastric mucosa which in turn has resulted in low stomach acid secretion. ⁠⁠Some research suggests that acid blockers are simply masking the underlying issues, not helping with them. ⁠(National Institutes of Health)⁠⁠Yes, there is such a thing as "stress-induced gastritis", which weakens the mucosa. ⁠⁠One might also wonder that since the mucosa is key to nutrient absorption, does that mean that is what is causing a lack of zinc and vitamin B in the system? ⁠⁠We like to aggressively coat the...

When you have issues like low stomach acid, look to the causes then address those. Acid blockers (though inexpensive and easily available) are not addressing the underlying causes of low stomach acid. They may, in fact, be worsening the issues because they are masking the issues vs addressing the causes. (I'll do a separate post on causes.)Rather than quickly "masking up" to address issues like reflux, heartburn, and stomach aches, please consider addressing the underlying causes with a properly structured protocol. If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram @silverfernbrand, or visit https://www.silverfernbrand.com/#quiz-5XHJMn for our protocols.

How do immunoglobulins work and why are they key to cleaning up the gut? How do they help with autoimmune conditions? Let's start off with the fact that immunoglobulins are antibodies. Immunoglobulins are the "...humoral immune responses against bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, cellular antigens, chemicals, and synthetic substances."(Immunoglobulin - National Library of Medicine - full reference in slides)Immunoglobulins bind to pathogens and then the body eliminates them. Immunoglobulins change the shape and size of pathogens preventing them from penetrating the gut barrier, increasing the inflammation, and triggering immune responses. Oral immunoglobulins are key to improving the composition of the gut...

Gut health may be the secret to a "smoother ride through menopause" (Dr. Jolene Brighten) There is never a time to not work on gut health. In the cases of perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, it is especially helpful to start working on your gut health. Here are some keys that Silver Fern Brand finds helpful for gut health:(1) Start in the right spot.This may or may not mean probiotics.If you have slow motility issues start there. If you have rapid motility issues start there. When in doubt ask.(2) Take the right products in the right order.One of the biggest mistakes...

Do probiotic products live up to the hype? Not according to some doctors. They would say probiotics DO NOT live up to the hype and randomly buying a probiotic off the shelf of a local drugstore isn't going to do you any good. Why? ⁠⁠This is probably due to the fact that not all probiotics are the same. ⁠⁠Here are some points to consider when buying a probiotic:⁠⁠(1) Survival rate. If you can find a probiotic with a third-party tested 100% survival rate that is pretty amazing. Shopping by CFU counts may not be the best way to choose a...

There's a lot of buzz out there about the benefits of psychobiotics. Why? Because the gut is your second brain.We've combined a powerful psychobiotic with a high quality ashwagandha to help bring peace and serenity to your life.Grab your bottle today! If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram @silverfernbrand, or visit https://www.silverfernbrand.com/#quiz-5XHJMn for our protocols.

No, Silver Fern™ Brand does not sell anything with erythritol in it and the monk fruit we use in Reflux is all monk fruit. But why not look at the research? From what I can find, the research is specific to measuring what is happening to people taking erythritol in higher doses from keto friendly foods and drinks. To give a comparison, a serving of Halo Top ice cream has 8 grams of sugar alcohol (erythritol) per serving and 23 grams per container. Let's face it, most people eat the whole container. LOL The question is, what do lower doses...

Why combine vitamins K2 and D3? Because some things are just better together...or more effective.Most of us are deficient in vitamin D AND vitamin K. Get what you need in one capsule! If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram @silverfernbrand, or visit https://www.silverfernbrand.com/#quiz-5XHJMn for our protocols.

What is F. prausnitzii? It's a beneficial bacteria found in the gut.Promoting the growth of F. prausnitzii may strongly reduce exhaustion from chronic fatigue syndrome. Not too many years ago, the scientific community could only really say that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was linked to imbalances and inflammation. They could also strongly correlate a connection between digestive problems and CFS. Inflammatory markers (like LPS) were shown to be high. Now the science is able to actually pinpoint actual strains of good bacteria (F. prausnitzii) that may be able to reduce exhaustion for people with CFS. It is always best to...

Regularity is a laxative-free approach to constipation.Instead of becoming dependent on laxatives, caffeine or magnesium citrate for regular bowel movements Regularity helps get things moving through normal processes.Grab your bottle and get things moving today! If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram @silverfernbrand, or visit https://www.silverfernbrand.com/#quiz-5XHJMn for our protocols.

Killing bad stuff can cause discomfort. ⁠⁠We are testing a new ingredient right now that "may help" (approved language for a supplement company) with bad imbalances associated with parasites, candida, and gram negative bacteria imbalance "issues" (while leaving all the good stuff). This product is years in the making (research, verification, searching, etc.). ⁠⁠When we had our test group of people with big gut issues use the aggressive dosing they had a lot of aches, pains, headaches, brain fog, fatigue, nausea, etc. We cut back their dosing and they have all pressed on. A week later they are all doing...

A plant-based organic protein powder that's also great for the gut? Ooooh, ya.Our protein powder includes a few of our most beneficial probiotic strains as well as potent digestive enzymes, making digesting this protein a pleasurable experience. This also helps optimize each of the 20 grams of protein in each serving. If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram @silverfernbrand, or visit https://www.silverfernbrand.com/#quiz-5XHJMn for our protocols.

If you say you have IBS with bad bloating (frequent to chronic bloating), we assume you likely have SIBO too. Better to be safe than sorry! If you say you have really bad bloating where you wake up with a flat stomach and end the day looking 6 months pregnant, we assume you have some form of SIBO (or SIFO) even if you don't test for it and even if someone tells you that you most likely only have IBS. The science is suggesting more and more that SIBO is directly linked to IBS as a cause (not necessarily the...

Low on fiber but fiber products kill? Looking for a gentle, FODMAP friendly fiber?⁠⁠Look no further! Our Sensitive Gut Fiber was formulated to be a FODMAP friendly, low bloat option while you work your way back into optimal gut health. ⁠⁠Fiber's always a good idea. Sensitive Gut Fiber makes it an even better idea.⁠ If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram @silverfernbrand, or visit https://www.silverfernbrand.com/#quiz-5XHJMn for our protocols.

If you expect to feel like crap from products, you probably will. Literally. If you expect struggling, crappy outcomes, and pain, you will most likely see that happen. It is proven (please see references).If you don't expect something to work, it probably won't. This applies to products and protocols for the gut too.Side effects can happen. They can. That doesn't mean things aren't working or that things can't be tweaked to be made to work. This shouldn't be a shocker to anyone, we are all different and what works for one may not work for another. That does NOT mean that...

Since gut problems are highly connected to mood disorders, does that mean that by cleaning up the gut one can improve one's mood? The quick answer seems to be "yes." Does this work as fast as medications? No, I don't think so. But can a gut protocol along with meds work even better? The answer to this also seems to be "yes." In Psychology Today (August 28, 2022), they suggest that specialists that diagnose, treat, and prevent mental, emotional and behavioral disorders are becoming more and more aware of gut health's connection to improving mood. The second brain in the...

Did you know that fretting and worrying about your protocol not working is more likely to make gut issues worse? 🤯How?Stress and anxiety are BIG contributors to gut problems. Like SUPER BIG contributors. Behavior changes are key to helping ease GI issues. If you are going to start something new (even despite past failures or bad experiences), please consider extending a little hope, optimism, and excitement. "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still" Unknown OriginsHope, faith, and optimism are even keys to gut health! If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram...

Can you test for leaky gut? If you assume that gut barrier loss is called "leaky gut" then you can test for leaky gut using a few tests: ✅zonulin ✅endotoxin (LPS) ✅intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) ✅endotoxin core antibodies (EndoCAbs) Leaky gut can trigger chronic inflammation and may be a primary risk for metabolic diseases. Gut barrier issues can be part of many health problems. That is why all our protocols hyper focus on the whole gut barrier (not just the epithelial layer but the entire gut barrier-mucus layer and all). Starting in the right spot and taking the right...

⚠️Trigger topic comin' in hot⚠️ Some say glyphosate is harming people and others (including the EPA) say that is "fear -mongering" to even suggest so. Years ago I did a post on glyphosate and people got really triggered over it. So, to keep people from being triggered, I am going to suggest our views on it and if you don't agree that's okay. From our perspective, glyphosate is bad. It isn't that the body can't process chemicals like glyphosate, it is that it is another negative piece of a much broader attack on the microbiome. It is trickling into all...

Super sensitive stomach? ⁠⁠If you have taken our Reflux product and felt that it made your reflux and heartburn even worse, you may have an unhappy mucosa lining. Even the tiny amount of malic acid in Reflux can trigger people with a really mad stomach to feel even worse. We are currently waiting on a new flavor system with NO malic acid in it. Until then...⁠⁠When in doubt, go with an "ease into it" protocol for gut health needs. ⁠⁠As you may know, as a supplement company we are not allowed to help with conditions. Therefore, these suggestions are for...

Constipation products and protocols don't work. Why? ⁠They focus on forced motility OR they focus on gut imbalances ONLY with probiotics. It is very tough to clean up something that is clogged up. ⁠⁠There are 4 keys to helping with constipation issues:⁠1) Motility activation (not forced motility dependency provided by laxatives)⁠2) Soothing and calming the system. When the system is flared up it is going to be clogged up. Motility issues are an inflammatory issue. ⁠3) Lubrication. A dry colon produces dry waste that causes painful bowel movements.⁠4) Microbial imbalances. It is good to begin improving imbalances, but not with...

Laxatives seems like the natural answer for most for hemorrhoids. Increasing consumption of fiber is also a great way to help with hemorrhoids. Since hemorrhoids are commonly associated with constipation and other dysmotility problems, we suggest a more comprehensive response to hemorrhoids. Constipation issues are not only a function of motility activation. It is also an inflammatory problem, a dry lower intestinal wall that is not properly coated, and microbial imbalance problem. By soothing the system down, helping the lower bowels remain moist and slippery (without lubricating laxatives), promoting microbial balance, and then activating motility, you won't have white knuckle...

Low iron problems? You may have a candida overgrowth problem. If you have low iron as well as fatigue, recurring UTIs, digestive problems, skin and fungal problems, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, and depression then you may have a candida overgrowth. How do you bind and neutralize candida? Immunoglobulins! How do they do it? Immune and steric exclusion mechanisms. What does this mean?"Steric exclusion refers to a mechanism where immunoglobulin binding of antigen alters the physical characteristics of the antigen and inhibits translocation of the antigen across an epithelial barrier. Physical properties which might be altered through immunoglobulin binding include qualities...

What is leaky gut? This is a general term used to refer to an unhealthy gut lining allowing pathogens, food particles, etc. into the body where they cause a wide range of issues from autoimmune problems and food issues to diseases and skin problems. The allowable structure functional claim all products in the gut industry are using is something like:"Supports gut barrier integrity"But there is a massive difference in a 2% improvement in gut barrier integrity and a 75% improvement in gut barrier integrity. Which one version of gut barrier integrity are you looking for? And then, how are the...

Gut health protocols at your fingertips? YES, PLEASE!⁠⁠Remember, our goal is to address your gut health issues as quickly and effectively as possible so that we can get you to a place where you are simply maintaining your healthy gut with probiotics and prebiotics. ⁠⁠Our goal is NOT to have you on high doses of a million supplements the rest of your life.⁠ Access our protocols here: https://www.silverfernbrand.com/#quiz-5XHJMn ⁠If you have questions, please send us a DM on Instagram @silverfernbrand.

I am the last person on the planet earth that will tell someone that they can never go eat out and enjoy a delicious meal. ⁠⁠BUT...⁠⁠A predominately western diet full of fast foods, processed foods, sugars, empty carbs, and unhealthy fats can be fuel to an already raging fire going on inside you. ⁠⁠A gut health protocol should hyper focus on promoting microbial balance, microbial diversity, gut barrier integrity, and normal inflammatory processes. If you have extensive inflammatory issues, you need a full gut health plan to calm it down from the mucus layer all the way through. Trying to...