My child is still intolerant to a particular food (tomato, citrus, lettuce, etc) in spite of being on inulin. What does this mean? I thought food intolerance should go away after starting inulin.

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By intolerance, I will assume you mean visible changes in a child when they consume certain foods and not intolerance determined by blood testing, which is highly inaccurate.nnBacterial overgrowth of the small intestine (SIBO) triggers intolerance symptoms (heartburn, indigestion, cramping, or diarrhea) when particular foods are ingested. Rebalancing intestinal bacteria with inulin or rifaximin will cause the reaction to these foods to improve (lessen) significantly. If the symptoms persist, despite rifaximin or inulin, I will either switch inulin to monthly rifaximin or increase the dosing of rifaximin from monthly to continuous.nnAn exception to this rule of thumb is intolerance that results in a dangerous allergic reaction (tree nuts, shrimp, peanuts, etc.). Patients should always carry their EpiPen if they have such allergies, even if they are successfully recovering on the protocol.

How long before food intolerances resolve?

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If a child has been on a restrictive diet prior to starting The Nemechek Protocol, I recommend reintroducing the restricted foods a few weeks after starting the inulin or rifaximin. By then the bacterial overgrowth will have resolved and any symptoms the foods will not occur. An important exception to this are the foods that previously caused a severe allergic reaction. These foods should never be re-introduced. If there are any questions about the severity of past food reactions, I recommend the parent discuss this with the child’s pediatrician or allergist.

Will The Nemechek Protocol fix food intolerances?

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Most of the intolerance parents see in their children is a consequence of the overgrowth of bacteria within the small intestine. After reversing bacterial overgrowth with either inulin or rifaximin, the gut heals within 2-3 weeks, the leaky gut heals and the foods no longer cause food intolerance. I’ve had many, many patients be able to tolerate foods again previously caused symptoms when eaten. Exceptions are severe allergic reactions to peanuts, or shellfish or milk sugar (lactose) intolerance.

My child had a food intolerance blood test. We were advised to avoid many types of food including olives. Should olive oil be excluded?

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Blood-based food intolerance tests are very inaccurate and often will reflect many of the foods presently within the diet. I recommend to my patients to just add the olive oil a few weeks after starting the inulin or rifaximin and they tend to do just fine.

How much does frequent sickness interfere with recovery? For example, a two year old child gets a runny nose and/or cough with temperature every two weeks, and the illness typically lasts 5-7 days. Then a week or two healthy, and again.

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Frequent illnesses, if severe enough can definitely slow recovery.

What should one do to keep a child’s gains on a steady path?

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While the improvements seen in a child on the protocol are steady and consistent, they are often interrupted by stressful events, occasional injuries, or illnesses that can give the recovery an appearance of “3 steps forward and 1 step backward”. This recovery pattern is the normal consequence of the unpredictable but common events affecting our lives.nnBecause of this, it is important not to over focus and react to negative changes in behavior that occur in the short term (a few days or weeks). Maintaining a broader perspective over a 1-2 month time frame allows parents to accurately assess their child’s recovery.

Why does it take 3-4 months of monthly Rifaximin to start seeing gains?

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Generally, when inflammation is reduced enough to allow the brain’s natural repair and rejuvenation mechanisms to reactivate, it often takes 2-3 months before enough repair takes place that it is observable by others.

Can The Nemechek Protocol help reduce the frequency of seizures (epilepsy)?

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Excessive inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS) can cause seizures to occur more frequently. The more inflammation, the more seizures typically will occur. The Nemechek Protocol can help to reduce the frequency of seizures due to the protocol’s ability to reduce inflammation within the CNS.

Will The Nemechek Protocol help children with epilepsy or seizures?

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The frequency of seizures is increased if the central nervous system (CNS) is experiencing increased inflammation. All the elements of The Nemechek Protocol (balanced intestinal bacteria + fish oil + olive oil + vagus nerve stimulation) work together to dramatically reduce inflammation within the CNS and have, in many cases, led to a significant reduction of seizures.

Is The Nemechek Protocol safe in children with epilepsy or seizures?

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Yes. If you are ever in doubt I suggest asking your child’s managing physician if The Nemechek Protocol is safe for your child.