Super Fondant's Quick Start Guide
I created this no-nonsense, quick-start guide to help give a general overarching roadmap of the BFP. Please note: It's imperative to read the entire Born Free Protocol and consult with a trusted medical expert BEFORE starting. My tips are merely here as an overall guide to help give an understanding of Josh Leisk's protocol.
Read the Entire BFP PDF
Before embarking on the Born Free Protocol (BFP), it is crucial to read the entire BFP PDF. This comprehensive guide contains essential information about the stages, supplements, and dietary adjustments
Only Proceed With Supervision
It is imperative to undertake the Born Free Protocol (BFP) only under the guidance, advice, and supervision of a licensed medical professional, especially if you are currently taking medications and/or supplements.
Support Your Journey
Remember to support your BFP journey with diet changes and appropriate pacing. Adjustments may be necessary based on your body's response. For community support, read the BFP PDF often and join the BFP Discord group.
A Very Brief Introduction to the BFP
The Born Free Protocol (BFP) is a comprehensive, step-by-step supplement list designed to tackle chronic illnesses through a rigorous regimen of tests, dietary adjustments, and supplements.
This unofficial quick-start I've created for Born Free Basics guide breaks down what you need to know to navigate the general protocol.
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Preparing for the Protocol
Before diving into BFP, download and thoroughly read the protocol documentation from the official Born Free Life website. As of April 2024, it’s a detailed 53-page guide that lays the foundation for understanding your illness and the recovery process.
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Initial Steps: Essential Testing to Get Started
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Cronometer: Use this free online tool to track your daily nutritional intake.
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Blood and Body Metrics Tests:
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CMA (Comprehensive Metabolic Analysis): Costs about $250, requires a blood sample and fasting as well as no steroids for seven days. See full test for details.
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Oligoscan: A non-invasive palm scan that costs between $150-$300, takes about five minutes for results. Requires knowing your vital statistics accurately, including blood type.
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Organic Acids Test (OAT): From MosaicDX. Costs about $333 USD, measures various metabolites in your urine to provide insights into your cellular functions. Requires first-morning urine as well as fasting and avoidance of certain food items and supplements. See full test for details.
Understanding the Three Stages
Stage 1: Restoring Metabolic Pathways
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Goal: Stabilize your critical vitamin, amino, electrolyte, and mineral levels to restore essential metabolic functions that have been dysregulated by chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and pathogen overgrowth.
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Expect: Die off, herxheimer reactions, oxalate dumping, acetaldehyde overload, mental and emotional reactions, some digestive/gut discomfort, and flare of existing issues as your body adjusts to new nutrient levels.
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If you are not prepared to tackle gut issues that often arise with the BFP, I highly recommend coming up with a competent "battle plan" before proceeding with stage 1 and/or stage 2.
Stage 2: Tackling Gut Dysbiosis and Infections
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Goal: Address deeper issues, particularly in the gut. Notes of caution: Stage 1 and stage 2 will likely flare them significantly. Additional expert interventions will likely be needed, especially for those who are moderate to severe in their chronic illness.
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Prepare: Major dietary changes and strategic use of probiotics, natural antimicrobials, and other targeted medications/interventions for the gut, as needed -- according to a medical/gut expert's guidance.
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Timing for Tests: It's essential to conduct two tests during this phase:
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GI-MAP
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BiomeSight
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Born Free Basics recommends testing on the 12th day after starting the BP2A biofilm breaker supplement to ensure a more accurate assessment of the gut biome. While no one Gi test is 100% accurate, this process helps.
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12th day math: Four days on BP2A​ + three days off BP2A + four days on BP2A, then gather stool sample on day 12.​
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Breaking biofilms and addressing gut dysbiosis can be a difficult and painful process. Please seek expert advice to help you through this stage.​
Stage 3: Immune System Fine-tuning
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Goal: Final adjustments to your immune system to ensure lasting health and resilience.
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Warning: Proceed to stage 3 only if essential minerals—especially iron, copper, zinc—are at optimal levels on the CMA and/or Oligoscan tests; otherwise, you risk severe setbacks/crashes.
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Do not do any stage 3 supps before you are ready for stage 3.
Read More About the BFP Stages
Managing Die-Off Symptoms
The protocol can induce severe die-off reactions, where your body reacts to the rapid dying off of pathogens. This includes symptoms like nausea, headaches, extreme fatigue, and even flu-like symptoms. Old symptoms and issues tend to flare before they get better. These are expected and indicate that the protocol is working, but they require careful management.
Getting Community Support
Join the BFP Discord channel to connect with others who are also navigating the protocol. This community can be invaluable for sharing experiences, advice, having test results reviewed, and moral support. Only share information you are willing to make available on a public forum on the BFP discord.
For example, it's best to remove nay your personally identifying information etc. on any tests results you share.
Join the Born Free Life Discord
Final Thoughts Before Starting
Embarking on the BFP is a significant commitment that requires resilience and patience and studious caution. Be prepared for a challenging journey, but remember, the goal is to achieve an improved lifestyle. Good luck, and stay strong through the ups and downs of this rigorous protocol.
Read Super Fondant's 16 BFP Mantras
Explore the Supplement and Supplement Timing Lists
See the Born Free Life Disease Model
Super Fondant's Super BFP Tips
How I Started and Stayed on The BFP
(This is not medical advice)
Super Fondant Tip #1: Onboarding Supplements
When I began the Born Free Protocol, my condition was severe; I was mostly bed-bound, reacting to various medications, supplements, and environmental triggers such as light and sound—it was a nightmare.
Despite the challenges, I methodically added stage 1 supplements, one group at a time, to monitor reactions and adjust accordingly.
The sequence I onboarded stage 1 was as follows:
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Electrolytes
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Dead Sea Mud
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Antiseptic spray
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Aminos
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B Vitamins/Minerals
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Capsules type supps
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Any remaining supplements/pills
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It took me about eight weeks to onboard stage 1.
However, in hindsight, I would shorten this period to four to six weeks to minimize the risk of bacterial/fungal overgrowth, which needs addressing in stage 2.
Some folks who are extremely sensitive should absolutely only add anything to their regimen from the BPF at a pace they are comfortable with and with a licensed medical practitioner's guidance. Sensitivity/reactions tend to increase with severity.
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If you are on medications or have any existing medical conditions, known or unknown, and haven't thoroughly tested overall blood quality and overall organ function, always consult your doctor to understand the appropriate timing and method for starting the BFP. Ignoring this advice could pose severe health risks and complications. Caveat Emptor.
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Super Fondant Tip #2: Supplement Preparation Shortcuts
Before the BFP, my illness required constant care. The thought of managing the approximately 50-page protocol and onboarding 40 supplements was daunting.
A collective effort was essential for success. My husband played a pivotal role by streamlining the preparation process:
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He prepared a fresh green juice every morning, incorporating all the morning supplements in capsule form.
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He mixed a large batch of aminos and electrolytes for 30 days, which were stored separately for easy daily access. To take aminos or electros for the day, we simply scooped out 1/30 of the pre-made aminos/electros. Voila!
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This approach significantly reduced the daily burden of managing supplements.
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View Super Fondant's Born Free Basics Recipe List
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Super Fondant Tip #3: Managing Protocol Side Effects
Participating in the BFP can lead to challenging side effects as the body adjusts, corrects mineral deficiencies, and combats microbial overgrowth. Despite the discomfort, for those with chronic immune inflammation, persistence is often the only path to recovery.
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During the first stage, I endured significant discomfort—though, in reality, I was making progress. The protocol's scientific basis helped clarify these reactions. Supporting supplements within the protocol can mitigate die-off symptoms, Herxheimer reactions, and other detoxification processes.
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However, it’s crucial to:
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Consult a licensed medical practitioner before and during the BFP.
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Respect your body's limits.
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Seek immediate medical attention when necessary.
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Remember, recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.
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Super Fondant Tip #4: Diet Management
One of the most effective changes for managing a chronic inflammatory condition is diet modification.
Key principles include:
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Avoiding processed or packaged foods and foods with a ton of listed ingredients entirely
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Eliminating added sugars.
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Choosing easy-to-digest, low-histamine, and low-oxalate foods.
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Avoiding common MCAS-reaction trigger foods such as:
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Nuts
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Cheese
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Aged, cured meats and cold cuts
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Nightshades
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Limiting spices and herbs.
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Excluding gluten and gliaden
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Emphasizing natural, whole foods like vegetables, fibers, legumes, and starches.​
In collaboration with a gut health expert who overcame severe chronic illness, I've compiled a "safe food" list based on his recommendations.
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Read Super Fondant's Safe Foods List Blog
Read about Gluten and Gliaden
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Final Quick Start Notes from Super Fondant
As a follower of the BFP, I've navigated the common challenges of stages 1 and 2. But, my tips are just based on personal experience. I am not you and each experience will be different.
It's important to note: These tips are based on my experiences only; always integrate the guidance original BFP materials and consult your doctor to tailor the protocol to your needs before proceeding.