Balancing Candida
Yeast -bringing positive change to your immune system and overall health
From Alternatives Newsletter Spring
2011
Candida yeast is one species of the many microbial
colonies that normally exist in the intestinal tract. With yeast overgrowth
toxins are excreted. Toxic symptoms include inflammation in the gut, gas,
bloating, heartburn, bad breath, constipation, diarrhea, skin rash, and
eventually headaches, joint pain, and even irritability. These toxic
metabolites are one more thing your liver, kidneys, and immune system have to
deal with. The toxic load makes people more susceptible to viruses. Yeast
overgrowth can be an underlying cause in depression, ADD, autism, and many
other disease processes. At Alternatives we are looking for candida
overgrowth in many of our clients because it is a piece of why they don't feel
good.
Candida can grow in the gut, sinuses, lungs, vagina, ears
- anywhere where it is warm, moist, and has food. It causes inflammation
wherever it is growing, increased mucus in stools, and sinus drainage.
Yeast is similar to mold in that they are both fungi and thrive in similar
conditions. Continuous exposure to environmental mold can cause further
allergic reactions like chronic sinusitis making it more difficult to eliminate
mold and candida from the body until the daily environment is clean. In
addition to clearing household mold, this can include eliminating fungal foods
and foods fermented by molds (mushrooms, cheese, beer, wine, etc.).
Allergies to gluten may also in part be related to candida overgrowth. The
gluten molecule looks very similar to the candida antigen (the part of the candida
organism that the immune system recognizes as a foreign invader). This may be
part of the reason people are becoming so sensitive to gluten: their immune
systems have become sensitized to candida. If the levels of candida are
normalized these people may be able to eat gluten again.
A poor diet and prolonged or frequent antibiotic use can
predispose people to a yeast overgrowth. Many people eat sugar, bread, chips,
simple carbs, and processed foods regularly - the preferred diet of the candida
organism. Sugar cravings especially are an indication of yeast overgrowth, and
typically diminish after treatment. Antibiotics kill both good and bad
bacteria; and without probiotics (the good bacteria that normally compete with
the yeast for food and territory) the candida can quickly overgrow. Other
factors that enable candida overgrowth are a weakened immune system, exposure
to chemicals, high doses of steroids, and high stress levels.
The bacteria in our bodies comprise an ecosystem that
needs balance as well. It is important to treat candida appropriately. Many
women are given one pill of diflucan to clear up vaginal yeast. However, this
is not a sufficient dose to address intestinal yeast overgrowth. Therefore
yeast can become diflucan resistant. Herbal treatments given over a longer
period of time are more effective. These supplements can also address mold in
the body as well. Probiotic supplementation will help offset the
disruption caused by antibiotics. There is a probiotic nutritional yeast people
can take called saccharomyces boulardii (similar to brewer's yeast saccharomyces
cerevisiae) which acts on candida through antitoxin effects, antimicrobial
effects, anti-inflammatory effects, increased levels of disaccharides, and
increased immune response.
In addition to herbal and nutritional supplementation,
dietary changes are necessary. Candida yeast feeds primarily on high
carbohydrate foods. Sweets, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices, fruits,
and refined processed grains should be minimized. Organic meat, poultry,
fish, and shellfish; and low carbohydrate vegetables such as spinach, kale,
celery, asparagus, cauliflower, and broccoli are best. Read on for some
recipes that support a candida reducing diet, from Alternatives nutritionist
Kathi Bratberg. Many of our recommended supplements and dietary changes
can address multiple imbalances; so make an appointment at Alternatives for
recommendations specific to your current health and lifestyle.
Resources:
Patricia Ryan MD, CCN and the clinical staff of Alternatives
The Candida Yeast Syndrome by Ray Wunderlich Jr., MD
Saccharomyces Boulardii on Wikipedia and WebMD
