Candida Diet Cleanse – Candida and Healthy Bacterial Balance

Research from Rice University shows that candida affects 70% of all people a systemic fungal overgrowth. According to the molecular biologists at Rice University, candida is common in humans and is often found in colonies in their intestines, mouths or on their skin.

Experts estimate they afflicted three of four women with yeast infections at least once during their lives, and half of all women endure them recurrently. The solution to yeast overgrowth with a candida diet cleanse, however, does not have to be complicated. Small revisions in lifestyle, supplements and diet can increase your body’s ability to resist this condition.

When we talk about yeast overgrowth, whether it be a systemic yeast issue leading to diaper rash or athlete’s foot, or a digestive tract issue causing ailments such as thrush, what we are referring to is an imbalance of our body’s healthy flora or beneficial bacteria. Whether we’d like to believe it, our bodies play host to trillions of microscopic bacteria and other microbes. Most of these live in the digestive tract, but we found them in all orifices, from the sinus to the belly button.

In a healthy body, they live in small numbers, typically in the small intestine, but are also found in our mucous membranes. One of these microscopic yeast organisms is called Candida albicans, and it has gained notoriety as of late. In a healthy digestive system, Candida lives in a ratio of approximately one Candida cell for every million bacteria. When the number of yeast cells grows out of the 1:1,000,000 ratio, we say a person to have a flora or yeast imbalance.

Candida Overgrowth

Your body’s immune system and the beneficial bacteria that live in your intestinal tract keep Candida and other pathogens harmless in check. There are two main types of beneficial bacteria or probiotics found in our digestive system: Lactobacillus, the primary probiotic of the small intestine, and Bifidobacterium, the primary probiotic in the large intestine, as well as a host of less prevalent bacteria forming a rich inner ecosystem of. The more we have of these probiotics, the less space and food is available for harmful bacteria and yeast.

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Because of many factors, yeast can proliferate and cause health issues. Many times, the problem can be traced back to the things we put in our body. Some of the common causes of flora imbalance are repeated antibiotic use, birth control pills and cortisone drugs, and the overconsumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates. Many women experience a flora imbalance during PMS or pregnancy because of fluctuations in hormone levels.

According to Trent Nichols, MD, an internist, nutritionist and gastroenterologist who practices at the Center for Nutrition and Digestive Disorders in Hanover, Pennsylvania, “There are lots of reasons people get Candida [overgrowth]: Antibiotic overuse can cause an imbalance of flora, flora dysbiosis, when you get a lot of pathological microorganisms.

Also, when your immunity is down or you have a viral infection, you are more likely to have Candida [overgrowth].” It just makes sense that a round of antibiotics, which kills off beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract, can create an environment that allows Candida to thrive: With little or no bacteria to compete with, yeasts and fungi reproduce and fill in the abandoned ecological niche.

Dr. Nichols, author of the book Optimal Digestive Health, points out, “The mercury from amalgam fillings is [also] suspect.” It is believed that this heavy metal in dental fillings is lethal to the friendly bacteria that help keep Candida under control. So they encourage individuals with mercury fillings to evaluate this risk. Dr. Nichols notes that hormone supplementation and the use of prednisone (a steroid) and other medications that suppress immunity can also increase your risk of developing a yeast infection.

Candida Toxin Release

When the fungal levels in our bodies increase, we may experience symptoms such as nail fungus, vaginal yeast overgrowth, itchy skin, gas, bloating, and sugar and carbohydrate cravings. Sufferers often describe a feeling of being worn out and fatigued. This is because when yeast overgrows in the body, it consumes the foods we eat for its own fuel and growth.

As Candida overgrows, also it releases toxic substances that make you feel run down and can make your thoughts seem foggy. The multiplying colonies of yeast release acids that may render your internal environment more acidic. This increase in acidity often allows other harmful microorganisms to survive in the intestines, releasing more toxins and compromising the body’s health even further.

Candida also produces beta alanine, a compound that interferes with the kidneys’ reabsorption of the amino acid taurine. Interference with taurine metabolism can lead to lowered levels of magnesium and potassium, crucial electrolytes that maintain circulation and blood pressure. Tampering with the taurine supply can also disrupt the liver’s detoxification functions.

The result: your immunity drops, leaving you more vulnerable to secondary infections. You may also suffer vaginitis, gas and bloating, heartburn, decreased libido and a host of other problems associated with fungal invasion. Although a simple case of thrush in the mouth seems harmless, this same organism, if allowed to grow uncontrollably, can even threaten the life of someone with a compromised immune system.

 

Symptoms of Candida

Someone who has candida may often appear to look very healthy on the outside. Therefore, most people (and even their health care professionals) are totally unaware that a serious infection lies deep within. The symptoms of candida often mimic other illnesses, so it’s difficult to diagnose without testing. Below are some of the most common symptoms of candida. Please note these symptoms are also in many other disorders as well – making diagnosing this problem even more difficult.

• Fatigue and chronic fatigue
• Muscle aches, weakness or paralysis
• Insomnia
• Pain and/or swelling in joints
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Bloating, belching, intestinal gas and/or abdominal pain
• Poor memory, foggy thinking or feeling “spacey”
• Troublesome vaginal itching, burning, or discharge
• Prostatitis
• Loss of sexual desire or feeling
• Endometriosis or infertility
• Impotence
• Bad breath
• Frequent mood swings

Managing Candida and Maintaining Healthy Bacterial Balance

Diagnosing yeast overgrowth is best performed by a medical professional who can thoroughly analyze your medical history. A series of questions focusing on yeast-related problems is usually part of this process. Conventional doctors treat yeast infections with anti-fungal medicines such as Nizoral, Nystatin and Diflucan.

According to Florida-based gastroenterologist Leonard Smith, “Allopathic medicine does a great job with anti-fungals on the seriously ill. However, when patients have low-grade recurrent Candida infections, they are treated with anti-fungal agents. However, they are offered nothing else to prevent recurrence.”

The best way to boost your chances of avoiding yeast overgrowth is to alter your diet and use supplements. These should support your body in its anti-Candida efforts. Dr. Nichols notes that taking probiotic supplements containing beneficial bacteria that maintain the health of the digestive tract is crucial to helping the body rid itself of Candida. “Probiotics help restore optimal digestive health,” he says. “One of the first things you need to do is brought back beneficial bacteria.”

Eliminating sugar and foods with added sugar also helps your body fight back against yeast overgrowth. Candida thrives on sugar, and the immune system weakens when you consume too many simple carbohydrates. According to Jonathan Kalman, ND, who practices in San Diego, “A refined diet makes Candida worse. Be careful not to eat too many sweets.”

Adds Dr. Nichols, “On an anti-Candida diet, stick to low-glycemic vegetables (vegetables low in sugar). Limit your fruits, use fewer sweeteners and fruit juices. Dr. Kalman also warns that “in an acute stage of Candida, avoid alcoholic beverages, cheeses, dried fruits and peanuts.”

Strongest Candida Killer

Taking an enzyme supplement between meals can help break down Candida by attacking its cell walls. On an empty stomach right before bed, take a supplement that contains cellulase, hemicellulase, amylase, invertase, and glucoamylase. Taking a broad-spectrum enzyme supplement that includes protease, lipase, cellulase and amylase with your meals supports proper digestion and assimilation. If your stomach acid is low, a supplement containing hydrochloric acid (HCl) can be included.

Using a supplement containing essential fatty acid (EFA) oils such as flax, fish, and borage can boost the body’s defenses against yeast. Fish oil and other beneficial fats help the body balance inflammation. To help the digestive tract regenerate, take L-glutamine with N-acetyl D-glucosamine (NAG) and gamma oryzanol once or twice a day between meals.

Yeast overgrowth is often a sign that your immune system needs help. Using a daily vitamin or whole food multivitamin/mineral product that supplies B vitamins and other micronutrients supports immunity. In addition, supplementary antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc and selenium, also support immune function.

Your initial one month to three-month anti-yeast program should include an herbal candida cleanse. A combination that includes enzymes and probiotics to promote a healthy intestinal environment. After that initial period, you can discontinue the anti-fungal herbs, but continue taking the enzymes and nutrient supplements to support a healthy balance of candida and bacteria in your system.

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