Candidiasis
from
http://www.vitaminlady.com/Articles/candida_albicans.asp
Candida Albicans brings a mind-boggling list of of health problems
in its wake. Candida, a form of yeast cell (more than 150 different
strains have been isolated), is naturally present in our bodies at all
times, and therefore its mere presence cannot identify it as an enemy:
if you fall sick, there are few tests your Doctor can do which will
definitely fix it as the cause. It is an imbalance, dysbiosis caused
by yeast overgrowth, that brings about a disturbance in the natural
order where the friendly organisms in our gut designed to control the
level of Candida organisms in our body fail in their task. (Fortunately,
there is now an inexpensive laboratory test which will give some guidance
on the level of yeast relative to the level of good bacteria, and can
also determine parasite infestation. More about that below.)
This disturbance can be caused by antibiotic use, chemicals, faulty
diet, allergies, tobacco, nutritional deficiencies, steroids, poor liver
function, birth control pills or a combination of any of these. Estrogen/
progesterone imbalances increase Candida's tendency to attach to the
cells lining the vagina, and therefore both pregnancy and oral contraceptives
can increase one's risk. Oral contraceptives containing 75-150 micrograms
of estrogen are most likely to cause the problem; low-dose products
are seldom implicated.
Antibiotics, however, are the worst villains, since they cannot tell
the difference between the friendly bacteria our internal balance requires,
and the bad ones they have been taken to fight: they kill them all.
The situation is aggravated by high carbohydrate diets, which feed the
yeast organisms, allowing a population explosion.. When overgrowth occurs,
several things happen:
Firstly, Candida Albicans is a highly allergenic bacterium. Clinical
studies have shown that its presence in the intestinal tract can lead
to "leaky gut" syndrome, where food antigens and toxins can
be absorbed directly into the blood stream, leading to that "sick
all over" feeling. This happens because over time, Candida can
behave like a fungus, developing rhizoids that can grow into the wall
of the intestine, and contribute to its gradual weakening and permeability:
it is possible that this highly toxic state of affairs can contribute
to conditions as diverse as asthma and CFS.
Secondly, the toxins produced (among them ethanol, acetaldehyde - which
can damage organs, cause emotional disturbances, memory loss and mood
swings, and formaldehyde) may act as immuno-suppressants to prevent
your defenses from doing their job. This may mean not only that you
are rendered susceptible to re-infection by Candida itself, but also
that auto-antibodies may form, and hormonal dysfunctions may follow
(Witkin, Ph.D. Cornell Univ. Med. Coll 1985) together with a medley
of seemingly unrelated health problems.
Thirdly, the Candida may become systemic in nature. Having breached
the intestinal lining, it now has access to the bloodstream and from
there any part of your body, where it can set up its home and multiply.
Some of the symptoms of systemic Candida are digestive problems, muscle
aches and pains, fatigue, and recurrent urinary tract infections.
The following are some serious illnesses which have sometimes responded
favorably to treatment for Candida: they include MS, lupus, myasthenia
gravis, multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome, Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia,
interstitial cystitis and cystitis, and endometriosis. I hasten to add
that I am not suggesting that they are cured by this means, but that
some of the symptoms lessen in intensity.
Nor is it my intention to suggest that the serious diseases mentioned
above such as MS, lupus, CFS, etc., are caused by Candida. What I see
happening here, (and much of my information comes not only from my own
clients, but also from Dr. Crook's wonderful books, The Yeast Connection
and The Yeast Connection and the Woman) is an accumulation of insults
to the body which result in illness. Consider the changes that have
occurred in our life styles over the past 50 years - increased exposure
to chemicals and toxins, the almost casual intake of antibiotics and
synthetic hormones, the decrease in healthy nourishing food and the
increase in pesticides, preservatives, sugar, hydrogenated fats, food
colorings - the list goes on and on. How can we not expect our bodies
to pay a toll? Lowered immune systems, alkaline/acid imbalance, and
digestive disorders are high on the list of first responses to these
health stressors, and Candida feels right at home in these conditions:
once an imbalance starts, the body reacts in many different negative
ways.
What does this mean? When a scientist reaches a destination, he needs
to know the road he traveled by, and that it leads only from there to
here. It is difficult for a trained scientist to accept that one road
can lead to many destinations, or that one destination can be reached
by many roads. Dr. Truss in his book The Missing Diagnosis says: "
you may seem neurotic ... but do you experience ... depression, anxiety,
irrational irritability, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn,
indigestion, loss of self-confidence, inability to cope, lethargy, symptoms
from contact with food and chemical odors, acne, migraine, headaches
... urethritis, cystitis, repeated vaginal yeast infections, premenstrual
tension, and menstrual problems? .. These may be symptoms of a treatable
illness." It is hard for an allopathic Doctor to accept not only
that Candida can cause so many and such diverse health problems, but
that its cause and correction is also multi-faceted.
Treatment of Candidiasis is truly not simple, but the first step is
the proper diet (avoiding sugars in all forms, even limiting complex
carbohydrates usually thought to be good for you, (see below for a detailed
list) Candida is a yeast, and anything that might feed it must be avoided;
this means cutting out all sugars (yes, even honey), fruits, starches,
vinegar and alcohol. No more maple syrup, corn syrup, white bread, soft
drinks, or cereals. They should be replaced with vegetables and lean
proteins. No more dried or fresh fruits, mushrooms, pizza or pastries.
As and when the condition improves, some of these things may be added
back in - but many people feel so much better without them, they want
to keep the improvement permanently!
Next come detoxification, enhancement of digestive and immune function,
balanced nutritional supplementation and herbal and medicinal anti-fungal
agents can be successful. I usually recommend the following protocol:
First, cleansing and detoxing.
Second, attacking the yeast with a selection of herbs that have natural
anti-fungal activity, such as Olive Leaf, Garlic, Pau d'Arco, Grapefruit
Seed Extract and Oregano. The more diverse your weapons, the better
your chance of success.
The wall of the Candida yeast cell is composed largely of cellulose,
and it is vulnerable to digestion by Cellulase enzymes. It has no defense
- it cannot change the structure of its cell wall. These enzymes should
always be used between meals, otherwise they will be wasted digesting
the cellulose in your food. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO TAKE THEM SEPARATE FROM
FOOD.
Saccharomyces Boulardii is in effect a friendly yeast that fights Candida:
it is much used in France, where they refer to it as the yeast- fighting
yeast. If your Candida is connected to food allergies, this may be especially
helpful for you; it releases IgA which helps heal the lining of the
gut. Saccharomyces is helpful to prevent and relieve diarrhea, particularly
when medication related.
Third, rebuilding the colon and repopulating it with friendly bacteria
such as Bifidus and Lactobacillus.
Fourth, maintenance. I recommend HSOs/ Primal Defense, continued use
of probiotics, and cyclical use of Candex.
Fifth - aiding digestion: deficiencies of HCl or pancreatic enzymes
can mean that you are not absorbing your foods properly. Improve your
absorption, and there will be less to feed the yeast. There is also
a connection with Gallbladder malfunction, since a healthy supply of
bile helps keep Candida Albicans in check. If you have Candida, and
have had your gallbladder removed, and NOTHING seems to control the
infection, consider adding a source of ox bile.
Sixth - balance acid/alkaline. Interestingly, while many Candida sufferers
have very acidic pHs, some people suffering from recurrent Candida infections
are found to have a highly alkaline body chemistry: this is usually
in conjunction with a low metabolic rate, and can occur even if the
diet is high in acid foods. Excessive alkalinity in the colon encourages
the growth of yeast. In fact, one of the means by which acidophilus
controls yeast overgrowth is by acidifying the large intestine ... Homeostasis
is a state of balance, when the entire body is in harmony and functioning
perfectly. Disturbance of this homeostasis either is, or leads to, disease.
In other words, disturbance of the pH balance IN EITHER DIRECTION, whether
acid or alkaline, can facilitate opportunistic Candida overgrowth. However,
Candida is absolutely happiest in an acid environment , which is what
most of us in the US are - see my article in Resources at right - this
usually means that the stomach is paradoxically LOW in acid, or HCL.
Each step should be supported and enhanced by proper diet and supplements
to support the immune system such as Moducare, Colostrum, OPCs, and
B Vitamins. Add also a multi-vitamin and mineral, since many Candida
sufferers compound their problem by not absorbing the nutrients they
need for basic good health.
Determine the cause of the Candida: whether it be diet, allergy, stress,
hormones, medications - unless you find out what caused it and eliminate
that cause, the problem WILL RETURN!!
Some people manifest their yeast problems not only internally, but
by overgrowths of thrush in the mouth, disfiguration of the nails on
hand or foot, and sometimes even malodorous rashes on the skin, under
the breasts and around the genitals being favorite sites . I have come
across a solution of Silver which is proving to be very helpful for
such problems, as a gargle, or as a topical application.
I am amazed, too, at the frequency with which I find that people with
really intractable Candida also have parasites. I would recommend testing
for this (UroKeep Test for Candida and parasites) and using a course
of Renewlife's ParaGone, which contains many of the things that attack
Candida also.
Dr. Morton Walker's book about Olive Leaf Extract points out that hospital
acquired infections from pathogenic fungi, mainly Candida Albicans,
increased from 6 to 11 percent between 1980 and 1990. Most anti-fungal
drugs work by inhibiting the growth of fungi: this leads to the survival
of some fungal cells in the body, which eventually become resistant
to the drug treatment. Olive Leaf is a fungicidal substance, and kills
the invading fungus rather than just slowing it down - this means that
fewer of the cells survive, and resistant mutations are also fewer.
It also means less risk of relapse after ceasing treatment with the
Olive Leaf.
There is a mistaken belief that people with Candida overgrowth need
to adhere to a yeast free diet. In fact, there does not appear to be
any connection between the consumption of food yeasts (Saccharomyces
Cerevisiae) and the overgrowth of Candida yeast. Dr. Jack Sobel, who
has a list a yard long of qualifications to speak on the subject, says
"There is no association between Saccharomyces in the diet and
systemic Candidiasis ... I never put patients on yeast free diets, as
they are painful, non-nutritional, extremely difficult to comply with,
and ill-advised in my opinion". (Interviewed by Dr. Passwater,
While Foods July 99 p. 60)
If the Candida still persists, consider an elimination/ rotation diet
to spot possible food allergies, which may play a large role in this
scenario. The Coca Pulse Test for allergies can be very helpful. See
Resources at right. The most common offenders are yeast, (and if yeast
is an allergen for you, then it should be avoided) milk, wheat, corn,
eggs and citrus.
Candida overgrowth is definitely an under-diagnosed problem in allopathic
circles. Most nutritionally oriented Doctors who are addressing this
imbalance have concluded that the way to diagnose Candida, is to treat
the symptoms, and determine from the results whether or not the diagnosis
was correct. This might seem an irrational approach, were we talking
about strong drugs that could be harmful to the patient, but Candida
can be tackled. and often conquered, using measures which actually contribute
to overall health.
The advantage of the natural approach is that you are not only much
more likely to control the yeast permanently, but you will also put
your immune system back on track, able to help you resist other problems
that may come your way.
If you have taken antibiotics frequently or for lengthy periods of
time, have suffered from yeast infections of the nails, digestive tract
or genitals, feel sick all over with no explanation, are bothered by
memory problems, have taken birth control pills for more than 2 years,
are really bothered by exposure to cigarette smoke or chemicals, feel
worse on damp, muggy days, - consider Candida as the cause.
Check List for Candida:
Cleansing: I recommend CleanseSmart, by Renew Life.
Attack: I recommend the Candex, by Pure Essence. Use in conjunction
with Renew Life's CandiGone or Paragone.
Rebuild: Probiotics and HSOs. (Homeostatic Soil Organisms) Attention
to proper diet, limiting carbohydrates, and eliminating allergens. MaintainControlled
diet, occasional use of Candex, continued monitoring of internal bacteria
with use of acidophilus and HSOs
Avoiding carbohydrates:
Breads, pastas, baked goods, sauces soups and dressings thickened with
flour, and/or sweetened with sugar, candy, chewing gum, and sugar in
all forms (fructose, sucrose, honey, maple syrup)
Dairy products such as milk and ice cream. Unsweetened yogurt, without
fruits, is acceptable, some cheese and cottage cheese is OK.
Fruits and berries
Sweet vegetables such as corn, yams, sweet potatoes, peas, beans, carrots,
beets.
Many prepared foods. Read the labels! Even canned hams and imitation
seafood can be a carbohydrate problem.
YOU MAY SUSPECT, BUT DO YOU KNOW? There is a simple test that can be
done to determine whether you have a Candida problem: we have the kits
here. The cost of the kit is $15.96 plus shipping, and you then send
a stool sample off to the lab. You are personally responsible for the
lab fee of $80.00. The results are sent directly to the Health Care
Provider you select. I have often found that those with the most serious
Candida problems also have parasites, and this Lab can test for those,
too.
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