NEW INFORMATION ABOUT YEAST INFECTIONS

CHRONIC INTESTINAL YEAST INFECTION
by Lawrence Wilson, MD

Yeasts, molds and funguses are one-celled organisms. Beneficial ones include brewers and nutritional yeast, and lactobacillus acidophilus. Many others are beneficial as well and used in industry and in our bodies to produce various vitamins, for example, and other beneficial substances.

Candida albicans, however, and many other types of yeast or fungal microorganisms, are not helpful for our health and well-being. These pathogenic organisms produce many extremely poisonous chemicals in our bodies and in the environment. They can be powerful causes or contributors to a wide range of health conditions.

Other References. In addition to the material in this article, several excellent books have been written about candida albicans infection. Among them are The Missing Diagnosis by Orion Truss, MD, The Yeast Connection by William Crook, MD and The Yeast Syndrome by John Trowbridge, MD. These can complement this article and offer more in-depth information about candida albicans symptoms, diagnostic criteria, various treatments and more. An excellent section on candida albicans infection is also found in Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution by Robert Atkins, MD, an excellent holistic physician.

Why Candida Today? This topic is discussed later in great depth. However, we can summarize by saying that today’s diets high in sugars and starches, coupled with massive antibiotic use and exposure to drugs in the water supply as well, have created a perfect opportunity for many candida infections. Amalgam fillings, sluggish metabolism, fatigue, deficient stomach acid and other factors also can all contribute to the epidemic of excessive candida growth in most people we see.

SYMPTOMS OF CANDIDA

Symptoms range from chronic fatigue and depression to headaches, bloating, gas and tightness in the shoulders. Candida can also contribute to brain fog, mood swings, memory loss, itching, joint pain, indigestion, ulcers, most sinus conditions and definitely cancer as well. Intolerance of vitamins by mouth is a very common symptom as well.

Learning and behavior disorders are often due in part to candida infection, especially in children who eat a lot of sugar. Chronic candida can also contribute to irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, food intolerances, heartburn and gastric acid reflux disease or GERD. One form of candida is invasive, burrows into body organs and can be life-threatening. Since candida albicans produces alcohol and acetaldehyde, it may also contribute to many other subtle dysfunctions, including general toxicity, liver dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies and more.

Some practitioners blame most illness on candida. I do not find this to be the case. However, it is very common and an important contributor to ill health.

DETECTION

Symptoms. Symptoms are often excellent for detection. A whitish coating on the tongue, in the mouth or vagina often are caused by candida in these areas. People who take steroid hormones such as cortisone are more prone to candida.

If one is tired or spacy after eating sweets or a high-carbohydrate meal, candida is likely. If one gets vaginal yeast infections, candida is likely present in the intestines as well. Gas or bloating that improves when one stops eating sugars or complex carbohydrates is another simple indicator of possible candida infection.

Elimination Diet. The simplest test for candida infection is to eliminate all sugars and starches for a full week or even for two weeks. This must include all fruit and juices, plus all starches such as breads, rice, potato and more. One should also eliminate all sources of yeast in foods, such as fermented products, brewer’s yeast-based vitamins and more. The only exception to this rule is that live-culture yogurt is okay.

For a more definitive test, one can also take an anti-candida remedy such as Nystatin, caprylic acid or grapefruit seed extract.

If, during this elimination diet, one notices significant changes in one’s symptoms, bowel habits, energy level or other health parameters, it is likely one has or had some degree of candida infection. This, of course, is not a definitive test since such a large change in diet can cause health parameters to change in many ways. However, it is helpful for many people and can be done at home at a minimal espense.

Hair Analysis. On a hair mineral analysis, copper imbalance is associated with candida. Oftten, however, copper is hidden. Other general indicators on a hair mineral analysis include a slow oxidation rate, a calcium level greater than 100 mg% or 1000 parts per million, or calcium/magnesium ratio greater than about 12. Another common indicator is a sodium/potassium ratio less than about 2:1. All these indications are associated with a hidden copper imbalance. The role of copper is discussed later in this article. The worse these indicators are, the more severe or more likely is a candida infection.

Other Common Tests. Antigen-antibody skin tests are another method of detection. Stool analysis, muscle testing or applied kinesiology and other methods are also used for detection, though none are 100% perfect. Electro-acupuncture testing may also be used in candida detection, as well as other diagnostic machines.

Diagnostic Problems. One major diagnostic issue when identifying candida albicans is that most people have some of it in their systems at all times. This is even considered “normal”. It is not normal, but it is very common, especially in people who consume a lot of sugar, fruit, juices and other sweet foods. However, just the presence of candida on a test does not assure that candida albicans is the person’s major health condition. It may be simply an opportunist organism due to the diet or other factors.

It is necessary, therefore, to distinguish a rampant, severe candida infection from simply the presence of some candida organisms in the body. This is not always easy to do. One way, of course, is a therapeutic trial on an anti-candida medication, and this is discussed later in this article. The way we generally handle this issue is to always approach the entire body, not just focus on candida albicans, even if we suspect it is a cause of major symptoms. This approach works well in most cases. In the few that need it, however, an anti-candida medication may be life-saving.

CAUSES - SLOW METABOLISM

In their order of importance, causes include slow metabolism, copper imbalance, alkaline pH in tissues such as the small or large intestines, certain medications, high carbohydrate diets and other toxins.

Slow Oxidation. Most people with candida have what is called a slow metabolism or oxidation rate. Several reasons for candida in these individuals are:

1)While their cells are more acidic, their intercellular 3) spaces can be too alkaline. Candida grows well in alkaline environments. Slow oxidizeres do not generate enough acid end products of metabolism such as lactic acid. Calcium, an alkaline-forming element, also builds up adding to the alkalinity in the spaces between the cells. Candida thrives in an alkaline environment and becomes able to invade tissues and cause serious illness.
2) Slow metabolizers are also often deficient in hydrochloric acid. Stomach acid normally kills candida. This is one reason acidophilus, an acid-forming organism, often helps alleviate candida. Acidophilus also helps acidify the colon, impeding the growth of candida in the large intestine.
3) Slow oxidizers generally have a copper imbalance.

COPPER

Copper is used in the human body as a natural anti-candida agent. Copper favors aerobic metabolism which disables yeast. In slow oxidizers and some other people, copper is not biologically available enough to do its job protecting us from the ravages of candida albicans infection.

Copper is also used in many industries to retard yeast growth. For example, farmers often spray copper sulfate on fruits and vegetables to kill yeast and molds. Water departments may add copper compounds to drinking water for the same reason. Copper may be added to swimming pools and hot tubs to control yeast.

Why Copper Is Not Bioavailable. The reason copper is not biologically available is a problem with the utilization of copper. This is due to deficiency of ceruloplasmin, a copper binding protein. Adrenal hormones are required to produce ceruloplasmin. Underactive adrenal glands or sluggish liver activity cause a decrease in ceruloplasmin production. As a result, copper is not properly bound and is less available to the body. Until the copper-adrenal-liver condition is corrected, candida is difficult to control.

Medications And Copper. Birth control pills and moreso birth control patches impair copper metabolism. Some antibiotics act by removing copper from the liver. Steroid therapy slows the adrenal glands which makes copper less available. All can cause or aggravate chronic candida infection.

Women are more prone to candida infection. Copper imbalance is more prevalent in women as they tend to have more sluggish adrenals than men. Copper levels in women rise before the menstrual period. This is a common time of the month for women to experience yeast infections. Click here to read more about copper imbalance.

MEDICATIONS

Antibiotics. Antibiotic overuse ranks high as a cause for chronic intestinal candida infection. Acidophilus and other ‘friendly’ yeasts help maintain an acidic intestinal environment. Antibiotics often kill acidophilus. When this occurs, E. coli and other improper intestinal bacteria replace the friendly organisms and produce an alkaline environment in which candida thrives.

Some antibiotics are also toxic for the liver, and may impair its ability to produce ceruloplasmin. They can persist in the liver for years. They should be used only as an absolutely last resort and not for viral infections.

Antibiotic residues are now found in tap water. The drugs are excreted in the urine and feces. They do not break down quickly and are recycled and reappear in city water supplies. This has been documented in at least 24 major metropolitan areas of the United States and in other nations as well.

In fact, over 50 varieties of drugs have been found in the drinking water. Health authorities have no solution for this problem except to avoid tap water. Distillation can remove these drug residues, but carbon filters do not remove much of them.

Millions of pounds of antibiotics are also fed to animals. Commercially grown meats, poultry, milk and eggs contain antibiotic residues. To avoid antibiotics, buy hormone-and antibiotic-free meats, poultry and dairy products. Animals raised in a healthful manner rarely require antibiotics.

By using infrared saunas, vitamin A, vitamin C, high-quality colloidal silver and propolis, antibiotics are very rarely needed. Click here to read an article on antibiotics.

Antacids. Antacids such as Tums, Maalox, Mylanta and other drugs that reduce stomach acid may worsen candida by creating a deficiency of stomach acid. These include Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, Tagamet, Nexium Zantac, Pepcid, Mylanta, Malox, Gaviscon, Riopan, Rolaids, Tums and many others.

Reducing A Hiatal Hernia. A hiatal hernia may sometimes be reduced quite easily at home, often, by lying down on your back on a bed or couch. Raise your legs by bending them at the knees. Place two or three fingers of each hand in the small hollow just below the breast bone or sternum.

Breathe in deeply. Then, as you exhale, push down hard and move your hands downward toward the waist and a little to the left. Do this five times and often the hernia will be pushed back into a normal position. You may have to repeat this often for a while.

Other Causes For Excessive Stomach Acid And Heartburn. Finally, pay attention to foods or stress or other conditions that cause the hernia to appear once again. Ulcers and heartburn, at times related to a hiatal hernia, are often due to wheat allergy, other food sensitivities, stress or other factors. Amazingly, even giving some apple cider vinegar or tablets of Betaine Hydrochloride and Pepsin can, in some caes, relieve heartburn by replacing improper stomach chemicals with normal stomach acidity.

Other Drugs And Candida. Birth control pills and steroid drugs such as cortisone or prednisone also contribute a lot to candida infection, as explained above in the section regarding copper.

DIETARY CARBOHYDRATES

Excessive consumption of carbohydrates, particularly sugars, encourages candida infection for several reasons:

1) The adrenal glands regulate blood sugar. Sugars in the diet weaken the adrenal glands by causing large blood sugar fluctuations. Weaker adrenal glands cause a worsening of l copper imbalance, making yeast problems worse.

2) Eating refined sugars, in particular, depletes B-complex vitamins, as well as zinc, manganese, selenium and many other vital nutrients. This can worsen the body’s immune system and other defenses against yeasts and other parasitic organisms.

3) Sugar is also the food that nourishes yeast organisms. The more of it one eats, the more “fuel” that is available for the growth of yeast organisms in the intestines. Some of the sugars one eats may even mourish yeasts that live in the vagina, on the skin or elsewhere.

In fact, common sugar and carbohydrate cravings may be yeast organisms calling for dinner. This may sound odd. However, when ‘deprived’ of sugars or even other carbohydrates, the yeasts in the intestines and elsewhere begin to die, releasing toxic substances. These cause unpleasant ‘die off symptoms’ that can include nausea, anxiety, fatigue and many others. Eating sugars or even some starches ends these unpleasant symptoms, often quickly. Thus, feeding the problem has a temporary satisfying effect, causing an addictive behavior regarding sugars in the diet. This is a very common situation that most people do not understand at all.

Many, many people overeat on carbohydrate foods today. Many do not realize all of the foods that are high in sugars or starches. Common ones include sugar, honey, candy, cookies, rice, bread and potatoes. Others include milk, fruit, juices, most processed food if it is sweetened at all and sweetened drinks like Gatorade and bottled teas, sodas and much more.

OTHER TOXIC SUBSTANCES

Mercury And Candida Infection. Excessive mercury often accompanies copper toxicity. Mercury can stimulate the thyroid, which causes adrenal imbalance. Mercury itself can also impair the immune system. In fact, there is a close relationship between mercury and chronic candida infection in which mercury appears to protect the body from certain yeast toxins. However, mercury causes many more problems as well. Other articles on this website discuss how to remove mercury from the body. This requires several years in most cases. There is also evidence that candida albicans can convert ionized mercury vapor to methyl mercury, a form of mercury that can be as much as ten times more toxic than its original form.

Cadmium. Cadmium is another highly toxic metal that interferes with zinc, Zinc is needed to balance copper and required for proper functioning of the adrenals, among many other essential functions. Cadmium also accumulates in the liver and can impair its ability to synthesize ceruloplasmin.

Lead And Other Toxic Metals and Chemicals. Lead toxicity interferes with calcium metabolism. This can slow the adrenals by altering the electrolyte balance. Toxic chemicals found in the home, air, water and food also accumulate in the liver, impairing its ability to produce ceruloplasmin.

IMPROPER BOWEL FLORA

Improper bowel flora is extremely common and often contributes to candida infections. There are many important reasons for this severe problem today. Here are some of the most common ones.

1) Antibiotics. This is not only antibiotics taken by the individual for illnesses, although there is much too much of that. However, most of the problem is trace doses of antibiotics in the food supply and water supply.

2) Other Chemicals Toxic To Human Intestinal Flora. These are too many to name individually. They range from all the toxic metals to pharmaceutical drugs of many kinds, to fluoridation and chlorination of the water.

3) Bacterial, Viral And Other Types Of Infections Inside The Body. These can range from simple cold and flu viruses that can damage the intestinal flora to massive intestinal parasite infection, for example. Others range from vaginal problems to all sorts of hidden infections that in various ways affect the bowel flora by irritating the gut or by outright chemical toxicity. The infections need not be in the intestines themselves. I would offer the opinion that most everyone has some of these chronic, low-grade infections, at least those who are breastfed.

4) A Sluggish Bowel or Extended Bowel Transit Time. Food should pass completely through the intestines and out of the body within 24 hours or less. This, however, is rare today in Westernized or developed nations. When the food remains longer, it is subject to decay. Chemically, speaking, this is called purefaction or fermentation. Proteins tend to putrefy wile carbohydrates ferment. Both processes produce extremely toxic substances that damage the intestinal flora.

Assessing Bowel Transit Time. To test your bowel transit time, eat only red beets at one meal and note how long it takes for the red color to show up in the stool. Extra fiber, more water, more rest and relaxation, improving the diet and increasing the oxidation rate will often decrease bowel transit time. However, It is important to note that one cannot just speed up the bowel transit time at will, using laxatives or other herbal or pharmaceutical products. You may produce diarrhea, but this is not a healthy fix.

Diarrhea. Diarrhea is what occurs when bowel transit time is too short. It is just as bad as constipation if it continues for any length of time greater than a few days or more. Diarrhea causes the loss of vital nutrients, including electrolytes, and can lead to a quick death, in fact. So please do not try to enhance your bowel by producing diarrhea. Instead, begin our entire nutritional balancing program, little by little if you prefer, and bowel transit time will naturally decrease.

In fact, it is impossible to speed up the transit time too much at first. This is because the gut simply cannot absorb enough nutrients at a fast pace such as a 24-hour total transit time. This is why we give digestive enzymes such as pancreatin and ox bile to everyone, especially when beginning a healing program. This allows them to absorb much more of their food, until their intestines have an opportunity to rebuild.

Normal Bowel Habits. It takes at least several years (not a misprint) on the nutritional balancing program for most people’s intestines to recover from years of abuse. Toxic chemicals from the food and water, infections, and other problems such as an imbalanced body chemistry must first be corrected.

Note that several years are needed to rebuild the intestine even if you believe your bowel habits are “normal”. This usually means one or more formed bowel movements daily. However, in fact, there is no such thing as totally normal bowel habits. The bowel should respond quickly to what you eat. Also, if you are tense, they will behave much differently, as most people know. So please do not become attached to a daily movement, although this is an excellent sign of health, generally speaking.

DIETARY SUGAR AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION

Alcohol produced by candida can contribute to fatigue, spaciness, impaired judgment, emotional problems and learning and behavior disorders in children. Some people produce significant quantities of alcohol in their bodies thanks to the presence of yeasts such as candida. This is why eating sugars and starches can produce fatigue and the other symptoms listed above. The more carbohydrates one eats, the more alcohol is produced. This is also one reason that many alcoholics are addicted to sugar without understanding the connection.
Also, another result of the connection between alcohol, candida and sugar is that sugar addiction may occur because depriving candida of their sugar reduces alcohol production. This causes withdrawal symptoms including negative thoughts, anxiety, shakiness and fatigue. This drives many people back to sugar to enhance alcohol output.

However, other factors can cause sugar addiction. See the article on Sugar Addiction on this website for these factors.

IMPAIRED IMMUNE SYSTEM

Factors other than copper imbalance may also impair the body’s immune system, reducing its ability to defend itself against candida and other intestinal infections. The most common causes are nutrient deficiencies and excesses of toxic metals or toxic chemicals. Click here to read an article on the immune system.

CORRECTION - DIET

Sugars. Dietary change is critical in most cases. The single most important shift in the diet is to eliminate completely refined and processed sugars. These include all kinds of sugars including glucose, sucrose, maltose, fructose, and products like honey, rice syrup, maple syrup, agave nectrar, barley malt and other sweet items. Even fruit juices and sweet fruits are a problem. Exceptions are some vegetable juices and an occasional piece of sweet fruit or other natural sugar product. However, keep sweet fruits to a minimum such as berries for dessert or an apple once a week.

This is quite a dietary change for most people. However, it is well worth the effort, not only to reduce the candida population, but there are many other benefits as well. Sweet foods arre extremely yin in Chinese medicine and not healthful for the most part.

Non-Caloric Sweeteners. Stevia and xylitol or mannitol are natural sweeteners that are somewhat better as they do not contain much absorbable sugar, though they present other problems. Stevia contains some lead, for example. Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and others is also best. Reducing all sweetener use is best.

Cereral Grains. Reducing most grains may be very helpful as well, especially wheat and spelt, and at times rye, oats and barley. These foods include breads, pasta, deep-fried food, cream soups thickened with flour, crackers, cakes and cookies. Some people must eliminate all grains, even rice and blue corn chips, which we normally recommend in moderation. Eventually, one should be able to eat some rice and blue corn chips. At first, however, these can cause significant problems for those with severe candida albicans infection.

Fruit. Reducing most fruit is also helpful. Ripe fruit is best, as the sugars are more quickly absorbed. Avoid very sweet fruits such as dates, figs and avoid all dried fruit. The most desirable fruits are those that are not sweet, such as berries and grapefruit, which can be excellent once in a while. Others that are better include apples, pears, peaches, kiwi and other juicy and not-too-sweet fruits.

Legumes. Reduce dried beans such as pintos, lentils, black beans and peanuts. Peanut butter is very sweet and best avoided. Toasted almond, cashew or sunflower seed butters are much better.

Other Fermented Foods. Some candida books recommend eliminating all fermented foods such as cheese, wine, pickles, sauerkraut and yeasted breads. This is usually unnecessary unless one is specifically allergic to all yeast. However, we never recommend wheat in any form, and reducing fermented foods is not a bad idea as many people are sensitive to the ferments in these foods. Unsweetened live-culture yogurt is excellent, however. It is a fermented food, but is usually very helpful for the candida patients.

Beverages. Milk is high in sugar and best reduced or avoided. Raw, certified buttermilk, cream, yogurt or cheeses are usually okay, but may not be in some isolated cases. Soda pop, Kool-aid, fruit and too much vegetable juices and sweetened teas are best avoided. Unsweetened tea, water or water with lemon are fine. As stated above, a small amount of carrot or other vegetable juice, while sweet, may be very helpful to assist healing.

Low-Protein And Low-Fat Diets. If one does not eat much carbohydrate in the diet, one must eat more fats, oils and proteins to obtain needed calories and rebuilt the body. Therefore, avoid diets that are low in these items. These include many strict vegetarian diets. In fact, they can make the problem worse, while natural meats, poultry, eggs, some nuts and organic cow or goat cheese may be eaten liberally.
The very strict diet in the yeast books is often unnecessary when combined with a nutritional supplement program to correct underlying causes. Problems people report on very strict candida diets are weight loss, severe cravings and nutritional depletion. This is not helpful at all.

EATING HABITS

Important suggestions are 1) eat five or more meals daily if you are hungry, 2) chew thoroughly and eat slowly in a relaxed,, quiet environment, 3) do not eat too much at a time. Quit when satiated and do not stuff, 4) have regular naps in between meals, and the best is right after the meal. It need only be 10 or so minutes. All these suggestions will assist digestion tremendously and hasten rebuilding of the intestines.

LIFESTYLE

Rest And Sleep. Lifestyle plays a critical role. Plenty of rest and sleep are important, as lack of rest stresses the adrenal glands. Stimulant use such as caffeine or heavy exercise decimates the adrenal glands.

Breathing And Posture. Deep breathing and good posture assist oxygenation of the body which inhibits candida.

Stress Reduction. Reducing all types of physical, emotional, financial, social and other stressors rests the adrenal glands and helps improve copper metabolism.

Positive Emotions and Thoughts. Recalling you’re your positive thoughts and emotions is a tremendous help with any health condition. Surround yourself with positive, uplifting materials such as books, tapes, CDs and movies. Work on your negative attitudes and emotions, deciding they are not worth holding on to, no matter how “true” they seem to be. Your attitude is your altitude.

ANTI-CANDIDA MEDICATION

Anti-fungal, anti-yeast and specifically anti-candida albicans medications and supplements are at times needed. However, they are not the entire answer in almost all cases. They can control some symptoms but they do not address underlying causes that we have discussed above. Their role, in general, is to reduce the yeast population to a manageable amount so that the natural treatments we have discussed can proceed without too much interference.

In this regard, the most powerful anti-candida weapon is a change of diet and a lifestyle that is restful and healthful in all regards. Sleep is a greatly unemphasized weapon against candida as well. It helps rebuild the adrenal glands and this is its major benefit in most cases.

However, many substances have been shown to be helpful for killing candida albicans in the body. Specifically, these chemical substances are tannic acid (Tanalbit and found in teas), garlic, olive leaf extract and acidophilus. Others that are considered “natural products” are caprylic acid, other medium-chain fatty acids and herbs such as echinacea. Some herbal preparations may be toxic, however, so be careful with herbal anti-candida regimens.

Anti-Candida Drugs. In addition to naturally-occuring substances, prescription and non-prescription over-the-counter drugs for candida ialbicans nclude Diflucan, Nystatin and Nizoril. These may be needed in emergencies, but are quite toxic for the liver, especially Nizoril and Diflucan.

These drugs should be avoided as much as possible. If absolutely needed, use them only for as long as needed until safer methods can be used. I rarely have seen an instance in which they are truly needed, although they are prescribed widely. The natural methods, along with diet, lifestyle, nutrients and more usually suffices quite well to control candida.

A popular remedy that is hailed as “natural” is grapefruit seed extract. However, this foul-tasting chemical is really quite toxic by our standards. Therefore I prefer to classify it as a drug, although I used to use it myself on patients to test them for candida albicans.

NUTRITIONAL BALANCING

Correcting slow metabolism, copper imbalance, weak adrenals and an over-alkaline body chemistry requires a hair mineral analysis. When performed and interpreted properly, it can assess body chemistry and guide recommendations for diet, supplements and detoxification procedures. The process can take several years and greatly improves general health.
Many times candida infection is just one of many imbalances contributing to poor health. It is often a symptom of deeper systemic problems that ought to be addressed. The advantage of a nutritional balancing program is it is not a symptomatic approach. It addresses many imbalances and deeper causes at the same time. For this reason, many people find nutritional balancing effective when all other methods, including other natural healing methods, have failed to bring about the desired results.

HOW LONG UNTIL I AM HEALTHY?

A better diet alone often leads to improvement in candida symptoms within a few days to a week. Anti-candida medications also often work quickly. However, permanently improving copper balance, eliminating toxic metals and enhancing the oxidation rate take longer, up to several years or even longer.

If one has taken antibiotics recently or in the past, more time is often required to remove residues stored in the liver and other organs. Do not be discouraged if results take longer.

Sauna therapy can significantly speed up the improvement in candida infection. It assists the elimination of toxic metals, toxic chemicals and other poisons that may accumulate within the body. It also inhibits the sympathetic nervous system, improves circulation and oxygenation and directly disables candida organisms to some degree. Sauna therapy is thus one of the finest method of eliminating unwanted parasitic organisms in the body.

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