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Candida Albicans
Thanks to the pioneering work of William G. Crook, M.D.,
chronicled in his book The Yeast Connection, people suffering from symptoms as
diverse as depression, anxiety, reoccurring irritability, heartburn, indigestion,
lethargy, extreme food and environmental allergies, acne, migraine headaches, reoccurring
cystitis, vaginal infections, premenstrual tension, or menstrual problems, can now be
successfully treated by eliminating the overgrowth of a parasite called Candida
albicans.
Candida albicans, a yeast-like organism present in all of us shortly
after birth, lives in our intestinal tract. When it overgrows, it can produce a condition
called "thrush", or candidiasis. Another common side effect of chronic Candida
infection is reoccurring vaginal infections. This can happen due to the use of antibiotics
for a long period of time, the regular use of oral contraceptive medication, or during
periods of stress or lowered immune potential of the individual. |
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As Candida proliferates in the intestines, it can change
its anatomy and physiology from the yeast-like form to the mycelial fungal form. The
yeast-like state is a noninvasive, sugar-fermenting organism, whereas the fungal state
produces rhizoids, or very long root-like structures, which can invade the
mucosa. This
penetration breaks down the boundary between the intestinal tract and the rest of the
circulation and introduces many antigens into the blood stream, such as incompletely
digested dietary proteins. This explains why many individuals who have chronic
Candida over-growth show a wide variety of food and environmental allergies. These
antigens can powerfully assault the immune system, producing a wide variety of allergies
and symptoms. The breakdown of the gastrointestinal mucosa can also lead to the
introduction of the Candida organism into the blood stream and it can then find its way
into other tissues, resulting in far-ranging systemic effects, including soreness of
joints, chest pain, and skin problems. (top) The Candida organism is
extremely resilient and difficult to get rid of. Sometimes the prescription drug
"nystatin" has been successfully used. An alternative therapy for the management
of Candida infection involves eliminating the yeast overgrowth through diet, fiber, and
nutritional supplements, and also rebuilding the intestinal flora. It is recognized that a
disturbed flora of the gastrointestinal tract can promote yeast proliferation. By
re-inoculating the bowel with proper symbiotic acid producing bacteria, such as
L-acidophilus and bifidus, there is a reduction in the compatibility of the intestinal
environment for yeast proliferation. Other products that can help eliminate and control
Candida overgrowth include grapefruit-seed extract, caprylic acid, garlic, and pau
d'arco.
Jeffrey Bland reports that biotin and the fatty acid oleic acid can
prevent the conversion of the yeast form of Candida to its fungal farm. He suggests biotin
orally (300 mcg taken three times daily) along with two teaspoons of olive oil taken three
times daily, as a source of oleic acid. This is done along with a higher than normal fiber
diet, using oat bran fiber, to increase the absorptive surface area of the fecal material
and to hasten the elimination of metabolic by-products. This may have to be continued for
a period of one to six months depending upon the severity of the infection and the length
of time that there has been a Candida problem. Bland's program then facilitates the
healing of the gastrointestinal mucosa, by using higher levels of zinc (30 to 50 mg a
day), vitamin A (25,000 to 30,000 units a day), vitamin E (400 to 800 I.U. per day), and
calcium pantothenate (200 to 1000 mg per day).
Bland reports that cases such as 10- to 15-year recurrent migraine
headaches have been alleviated by the use of this program, as well as long standing adult
acne and joint pain resembling arthritis, which may really be a result of the build-up of
immuno-chemically reactive materials from the direct or indirect effects of Candida. He
speculates that the prevalence of Candida infection may be a result of the widespread use
of antibiotics, particularly in animal feed, which end up in our meats, and may expose us
to long-term, low-levels of antibiotics. Secondly, it may come from the
widespread use of various medications, such as oral contraceptives, which have the ability
to stimulate Candida growth; and thirdly it may be the nutrient-poor, low-residue diets
that we eat, which alter the gastro- intestinal pH and the mucosal integrity and set up
the environment for Candida albicans hyperproliferation.
Many of our customers through the years have reported outstanding
results controlling Candida yeast overgrowth through eliminating sugar and yeast from
their diets, and by taking more fiber, anti-yeast supplements, and good acidophilus and
bifidus products.
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