Posted on October 28, 2011 with 1 Comment
Candida – Can it cause allergies?
In the absence of healthy gut flora, it is easy for the yeast fungus Candida Albicans and similar organisms to proliferate in the intestines. This can be a precipitating factor in immune system malfunction and is a major cause of allergies.
Candida is a single celled yeast fungus that can inhabit both the internal and external surfaces of the body. In certain circumstances i.e. following the use of antibiotics, steriods, the pill, HRT, a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates or poorly controlled diabetes, it can become pathogenic.
A variety of symptoms can result from an overgrowth of Candida, including Nausea, skin problems, sinusitis, cystitis, thrush, fatigue, PMS, headaches, joint pains and stiffness, hypoglycaemia, cravings for sugary foods and alcohol and food and chemical sensitivities. Candida can also be the cause of psychological complaints such as depression, anxiety and lack of concentration
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Antibiotics — a Cause for Allergies?
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — The rates of allergies and asthma have increased significantly over the past 100 years. Now, researchers say studying the use of antibiotics may bring them a step closer to figuring out why.
Researchers from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor conducted a study to determine if antibiotic use is linked to allergies in mice.
They treated mice with antibiotics for five days to weaken bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. The mice were then exposed to the yeast Candida albicans, which is responsible for causing a specific type of infection. Increased growth of Candida albicans is a common side effect of antibiotics.
The mice were exposed to mold spores. Results show mice that received antibiotics and Candida albicans colonization in the gastrointestinal tract had increased lung sensitivity compared to untreated mice.
Mairi Noverr, Ph.D., from the University of Michigan, says, “The studies presented are the first direct demonstration that antibiotic therapy can promote the development of an allergic airway response.
This suggests that natural foods are a better treatment.
Posted on October 16, 2011 with No Comments
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Candida overgrowth may also cause a condition that is called Intestinal Hyper-Permeability, more commonly know as Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS). This condition occurs when the wall of the gastrointestinal tract is damaged. The Candida change form, creating rhizoids, root like structures that break the intestinal walls. A healthy intestinal wall will allow only nutrients to enter bloodstream, but when it is damaged, larger molecules such as incompletely digested fats, proteins, and toxins may also slip through. The body recognizes these substances as foreign objects and forms antibodies to them, causing the patient to suddenly become allergic to foods they would previously been able to eat without a problem. With LGS, vitamin and mineral deficiencies are common because the patient lacks the ability to move minerals and vitamins from the gut to the blood.
Candida albicans, and other strains of Candida are yeast that normally inhabit our digestive system: the mouth, throat, intestines and genitourinary tract. Candida is a normal part of the bowel flora (the organisms that naturally live inside our intestines, and are not parasitic). It has many functions inside our digestive tract, one of them to recognize and destroy harmful bacteria. Without Candida albicans in our intestines we would be defenseless against many pathogen bacteria. A Healthy person can have a millions of Candida albicans. Our immune system is suppose to keep it under control, together with “friendly” bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus , B. bifidum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, S. thermophilus and L. salivarius, …). If the number of friendly bacteria is decreased (antibiotics, pesticides, chlorine,…) in relation to a number of Candida, the immune systems is weakened or other conditions for yeast proliferation occur (diet high in sugar, improper pH in the digestive system) Candida albicans will shift from yeast to mycelial fungal form and start to invade the body. In the yeast state Candida is a non-invasive, sugar-fermenting organism, while in fungal state it is invasive and can produce rhizoids, very long root-like structures. Rhizoids can penetrate mucosa or intestinal walls, leaving microscopic holes and allowing toxins, undigested food particles and bacteria and yeast to enter the bloodstream. This condition is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome, one more name for the food and environmental intolerances.
Posted on October 15, 2011 with No Comments
Sweet Poison
Do you know what our most common addiction is in today’s society? Well you may be surprised to learn that it is sugar. That’s right, those pretty white crystals sitting on most people’s kitchen table. The average American consumes 32 teaspoons of sugar a day. Not only is it addictive, but this very common everyday product that is falsely believed to be harmless is responsible for many health problems we find in our society. Too much sugar leads to an intestinal imbalance of friendly bacteria. This leads to Candida.
There’s a very significant difference between white refined sugar and naturally occurring complex sugars that are found in whole foods. In this article we are speaking specifically of refined white sugar, or its cousins, the other refined sugars, such as brown sugar, powdered sugar or raw sugar.
White refined sugar is not a food. It is a chemical. It is an addictive drug. Yes, that’s right, an addictive drug and when you remove it from your diet you can experience withdrawal symptoms as excruciating and serious as alcohol withdrawal, including tremors, flu like symptoms, headaches, and mood swings so intense you would damn near kill for a chocolate bar. Some say it is as addictive as heroin.
The biochemical make up of white sugar is almost identical to alcohol, except for one molecule. Refined white sugar is stripped of any nutritional value and is an empty calorie food. In addition to that, in order to be metabolized in the body it has to draw from your vitamin and mineral reserves and therefore is responsible for depleting mineral and vitamin levels, which in itself creates numerous health problems.
What is very sad and devastating is that sugar is an acceptable addiction. It’s not uncommon for people to know they have a sugar addiction and to make a joke of it. It’s not seen as a serious matter, when in reality it is very serious indeed.
The list of health problems associated with sugar is enormous and too large to go into completely in one article, but some of the most common symptoms created are: depression, mood swings, irritability, depletion of mineral levels, hyperactivity, anxiety, panic attacks, chromium deficiency, depletion of the adrenal glands, type II diabetes, hypoglycemia, candida overgrowth, raised levels of cholesterol and creates anti-social behavior such as that found in crime and delinquency.
One of the most important issues that pertains to all of us living with chronic illness is the impact sugar has on the immune system. Sugar suppresses the immune system. It depletes levels of phagocytes (the white blood cells that are needed for strong immune function and that eat up harmful bacteria) and this reduces the bodies’ ability to fight infection and disease.
Next to exercise, removing sugar from your diet is probably one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your health.
Removing sugar from your diet is not as easy as you think, because sugar is used as an additive for preservation and to make things more palatable. So it is basically found in most commercial foods. Unless you are living a health conscious life-style and picking your food wisely, sugar is in your catsup, morning cereal, spaghetti sauce, soup, salad dressing, peanut butter, pancake syrup, bread, yogurt, you name it and it probably has sugar in it. They even put sugar in your salt. You must learn to read labels very carefully to eliminate sugar from your diet.
Other steps to take to help you kick the sugar habit are as follows: -Keep sugar and all sugar products out of the house, so you won’t be tempted and give in during times of stress and hunger. -When you go to a social event, take your own food, or eat before going. -Use alternative whole foods snacks such as fruit, dates, whole grain crackers in place of sweets. -Exercising will reduce cravings -Supplementation with l-glutamine can reduce cravings. -Get emotional support. -Keep healthy snacks on hand for when cravings come on. -A chromium supplement may be helpful. -Be patient and forgiving of yourself. It will take time to be successful. More than likely you will fall off the wagon repeatedly. Get back on and start again.
If you are addicted to sugar you must fix that first before you can control your Candida.
Posted on September 8, 2011 with 1 Comment
Do you suffer from bloating and gas? If the answer is yes you may be one of the many people suffering from an overgrowth of Candida Yeast. Candida Albicansis an unfriendly bacteria found in everyone’s gut. It appears to do us no harm as long as it is kept under control, but if it exceeds friendly bacteria it can be a problem.
When the accumulation of candida in the colon becomes excessive, it begins to ferment and to reflux upwards through the small intestines, through the stomach, and then through the esophagus. Obviously, this fermentation causes gas, bloating, belching and difficulty in digesting foods. It also burns and erodes the esophagus. The burning is referred to as heartburn. Diarrhea, chronic gas, bloating, abdominal cramps alleviated by bowel movements, Irritable Bowel Syndrome are all common symptoms related to Candida.
Gas or bloating that improves when one stops eating sugars and carbohydrates is another simple indicator of possible candida infection. If this happens you can hasten your healing from Candida with natural ingredients found in your grocery store. A perfect diet over a long time will eventually cure Candida but it requires extreme diligence in eating organic, natural foods only.
If your bloating and gas are related to Candida (free Candida test) then you may find fast relieve with the 12 hour yeast cure. Control your Candida naturally and eliminate your bloating or gas problems. You will also make your immune system stronger at the same time.
