Our intestinal health

The intestines have millions even billions of micro-organisms amongst which are good bacteria and a low number of candida. The good bacteria actually help our digestive system by breaking down foods, and help us absorb the nutrients we need. In terms of the fungus they are the reason candida stays at low and safe numbers in a healthy intestinal system. If something happens to the good bacteria this can cause a number of problems. You do not absorb the nutrients necessary for a strong immune system which leaves you open to infection, you may lose weight, suffer from malnutrition and the candida can overgrow.

Symptoms of candida albicans intestinal infection

Symptoms are extremely wide ranging and large in number. They include mental ones such as;

• Depression
• Fogginess
• Mood swings
• Poor concentration
• Poor memory
• Lethargy

Physical ones such as;

• Fatigue
• Cramps
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Heartburn
• Rashes
• Urinary infections
• Flu like symptoms
• PMS

Modern medicine’s reaction to candida albicans intestinal infection

Most conventional doctors recognize systemic candida in hospitalized patients but do not accept intestinal candida infection as a condition in otherwise healthy people. Mostly because since candida lives naturally in the gut if there is overgrowth this is not a disease it is just an imbalance that can be rectified with diet and supplements. Whether you agree with this or not, there are things you can do yourself if your doctor is unwilling to help. Enzymes taken can help with digestion which will improve your immune system. Eating a diet low in sugar or cutting it out altogether will cut off the candida’s food supply, take probiotics to re-populate your intestines with good bacteria and consider taking vitamins and minerals as a supplement. There are also natural ways to kill some of the fungus when you have a candida albicans intestinal infection such as herbal remedies. You should also look for the root cause of the imbalance, if it is a course of antibiotics, your diet, medications and so on.

Milk Thistle and its benefits

Milk Thistle is a prickly plant, a member of the sunflower family, with large narrow petals and a large seed pod which is what is used both for healing and can be eaten. Milk thistle is used for the benefit mainly of the liver. When chemicals and toxins are in our system it is our liver that cleanses our blood and removes those toxins, and sometime the liver can get backed up, struggles when there is a large amount on toxins in the body not just from candida but from other sources such as foods and just in the air that we breathe, and milk thistle can help the liver when this happens. In 1986 Milk thistle was approved as a treatment for liver disease so it is recognized by both the medical and alternative worlds of medicine as being effective.

The active ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin, which is actually a collection of compounds known as flavonolignands. These work to help repair any damage to the liver, and stops toxins from entering, including those toxins released by candida. Silymarin even actively helps healthy liver cells to grow, while reducing swelling and preventing oxidation. The liver has a portal vein in which the blood passes through along with sugars, nutrients, toxins and fats. Toxins include candida waste, coffee, alcohol, drugs, pesticides, additives and so on. The liver removes those, regulates the hormones and helps with regulating sugar, proteins and fats. It is an essential organ and candida milk thistle treatment can be an important part of the whole treatment program to support the liver. When it is overworked along with other candida overgrowth symptoms you may experience moodiness, sugar cravings, hemorrhoids, heart problems, bags under the eyes, PMS, varicose veins or wasting muscle.

Candida milk thistle

When there is a candida overgrowth internally the fungal form of the yeast can break through the intestinal wall. This means toxins and incomplete digested foods can enter the bloodstream from the digestive tract. This can lead to a host of problems, food sensitivities, weakening the immune system allowing other microbes to gain hold, and so on. Dealing with a candida problem should involve 4 stages, starving the candida by going on an anti-candida diet, taking vitamins and supplements to boost the immune system, treatment that may be natural or medicated anti-fungal options, at which point you may experience die-off, where the extra toxins from the dying fungus causes a worsening of symptoms. At this point candida milk thistle treatment can help remove those toxins along with drinking lots of water to flush them out. You then want to make sure you have enough good bacteria in your body. Once the candida has been dealt with you can switch to maintenance/prevention program.

Yeast stage

In the life cycle of Candida albicans, the yeast stage is when it is benign. It is single celled and lives at low numbers and causes no harm to the host. Its shape is round and it reproduces asexually by the budding of yeast cells i.e the mother cell buds the daughter cell, which is then released and it repeats the process. The yeast form is 10 to 12 microns in diameter and gram positive. It has been found in studies that Candida needs a transcription repressor to maintain the yeast form.

Hyphae stage

During the life cycle of Candida albicans it can switch from a budding yeast that is harmless to its host, to a filamentous form. There is a formation of psuedohyphae which look like elongated yeast cells that are linked together end to end. Candida can also produce true hyphae. In this stage of the life cycle of Candida albicans the candida is a fungus that multiplies rapidly and attacks its host for food. It releases toxins as waste matter which triggers the body’s immune system and creates the various symptoms of a yeast infection.

Spores

Depending on their environment some candida species can also form spores called chlamydospores. These are large and round with thick walls that occur between the psuedohyphae segments. They can survive stressful conditions.

Infections

When a yeast infection occurs it is usually of the skin or mucosa but sometimes it can be systemic and enter the blood stream where it can affect the organs and cause serious illness, even fatality. However it is not the aggressiveness of the candida that causes this but the condition of the human host, in patients with compromised immune systems, lack of good bacteria, imbalance in hormones and so on affects the nature of infection.

• Irritation caused by chemicals in foods that we eat, such as hot sauces, spices, peppers.
• Psoriasis.
• Frequent liquid or soft stools, or diarrhea can make the area constantly moist which increases the chances of infection, especially of a yeast infection.
• Fistulas can form, (abnormal passageways from the colon or small intestine to the skin around the anus) which bring fluids that irritate the area.
• Skin tags can form, abnormal growth of anal skin.
• Fissures or tears in the anal skin.
• Hemorrhoids.
• Pinworms.

If the itching lasts for a few days and is causing you discomfort and making it difficult to lead a normal life see your doctor for an examination. He or she can diagnose the cause of your anal itching and get you started on the right treatment.

• Clean and dry the anus thoroughly.
• Cleaning should involve gentle showering without direct rubbing or causing further irritation.
• After a bowel movement use a moist pad such as a baby wipe to wipe the anus rather than using toilet paper.
• If there is often moisture there due to diarrhea or loose stools, cleaning with a moist pad between bowel movements is also needed.

There are several over the counter treatments a person can purchase for the treatment of anal itching which contain drugs used for the treatment of hemorrhoids. They come in various forms, creams, suppositories, pads, gels, ointments, foams and so on. Apply as a thin layer when using a cream type treatment. However if the cause is fungal you need a proper diagnosis and anti-fungal treatment.

What is Histoplasma capsulatum?

The fungus has two forms, the mycelia form that it is inhaled in and then a yeast form. When the spores and mycelia are inhaled they are carried to the lung alveoli where macrophages (cells from the immune system) will surround and engulf them. Inside the macrophages it changes to its yeast form after between 15 to 18 hours and it is then killed. If there are too many spores and mycelia for the immune system to deal with a form of Histoplasmosis can develop. The more fungus the person inhales the more likely they are to present symptoms of the Histoplasmosis infection.

Symptoms of Histoplasmosis

90% of cases are asymptomatic but some of those patients may reveal scars on the lung if they are given a chest x-ray. Those that show symptoms may include;

• chills
• sweats
• fever
• dry cough
• malaise
• abdominal pains
• weight loss
• chest pain
• fatigue
• dyspnea
• loss or reduction of vision
• mouth ulcers
• headaches
• seizures
• confusion
• sometimes, though rarely, death

Types of Histoplasmosis

There are three main types of Histoplasmosis and then within those three types are also further sub categories. The three main types are acute pulmonary histoplasmosis, chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis and progressive disseminated histoplasmosis.

Is Histoplasmosis contagious?

Histoplasmosis is not a fungal infection that is contagious from person to person like some others. In extremely rare circumstances a person receiving a transplanted lung may get the infection because the organ they received was infected. Histoplasmosis is caused by the inhalation of the fungus. An additional point to consider is that histoplasma capsulatum can live in soil for many years, and if that soil is dusty and dry you are more likely to breathe it in.

Treating Histoplasmosis

For many asymptomatic people their own immune system can deal with the infection. Fungal drugs that are used when there are symptoms include itraconazole, amphotericin B, ketoconazole and other azole drugs. Treatment depends on the type of Histoplasmosis the patient has and how severe the infection is. It is also affected by whether the patient has a weakened immune system from another illness or treatment. Sometimes surgery may be needed.

Although nearly all patients with Histoplasmosis recover fully, in rare cases there are complications that can last a lifetime, breathing problems, the need for anti-fungal treatment for the rest of your life, blindness or partial loss of vision to name a few.

The cause of the vaginitis affects the symptoms a woman will experience, but examples include;

• fishy odor/yeasty odor
• unusual discharge
• inflammation
• itching
• bleeding
• painful urination
• irritation

If you notice you are experiencing unusual symptoms and believe you may have some form of vaginitis visit your doctor to get a proper diagnosis so that you can treat it correctly and effectively.

Candida lives as a benign yeast in the gut flora of animals and humans and is kept in small numbers by the good bacteria there. An overgrowth of the yeast causes it to turn into its pathogenic fungal state that attacks, releases toxins and causes yeast infections and a whole host of symptoms.

• Male yeast infection
• Vaginal yeast infection
• Thrush (oral yeast infection)
• Systemic yeast infection
• Chronic or recurring yeast infections
• IBS, leaky gut syndrome or other problems linked to Candida

The two forms Candida can have

Candida lives as a yeast in small numbers inside everyone naturally as part of the intestinal flora. It is benign in this form and harmless. When it is triggered by outside factors into becoming its fungal form that is when it becomes pathogenic and causes health issues. If it is an invasive and systemic infection it can attack internal organs and has a high fatality rate. It is when it is in its fungal form that it releases toxins as waste into our body that triggers the body’s immune system to react and leads to the unpleasant and unwanted symptoms of a yeast infection.

Biotin deficiency

A person lacking in Biotin may suffer from such symptoms as;

• Hair loss
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• High blood cholesterol
• Depression
• Eczema
• Muscle pain
• Loss of appetite
• Anemia
  
• Lung problems
• Heart problems
• Skin problems
• Dermatitis
• Conjunctivitis

Health benefits of Biotin

A lot of the biotin a healthy individual has is formed by the good bacteria in their intestines. Candida sufferers however are deficient in good bacteria and so are also often lacking enough Biotin which is why it is a supplement some candida sufferers take. It is usually taken once or twice a day with meals. Biotin affects candida by stopping existing yeast from converting into the pathogenic, mycelium form and interferes with its growth. It is a water soluble vitamin. Dr Luc DeShepper from ‘Candida, the Symptoms, the Causes, the Cure’ says,

“in order….to avoid the spreading to the bloodstream, and thus giving the opportunity for the yeast cells to invade almost all of the organs, the interruption of the vicious cycle is a must and a priority. The best available product on the market is the Biotin 5 mg. Tablet..”

Biotin can be found in a lot of foods including cauliflower, soy flour, liver, carrots, salmon, cereals, bananas as well as in supplements. If getting it from a natural source remember cooking and freezing lowers the Biotin levels, so fresh and raw if possible is best. When taken as a supplement pregnant and breastfeeding women should talk to their doctor first.

“The vaginal ecosystem is delicate and complicated. Small, common triggers can elevate pH and cause dramatic changes to the vaginal flora, throwing the entire system out of balance which can make women much more susceptible to vaginal infection.”

Bacterial vaginosis and vaginal yeast infections are often confused because they have very similar symptoms, itching, soreness, inflammation. However BV is a bacterial infection and so is treated with antibiotics whereas a yeast infection needs to be treated with anti-fungals. The problem with BV is that as well as increasing the chances of premature birth, urinary tract infections, pelvic inflammatory disease and even STDs its treatment can actually cause a yeast infection, as the antibiotics kill all bacteria, including the good kind that keep the candida fungus, the cause if yeast infections, under control.

Dr Seibel explains that women can have pH triggers that lead to various types of vaginal infection such as,

• Menstruation and tampons – A normal vaginal pH is between 3.5 to 4.5. Blood is 7,4, so having the blood held there by the tampon can be a trigger.
• Medications – birth control pills, and antihistamines as well as others can change hormone levels and the pH.
• Sex – Semen has a pH of 7.1 to 8 so that can elevate the vagina’s pH.
• Hormonal times – Menopause, pregnancy, period, are all times when a woman’s hormones are changing which alter the pH.
• Douching – Water has a pH of 7 and can also cause damage to the natural flora of the vagina. Perfumes and chemicals used on the vagina can also cause unbalance.

Dr Seibal continues,

“We are learning how to control pH in order to help women maintain vaginal health and avoid infections like bacterial vaginosis. By making sure to keep the vaginal environment at a pH of 4.7 or lower, especially during these trigger times, women reduce the risk of infection and prevent unnecessary irritation and discomfort.”

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100527/Common-triggers-can-elevate-pH-and-make-women-more-susceptible-to-vaginal-infection.aspx?page=2

First infection?

If this is your first yeast infection, you really should see a doctor before you treat yourself. Often the key reasons for searching for a homemade cure for yeast infection is feeling too embarrassed to see your doctor. But you are not alone, a yeast infection is such a common problem for many people, not just women, and your doctor has seen it before! It is important to get a proper diagnosis because there are conditions that have similar or even the same symptoms as a yeast infection, but needs to be treated completely differently.

Two thirds of women who self diagnose themselves with a yeast infection are wrong. They have something else, bacterial vaginosis for example. So get yourself examined, a swab may be taken to be examined, and then discuss treatment with your doctor and ask about any homemade cure for yeast infection you are interested in. It may be you have just a mild case that will respond well to such measures, or it may be you have ignored the problem for too long and it is a severe yeast infection that needs stronger medicated treatment that only the doctor can prescribe.

Homemade cure for yeast infection

It is surprising how many natural anti-fungal yeast infection treatments you may have around your house and in your kitchen. Even some of the herbs you use in your cooking are also used by homeopathic practitioners for the treatment of yeast infections. A homemade cure for yeast infection is easy to do and for many people is very effective. Plus they are affordable and do not come with potentially serious side effects.

Choose a homemade cure for yeast infection from the list below, if that doesn’t work for you, keep trying!

• Pour a warm bath and add to the water a cup of apple cider vinegar, (not white vinegar) and soak for 20 minutes.
• Dip a tampon into plain, probiotic yogurt and insert into the vagina at least twice a day. Yogurt can also be used like a lotion on a yeast infection to soothe symptoms.
• Put homey on the area and leave for 20 minutes. Then take a warm bath to remove the honey. Make sure you get it all off as the natural sugar in the honey will feed the fungus and make things worse if left there for too long.
• Baking soda can be added to water to drink, added to a bath to soak in for 15 to 25 minutes or if it is for an oral infection, add some to your toothbrush as you brush your teeth. Baking soda helps restore the correct pH to your body, which makes an environment the yeast does not like.
• Hydrogen peroxide can be added to bath water as this also kills the yeast. For an oral infection after brushing your teethe rinse with a solution of hydrogen peroxide added to water.
• Raw garlic peeled and inserted into the vagina or mash up the garlic and use the paste like a cream on the infection.

• Pau d’arco bark tea speeds healing and it is a natural anti-fungal. Put two tablespoons into a cup of hot water and drink between 2 and 6 cups a day.
• Evening primrose taken daily for a week will help reduce irritation and swelling.
• Sage is a natural anti-fungal.
• Mix marigold in with some petroleum jelly and use on skin yeast infection twice a day.

Dr. Crandall: Thanks for inviting me to share some thoughts with your readers.

YI Cure 101: Please let us know a little more about yourself – studies, area of expertise and anything that you may consider relevant to our readers. We know from our previous interviews and statistical data available that approximately 75% of women deal with Candida at least once in their lifetime.

Dr. Crandall: I earned my Ph.D. in microbiology at Indiana University, and performed laboratory research on yeasts for 31 years. In 1980, I accepted a faculty appointment in the Division of Infectious Diseases, at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. In 1988, I founded my company, Yeast Consulting Services, in Torrance, California. My mission is to provide accurate information to help patients overcome yeast infections and yeast allergies.

YI Cure 101: Question 1. For starters, we want to know from your experience – what are the most common causes that trigger an infection?

Dr. Crandall: The number one risk factor for yeast infections is treatment with antibiotics. Other prescription medications that cause candidiasis include antacids, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, cancer chemotherapy, and estrogen (in birth control pills, fertility treatments, and postmenopausal hormone replacement). Candida infections are primarily an iatrogenic disease, which means they are caused by medical treatments. However, normal increases in estrogen levels at ovulation and during pregnancy also predispose to yeast vaginitis.

YI Cure 101: Question 2. What are the symptoms that should get someone alert? We know that you also provide phone consulting services – so you’re probably used to diagnose by description.

Dr. Crandall: The main symptoms of yeast vaginitis are a white vaginal discharge plus vulvar itching, burning, and swelling. Yeast overgrowth in the intestine produces symptoms in the gut as well as throughout the body. A typical yeast syndrome patient experiences intestinal gas, bloating, alternating diarrhea and constipation, fatigue, foggy thinking after eating, and improvement while fasting. Because symptoms of yeast infections are nonspecific and could be due to other conditions, I recommend testing before treating.

YI Cure 101: Question 3. Now regarding the treatment options – what is your approach (no reference to specific cases) just what does a specialist usually prescribe in such cases?

Dr. Crandall: Yeast infections are treated with prescription antifungal drugs. Depending on the location in the body, yeast infections can be treated with topical or oral antifungals, and sometimes both together in stubborn cases.

YI Cure 101: Question 4. What’s your opinion on over the counter treatments?

Dr. Crandall: Some work, some don’t. In general, I recommend obtaining a medical diagnosis first because self-treating could ruin your chances of providing a useful specimen later on. You may have another condition that produces the same symptoms as yeast infections. By self-treating, you deprive yourself of medical treatments that are proven effective, and spend a lot of money for unproven remedies.

YI Cure 101: Question 5. How do you feel about alternative therapies – Probiotics, vitamin C, essential fatty acids?

Dr. Crandall: I recommend probiotics in Step 9 of my Ten-Step Program, which is published in my Candida Information Packet. Probiotics and yoghurt with live cultures help restore the normal bacterial flora destroyed by antibiotics.

YI Cure 101: Question 6. How about herbs? Garlic – tea tree oil, Pomegranate?

Dr. Crandall: Some supplements are active against Candida in laboratory cultures. But do they work in the body? I have not seen any clinical studies on using herbs to treat yeast infections. Keep in mind that all drugs, herbs, chemicals, and foods are detoxified in the liver. Some interact with each other, and can cause adverse reactions. If you want to take natural remedies, find a knowledgeable practitioner to guide you. Don’t self-treat!

YI Cure 101: Question 7. What would you call a genuine and working “Candida diet”? Is there such a thing?

Dr. Crandall: Many Candida patients feel better when they follow a low carbohydrate diet. This is understandable if they have an intestinal yeast overgrowth. However, this diet doesn’t help vaginal yeast infections. If you are allergic to yeasts and molds, then obviously you can avoid allergic reactions by not eating these substances. But you cannot cure candidiasis by diet alone. You need tests and treatments that only physicians can provide. Your goal should be to obtain proper medical treatment for your Candida problem, and resume a balanced diet as soon as possible.

YI Cure 101: Question 8. What’s your approach to yeast infection during pregnancy?

Dr. Crandall: Care must be taken not to treat pregnant women with systemic drugs that are potentially harmful to the fetus, especially during the first trimester. This warning also applies to herbal remedies because they may enter the circulatory system. Remember: Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s good for you!

YI Cure 101: Question 9. Last but not least, how can you be reached for medical services? Where are you located? What kind of services do you offer?

Dr. Crandall: People can contact me at 310-375-1073 for information about yeast infections, and personal counseling sessions. My 180-page Candida Information Packet explains a Ten-Step Program of Self-Help and Medical Care for Yeast Infections and Yeast Allergies. The table of contents is posted on www.yeastconsulting.com, where my products and services can be ordered.

YI Cure 101: Thank you very much for your time.

Dr. Crandall: You are most welcome.

How does a yeast infection bladder problem arise?

Bladder infections are caused when yeast or bacteria enter the urinary tract. When a woman has a vaginal yeast infection she may introduce some yeast into her bladder from vaginal secretions. If she is slow to get herself diagnosed and treated it could from there spread to the kidneys leading to a more serious problem. A man may also get a bladder infection if he has a penile yeast infection. Patients in hospitals are also susceptible if they are using a bladder catheter.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a yeast infection bladder issue include a fever, lower back and abdomen pressure, a burning pain when urinating, the feeling of needing to urinate very frequently but not passing much when you do go.

Prevention

Preventing a yeast infection bladder problem can include the same methods such as:

• Cut out or at least reduce alcohol consumption and caffeine as both are irritants to the bladder.
• Drink plenty of water every day to help flush out toxins.
• Eat and rest well to keep your immune system strong and reduce or manage stress effectively.
• Cut out sugar as it feeds the yeast.
• Drink cranberry juice (unsweetened) each day good for making your urine more acidic which yeast hates and will help prevent a urinary tract infection.
• Wear loose clothing to avoid creating the perfect breeding environment of damp and warm for the yeast.

Alternative treatments for yeast infection bladder issues

There are herbal approaches a person can take to yeast infection bladder problems such as uva ursi or bearberry which can be bought either as a tea or extract. However it should only be used for a few days at the most 4 times a day as it is toxic in large amounts. For that reason pregnant women should certainly find alternative options. Buchu leaves have also been found to be good for urinary tract inflammation (mild cases) to be used to make a tea twice a day.

Volatile oils from lovage are also effective at soothing inflammation and have antiseptic constituents. Make a tea by pouring 1 cup of boiled water over a teaspoon of dry lovage root and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain before drinking. Other sources of volatile oil include parsley leaves and roots and both have diuretic properties. One cup of boiled water added to 1 teaspoon of leaves to make a tea but do not add seeds as these can be toxic in large amounts. Those with kidney disease should avoid volatile oils as a treatment option until they have spoken to their doctor.

When to seek medical attention

If your symptoms persist after trying the above measures you need to visit your doctor. Antibiotics will be used for the bladder problem and you may then need yeast infection treatment to take care of the fungus. While taking antibiotics as mentioned supplement with probiotics. As well as the ideas mentioned you could also dip a tampon in the plain live yogurt and insert it into the vagina so the area gets the good bacteria it needs directly. A yeast infection bladder problem will not go away by itself and can become serious so act quickly.

As well as several infections and diseases there are other things that can cause vaginal irritation such as an allergy to a deodorant, tampon, detergent, soap, or pad. Even sex can cause minor irritation if the vagina is not lubricated enough. Therefore women really do need to get a proper diagnosis before they go out and buy a yeast infection treatment.

A look at anti-fungal drugs
Oral drugs – Ketoconazole (Nizoral), Fluconazole (Diflucan), Itraconazole (Sporanox)
These come in the form of pills, capsules.
Side effects – fever, mild itching, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, bad taste.

Vaginal drugs – Nystatin (Mycostatin), Clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin, Mycelex, FemCare), Butoconazole (Femstat), Miconazole (Monistat-7, Femizol-M), Terconazole (Terazol), Tioconazole (Vagistat-1)
These come in the form of suppositories or creams. Some can be gotten over the counter without a prescription.
Side effects – itching, burning, inflammation, pain, contact dermatitis, irritation. They may also contain oils that weaken latex condoms.

Anti-fungal drugs work by stopping the fungus’ growth. Whether you have oral or vaginal form depends on how bad your infection is, whether it is a recurring problem, and medical history such as pregnancy, diabetes and so on. Patients with a severe or recurring yeast infection will also likely have to follow a maintenance treatment regime also given by the doctor. This usually involves taking a drug once a week or so.

But in fact over two thirds of these women do not actually have a yeast infection. Hoffstetter wants women to realize that if they have been treating for a yeast infection and nothing seems to be happening then in all likelihood it is not a yeast infection and you should stop treatment otherwise you can enter a situation where you think you have a recurring yeast infection problem, but you may not.

Vaginal yeast infections are very common, 75% of women have had one at some point, and symptoms make life uncomfortable including burning, swelling, pain during sex, redness, pain when urinating and a cottage cheese like discharge. Out of 150 patients that went through the SLUCare clinic thinking they had a yeast infection, Hoffstetter found that only 26% of them did. Symptoms of a yeast infection can also indicate other problems such as dry skin tissues, or STIs. The treatment for these is much different to the anti-fungal medication used to treat yeast infections.

According to Hoffstetter women need to stop self diagnosing and when they spot symptoms, go to their doctor or a women’s health practitioner. They can take a swab if needed, do a pelvic exam and see if yeast really is the problem or whether it is something else. “Women shouldn’t just run to the drugstore if they think they have a yeast infection. The optimal thing would be to be evaluated,” Hoffstetter says.

Source: MedicalNewsToday.Com

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/82088.php

There are several forms of treatment a person can turn to, and there are also choices to make between alternative practitioners and conventional doctors. This article looks at the alternative practice of an anti Candida diet, originally created by Dr Crook though his ideas have been altered and adapted by other alternative practitioners.

What is Dr Crook’s Anti-Candida Diet based on?

In 1983 Dr William Crook wrote a book called ‘The Yeast Connection’ in which he linked symptoms such as memory loss, headaches, mood swings, depression, craving sweets and fatigue to an over growth of yeast in the intestines, yeast syndrome. This excess yeast according to Crook and some other alternative practitioners penetrates the intestinal walls and allows yeast particles to enter the rest of the body. This then creates an allergic reaction to the yeast which triggers the immune system. It was and still is a controversial issue, some support the theory and some do not.

Dr Crook’s Anti-Candida diet

According to Dr Crook and his supporters, there are dietary guidelines a person can follow to eliminate an infection or to help avoid one. Two key points of his diet are to avoid sugar and to avoid foods with yeast in them. Sugar supposedly allows the growth of the fungus as it feeds it. Carbohydrates are limited on this diet amounts are based on how old a person is, their overall health and any food sensitivities they may have. Protein is emphasized, as are some nuts. As the yeast infection goes, the levels of carbs can be increased slowly again. Foods such as mushrooms, bread, beer, cheese and other fermented foods are to be cut out as Dr Crook believed those with a Candida overgrowth could also be allergic to other fungi. This restriction is not applicable to all alternative health practitioners.

The diet lasts as long as the symptoms do, and that depends on how severe the yeast infection is. How healthy the sufferer is is also a factor in how long it takes to work. Usually those that follow the diet report that it takes at least four weeks for noticeable improvements, for others it can take months.

Foods to cut out completely

• Refined sugar – white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, corn syrup, raw sugar, rice syrup, molasses and so on. Check labels of foods for lactose, fructose, mannitol, glycogen, sorbitol, sucrose, maltose, glucose.
• Fruits – they contain natural sugars. This includes, fresh, juice, frozen and canned.
• Yeast – no baked goods allowed, mushrooms, beer and other fermented items.
• Gluten – rye, wheat, barley.
• Vinegar – white vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, and items that contain vinegar like Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce, mustard, pickles, relishes, and so on.
• Peanuts – including peanut butter
• Pistachios
• Alcohol
• Tea and coffee – all types
• Cheeses – processed cheese such as slices, cream cheese, Cheese Whiz and aged and mouldy cheeses like Roquefort or blue cheeses.
• Meats that have been processed, dried, pickled or smoked – including sausages, bacon, bologna, corned beef, salami, smoked salmon, pickled herring and so on.
• Refined, processed and packaged foods – such as canned, boxed, bottled foods that end to contain refined sugars, yeast, refined flour, preservatives, chemicals and colorings.

Supplementing Dr Crook’s Anti-Candida Diet

Part of the plan according to Dr Crook is to include the taking of herbs and supplements along with the diet. There are several that can be used (looked at in more detail in a separate article). All alternative practitioners recommend patients start taking lower amounts of herbs and supplements and then slowly increasing the amounts. This is because there can be a worsening of your health due to the toxins being released by the dieing yeast.

Dr Crook’s Anti-Candida Diet v Scientific Evidence

At the moment there is not a lot of scientific evidence to support Dr Crook’s theories. There have not been a lot of studies done and those that have been give conflicting data. In one study for example 116 people were treated with nystatin an anti-fungal drug. Some of those also followed an anti-candida diet and claimed symptoms were greatly improved. In another study no discernible benefit of following an anti-candida diet was noted.