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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.

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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