Candidiasis Information
The Candida Invasion
Authorities who speak to the issue state that the greatest contributors to the overgrowth of Candida Albicans systematically is the extended use of antibiotics, stress, poor diet, alcohol, steroids, and more...as well as a suppressed or compromised immune system. Antibiotics can produce an imbalance or micro organisms in the intestinal tract by killing the "good" bacteria and leaving an overabundance of Candida cells. The Candida cells proliferate in the gut, then penetrate the intestinal wall, and then are carried by the circulatory system throughout the entire body and infect organ and muscle tissue.
The Candida invasion can cripple the immune system so that it can no longer repel invaders. It can create allergies to chemicals, pollens and foods. Also, it is believed that toxins (know as mycotoxins) from the Candida cells and protein molecules develop an antigen/anti-body reaction. This can cause even more allergic reactions.
Immuno-deficient conditions, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Diabetes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Psoriasis all lend themselves to making the individual susceptible to Candidiasis.
Dr. Gus Prosch MD wrote in the Townsend Newsletter for Physicians in January 1995: "All arthritics by virtue of their weakened immune system also suffer from Candidiasis." He further states, "All arthritics should consider, as part of their get-well program, a Candida treatment." Dr. Prosch, continues by stating, "Whether or not the only cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is Candida Albicans is not know, but that it is the major cause of the symtomology can be readily assumed based on improvement that follows when Candidiasis is treated against."
Dr. Robert Atkins, in his book "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" pointed out that 30% of all of his overweight patients had Candidiasis as diagnosed by irrefutable laboratory test. He further states: "I don't believe your diet necessarily causes Candidiasis, but my clinical practice has taught me that the wrong foods will definitely encourage a yeast infection." By using the term the wrong foods, Dr. Atkins refers to a "diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates". This is also true for the diabetic.
Systemic Candida
The diseases and problems of systemic yeast infections can be quite varied as well as life threatening. These fungi releases mycotoxins (poisons) into the body. The mycotoxins can affect different parts of the body in seemingly unrelated ways. For example, one person may get adult acne, the next, arthritis, and another heart disease. Candida and their mycotoxins can cause all of these illnesses and many more.
Systemic yeast infections are commonly caused by Candida Albicans from intestinal overgrowth. The overgrowth proliferates in the gut and can cause leaky gut syndrome, causing the Candida to spread throughout the entire body. When infected, the entire immune system comes onto play to eradicate the infection from the body if it is functioning normally. At first the systemic yeast can become infected, like a cut on the hand. Than later becomes inflamed as it spreads throughout the entire body. In the immune system compromised a host can produce fluid as the infection worsens. The immune system being unable to contain the systemic yeast infection allows the infection to spread.
Once the infection has taken control it is almost impossible to get rid of it until you restore the immune system to a normal function. Nk and kpuffer cells (cells that control Candida) can kill a yeast wall in 1/100th of a second, now they are not doing the job. The immune system has become too worn down and doesn't have time, it is to busy doing other things more important for continued life.
Some of the diseases a systemic yeast infection may be a contributing factor to:
There have been many cases of people that suffer from migraine headaches, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, respiratory diseases, breast cancer, and others that have not been proven to be linked to fungi or systemic yeast infection.
Yeast infections really are an equal opportunity parasite. They can deliver over 100 mycotoxins into your body and depending on your immune system, they will affect you in different ways. the most common of course being digestive, skin, and vaginal problems. The list goes on and on. Candida is a very deep-seated problem that is linked to many different problems that we see today.
Chronic Candida
Chronic yeast infection or reoccurring Candida infection occur mostly from a weakened immune system or the use of antibiotics to treat illness.
Women seem to be affected the most with vaginal infections being the biggest complaint. Most women will often experience multiple vaginal infections during their child-bearing years. These infections can be caused by a hormonal imbalance within the reproductive system that weakens the immune system at certain times in the menstrual cycle.
Women can get these chronic yeast infections from not only the reasons listed, but also from their sexual partner if he is a beer drinker. Beer contains brewers yeast and is usually made from moldy grains. This can produce a skin yeast infection on the male penis that he is totally unaware of since the skin temperature is about 77 degrees. This low temperature causes the infection on his penis to remain dormant. But during the act of sex, since the vagina is a very warm place, it can become active as it is passed on to the woman. At this point it can now be given back to the male because his urethra is vulnerable during sex. A few researchers believe yeast is the direct cause of problems of the prostrate. If yeast will raise bread, couldn't it swell a prostrate gland?
Chronic yeast infections are also caused by eating foods contaminated with molds and fungi, the most common foods being grains, whether they are processed or not. Grain fed meats also introduce fungi into the body since almost all livestock feed is moldy and unfit for human consumption. The animals eat this moldy food and the fungi then becomes present in their body. You eat the meat, the fungus now enters your body and destroys some good bacteria in your digestive system. Over time the yeast to bacteria ratio is altered and the yeast can take over as a Candida infection.
Chronic yeast infections are also caused by foods such as peanuts and some fruits. The same thing applies when you eat these foods and introduce the fungus into the digestive system, they kill more of the good bacteria, and then they travel thought the body if your immune system is weak.
Many antibiotics are made from fungi and are know as fungal poisons that kill bacteria. Not only do they kill bad bacteria that causes the diseases, but also kills the good bacteria found in the digestive system. These good bacteria are your fist line of defense from bad bacteria, virus's and diseases. Kill enough of the good bacteria and the fungus can gain the upper hand in the intestines and spread throughout the body releasing mycotoxins. Mycotoxins can take an enormous toll on the immune system from the constant and never ending battle being fought within your immune system.
These mycotoxins can cause other diseases that modern medicine has no explanation for, one being skin infections. (see article below).
As the chronic yeast infection spreads in your intestines, they rob your body of its required nutrients for good health. The infected person may notice a chronic craving for sugar, and simple carbohydrates that break down in the digestive system to sugar, thus feeding the Candida infection. Sugar being its food of choice, which allows it to grow and spread throughout the entire body.
Alcohol is also contaminated with fungus and mold. The fermentation process itself is a break down of whatever medium is used by molds, commonly yeast, to create the alcohol. Beer as a cause of chronic yeast infection is a prime example, it contains yeast.
Once the infection has taken control it is almost impossible to get rid of it until you restore the immune system to a normal function. The immune system has become too worn down and doesn't have time because it is to busy doing other things more important for continued life. T
Here we will take a look at skin yeast infections and their likely causes. What you may find here may very will change your outlook on fungal infections caused by yeast and as a cause of many common diseases.
The skin is the largest organ in the body. It protects your inside from the outside. It also can reveal many inside health problems, because it does release toxins in the form of sweat from the body. Skin lesions can be at times early indications of systemic internal yeast infection.
Fungi's claim to fame is that it was the first micro-organism shown to cause infection or disease in humans. You would think all doctors would know about skin infections, but unfortunately it is not the case. Most research and medical centers will have staffs of hundreds of scientists and doctors, but maybe only one or two mycologists. They just don't exist in any large amount in the medical fields.
Probable Skin Yeast Infections:
These common types of skin yeast infections can affect other parts of the body as well. For example, you may have a severe case of athlete's feet and break out in a rash on the palm of your hand. The fungus did this by releasing mycotoxins into the blood stream, and the mycotoxins affected the palm of the hand.
Skin yeast infections have been linked with elevated blood cholesterol levels. When for instance, toenail fungus was treated, cholesterol levels were reduced. (British Medical Journal-1995). This of course would mean that , without a doubt, the fungus contributed to high cholesterol.
People with infections of the lungs have been found to suffer from skin yeast infections. Some may even resemble skin cancer. Candida Albicans can cause diaper rash, dry red skin or cracked skin in the corners of the mouth.
Other skin disease like psoriasis, acne, hives, and eczema don't seem to have any relation to an internal fungal infection. But, when people are treated for a fungal infection that have these other skin diseases, their external skin problems lessen. There are many studies showing that psoriasis is indeed a fungal infection caused by either the fungus itself or their mycotoxins being released into the blood stream. (Constantini 1994). Psoriasis is supposedly incurable. This is just not so.
Remember that skin infections are usually a sign that something is wrong inside the body. With that in mind, they should not be taken lightly.
If you suffer from any skin yeast disease it may be wise to take a look at your diet, what you did before the disease showed symptoms, and the very likely possibility that it is being caused by an internal yeast infection and their mycotoxins.
Facts about Candida
Adult humans have 3 to 4 pounds of beneficial bacteria, numbering about 70 trillion organisms, living in our digestive system. The shear strength in these numbers of the beneficial bacteria keeps yeast in check. They are in charge and make yeast produce vitamins, such as the B complex, within our bodies. If this balance is altered by reducing good bacteria, yeast, being very opportunistic, will spread and take over as a yeast infection known a Candida (mold), causing a wide variety of unhealthy side effects and disease.
Simply stated, dangerous mycotoxins, fungal metabolite, that kill bacteria, even the good bacteria that is present in our intestines and essential for good health. This upset the delicate balance of the yeast to bacteria ratio in your digestive system, giving the yeast fungi the upper hand in creating a yeast infection. Without the good bacteria in your system to control yeast, it spreads and becomes a toxic fungal parasite know as Candida.
Penicillin is a good example of a fungal by-product called mycotoxins. This number one cause of yeast infection is so over prescribed today that yeast infection is a growing out of control epidemic.
Another cause of yeast infection and the destruction of stomach flora are anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen. These two drugs are common over the counter medications that many people take. Very few people realize what they are doing to their health by taking them. America has become a nation of drug depending people. Not a night goes by when you don't see a TV commercial for some kind of drug promising some miraculous cure for something. These drugs all contribute to the destruction of good bacteria and are a cause of yeast infection.
Another cause of yeast infection, theorized by some doctors, are various types of birth control given to women. In the natural menstrual cycle of women, right after ovulation on about the 18th day, both progesterone and estrogen decline to very low levels. At the same time estradiol begins to rise into menses and then these three hormones return to normal. Most birth control contain estradiol in significant amount and add to this problem.
The hormone link as a cause of yeast infection for women is very common. Almost all women that suffer from reoccurring vaginal yeast infection will tell you that they do indeed get flare ups at the third week of their cycle.
According to the 2001 Asthma and Allergy Report, the first immunodeficiency syndrome was identified in 1952. Since that time 95 more have been identified with new conditions being discovered every day. The report also states that increase use of antibiotics in infancy is contributing to increased risks of allergies. What is interesting is in the 1950's, antibiotics came into wide spread use. Do you see a correlation?
Most common prescriptions for antibiotics is for upper respiratory infections, but according to Dr. Carol Kauffman, "most of these infections are caused by a fungus". So they do not require an antibiotic as a treatment. Over time this will alter the balance in stomach bacteria allowing the yeast to overgrow, and the result is Candida, or worse.
Doctors plead ignorance when their patients develop allergies, intestinal disorders, etc., not even realizing that the very drugs they prescribed are the cause of the yeast infection and these other fungal diseases. Over time, your good stomach bacteria become overwhelmed by yeast as it kills even more of your good bacteria. Candida is the result.
It becomes a never-ending cycle. You get an antibiotic for your cold, flu, women for vaginal infections. The doctor gives them and anti-fungal or an anti-fungal cream, or they purchase it over the counter at the local drugstore. The infection is beaten for a time, but then it returns.
Mycotoxins from molds and fungi are also known cancer-causing agents that are released by mold and yeasts. One of these mycotoxins, called aflatoxin, happens to be the most carcinogenic substance on earth. In the common diets of today, grains are consumed in all three meals in some form, from cereal to breads and pastas. So everyday the average American is consuming .15mg to .5mg of aflatoxin.
The western diet of today, due to sugars and molds in the foods we eat, is a cancer-causing machine. The addition of these sugars allows the yeast to thrive unbeknown to many people that have it, and allows it to inject its own mycotoxins into your body. This will suppress the immune system and lead to other autoimmune system diseases such as cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's, arthritis, skin disorders, chronic fatigue, depression, Fibormayalgia, etc. if left untreated.
There are know traces of over 300 toxins in our bodies that were not present before 1940. These toxins have been shown to bind to receptors, blocking important enzymatic reactions in the body weakening the immune system.
All of these things contribute as a cause of yeast infections today and weaken our immune systems. Bacteria are our first line of defense in our immune systems, and all these things can and do contribute to help kill them. Diet alone will not control Candida and yeast infections, it simply will not work.