Probiotics Produce Valuable Nutrients
Probiotics in your gut not only support digestion, but also create valuable nutrients to maintain your health and energy levels.
These nutrients are essential for healthy function. The nutrients produced include B vitamins, vitamin K, and short-chain fatty acids. The fermentation process also encourages the production of enzymes that help to break down foods .
Without these nutrients, your bodys energy production is likely to be compromised. It also needs these nutrients for tissue repair and maintenance, cognitive function, and hundreds of other processes.
Sugar And Processed Foods
Candida is a yeast, and yeast feeds on sugar to grow. Keep in mind that sugar hides in many places, including processed foods and simple carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, and pastries. Sugar also hides in many dairy products, as dairy is broken down into lactose during digestion, which is also a sugar.
If you eat a diet rich in sugar, then the yeast basically has a feast in your intestines and can grow at much faster rates. Your beneficial gut bacteria will find it difficult to keep this rapidly growing invader at bay. Eventually, the Candida will crowd out your beneficial gut bacteria, which creates additional digestive problems such as bloating, gas, limited nutrient absorption and changes to bowel movements.
Question #: Which Strains Of Bacteria Does It Contain
Along with CFU count, another important thing to take note of is the strains of bacteria that are found in the probiotic.
This can be confusing there are countless different strains, and some of them sound very similar!
Thankfully there has been a considerable amount of research on probiotic bacteria in the last decade. We are now confident which strains will benefit us the most, and which we should take if we have any specific health conditions.
The reasoning for taking a probiotic will dictate which bacterial strains are most suitable for you. Some of the best bacterial strains to look for in a probiotic are:
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The Leaky Gut Connection
Your small and large intestines are separated from the bloodstream via a thin layer of cells, called your epithelial cells. These cells are held together by tight junctions to form a strong barrier between the content of your intestines and your bloodstream.
Your epithelial cells make sure that only safe substances from the gut can enter the body, such as nutrients from food. They keep out potentially harmful substances like harmful bacteria, viruses and chemical food additives.
When Candida overgrows in your gut, the immune system detects these high levels of Candida and triggers an immune response in the form of inflammation in the gut. When the gut is inflamed, your tight junctions become weak and break open.
As a result, your thin layer of cells in the gut is now like a bucket with holes. Potentially harmful substances can now enter the bloodstream through the broken tight junctions. This is also called leaky gut.
The Best Probiotic For Your Candida
Probiotics are acknowledged as very healthy for anyone but for Candida patients, they are especially important to repopulate the gut immune system with healthy bacteria.
Unfortunately, probiotics are the wild west of medicine no one seems to be able to say with authority which ones are effective and which ones are a waste of money.
I have been doing my own research on the probiotics available and believe some are of greater value to my Candida patients.
When You Were Young
First, some embryology: when you were in your mothers womb you had a sterile gut this means no bacteria were present. During a normal vaginal delivery, you were exposed to Bacteroides, a bacteria in the vaginal tissue and along with your mothers breast milk your digestive immune system began to evolve.
Unfortunately, not everyone in the past few decades was delivered vaginally and not many babies were breastfed for a very long period, if at all. Add to this our poor Western diet laden with sugar and processed foods, and our gut is out of balance. Also, antibiotics and hormones created drastic changes in gut immunity. Hence, many women and even men are Candida victims.
What Are Probiotics
Probiotic supplements are designed to guard against belly acids making them a more effective method of getting more good bacteria in our body. When gut bacteria is imbalanced it leads to inflammation which promotes conditions like candida yeast overgrowth and leaky gut.
How Probiotics Help
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How To Try Probiotics
Probiotics come in several forms that you can use in different ways. You can find them in the form of capsules or suppositories, which you insert into your vagina. When choosing a capsule or suppository, look for one that includes a list of the bacteria it contains. Most products will list them based on how many are in each dose. Try to find one that lists Lactobacillus near the top, such as these capsules or this suppository, both available on Amazon.
For a more cost-effective option, you can also use yogurt. Just make sure you choose one with a label that mentions live cultures and Lactobacillus. Avoid yogurts with added sugar or flavoring. Yeast feeds on sugars, so plain yogurt is best for a yeast infection.
To use the yogurt, remove a cotton tampon from its applicator and refill the applicator with yogurt. Lay down while inserting the applicator and releasing all of the yogurt into your vagina. Wait a few minutes before standing up to give it time to settle in.
As with other creams for yeast infections, the yogurt will eventually start leaking out of your vagina. You may want to consider apply it right before bed or when you wont be standing for long periods of time. If you need to apply it during the day or before being active, you may want to use a pantyliner or a pad to protect your clothing and provide extra comfort.
You can also apply yogurt to your vulva, which is the outer part of your vagina, to relieve itching and burning.
What Is Candida Albicans
Candida Albicans is a yeast that naturally occurs in the human body in small amounts. It can be found in the mouth, digestive tract, vaginal tract and rectum. In those small amounts, it is harmless and coexists with our beneficial gut bacteria.
Candida Albicans often referred to simply as Candida is also known as one of the most common species of yeast causing yeast and fungal infections in humans. This happens when the small amount of naturally occurring Candida Albicans gets out of control and overgrows. Candida yeast infections can occur in the gut, on the skin as well as in the vaginal tract.
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Natren: Best Probiotic For Bacteria And Yeast Overgrowth
Bacterial and yeast overgrowth are two frustrating conditions that many women face, but many are also hesitant to talk about. These conditions can be incredibly uncomfortable, and a way to treat – or even prevent – bacterial and yeast overgrowth is a top concern of those suffering. You may not know that probiotics can help with the relief of yeast overgrowth, and an abundance of bad bacteria that affects the vaginal environment. Lets look at these health conditions to understand what role good bacteria plays, as well as the best probiotics for bacteria and yeast.
Best Probiotic For Vaginal Yeast Infections
Gastro Armor by Sovereign Laboratories Contains the research-backed Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and lactoferrin from its bovine colostrum. It is also enteric-coated. While this doesnt contain the highest concentration of probiotics at 5 billion per serving, this is the only probiotic on the market that contains lactoferrin from colostrum and the clinically verified spore-based probiotic called Lactospore®.
Because this product contains spore-based probiotics called Bacillus coagulans, a lower concentration can be used for and still achieve the best benefits for candida.
That is why it is the best probiotic for yeast overgrowth.
Another great feature of this product is that it contains Hidrox®, which is an antioxidant derived from pressed olives. This antioxidant may help provide neuroprotection.
Of note, this product does not contain prebiotics, which is important for people who are sensitive to prebiotics.
Another perk is that Gastro Armor product has a 45-day money-back guarantee return policy too. Other ingredients include gelatin and silicon dioxide.
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Question #: Are There Any Other Ingredients That Might Damage Your Gut Health
Tablets and capsules always include additional filler ingredients besides the active drug or supplement in question. These are usually included to lengthen its shelf life, sweeten it, or make the probiotic easier to pour into capsules.
You should take care to read the ingredients label carefully. These extra substances can often be quite damaging to your gut health. Other ingredients might be allergens or substances that could hurt your health in some other way.
Some manufacturers use gluten, nuts, dairy products or animal products in their probiotics. This could spell big trouble for you if you are allergic to them, if you suffer from conditions such as celiac disease, or if you are a vegetarian or vegan.
Be particularly careful to avoid supplements that contain large amounts of gums. These are commonly used in some gummy vitamins and probiotics. The gums used in these formulations are a gut irritant that will likely compromise your gut health and worsen your Candida symptoms. Examples are gellen gum and xanthan gum.
Also watch out for unnecessary sweeteners. These sugars can come in many different forms, like sugar, sucralose, maltodextrin, and more. Some of these sweeteners can feed pathogenic bacteria and yeast, others are gut irritants, but none of them are really necessary in a high-quality formulation.
What Strain Of Probiotic Is Best For Candida
Beneficial bacteria are a powerful defense mechanism against opportunistic infections such as candida. They are what keep the gut balanced. Here are some of the best probiotic strains to curb candida overgrowth and keep colonies of bad bacteria in check.
- Lactobacilli:
The lactobacillus species are like the police of the digestive system. They secrete various kinds of chemicals to keep the bad guys in check, such as hydrogen peroxide and they are acidophilic in nature, which allows them to maintain balance.
When lactobacillus numbers drop off, bacteria and yeast such as Candida Albicans get the upper hand, creating a negative shift in the entire gut.
Some of the best Lactobacillus strains for candida overgrowth include lactobacillus Plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. These well-researched strains boost different aspects of immune function, particularly in the small intestine, which is the area that you want to improve.
Lactobacillus acidophilus has also been shown to have excellent therapeutic properties for candida overgrowth, particularly vulvovaginal Candida infections. Thanks to its antibacterial effects, Lactobacillus reuteri is very effective at curbing candida growth.
- Bifidobacterium:
- Soil- Based Organisms Probiotics:
They also come in a variety of strains, with the most researched being bacillus coagulans, bacillus subtilis, bacillus clausii, and bacillus licheniformis.
- Saccharomyces Boulardii:
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Which Probiotics Are Best For Candida
A common question regarding probiotics is if they can help in cases of Candida albicans yeast overgrowth, commonly known as Candidiasis or fungal dysbiosis. We’d say that it’s very important that all Candida diet and supplement protocols are undertaken with the support and guidance of a suitably qualified therapist. Many symptoms of Candida overgrowth are similar to those relating to other health conditions, so it is also essential for individuals to first consult with their doctor to rule out other medical causes for their symptoms.
Boosting Your Immune System With Probiotics
If I asked you where your stomach was located, or your heart or liver, you would probably have some idea. What about if I asked about your immune system? Now thats got you thinking!
You may be surprised to learn that the most significant proportion of your immune system can be found in your digestive tract.
As you can imagine, a healthy gut is essential for an equally robust immune system. Beneficial gut bacteria ensure that the immune system receptor cells on the walls of the intestines are in top condition.
A vigorous gut microbiome is a powerful adjunct to your immune system. Aiding and enhancing the beneficial bacteria in your digestive system is one of the most effective things you can do for your well-being.
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The Risks Of Probiotics
The FDA doesnât regulate probiotics that are sold as dietary supplements. That means their labels can make claims about whats in them and how they work that may not be true. So itâs best to be cautious. We need more research on how safe probiotics are. But scientists say they may have some harmful effects, including:
- Infections
- Unlisted ingredients that could pose health risks
- Unsafe substances made by probiotic microorganisms
Your risk of harmful side effects is higher if you have a serious illness or problems with your immune system.
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What The Clinical Studies Say
Just counting those from this century, there are over a dozen lab studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals involving probiotics being used on C. albicans, C. psuedotropicalis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei grown on agar well plates, assays, denture strips, and other materials.
Of course, what works in the lab doesnt always work in humans.
Rather than analyze those lab studies, lets take a look at the results of the human clinical trials to see how real-life probiotic treatments fared.
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Yeast Infections & Bacterial Vaginosis
Yeast Infections
About 75% of women will experience at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime and almost half will have repeat infections.1 They occur with an overgrowth of candida, or yeast, in the vagina thats typically kept in check by the good bacteria in healthy vaginal flora.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection in women ages 15-44. In BV there is an overgrowth of certain bacteria causing an imbalance of the good and non-beneficial bacteria normally found in a womans vagina. 1
The Battle of Yeast and Bacteria
Though separate conditions, the nature of yeast infections and BV can often lead to a seemingly never-ending cycle between the two. Typically, it goes something like this:
This phenomenon isnt limited to BV and Yeast Infections. UTIs, another bacterial infection commonly treated with antibiotics, and yeast infections follow a similar pattern.
How Do You Know If You Have Systemic Candidiasis
Fungal overgrowth that is outside of the gut environment can, in some ways, be easier to detect and identify. A good example of this is thrush which has give-away signs such as a thick discharge in the case of vaginal thrush, and a white coating to the tongue and mouth in the case of oral thrush. Other fungal infections such as athletes foot also have obvious signs to look out for. Infections such as these can be linked to systemic Candidiasis, or they can just be stand-alone, localised infections. Having thrush or athletes foot certainly doesnt mean that you have systemic Candida, but having systemic Candida does raise the chance of developing localised yeast infections.
So, a propensity towards yeast infections at different body sites can be one possible symptom of Candidiasis. However, due to the many toxins that Candida produces, there are a whole raft of other possible symptoms that can occur. In fact, many health conditions are thought to have their basis in Candida overgrowth, including mental health disorders6 such as anxiety, confusion , chronic fatigue syndrome7, acne/eczema, headaches, skin rashes, allergic symptoms, joint pain15 and many other chronic health complaints.
The mycotoxins that the yeasts excrete can even cross the blood-brain barrier, which is how the mental symptoms such as confusion and anxiety can develop.
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Best Probiotics For Candida
Home> Probiotics> 6 Best Probiotics for Candida
Candidiasis is a tough one to deal with. The range of uncomfortable symptoms accompanied by this infection is difficult to deal with. The persistent itching and blemishes would want you to pull your hair out. It can be a consequence of multiple factors that all aid in developing this infection. For me, it all started two years back.
About two years ago, I was constantly battling dandruff and dry skin. Id be anxious all the time and had no clue what caused all of this. After getting in touch with my friend and a doctor, I got diagnosed with Candidiasis.
As suggested by my doctor, I went on a diet that cut out all the yeast-forming foods. However, even after 3 months of a super strict diet, my skin and dandruff problem persisted. That is how I found out that the prolonged use of antibiotics might be responsible for candida overgrowth.
I was on antibiotics in my late twenties due to certain health issues. However, I didnt think of them being the reason behind candida overgrowth. It took me some time to realize that antibiotics can be one of the ways to cause a dysbiotic microbiome in my gut, leading to an environment that can increase candida overgrowth.
Thus, what could be done? Probiotics, of course! Here are my top 5 favorite probiotics that helped me with Candida and got rid of dandruff and skin problems.
