Probiotics Strengthen Your Immune System
Did you know that more than 70 percent of your immune tissue is in your gut? The cells lining your gut are the first line of defence between your internal body systems and external pathogens. Probiotics can strengthen those defences.
Any disease-causing microbes that enter your body need to pass through several defence systems in your gastrointestinal tract before reaching the bloodstream.
The microflora of your gut is constantly on the lookout for incoming pathogens. Probiotic bacteria work to fight these pathogens by increasing your bodys production of antibodies. They also regulate acidity in your gut, which is another part of your immune systems defences.
Regular infections, along with some diseases and autoimmune conditions, are linked to an imbalance of bacteria in the gut and a misfiring immune system.
Focusing On Sleep Exercise And Stress Reduction
There are other lifestyle factors besides diet that affect your gut health . We think about the buckets of stress, movement, and sleep, Johnston says. If these things are not optimized, meaning youre not getting enough sleep, youre getting very little exercise, youre feeling extremely stressed, those things can further exacerbate Candida and cause an imbalance in the body.
Namely, factors like sleep, exercise and stress all impact your gut microbiome . If your gut microbiome is already imbalanced, stacking less-than-optimal sleep, movement and stress patterns on top of it can worsen the imbalance.
To increase your chances of balancing out Candida, make sleep, movement and stress reduction a priority.
Aim to get at least seven hours of sleep per night, as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. Find a calming activity you can do an hour or two before bed to help lower stress and get your body ready for sleep. Johnston recommends meditation, journaling, reading, taking a hot bath or shower, and easy movement like yoga, stretching or walking.
Benefits Of Fermented Foods
While the risks of eating fermented foods might turn you off for good, its important to remember that fermented foods are perfectly fine for those who have their yeast in check. In fact, fermented foods actually come with a range of health benefits. While fermentation began as a way to preserve food, eating fermented foods can help your guts beneficial bacteria produce essential nutrients. Other benefits of eating fermented foods include:
- Support digestive function
- Reduce the risk of autoimmune disease
- Support immune function
- Impact allergy and eczema symptoms
- Support a healthy inflammatory response
- Impact cholesterol levels
- Balance your hormones, boost your mood, and relieve stress
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Should You Take Probiotics With Or Without Food
While the time of day may not matter too much, taking probiotics with meals can help ensure you reap the full benefits of the bacteria.
Research has shown that in order to maximize the benefits from probiotics, they must first survive the journey through the acidic environment of your gastrointestinal tract. This allows them to reach the small intestine and colonize the gut, which is the whole point of taking them.
Most research suggests taking probiotics either while you are eating or just before you start eating. This is when your stomach is least acidic, so it will maximize the survivability of the bacteria.
Another option is to take a delayed-release probiotic supplement. These are tablets or capsules that are designed to withstand the harsh environment of your stomach, enabling the bacteria to survive the passage through to your intestines.
The most effective form of time-release technology is BIO-tract. BIO-tract is a form of delayed-release tablet that uses patented technology to protect the probiotic bacteria from stomach acid for longer. These tablets are made of natural, high-grade raw ingredients and release their bacteria over 8-10 hours.
The probiotic that I recommend is the Balance ONE Probiotic. It uses BIO-tract technology to protect its bacteria from stomach acid, contains 15 billion CFUs of bacteria, has 12 probiotic strains, and is made in the USA. Its the only probiotic that I recommend for Candida overgrowth.
Ways To Prevent A Yeast Infection That Every Woman Should Know
Causes of yeast infection
- Changes in hormonal level during your menstrual cycle
- Antibiotics and other drugs
- A weak immune system
A yeast infection is not an STD but it can still spread through sexual contact. The infection can also spread through the mouth, throat and tongue- this is commonly known as thrush.
Contracting a yeast infection can be unpleasant, but avoiding the infection is simple once you have the basics down. All it takes is a few simple changes to your daily routine and habits. Here are five easy ways to ensure that you dont get a yeast infection:
Probiotics are the good bacteria that are important for a healthy immune system. Eating foods that are rich in probiotics is great for your digestive system as they have the ability to prevent yeast infections. Yoghurt is an excellent probiotic food that contains Lactobacillus acidophilus. This is good bacteria that helps you maintain a healthy pH value and encourages the growth of a beneficial microbiome in your body.
While there is no conclusive evidence that eating yoghurt prevents yeast infections, it is great for maintaining overall vaginal health. It is recommended to eat a small cup of unsweetened yoghurt every day to give your body a boost of extra-good bacteria. Its important that you dont eat yoghurt that has added sugar because this can actually encourage candida growth.
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Are There Times When You Shouldnt Take Probiotics
Probiotics are designed to boost the immune system, and there is substantial evidence that they do just that. However, this may not be a desirable outcome for someone taking immunosuppressants, as their immune system is likely to be downregulated.
Although probiotics are generally safe and not known to interact with the majority of medications or supplements, its always best to check with your doctor or health professional that a probiotic supplement will fit in with your own medications.
White Or Grey Discharge
If you have genital thrush, you may develop white or grey vaginal discharge that may be thick, and is often described as looking like cottage cheese. It doesnt have a bad smell.9
Other candida symptoms include: Mood swings, chronic sinusitis, constipation, food sensitivities, PMS and fungal toenails.10
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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.
Adding Medication When Needed
While diet and lifestyle changes radically increase your chances of decreasing Candida, sometimes, Candida overgrowth calls for stronger measures: When the growth is significant, we use all the tools at our disposal and treat the overgrowth with prescription-strength antifungals, Dr. Wallman says. The antifungals are similar to what you might take to treat an infection, only you take them at a slightly lower dose for a longer period of time, she adds.
You stand the best chance of balancing out your gut if you take a multi-pronged approach that addresses a variety of lifestyle changeslike sleep, stress, and movementand incorporates supplements and prescription medications when needed.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Candida In The Gut
Symptoms of this yeast overgrowth can manifest in such a wide variety of ways that it can sometimes be as tricky to identify as it can be to address. In the first instance, any undiagnosed symptoms should always be discussed with a doctor, so that any appropriate clinical tests can be conducted, and more serious conditions ruled out.
Candida overgrowth in the gut can be associated with a history of high sugar consumption , severe stress or taking antibiotic/steroid/birth control medication. Anything that upsets the delicate balance of beneficial vs pathogenic microbes in the gut microbiome can be a factor.
Symptoms can include diarrhoea/constipation, bloating, belching, rectal itching, a white coating to the tongue, food intolerances, and a propensity towards stomach upsets. These local symptoms can be uncomfortable enough, however, another possible side effect of Candida overgrowth is intestinal permeability . As the Candida yeast burrows into and compromises the delicate intestinal mucosa, Candida can eventually leach through into the bloodstream. Once it has become systemic, it can affect multiple body organs and other areas beyond the digestive system.
Treatment For Candida And Sibo
Both SIBO and Candida relate to the overgrowth of bacteria and fungi, respectively. The goal of the treatment being employed is three-pronged. The first is to stop the growth, and the second is to enhance the presence of the good bacteria and restore the balance of the microorganisms in our GI tract. The third step is to seal off the gut and repair it.
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Candida Overgrowth Is One Of The Biggest Problems We See In The Children We Work With
In most cases, candida overgrowth in the gut develops as a result of excessive antibiotic use, as well as bad eating habits with a diet high in processed carbohydrates and sugars. Candida species in the gut create lots of nasty chemicals. Ammonia is one of those chemicals and in some cases, you can even smell ammonia in the urine. Kids with high ammonia levels tend to be clumsy with poor balance and seem to bump into everything. Another one of the major yeast toxic metabolites is gliotoxin. This is a sulfur-containingmycotoxin and is usually a major problem for those who have had persistent exposure to a mouldy environment. So if you have never been in that kind of environment but have high levels of gliotoxins in your urine test , then think candida overgrowth! The third and most well known of the toxic metabolites of yeast is acetyl aldehyde. This is basically alcohol which makes kids act as if they are drunk. Have you noticed your child giggling or crying for no reason? I often see these symptoms in kids who are spaced out and unable to focus and learn.
What Causes Recurrent Yeast Infections
While its not entirely clear what causes some women to get recurring yeast infections, there are a number of risk factors that can predispose you to it.
These risk factors for developing yeast factors include:
- Things that alter your normal hormone balance, including pregnancy, birth control pills, and estrogen therapy
- Frequent antibiotic use, which kills the beneficial bacteria that normally keep Candidas population under control
- Conditions that affect your immune system, particularly HIV
- Obesity, which provides more areas of moisture and warmth in which Candida can grow
- Clothing that is tight-fitting and synthetic, keeping the vaginal area moist and warm
In some cases, this may be the result of an allergic reaction to Candida after the initial yeast infection.
Recurring yeast infections may also be the result of an intestinal or vaginal reservoir of Candida. About 20 percent of women are colonized by Candida this colonization doesnt cause symptoms until the balance of microbial communities is altered by antibiotic use, hormonal changes, and other factors.
Sex can also be a risk factor for chronic yeast infections due to spermicidal condoms , C. albicans in the mouth , and glycerin-based lubricants.
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Which Glutathione Supplement Is Best*
I really like transdermal glutathione like the one by Neurobiologix which is ideal for the sensitive kids who cant tolerate oral supplements. I also really like the liposomal supplement by Research Nutritionals** I have found the watermelon flavoured one is very palatable a lot of them taste a bit nasty! For the super tricky kids, I like the glutathione patches by Patch MD which I have used more recently with good success. When using the patches for a really sensitive individual I ask the parents to use it for just a couple of hours to start with and remove it after that time. You can then build on this and increase the time it is kept on. The company recommends that it is kept on for 8 hours. Whatever you decide to do it is imperative that you are consistent in order to get good results. You can also use other products like taurine, NAC, milk thistle, and selenium to raise glutathione levels.
How Many Probiotics Do I Need
It is advised to take probiotics that contain at least 1 billion colony forming units . These assist in establishing and further growing the amount of healthy bacterias in your body. Any decent probiotic will have between 1-10 billion CFUs, but the particular dose will depend on the unique probiotic and how it was manufactured.
Natural probiotics are also an excellent source if you would prefer to forego supplements. However, this option will make it significantly more difficult to get enough CFUs, as supplements are specially designed to administer a large, concentrated dose of the best probiotics for your body.
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The Benefits Of Probiotics For Candida And Your Health
The beneficial effects of probiotics range from improved digestion of food and the manufacture of vitamins in the gut to supporting your immune system. Probiotics also increase the nutritional value of some foods by improving the way they are broken down and absorbed in the gut.
Many people arent aware of the immune-boosting effects of probiotics. Numerous studies have shown that probiotics inhibit the spread of disease-causing bacteria and yeast by regulating the acidic environment in the gut. Some strains even produce their own type of natural antibiotics.
As well as boosting the immune system, probiotics can help to prevent various conditions such as urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, and inflammatory bowel disease.
For optimal results, probiotic supplementation should be accompanied by a healthy diet and other lifestyle factors. Antibiotics, high levels of sugar, stress, pollutants and other negative lifestyle factors can all destroy healthy bacteria in the gut and allow pathogens like Candida to overgrow. The key is balance in every aspect of daily life!
Here are 6 of the most important benefits from taking a probiotic supplement:
Triple Up On Probiotics
The next best step to reduce candida is to take a quality probiotic supplement. This will add beneficial bacteria to the gut to support its recovery.
If you suspect you have candida overgrowth, I would stop the diagnostic road right there and try a good probiotic protocol, says Ruscio, pointing to studies showing that probiotics can work just as well as prescription antifungals in treating yeast. Most people will see an improvement.
Ruscio recommends a three-tier approach: a Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium blend, the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii , and a soil-based probiotic.
A one-legged stool supports balance, but its a very wobbly balance. Using three different probiotics is adding two more legs to your stool, which gives greater balance to the entire ecosystem.
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Can You Be Tested For Candida
Yes, you can. There are a few different ways you can be tested for it by your GP or other medical professional. They include doing a:17
Changing Your Diet May Help Prevent Yeast Infections
Theres some evidence that sugar may help promote the growth of yeast.
Yeasts affinity for sweets has prompted some experts to suggest that diet may be a risk factor for some women when it comes to developing yeast infections.
In fact, some people follow a so-called yeast infection diet, or candida diet, on the theory that eliminating certain foods may eliminate or at least greatly reduce the risk of yeast overgrowth.
Proponents of these regimens claim that a yeast infection diet can help to cure or prevent yeast infections by eliminating:
- Foods containing simple sugars, including many fruits
- White flour and other glutenous grains
- Anything fermented with yeast, such as alcoholic drinks
- Some dairy products, including whole milk
The diet recommends sticking to foods like green vegetables, protein , nuts, and herbal tea.
While anecdotal evidence abounds, the candida diet is not supported by rigorous scientific research.
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Are Any Probiotics Not Recommended For Candida
In general, there arent any probiotics that are contraindicated in Candida overgrowth in fact, most probiotic bacteria offer some degree of anti-Candida potential through competitive inhibition/competitive exclusion and by lowering the pH in the intestines like most pathogens, this troublesome yeast prefers an alkaline environment.
There is however some debate over whether an anti-Candida protocol should include prebiotics, in the form of fructo-oligosaccharides or inulin. One opinion is that prebiotics can feed the Candida, and potentially worsen the dysbiosis. However, others believe that the positive effects of taking prebiotics from a high-quality source, such as encouraging the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut, and increasing short-chain-fatty-acid production outweigh any potential negatives. If you are interested in finding out more about the debate you can read our blog over on the Probiotics Learning Lab, ‘Does FOS feed bad bacteria?‘
