What Causes Candida Overgrowth
Some common culprits that often precede Candida overgrowth include:
- Antibiotic use
- Infection and diarrhea or vomiting
- Immunosenescence connected to older age
- Reduced saliva production, typically seen in older adults.5
- Immune suppression due to HIV or AIDS
- Some cancer treatments.
Antibiotic overuse is the leading cause of Candidiasis, meaning that we, as individuals and as a society, would be wise to restrict antibiotic use to when absolutely necessary. Clearly this message isnt getting through to animal agriculture, which accounts for 80% of all antibiotic use in the U.S. 6
Hormonal disruption can also create the conditions for Candidiasis, with a yeast infection more likely to arise in pregnancy, when taking oral contraceptives, and if you have diabetes.
Short Term Gain For Long Term Pain
As you can see, figuring out whether your dog has allergies, yeast or leaky gut is a difficult puzzle to solve. Thats why so many people get confused or frustrated with a skin disease diagnosis. The line is so fine between them and they often all go hand in hand.
Its a common occurrence. A dog starts to itch or gets an ear infection. You head to your veterinarian, get drugs, change diets, treat the itch, everything he has in his tool box to try and help. It goes away for a while, but then it comes back, sometimes with a vengeance. More drugs are layered on top of each other, diet after diet is tried, and allergy test after allergy test is done but the fact is your dog is still itchy and miserable.
So, your dog might find temporary relief and need to have some reprieve by using conventional drugs: antibiotics, steroids, anti-fungals, anti-yeasts, anti-inflammatories and antihistamines. But this relief can come with the potential for serious side effects. The drugs can suppress the underlying deeper disease so that once theyve run their course, the surviving cells multiply, repopulate and all the symptoms return. Or, if there is a chronic issue like leaky gut or allergies, we see an intense rebound effect.
When we really start to focus on finding out what your dog has, the vicious cycle has already started, making it harder to treat.
What Is Saccharomyces Boulardii
Even though the majority of probiotics are bacterial, some yeasts are good for your health because they are able to combat infections and reduce symptoms, like Saccharomyces boulardii, and S. cerevisiae. That’s why they’re probiotic.
Probiotics are live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host
Yeasts are microscopic fungi that make their home on and in living things. Most of the time, yeasts are harmless to humans, but sometimes they can cause infections or even make you drunk a very rare health condition called auto brewery syndrome.
Saccharomyces boulardii side effects are rare. However, if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction , you should discontinue treatment and seek medical help.
TIP Find out how to keep your gut healthy with the Atlas Microbiome Test and get personalised prebiotic food lists each week.
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Lactobacillus Benefits In Sourdough
Live Lactobacillus and other probiotic bacteria may have health benefits. Of course, the cooking process kills these bacteria. By this time though, the bacteria have already created lactic acid, which allows the vitamins and minerals present in the flour to be more easily digestible. The fermentation process helps to neutralize the phytates found in flour that inhibit absorption in yeast-leavened breads and also makes the overall glycemic index of sourdough breads lower, lessening your bodys spike in insulin production after eating it.
Dosage Guidelines For Probiotics
The Office of Dietary Supplements suggests that the optimal dose depends on the strain. However, keep in mind that probiotics are measured in colony-forming units instead of milligrams or milliliters.
Probiotic supplements can be found in pills, capsules, powders and liquids. You can also purchase a probiotic supplement combined with a prebiotic, which feeds the bacteria in your gut. Using both in conjunction means you are taking a synbiotic product.
Always read the dosage label on the product and follow the instructions carefully. It’s best to start out with a lower dose until you know how the supplement might affect you. Once you’ve taken some and confirm you dont experience any adverse reactions, you can gradually increase the dose as needed.
Storing your probiotic supplement is another factor you want to consider. Some strains are fragile and must be protected from humidity, heat, light or oxygen. If they are exposed to elements, it’s possible for the probiotic to break down or die. Remember, you are dealing with living organisms. Read the label to determine if you should refrigerate the probiotic or if you can store it somewhere else. Additionally, don’t ever take a probiotic or any supplement once the product has expired.
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One Wonders How Do These Untruths Get Started
Many times its decent research that has been misconstrued by a non-doctor who is writing an article for a magazine. The science or health writer doesnt fully comprehend the science and takes what they do understand and runs with it. Compound the lack of full understanding with the desire to entice readers, and you have untruths spreading like wildfire.
Take the 2011 research published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The authors were simply trying to create a bread that wouldnt bother those suffering from celiac disease, despite it containing wheat flour certainly a goal-worthy endeavor.
Lets see where the confusion arose by starting with what the researchers actually did.
First note this was a very small study 13 individuals started only 11 completed the full 60 days. The researchers took celiacs whose disease was fully under control and put them in 1 of 3 groups and fed them bread for 60 days 7 ounces per day, equivalent to about 4 to 7 slices per day.
Group 1 was fed regular bread with over 80,000 ppm of gluten Now you see what kind of hit you get from gluten. Not surprisingly, 2 out of 6 celiacs in this group were forced to drop out because they became so ill. And everyone in this group was discovered to suffer adverse effects based on follow-up blood and biopsy results. Again, no surprise, they were eating bread.
How do you think this group did?
Standard sourdough bread is NOT gluten-free and wont be, based on how its typically made.
The Health Benefits Of Oligofructose
They derive from plant fiber and occur naturally in a diverse variety of foods such as whole grains, onions, garlic, leeks, Jerusalem artichoke and chicory root. As a supplement, they are both available as a pure white powder, which has a slight natural, sweet taste and dissolves readily in any fluid. However, inulin and oligofructose are different in the way they act and where they act.
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Probiotics As An Antimicrobial
Organisms of the genus Lactobacillus have been traditionally used as probiotics for decades, and they are deemed worthy as an alternative biological approach to combat bacterial and fungal pathogens in the oral cavity, GI tract, and urogenital system . It is noteworthy that the antimicrobial effect of probiotic bacteria is strain-specific hence, the selection of probiotics for therapeutic purposes should be targeted for specific pathogens and their beneficial effects cannot be generalized . In addition, there are reports of putative antiviral effects of probiotics, mainly against respiratory viral pathogens, in people of all ages .
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Yogurt With Probiotics For Yeast Infections
Using yogurt with probiotics for yeast infections is very common, although it has been considered by many health experts highly controversial. Next to some cases where it was found as very useful, there were many reported cases where consuming yogurt with probiotics caused side effects such as bloating, gas and other digestive issues. The research data also shows this conflict: one study found that consuming yogurt with probiotics for yeast infections did benefit some people, while other did not not see any benefits. The conclusion of the study was that more studies are needed .
As we mentioned, yogurt and other probiotic foods may not be the best fit when you have yeast infection due potential sensitives to dairy, as well as potential contamination risks that are very common with store-bought probiotic foods. The bottom line: it is much safer and effective to get your probiotics for yeast infection from probiotic supplements.
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Candida Overgrowth In The Gut
The most common signs for Candida overgrowth in the gut is severe bloating and flatulence, an intense craving for sugar and sweets, strong fatigue especially after meals, and a thick, white coating on your tongue. Candida overgrowth in the gut may also be accompanied by changes in mood, particularly increased irritability, anxiety and restlessness .
What To Know About Inulin
Inulin, on the other hand, is a larger, more complex molecule. Because it takes the colons bacteria much longer to ferment inulin, there is more available to the bacteria that reside in the rest of the colon, mostly on the left side. Like oligofructose, inulin is somewhat effective on its own but really needs another quick-fermenting fiber to provide the optimal beneficial health effects. Unfortunately, foods with these prebiotics are rather low in the oligofructose component, so an ideal formula would be one where the basic inulin would be enriched with oligofructose.
Inulin and oligofructose are the two most natural and beneficial prebiotics we know.
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Why Didn’t Scientists Previously Know About Probiotics
Scientists have had limited knowledge of probiotics since the late 19th century. The first Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov, did pioneering work on the immune benefits of yogurt.
Efficient DNA sequencing technology perfected in 1996 allowed scientists to fully research probiotics. Since 1996, thousands of probiotics research articles have been published in the most prestegious scientific journals.
Since 2009, there has been even more ground-breaking research on how much probiotics affect every aspect of our health. The combination of new research, increased media reporting and people reporting amazing results have driven a large increase of interest in probiotics.
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.
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Do They Actually Work
You can find a ton of anecdotal information about eating yogurt or applying it to your vagina for yeast infection relief people have been doing it for centuries!
But what does the research say? Unfortunately, not much.
A 2015 study compared the effectiveness of clotrimazole, an antifungal vaginal cream, with a mixture of yogurt and honey.
In that study, the yogurt and honey mixture was more effective than clotrimazole at relieving symptoms, but critics have questioned the soundness of the research. The study was very small and much more research is needed.
Another 2015 study showed some Lactobacillus strains were effective against Candida glabrata. However, infections with Candida glabrata are less common and dont always respond to the same treatments as Candida albicans.
So the answer is maybe it could work, theoretically?
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How Long Can I Use Florastor
Long-term use of Florastor has not been associated with any complications. After repeated oral doses, Florastor transits through the digestive tract attaining steady-state levels that are maintained throughout use. Florastor is no longer present in stools two to five days after discontinuation of treatment.
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Signs Your Probiotics Are Working
Probiotics include a variety of good bacteria responsible for keeping your gut in healthy balance. A disruptive gut may lead to serious health issues, including diarrhea, constipation, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, and skin problems. It’s probably one of the primary reasons why you started using probiotic supplements in addition to any other tricks you’ve tried .
But is there a way to determine whether these supplements are working or not? Well, multiple signs can provide you with peace of mind. But before we start talking about these signs, let’s look at how probiotics work.
This Is The Best Type Of Bread To Eat For Good Gut Health
According to Healthline, making sourdough is one of the oldest forms of baking bread. Per the outlet, instead of relying on traditional yeast to help it rise, sourdough utilizes the natural ingredients already in the mix, like wild yeast and various strains of bacteria. This lactic acid bacteria works in a similar way to the bacteria thats also present in other fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi. If youve seen the sourdough starter stories on social media, this is what it contains.
Keeping your gut flora healthy serves as an integral piece of various biological processes. With sourdoughs high level of gut-healthy bacteria and low level of gluten, it offers people an alternative to many conventional options. Sourdough is a better form of white bread, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz told Bustle. The fermentation process reduces the gluten content and enhances the bioavailability of nutrients in the flour.
Basically, the bacteria from the starter aids in various processes that enhance nutrients in the bread.
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Do I Need To Take Probiotics After I Take Antibiotics
Antibiotic medications are often needed to fight an infection. However, while antibiotics are killing the bad bacteria, they are also knocking out the good bacteria in your body. Some people develop conditions like diarrhea after taking an antibiotic. In other people, this may allow for really bad bacteria to take over and populate the gut, such as with C. diff. Some research has shown a positive connection between taking probiotics after an antibiotic and relief from diarrhea. This hasnt been proven yet and doesnt work for everyone.
The thought behind adding probiotics back into your body after taking an antibiotic is that it can repopulate the good bacteria that was destroyed by the antibiotics and re-boot your system. The extra good bacteria helps repopulate your gut and fight off any remaining bad bacteria. Many people feel that adding in probiotics wont hurt, might help you feel better a little faster and prevent diarrhea.
Myth #: Most Industrial
Fact: Industrial probiotics can be found in a variety of forms: as food and beverages, dietary supplements, and in animal nutrition products.
Artisanal processes for producing fermented foods have been with us for millennia, but as science increasingly recognizes the beneficial effects of probiotic microorganisms including in applications beyond food and beverage industrial-scale production has exploded.
The major industrial probiotics sectors include food and beverage, dietary supplements, and animal nutrition. Altogether, the estimated market size for all three probiotic sectors combined globally is on the order of USD $50-60 billion2 and spans a range of companies in food, agriculture, and biotech.
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How To Prevent Yeast Infections In Dogs Ears & Paws
Yeast always needs a warm, moist environment to flourish. But again, they are opportunists and a byproduct, so there are a few factors to consider for yeast prevention.
Consider their environment
Is their routine playing a part in recurrent issues?
Maybe your lab loves to swim in your local pond or lake, but its a hotbed for bacteria, fungi, and microbes. Be diligent and bathe them after every adventure. And be sure to dry the inside of their ears.
And their anatomy
Any dog can get a yeast infection, but there those chosen breeds the floppy-eared dogs, the smoosh faces who are more likely than others to develop grease and phlegm buildup in their ears and bodies.
If this is the case for your pup, it really just comes down to awareness and taking the necessary precautions. Clean their ears, wipe their folds and then give them extra scratches for sitting through it.
A real solution one that gets to the true underlying issue of yeast infections and makes the biggest difference for your d.o.g. can take time. Turn to that mug and remind yourself that this is to get them back to their glorious selves, and doing what they love. Take a breath and focus up because youre about to tackle this yeast!
If you have questions or comments, dont hesitate to reach out, or drop a line in the comments below! Were here to lend a helping paw, and that includes personalized recommendations for your four-legger.
Probiotics And Gut Health
The best case for probiotic therapy has been in the treatment of diarrhea. Controlled trials have shown that Lactobacillus GG can shorten the course of infectious diarrhea in infants and children . Although studies are limited and data are inconsistent, two large reviews, taken together, suggest that probiotics reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 60%, when compared with a placebo.
More common than diarrhea is the opposite problem constipation. In a search for studies on the benefits of probiotics in treating constipation, researchers found that probiotics slowed “gut transit time” by 12.4 hours, increases the number of weekly bowel movements by 1.3, and helped to soften stools, making them easier to pass. But the jury is still out on specific recommendations when it comes to the benefits of
Probiotic therapy may also help people with Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Clinical trial results are mixed, but several small studies suggest that certain probiotics may help maintain remission of ulcerative colitis and prevent relapse of Crohn’s disease and the recurrence of pouchitis . Because these disorders are so frustrating to treat, many people are giving probiotics a try before all the evidence is in for the particular strains they’re using. More research is needed to find out which strains work best for what conditions.
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