Candidiasis is an infection caused by an overgrowth of the Candida albicans organism – a tiny common yeast/fungus that lives in the mouth, throat, digestive tract, genitourinary tract, and on the skin of healthy people. Under normal conditions, candida lives in healthy balance with the other bacteria in the body. It is essentially harmless and in its yeast form is of no concern to us.
One of the most important responsibilities of our beneficial bacteria is to keep Candida albicans under control. Active colonies of friendly bacteria are so vigilant in keeping these organisms from finding attachment sites, they seldom cause problems. Trouble begins, however, when the candida is allowed to rocket out of control and transform itself from an innocuous yeast into a dangerous pervasive fungus. Candida microbes are opportunistic and will jump at any chance to increase their territory.
It’s important to understand the difference between yeast and fungi. Fungi are members of the plant kingdom. Yeasts and moulds are a sub-group of the fungi family. These types of organisms live on the surfaces of living things – including fruits, vegetables, grains, and our skin. Unlike most plants, yeast has no roots and absorbs its nutrients from enzymes excreted by the organic material on which it lives. In small amounts, yeast in not harmful. The candida yeast is a particularly sneaky one – it can change from its rootless yeast form into an aggressive and tenacious fungus that puts down roots. The prongs (hyphea) of these roots can actually penetrate the lining of the intestines and then the intestinal wall is breached, partially digested food particles, toxic waste, yeast breakdown products, and other materials are able to pass directly into the bloodstream. Because these particles don’t belong in the blood, the immune system is called into action to fight these invaders. When this happens over and over again, it causes a constant drain on the immune system cells, resulting in a general weakening of the immune system. Eventually the immune system will be unable to handle the undigested food particles and our bodies become intolerant to these foods.
Due to the effects of oestrogen, birth control pills, and the use of antibiotics, women are at a much higher risk of experiencing candidiasis than men and, usually, the term "yeast infection" is thought of as a woman's problem. But this isn't true - men can get it and many children are born with it. When a baby is born it should have a robust immune system and when we see a young baby who is sick with ear infections, colds, and other viral type illnesses all the time, it is usually screaming "candida". The baby probably got it from its mother, and antibiotic use in the first few years of life set up problems for later on. By the time the child is three or four they will usually have tubes in the ears or allergy medicines for symptoms that are caused by the yeast (not true allergies) that are being made stronger everyday by the antibiotics - and the cycle continues!
Since virtually any system can be affected, candidiasis can trigger a multitude of symptoms:
Causes of Candida:
Antibiotics: prolonged antibiotic use is believed to be the most important factor in the development of candidiasis as they suppress the immune system and kill normal intestinal bacteria that prevent yeast overgrowth. Drugs such as nystatin and other anti-candida agents rarely produce significant long-term results because they do not address the underlying factors that promote candida overgrowth. Without friendly bacteria, our first line of defence against candida is eliminated, and these organisms are free to proliferate.
Dietary factors: sugar is the chief nutrient for candida albicans. Avoiding sugar (which may appear on labels as fructose, maltose, dextrose, corn syrup, molasses, sorbitol, maltodextrin, honey, or maple syrup) is absolutely essential. Fruit juice, which concentrates fruit sugars, should also be avoided. Milk and dairy products should be restricted or eliminated because of the milk sugar, lactose. Milk is also one of the most common allergens and may contain trace levels of antibiotics which can further disrupt gastrointestinal flora and promote candida overgrowth. Mould and yeast-containing foods, including alcohol, cheeses, dried fruits, and peanuts, should be eliminated from the diet until the situation is under control.
Food allergies: Food allergies are commonly found in people suffering from chronic candidiasis.
Decreased digestive secretions: gastric hydrochloric acid, pancreatic enzymes, and bile all inhibit the overgrowth of candida and prevent its penetration into the absorptive surfaces of the small intestine. Digestive enzymes are also responsible for keeping the small and large intestines free from parasites, not only yeast but also bacteria and intestinal worms – a lack of digestive secretions greatly increases the risk for an intestinal infection, including chronic candidiasis. Anti-ulcer drugs such as Tagamet and Zantac, which shut down hydrochloric acid production, actually develop candida overgrowth in the stomach. Other causes of inadequate acid secretion in the stomach can be exposure to toxic pollution (such as DDT), marijuana smoking, excessive coffee consumption, and deficiency of the mineral zinc, essential for the body to make adequate stomach acid. Impaired immunity: People with chronic candidiasis typically suffer with other chronic infections such as repeated viral infections (including the common cold), outbreaks of cold sores, and prostatic (men) or vaginal (women) infections. Events such as antibiotic or steroid use, food allergy, stress, or a high sugar diet can suppress the immune system, allowing candida to overgrow and become entrenched in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract where it completes for, and robs the body of, nutrients, rendering the body more susceptible to further infection. Candida albicans is referred to as a ‘poly-antigenic’ organism because it secrets so many toxins and antigens (compounds the body sees as ‘foreign invaders’ and against which it develops antibodies). Candida greatly taxes the immune system, draining many of its resources.
Impaired liver function: Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that impaired liver function suppresses the immune system. In mice studies, when the liver is even slightly damaged, candida runs rampant through the body. Indications of an excessively taxed liver include being more than 20lbs overweight, diabetes (high blood sugar), gallstones (inadequate bile secretion), history of viral hepatitis, history of heavy alcohol use (increases intestinal permeability and raises blood sugar levels), psoriasis, use of anabolic steroids, HRT, oral contraceptives, high exposure to certain chemicals, drugs, cleaning solvents, pesticides, antibiotics, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (aspirin, ibuprofen), and thyroid hormone.
Viral illness: Continuous infections such as Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus (a form of herpes) slow down immune system cells, making them less able to deal with candida overgrowth.
Misc: Other causes for yeast overgrowth include hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and diabetes. Wearing nylon underwear is another common culprit. Synthetic materials cause increased perspiration, creating a warm, moist environment that is perfect for candida growth.
