What is Candida?
Candida albicans: (KAN’-di-duh, not kan-DEE’-duh) is a yeast-like fungal organism found in small amounts in the normal human intestinal tract. They are normally kept in check by the body’s own helpful bacteria, however left unchecked candida albicans can increase in numbers to cause candidiasis of the intestinal tract, or yeast infections of other parts of the body. Most people think of candida albicans as causing thrush and vaginal infections.
How does Candida become a Health Problem?
Candida is a natural yeast that lives in the intestinal tract along with many other organisms that make your intestines their home. These organisms are classified as both friendly and unfriendly. In a healthy gut there is a ratio of 85% friendly bacteria to 15% unfriendly. Candida is kept in balance by the friendly bacteria, however, sometimes things can happen that changes this natural helper to a menace. The beneficial bacteria is fragile and can easily be killed off by our modern living styles and medical practices. Our immune system is compromised by excessive use of antibiotics or steroids, exposure to environmental toxins (often mercury), oral contraceptives, overly-acidic pH levels from fast foods, stress, hormone imbalances, and chronic illness. Your exposure to one or more of these can set you on the path to Candida yeast overgrowth or Candidiasis.
When your immune systems is compromised, this fungal yeast can quickly multiply and overwhelm the beneficial flora that normally keeps the yeast levels in check. Fungal yeast, when freed from the beneficial flora actually changes or “morphs” to create a more aggressive, harmful type of fungal cell and develops long, burrowing legs. Without the necessary bacterial balance of friendly bacteria this Candida yeast proliferates in our intestines. This new aggressive yeast cell is able to move throughout the body, actually burrowing through the intestinal wall causing a variety of food allergies, baffling symptoms and chronic illnesses.
The Link Between Candida and Food Allergies
Candida is a major culprit in food allergies because of its ability to burrow through the intestinal wall. This creates an escape route for microscopic food particles to escape into our blood stream resulting in a disorder is called leaky gut syndrome.
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Simply put, leaky gut is when spaces develop between the cells of the gut wall. These spaces allow bacteria, toxins, and small food particles to leak into the blood stream. The medical term for this is called “increase in the permeability of the intestinal mucosa”. Leaky gut causes inflammation of the intestinal lining and damage of the villi which are cellular brush borders lining the intestinal tract. The damaged villi are then unable to produce the necessary enzymes and secretions essential to effectively digest and absorb nutrients. The leakage of harmful substances from the intestine is usually controlled by the immune system, however, eventually the immune system gets overwhelmed and ultimately allows these harmful substances to leave and enter the liver, thus increasing the burden on the liver. When the liver becomes overloaded it flushes it back into the blood system, and then all the body’s alarm systems are triggered. This is considered an attack to the immune system, so the circulatory system responds by pushing the harmful substances to the connective tissues and muscles. This is the body’s way of storing the harmful substances away in its inherent attempt to prevent major organ damage. If this continues for an extended amount of time, substances larger than particle size, such as disease causing bacteria, potentially toxic molecules, and undigested food particles, are ultimately allowed to pass directly through the damaged cell membrane directly into our bloodstream. This activates the alarm system of the body and causes an allergic reaction which causes the body to release something called histamine (which is in response to the cytokines or the alarm substance). These cytokines alert the lymphocytes (white blood cells) to fight the invading particles which result in oxidants being produced which in turn cause irritation and inflammation. These symptoms are particularly evident in symptoms of allergies, arthritis, fibromyalgia, bowel disorders, and chronic fatigue. In essence, general health declines when the gut is not healthy.
How can Candida be so harmful?
These fungal yeast cells in the human body ingest and thrive on the sugars and carbohydrates the person eats. They then eliminate alcohols and expel a large variety of poisons called mycotoxins (myco means fungal; toxins means poisons.) These mycotoxins create problems of their own throughout the body since the body is in essence being slowly poisoned in very unique ways according to the person’s individual vulnerabilities and lifestyle choices. This means that the Candida person is not only dealing with a yeast overgrowth but also the 79 or so toxic by-products, all of which are working to weaken their immune system. One of the major toxins produced from Candida is called acetaldehyde, which is transformed by the liver to ethanol (alcohol). This is what creates the feeling of intoxication and brain fog.
Who Typically Develops Candida Overgrowth?
Just about anyone can develop a Candida overgrowth, however, the parts of us that are weaker or compromised in some way are the first to show problems. One thing is for certain, the overuse of antibiotics is a huge contributor to the Candida overgrowth problem. Antibiotics kill off our beneficial flora without affecting the yeast cells so without the good bacteria to keep the yeast in check, our intestinal tracts are vulnerable to a Candida overgrowth. In addition, the typical American diet is full of sugar and refined carbohydrates which are the perfect food for Candida. Even the way our modern food industry packages “convenience” foods for long shelf-life and easy shipping is contributing. These types of foods are highly processed and made mostly from refined sugars and refined carbohydrates (which are not much better than sugar since they turn into sugar at an unnaturally fast rate once ingested).
Why is Candida so difficult to get rid of?
When Candida becomes systemic it is a tenacious tenant in your body - one not easy to evict. It thrives on our modern diet and can hide where traditional Candida treatment and therapies do not always reach: like our joints, organs, sinuses and other body tissues. Heavy metal burdens like mercury, lead and other toxins in the body encourage this fungal overgrowth while keeping the immune system compromised. Even the chlorine in our drinking kills our beneficial bacteria thus further encouraging the candida overgrowth.
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At the Center for Health and Healing, we provide Candida Albicans testing. Candida albicans is present in the digestive tract, mucous membranes and skin. In most cases, microorganisms are beneficial for digesting food for essential nutrients. However, if Candida gets out of balance, an infection known as Polysystemic Chronic Candidiasis can result. This imbalance can be caused by medications, pregnancy, hormone changes and impaired immune function. PCC affects people of all ages and genders.
The symptoms of PCC can affect multiple areas of the body. Some of the symptoms of PCC include:
- Cravings for carbohydrates
- Digestive problems, including bloating, cramping
- Depression
- Mood fluctuations
- Difficulty concentrating
- Joint or muscle aching
- General fatigue
- Weakness
- Urinary tract infections
- Headache
- Intolerance to certain food
- Weight gain
- Inability to lose weight
Testing for Candida albicans consists of two blood tests, which are designed to diagnose an overgrowth and PCC. As a result of this testing, eliminating sugars and yeast from the diet and restriction of carbohydrates helps to control the symptoms. If you suspect your symptoms may be the result of an overgrowth of Candida albicans, speak to your doctor about a Candida albicans test. We offer a wide variety of testing, including comprehensive Candida testing.
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