Probiotics are one of the most important parts of a Candida albicans cure. They are the good bacteria that live in your intestines and digest your food for you. They produce many beneficial chemicals and help process the waste for elimination. With them you are strong and healthy and full of energy - without them you would die!
The intestines have been called the second brain. They determine how you feel. If they intestines are unhappy, you are unhappy. Just try to smile and enjoy yourself when you have heartburn, gas, diarrhea or constipation!
When the intestines are unhappy, they are not functioning up to their full capacity. That means that a lot of the nutrients are not being digested and not all of the toxins are being cleared from the body.
An estimated 400 types of bacteria live in your gut. There are three pounds (nearly 100 trillion) of bacteria in your gut. That's trillion with a T! There are ten times more bacteria in your gut than there are cells in your body.
Many of the Candida albicans causes kill off the beneficial bacteria. Poor food choices feed the bad guys and harm the good. Chemicals in our food, air, water and cosmetics kill off the good. Antibiotics and other medicines kill or limit the growth of the good guys. All of these things adding together can lead to a Candida overgrowth.
Probiotics work to restore the normal flora in the gut. They do this first by competing with other organisms for nutrients. They also produce beneficial chemicals. These chemicals either increase your bodies immunity or make the environment less favorable for the bad guys to live.
Beneficial Chemicals Produced by Probiotics:
B Vitamins
Niacin
Folic Acid
Pyridoxine
Biotin
Vitamin K
Butyric Acid
May help prevent cancer
Lactic Acid *
Acetic Acid *
Short Chain Fatty Acids *
* These 3 lower the intestinal pH - making it too acidic for Candida to thrive
Hydrogen Peroxide
Makes the gut inhospitable to the Candida
Bacteriocins
Antimicrobial compounds that kill yeasts, viruses and bad bacteria
In addition to helping with your treatment for Candida albicans, pro-biotics can help many other conditions that may or may not be related to a Candida overgrowth.
Conditions Helped or Cured by Probiotics:
Allergies
Autoimmune Diseases
Weak Immune System
Digestive Problems
Acid Reflux
Bloating
Constipation
Diarrhea
Heartburn
Gas
Nausea
Travelers diarrhea
Eczema in Children
Food Allergies
Infections
Parasites
Uro-Genital Problems
While scientific proof is lacking, these beneficial bacteria may also improve skin health, and treat herpes infections.
The following types of bacteria have been shown to be beneficial as a treatment for Candida albicans as well as for overall health.
They are listed in order of importance from most important to least important. Many times they are abbreviated by using the first letter of the first word - L. Acidophilus for example.
Beneficial Types of Probiotics:
Lactobacillus Sporogenes
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
Bifidobacterium Bifidum
Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
Lactobacillus Reuteri
Lactobacillus Fermentum
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
Lactobacillus Casei
Bifidobacterium Brevum
Bifidobacterium Infantis
Lactobacillus Plantarum
Bifidobacterium Longum
Bacillus Subtilis
Bacillus Lichenformis
Lactobacillus Johnsonii
In order for the probiotics to have maximum effect, you need to follow a few guidelines.
Instructions for taking Probiotics:
Take on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before eating
Choose a brand that contains a mixture of live organisms from the list above
At the very least the product should have the top 3 on the list - more is better
Choose a brand that has an expiration date on the label
Avoid extreme heat or freezing as it will kill the bacteria
Certain brands must be kept refrigerated to keep the bacteria viable
Whether you are taking a probiotic to cure a Candida overgrowth or simply for overall health, the important thing is that you take them. They are vitally important to your health and numerous of the Candida albicans causes kill them off. Do yourself a favor and try some now.
Below I have a list of the brands that I have researched and like. Most of them have multiple strains of probiotics. I also list the dosage, costs, the contraindications and the references of the studies that show that pro-biotics can knock out your Candida overgrowth.
Dosage
Take between 1 and 20 billion viable (live) bacteria per day
Divide them into 3 or 4 doses during the day
Take on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before eating
Symptoms of toxicity from taking probiotics are rare.
One side effect most Candida sufferers will experience is "die-off" otherwise known as Herxheimer's Reaction. This is a detoxification reaction and not a counteraction to the product.
If any of these symptoms should occur - greater fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, muscle/joint aches or flu-like symptoms, temporarily cut back on the amount taken until the body can eliminate the toxic waste.
A few individuals have reported a slight headache due to detoxification. If this should occur, any common pain reliever seems to work to curb the discomfort.
Brudnak, Mark (2003) The Probiotic Solution: Nature’s Best-Kept Secret for Radiant Health. Dragon Door Publications. ISBN-093804575X
Goldberg, Israel (1994) Functional Foods: Designer Foods, Pharmafoods, Nutraceuticals. Chapman & Hall, Inc. ISBN-0412988518
Tortora, Gerard and Derrickson, Bryan (2005) Principles of Anatomy and Physiology – Eleventh Edition. Wiley. ISBN-0471689343
Drisko, J. et. al. (May 2003). "Pro-biotics in health maintenance and disease prevention". Altern Med Rev8 (2): 143-55. [Abstract]
Playne, M. and Salminen, S. (2002). "Health Benefits of Probiotics: Human studies and clinical trials". Nutrafoods1 (1): 5-11. [Link]
Huffnagle, Gary and Wernick, Sarah (2007) The Pro-biotics Revolution: The Definitive Guide to Safe, Natural Health Solutions Using Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods and Supplements. Bantam. ISBN-0553804928
Mindell, Earl (2004) Basic Health Publications User's Guide to Probiotics: Learn How "Healthy Bacteria" Can Help You Fight Infections and Restore Your Health. Basic Health Publications. ISBN-1591201144
Karpa, Kelly Dowhower (2006) Bacteria for Breakfast: Probiotics for Good Health. Trafford Publishing. ISBN-1412009251
Lee, Yuan-Kun, et al. (1999) Handbook of Probiotics - First Edition. Publisher. Wiley-Interscience. ISBN-047119025X
