Yeast Problems and Diet

            Yeast is a microorganism that grows in warm, moist areas that have sugar as a food source. Everyone has yeast somewhere in their body—it’s a natural situation. It is present in the large intestine, and often as a thin white layer at the back of the tongue. A strong immune system and “friendly” bacteria inside our gut act to keep yeast levels in check. However, if a person’s immune system is not functioning correctly, or if they don’t have the right amount of friendly bacteria, yeast overgrowth (candidiasis) can occur. Candida albicans is a single-celled fungus, and it is this species which appears to cause the most yeast-related problems for people. It can penetrate the lining of the gut, which can worsen food allergies and food sensitivities. Candida overgrowth in the vagina can cause a painful infection.

             In fact, yeast overgrowth is much more common in women than men (1). Candida overgrowth can spread to the ears, fingernails and/or toenails, ears, and nose. If candidiasis becomes severe and uncontrolled, the yeast can actually invade multiple organs and cause life-threatening health problems. Certain diseases can also contribute to Candida overgrowth, including: HIV infection, diabetes, and cancer. Causes of candidiasis can include: steroid medication, alcohol use, a high-sugar diet, chronic antibiotic use, oral contraceptive use, and parasites.

             There are many different symptoms of candidiasis. Neurological symptoms can include: chronic fatigue, memory loss, alcohol intolerance, and depression. Gastrointestinal symptoms can include: food allergies and sensitivities, heartburn, cramps, gas and bloating, and diarrhea or constipation. Genitourinary symptoms can include: impotence and/or prostatitis for males, and vaginal and/or urinary tract infections for females. Other symptoms can include: jock itch, athlete’s foot, rectal itching, and severe premenstrual syndrome. There is often a craving for alcohol, sweets, or breads.

            Like most fungus, Candida grows in moist, warm areas. This can include areas on and inside the body such as the mouth, throat, lower intestine (which is alkaline pH), and vagina. Alkaline pH can support infection, including yeast infection. This is why areas like the vagina are normally acidic, to help inhibit infections. Candida infection of the mouth is called thrush. The tongue and other areas inside the mouth end up covered with a fluffy white layer of fungus.

             Many people mistakenly believe that organisms like fungi and yeast are harmless organisms. However, yeast toxin damage in the body is widespread and can include: hormonal problems to the thyroid, testes, adrenals, and/or ovaries, staph infections, impaired immune response, fatty acid imbalances, decreased absorption and/or metabolism of nutrients, impaired circulation, impaired neurotransmission, and decreased protein metabolism (2).

            There are a variety of over-the-counter drugs to help fight Candida infection of the skin, and these are generally safe if used properly. There are also some anti-yeast prescription drugs to fight Candida internally. Miconazole (Monistat) is a popular antifungal cream for vaginal yeast infections. Nystatin is an older drug that is relatively safe, although as mentioned elsewhere in this article, some holistic practitioners believe that, even if it does kill Candida, in the long term it is ineffective at controlling general fungal infections. They speculate that the drug simply forces the yeast strain into a different form (3). It may be that Nystatin does in fact kill specific strains of yeast such as Candida albicans, but it may leave other species of fungus relatively unharmed, and these species then fill the void that albicans left. Fluconazole (Diflucan) is a newer antifungal drug that unfortunately can have liver toxicity and multiple drug interactions as side effects.

            Holistic treatment of candidiasis can be complicated, since there are so many variables in the causes and symptoms for this illness. Below are a few helpful tips in combating yeast overgrowth. Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, pineapple, and grapefruit may worsen Candida infection in some people. Try eliminating these fruits for a few weeks and then reintroduce them one at a time, to see if you are sensitive to their yeast-promoting character. People with significant intestinal candidiasis may have low levels of stomach acid (4); they should check this with a physician. Finally, when a person uses various therapies described below for controlling yeast infections, they may actually feel worse for a couple of weeks. This may often be due to the yeast being killed off, and their toxins being released into the bloodstream. People who feel worse while starting a yeast-controlling program should continue unless the dead yeast toxin symptoms are intolerable.

            To help the immune system and friendly bacteria defeat Candida, sugar intake must be eliminated. This includes fructose (fruit sugar), which some people think is a healthy form of sugar, but it is not. Fructose goes into the same biochemical pathway as sucrose (table sugar). People with candidiasis should also avoid food molds: fermented foods, cheese, mushrooms, and grapes. Even sweetened yogurt should be avoided, since the added sugar in the yogurt outweighs the benefits of the friendly acidophilus bacteria in the yogurt. Unsweetened yogurt is the best form. Unsweetened yogurt may inhibit yeast infections (5). It’s not recommended to apply yogurt in the vagina or other areas where yeast infections are on the skin. A good anti-yeast diet can include: eggs, fish, nuts/seeds, poultry, vegetables, meat, and small amounts of whole grains (1).

             There are several different supplements that can help the body keep yeast under control. Iron supplements may help oral candidiasis (mouth and throat infection) (6). Experiments on mice showed that zinc supplementation increased resistance to Candida infection (7). Supplemental digestive enzymes such as chymotrypsin, lactase, pancrelipase, papain, pepsin, and trypsin may be helpful for keeping intestinal Candida in check by the improved digestion of foods. There are also additional methods to help keep yeast in check. Women with vaginitis who ate eight ounces of yogurt containing the friendly probiotic Acidophilus significantly reduced Candida infection (8). Tea tree oil can be used to treat external Candida infections (8). Tea tree oil should never be used internally, either by ingestion or as a vaginal douche. Oregano oil has antifungal activity against Candida (9).

References:

1. Haas, E. Staying Healthy with Nutrition. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 1992. 

2. Golan, R. Optimal Wellness. New York, NY: Ballantine Books/Random House, 1995. 

3. Burton Goldberg Group. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. Tiburon, CA: Future Medicine Publishing, Inc., 1997.

4. Werbach, M. Nutritional Influences on Illness, 2nd Ed. Tarzana, CA: Third Line Press, 1996.

5. The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs. Pleasantville, NY: Reader’s Digest Association, 1999.

6. Fletcher, J., et. al. Mouth Lesions in iron-deficient anemia: relationship to Candida albicans, saliva and to impairment of lymphocyte transformation. Journal of Infectious Diseases (1975) 131: 44-50.

7. Salvin, S., & Rabin, B. Resistance & susceptibility to infection in inbred murine strains. IV. Effects of dietary zinc. Cellular Immunology (1984) 87 (2):546-552.

8. PDR for Nutritional Supplements. Montvale, NJ: Thomson PDR, 2001.

9. Biondi, D., et. al. Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of essential oils from Sicilian aromatic plants. J Flav & Frag (1993) 8(6): 331-337.

About the Author

Dr. Jensen is both a consultant and author in the BioMedical and Nutrition fields. He has previously written a book on both topics, The Failures of American Medicine, published in 2002. Dr. Jensen has also written a doctoral dissertation on how Vitamin C can reduce stress and allergies via its antihistamine effect. He has worked in a broad range of BioMedical fields, such as gene regulation, cancer research, and HIV vaccine development. However, Dr. Jensen eventually decided that helping people more directly would be more rewarding for everyone involved. He has since helped clients with dozens of different ailments. Dr. Jensen is a practitioner in the field of Metabolic Typing, which characterizes different biochemistries among people based on certain physical and behavioral traits they have.

You can contact Dr. Jensen at 1-800-390-5365, or mail him at drjensen@individualizednutrition.com.

The Sound of Waves $4.80 Set in a remote fishing village in Japan, The Sound of Waves is a timeless story of first love. A young fisherman is entranced at the sight of the beautiful daughter of the wealthiest man in the village. They fall in love, but must then endure the calumny and gossip of the villagers….

Tsukiji: The Fish Market at the Center of the World (California Studies in Food and Culture) $17.00 Located only blocks from Tokyo’s glittering Ginza, Tsukiji–the world’s largest marketplace for seafood–is a prominent landmark, well known but little understood by most Tokyoites: a supplier for countless fishmongers and sushi chefs, and a popular and fascinating destination for foreign tourists. Early every morning, the worlds of hi-tech and pre-tech trade noisily converge as tens of thousands …