Written by: Gloria Gilbère, N.D., D.A.Hom., Ph.D.
Are you, or a loved one, a victim among millions affected with a series of disorders that is rapidly becoming a “trash can” diagnosis known as “brain-fog”, “ADD/ADHD” or “Depression”? This condition is generally a result of an unbalanced intestinal environment where indigenous bacteria not only make vitamins (like Vitamin K) and destroy toxins, but also destroy vitamins (like Vitamin B-12) and make toxins – sounds confusing? Not really.
By-products of bacterial activity, such as ammonia, hinder normal brain function. As these substances are absorbed into the body, the liver must remove the danger by neutralizing them. When the liver is already compromised, let’s say by conditions such as over-use of antibiotics and some prescription drugs, over-consumption of refined sugar and carbohydrates, alcohol, tobacco, immune system disorders, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and Gulf-war Syndrome, the liver is not capable of protecting us. The consequences of this imbalance, known as dysbiosis, manifests as brain fog, depression, attention deficit, weakened immune system, aggressive personality disorder and Candida yeast overgrowth, to mention a few.
Causes of Candida yeast overgrowth: Repeated antibiotic use, Birth Control pills, Cortisone drugs, Nutritional deficiencies, Overly acidic pH, Vaginal transmission, Elevated progesterone levels, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen™), Over-consumption of sugar, refined carbohydrates
Consequences of yeast overgrowth
During the growth process, toxic materials are emitted, spreading throughout the body and producing, but not limited to, the following symptoms/disorders:
• Digestive System – bloating, gas, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, inability to lose weight, insulin resistance
• Nervous System – chronic fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, memory loss, brain-fog, depression, and chronic insomnia. In children – hyperactivity, autism, quick anger, “short fuse”, and short attention span
• Skin – hives, eczema, psoriasis, profuse sweating, acne, nail fungus
• Genito-urinary Tract – in woman, mild to severe PMS including: depression, mood swings, fluid retention, cramps, recurrent vaginal or bladder infections, loss of sexual desire, crying for no unknown reason. In men, chronic rectal or anal itching, recurrent prostatitis, impotence, genital and inner thigh rashes
• Endocrine System – thyroid dysfunction, adrenal “burn-out” pancreatic disorder, extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, low body temperature, tingling and numbness in extremities, sugar and carb cravings, insulin resistance
• Generalized Immune System – recurrent infections, especially ears, nose, throat, respiratory and vaginal/genital areas
• Hypersensitivity Syndrome – This occurs as the body attempts to neutralize candida by producing antibodies (proteins) in an attempt to neutralize the overgrowth. These antibodies cause the body to become hypersensitive to molds, foods and environmental factors
Your Internal Ecosystem
Just as the forest requires enough vegetation to filter-out toxins in our environment, our body requires an abundance of friendly bacteria to balance the unfriendly bacteria and keep our immune system at its optimum. Now days, our intestinal ecosystems are subjected to massive amounts of sugars, refined foods, antibiotics, corticosteroids, and a barrage of drugs that disturb or destroy our intestinal ecosystem.
The Most Common Form of Dysbiosis
Candida yeast is the most common form of dysbiosis, a type of fungal infection. Candida yeast is a normally occurring fungus living in the mucous membranes, especially in the digestive tract and vagina. It is also commonly found in the sinuses, ear canals, and genitourinary tract. A healthy body can handle normal amounts of this fungus, however, large amount are a contributing factor to the decline of our digestive health and our immune system. In healthy conditions, the Candida yeasts live in harmony with other organisms in the intestinal tract. Anything that weakens the immune system encourages the growth of Candida. When this yeast organism outnumbers the other bacteria (Candida Albicans overgrowth), the condition is known as “candidiasis.”
Antibiotics: Their Role
In acute infections, antibiotics save lives. However, they destroy both unfriendly (health-depleting) bacteria and friendly (health-enhancing) bacteria. Yeast is not killed by antibiotics, but rather flourishes is the resulting imbalance of intestinal bacteria. After antibiotic therapy is complete, the reduced population of friendly bacteria allows yeast to multiply at alarming rates, releasing excessive toxins into the body. To add insult to injury, Candida overgrowth, in turn, releases toxins that weaken the body’s overall immune functions. Few conventional physicians acknowledge that today’s disorders may be yesterday’s yeast.
Prevent Bouncing Emotional Checks
In order to prevent, or reverse, the disorders described within, it is important to perform a non-drug detoxification program to eradicate excessive Candida yeast from the intestinal ecosystem. This cleansing is important because Candida yeast is a single-cell microorganism that develops feeding tubes called hyphae. These tube like roots grow directly into the intestinal walls, causing them to become porous and allowing toxins and undigested proteins and carbohydrates to flow through the bowel wall, consequently absorbed into the body and blood stream; causing a condition clinically known as intestinal permeability, and commonly known as leaky gut syndrome. The fungal toxin created by Candida yeast is called acetaldehyde, a major waste product of the yeast fungal organism, a poison converted by the liver into alcohol.
Now days, it is no longer necessary to subject ourselves to prescription drugs and their side-effects. Herbal complexes are easy-to-take, effective and safe. In today’s modern, fast-paced, fast-food life-styles, candida yeast cleansing should be performed not only by those who regularly use drugs as those described within, but also as a maintenance protocol to maintain optimum health, Naturally.