Taming the Yeast Beast

1. Taming the Yeast Beast Natural Remedies for Candida and Other Yeast and Fungal Infections

2. Bacteria and Fungus • Grow together in soil and are vital to soil health • Keep each other in balance • There are about 1 billion bacteria and 1 million fungi in a teaspoonful of soil

3. According to a United Nations project, fungi and soil-living bacteria, instead of artificial fertilizers, are improving crop yields, boosting harvests, and saving money for some developing world farmers, according to a project aimed at understanding and harnessing “below ground biodiversity” for sustaining, restoring and improving land fertility.UN News Center-23 March 2006

4. Fungus • Generally larger than bacteria • Plant-like cells which lack chlorophyll • Absorb food from what they are growing on • Secrete enzymes to break down what they are growing on • Closer in form to human cells than bacteria, therefore harder to kill without harming animal tissue

5. Soil Fungi • A gram of garden soil can contain around one million fungi, such as yeasts and molds • Beneficial fungi break down starches, sugars and fibers in dead plant matter

6. Human Fungi • We have about 5,000 species of fungi living in our bodies • Normally, these fungi are benign • Lowered immune function, pH imbalances or a lack of friendly bacteria can trigger overgrowth of fungi

7. Candida • A genus of fungi (yeast) • The most common species affecting health is Candia albicans • There are many other species that may affect human health, including: • C. glabrata • C. parapsilosis • C. tropicalis • C. dubliniensis

8. Friendly Flora • We have 2-4 pounds of friendly microbes living in our digestive tract • Ideally there should be a balance between bacterial and fungal microbes • Friendly bacteria produce lactic acid and other substances to inhibit yeast and unfriendly bacteria

9. Antibiotics and Fungus • Penicillin, the first antibiotic, was created from a soil fungus (Penicillium chrysogenum) • Antibiotics destroy friendly lacto-bacteria in the colon • The overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics is the most frequent cause of yeast overgrowth

10. Antibiotic Abuse • Antibiotics are NOT effective against viral infections like colds and flu • Antibiotics should be specific to the BACTERIAL infection they are treating • Routine over use of antibiotics promotes: • Destruction of normal intestinal bacteria and yeast overgrowth • Depression of natural immune functions • The growth of antibiotic resistant strains of E. coli and other microbes

11. Yeast Overgrowth Is Not Caused By: • Having yeast in your body • Eating foods that contain yeast such as bread or beer • Eating edible fungi such as mushrooms • Eating foods containing natural sugars such as fresh fruit

12. Drugs Disrupt Friendly Flora • Antibiotics • Sulfa drugs • Chemotherapy • Steroids • Birth Control Pills • Corticosteroids • Antacids and Acid Blockers

13. Excess sugar and other refined carbohydrates Alcohol Caffeine Yeast and mold on foods Chlorinated water Diet Disrupts Friendly Flora

14. Candidiasis • An overgrowth of yeast like Candida albicans • Yeast normally confine themselves to the mucus lining of mucus membranes • When the terrain is altered they can sprout mycelium that branch and burrow through the mucous membranes causing infection • Many people have antibodies to candida in their blood

15. Yeast and Immune Function • In mycelial fungal form, candida releases toxins called polyamines • Polyamines attack the mucosal cells of the gut wall causing leaky gut • Leaky gut causes a breakdown of the body’s first line of immune defense

16. Leaky Gut • Where intestinal wall leaks, is where its function as a barrier is compromised • Toxic substances in gut are absorbed through to the circulatory system

17. More Leaky Gut • Foreign proteins and toxic substances, circulating in the blood, cause adverse reactions and allergies • Immune system becomes sensitized • Causes a variety of symptoms that seemingly are unrelated to the gut.

18. Conditions Where Yeast May be a Factor • Acne • Asthma • Arthritis • Chronic Fatigue • Skin problems (rashes, etc.) • Headaches and dizziness • Muscle soreness and pain

19. Other Indications of Possible Yeast Overgrowth • Food allergies and chronic gas and bloating • Chronic respiratory congestion • Poor immune response • Itchy ears, jock itch, etc. • Athlete’s foot or nail fungus

20. Vaginal Yeast Infections • Affects 3 out of 4 women at some time in their life • Lowered immune response causes yeast overgrowth • Likely reflects systemic yeast overgrowth

21. Symptoms of Vaginal Yeast Infections • Itchiness • Redness • Burning urination • Yeasty odor • White discharge • Loss of libido

22. Thrush • Oral infection of candida • Usually occurs in children or adults with AIDS • White patches on mouth, tongue and throat • Painful swallowing

23. Candida Quiz • Do you generally feel fatigued or have low energy? • Do you experience food sensitivities or food allergies? • Do you have nail fungus, athlete's foot or jock itch? • Do you have recurrent vaginal yeast infections? • Have you taken broad spectrum antibiotics? • Do you crave sugar or sweets? • Do often have gas, bloating or indigestion? • Do you crave refined white flour (bread, pasta, baked goods? • Have you been on birth control pills for 6 months or more? • Do you experience brain fog/fatigue?

24. Two Approaches • Current theory and practice is to kill all the different infectious organisms that are invading the body • The natural approach to infection is to focus on enhancing the body’s own defenses via improved immune function and balanced biological terrain

25. Understanding Microbes • Do not live naturally in nutrient-rich petri dishes and flasks • Our current methods of studying microbes don’t reflect how microbes actually live and interact with us

26. Biofilms • Microbes live naturally in biofilms – communities that may consist of one or several species of bacteria • Right: Staphylococcus aureus biofilm

27. Biofilm Development Source: Looking for Chinks in the Armor of Bacterial Biofilms Monroe D PLoS Biology Vol. 5, No. 11, e307 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0050307 Author: D. Davis

28. Examples of Biofilm • Dental plaque • Fuzzy material on the roots of plants • Pond scum • Intestinal microbes (probiotics)

29. Mycorrhizae • Live symbiotically with plants (myco = fungal and rhiza = root) • Live partially in plant root hairs and partially in the soil • Roots supply mychorrhiza with carbohydrates, mychorrhiza supply plant with nutrients and moisture

30. Why is Biofilm Important to Understanding Infection? • Microbes living in biofilms are different than free-floating organisms. • Biofilm organisms co-operate to defend themselves against disinfectants and antibiotics, phagocytes and even our own immune system • This helps explain the problem of recurring infections—yeast, bladder, ear, urinary, sinus, etc.

31. What is Biofilm? • Gathering of one or more species of sessile (permanently attached) organisms • Encased in a self produced matrix of hydrated exopolysaccharides • Criss-crossed by microchannels that allow nutrient and water flow • Organisms co-operate and communicate with each other for protection

32. Intestinal Biofilm • Is practically a separate organ in the body • Contains about 100 trillion microbes • Metabolic activity rivals the liver • Colonization resistant – barrier to infection

33. Establishing Gut Biofilm • Happens through nursing • Immune system transports bacteria from the intestines to the breast milk to introduce intestinal microbes to infants

34. 4 Steps to Eliminating Yeast Overgrowth • Modify the diet to reduce yeast overgrowth and improve general health • Improve general digestive and intestinal health • Use anti-fungal agents to reduce yeast overgrowth • Repopulate the body with friendly bacteria (probiotics)

35. Step One:Modify the Diet to Reduce Yeast Overgrowth and Improve General Health

36. Food to Avoid • All simple and refined sugars • Refined carbohydrates • Alcohol • Foods containing yeast and mold • Fermented foods and vinegar • Excessive carbohydrates

37. What TO Eat • High Quality Protein • Meat, eggs, plain yoghurt, nuts • Vegetables • Low Glycemic Fruits • Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries • Green Foods

38. Step Two: Improve General Digestive and Intestinal Health

39. Enhancing Digestion • Garden Essence Plant Enzymes • Digestive Enzymes • Protease Plus between meals

40. Intestinal Tonics • Cat’s Claw (Una D’Gato) • UC3-J

41. Step Three: Use Anti-Fungal Agents to Reduce Yeast Overgrowth

42. Garlic • Allicin from freshly crushed garlic is a powerful antibiotic and antifungal compound • High Potency Garlic contains stabilized allicin

43. Candida Clear • Pau D’Arco Bark • Caprylic Acid Combination • Yeast/Fungal Detox • Candida Cleanse Enzymes

44. Pau D’Arco • Powerful antifungal bark from South American tree • Has blood purifying and detoxifying qualities • Available in capsules, liquid and bulk tea

45. Helps to destroy yeast overgrowth Rebuilds immune system and intestinal health Echinacea Sodium Propionate Sorbic Acid Pau D’Arco Garlic Oregano Selenium Zinc Yeast/Fungal Detox

46. Helps to break down dead yeast cells to avoid “cleansing reactions” Enhances digestion Helps break down biofilm to prevent recurring infections Cellulase Protease Amylase Bromelain Hemicellulase Glucoamylase Candida Cleanse Enzymes

47. Counteracts yeast overgrowth Also helpful for intestinal parasites Caprylic Acid Elecampane Black Walnut Red Raspberry Leaves Caprylic Acid Combination

48. Step Four: Repopulate the Body with Friendly Bacteria (Probiotics)

49. Probiotic Supplements • Bifidophilus Flora Force • Herbasaurs Chewable Bifidophilus

50. Pre-Biotics • Food for intestinal bacteria • Fructo-oligo saccharides • Inulin (dandelion, burdock, chicory, elecampane and others)