Probiotics and Candida

Every person has approximately one pound (0.4kg) of bacteria in their system. At any one time there are billions of bacteria living inside your intestine, most of which are beneficial. Keeping this system in a healthy balance supports both digestion and your immune system. An overgrowth of Candida knocks this system out of balance.

Because Candida is such a fast growing yeast, it can rapidly reproduce after any negative shock to the intestine. For example, a course of antibiotics will kill most of your beneficial bacteria, leaving the Candida yeast an opportunity to rapidly grow and dominate your gut.

Probiotics are effective because they reintroduce colonies of helpful bacteria to your gut. These bacteria create large, healthy colonies that crowd out the Candida yeast.

Repopulating your intestine with beneficial bacteria is the third step in a Candida Diet. There are two ways to do this - either through probiotic supplements or through probiotic foods.

Probiotic Supplements

The most important thing to remember about probiotic supplements is that they must come with a specially coated outer shell. Without this shell, these bacteria will quickly be killed in your stomach, and never make it to the intestine where they are needed! So always buy supplements with an ‘enteric coating’. Also note that probiotic supplements normally need to be refrigerated.

Here are a few of the probiotic bacteria you should look for in your probiotic supplements:

Acidophilus

Acidophilus is the generic name for the class of probiotics most frequently used to aid digestion and fight the Candida yeast. This includes the probiotics listed below.

Lactobacillus

Some types of Lactobacillus are used for the production of yoghurt, pickles, sauerkraut and cheese. They are present in the human intestine, where they comprise a large proportion of the ‘helpful’ bacteria that reside there. They are symbiotic bacteria that help in degrading plant matter. A lack of Lactobacillus bacteria can result in gas, constipation and bloating, as well as Candida and other fungal infections.

Some examples of Lactobacillus are Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei and Lactobacillus Bulgaricus.

Bifobacterium

Bifobacterium Bifidium in particular is important for the production of Vitamins B and K, in addition to pushing out the Candida yeast. A deficiency of Bifobacterium can lead to high levels of Ammonia in the blood, in turn causing nausea, vomiting and a loss of appetite. Milder than Lactobacillus, Bifobacterium is often given to children or adults with liver problems.

Streptococcus Thermophilus

Lastly, Streptococcus Thermophilus is found mainly in milk and milk products. For those who are reminded of ‘strep throat’, the term Streptococcus refers only to the shape of the bacteria, not its action.

Probiotic Foods

There are several excellent probiotic foods that can help repopulate your intestine.

Yogurt

Most yogurts have probiotic qualities, but some are better than others. Yogurts that are promoted as specifically 'probiotic' are generally best. Check that they contain some of the bacteria listed above. Also remember that excess sugar can restart a Candida overgrowth, so make sure to buy yogurt with no added sugar.

Kefir, Buttermilk

These are both fermented milk drinks that you may find in your local supermarket. Kefir is milk mixed with Kefir grains, and is full of nutritious probiotics. Buttermilk comes in two forms - cultured and traditional. The cultured buttermilk has extra Lactobacillus bacteria added, so try this is you can find it.

Fermented Foods

Sauerkraut and Kimchi are the other most commonly used fermented foods. Both are types of fermented cabbage. Sauerkraut is made of freshly cut cabbage that has been pickled in salt water. Kimchi is a particularly strong-tasting Korean food that is something of an acquired taste. It is also quite spicy.

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About Candida | Testing for Candida | Candida Symptoms | Reader Experiences |
Step 1: Detox | Step 2: Elimination | Step 3: Repopulation