Why Does It Matter What’s In Your Gut?
We are learning more and more everyday how important gut health is to maintain good health. When the microbiome becomes imbalanced, all kinds of problems in the body can arise.
It’s not as obvious as a broken arm or a twisted ankle. However, what’s inside your gut is actually one of the most important factors in your long-term health.
The microorganisms that live within it play a hugely important role in your digestion, your immune system, and your ability to prevent a Candida overgrowth.
It might sounds strange that we should have microorganisms living in our intestines, but the evidence supports it. In fact, a 2010 review in Nature magazine estimated that a healthy adult might carry as many as up to 100 trillion bacteria, and 500 individual strains!
Most of these are ‘good bacteria,’ the ones that play an important role in your immune system and help you to digest food. However, others are pathogenic microorganisms.
Candida albicans is OK in small numbers but when it multiplies and it adopts its fungals it can cause much harm in the body. These pathogenic microbes are capable of getting through several defense systems in the gut and penetrating the intestinal membrane. When they then reach your bloodstream they can cause all kind of undesirable symptoms.
The Importance of Good Bacteria
Let’s focus on what exactly these ‘good bacteria’ do. There are actually three very important roles that they play in preventing a Candida overgrowth, and Dr. Wood and I discuss these in detail in our treatment program, the Ultimate Candida Diet. In short: they support your immune system, they compete with Candida for resources and space, and they regulate the acidity in your gut. The combination of these three factors prevents a Candida overgrowth from occurring in a healthy adult.
So what happens when this equilibrium is disturbed? Why does it matter if the ‘good bacteria’ in your gut are destroyed by a course of antibiotics? Well, Candida is what we call an opportunistic pathogen. This means simply that it is quick to take advantage if it is given an opportunity.
Destroying the ‘good bacteria’ in your gut offers it a gold-plated opportunity to enlarge its colonies, spread through your digestive tract, and produce the noxious byproducts that lead to the many symptoms of Candida.
When those ‘good bacteria’ are killed and the delicate equilibrium in your gut is lost, three things happen that make it easier for Candida to grow. First, there is much less competition for space and nutrients in your intestines. Second, your immune system is weakened. And third, the pH of your gut begins to change, enabling the Candida yeast to switch to its fungal form.
The good news is that there are ways for us to alter the composition of our gut flora. There are some good commercial probiotics that will deliver huge doses of ‘good bacteria’ exactly where they are needed – right into your intestines.
In the Ultimate Candida Diet program we discuss the five factors that you need to consider when you are choosing your probiotic. We also share in detail how to save money by making your own probiotics, all in the comfort of your own home.
Also remember that there are some excellent probiotic foods that you can use in addition to (or in place of) your probiotics supplements. You can make your own kefir at home, or create your own yogurt. Check out this guide to fermented foods for more information on creating your own natural probiotics.
3-Month Candida Elimination Kit Start Your 3-month Candida Cleanse
This Candida Kit contains all the supplements recommended on the Candida Diet:
- LIVER ONE to process and remove the toxins created by Candida.
- CANDASSIST to inhibit and weaken the Candida colonies in your gut.
- PROBIOTIC to replace the Candida yeast with probiotic bacteria.
Plus... the CANDIDA DIET RECIPE BOOK with 50+ low-sugar recipes
I must confess that since i started my treatment for candida, thing’s have changed very much for the better.
can you please share what protocal you are using? Thanks in advance.
Love this site!
Fermented veggies are where it’s at!!
I understand that probiotics are the main thing we want to help our guts get healthy, but is there certain foods that will assist or hinder our pH?
I cannot believe the difference it has made to my life and wellbeing, in such a short space of time.
I recommend this site to anyone who is suffering right now with Candida!
I was researching the web and I found that some people have had success in controlling their candida overgrowth by taking the supplement MSM. It’s supposed to make your bodies chemistry more alkaline. Has anyone here ever heard of this or ever tried this? Any comments are appreciated. Thanks.
I Am going to start this diet asap. I Am not sure if I am suffering from candida, but I am very interested in the benefits alone from this diet. I just hope I can continue to afford the good wholesome foods.
I have been fighting these symtoms for years. My doctor has given me everything she could think of that would help. Creams and pills. I am so tired of this condition. My husband
tells me I shouldn’t believe in everything I read on the Internet. He is getting tired of hearing about Candidas overgrowth. At this point I have to have something to believe in. I don’t eat very much and still can’t lose this weight.I am a professional songwriter and my time belongs to the music industry. Why do the doctors act like Candida yeast overgrowth doesn’t exsist. Thank you Lisa, Ann
This is the best website For Candida. I had heard of it long ago but did’t know enough to do anything about it. Thank You Lisa for having such a great, comprehensive site. I have lost 30 lbs so easily!!! I don’t feel like a big fat peace of dough anymore. I have always eaten right, and worked out. But now it is all soooo easy! I also tell everyone about Candida because many people have it and don’t know it. And the medical field only wants to give drugs not a whole plan. Love you & THANK YOU again!
Yes it sure is. I am not having so many migrains with bile sickness as before.
Any info on why some migraine sufferers get the bile sickness, rather undigested food, would be grateful,especially the connection with candida.
Thank you
Helena