Taming the Yeast Beast

Natural Remedies for Candida and Other Yeast and Fungal Infections

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Drugs Disrupt Friendly Flora

• Antibiotics• Sulfa drugs• Chemotherapy• Steroids

– Birth Control Pills– Corticosteroids

• Antacids and Acid Blockers

Diet Disrupts Friendly Flora

• Excess sugar and other refined carbohydrates

• Alcohol• Caffeine• Yeast and mold on

foods• Chlorinated water

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

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

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

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.

Conditions Where Yeast May be a Factor

• Acne• Asthma• Arthritis• Chronic Fatigue• Skin problems (rashes, etc.)• Headaches and dizziness• Muscle soreness and pain

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

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

Symptoms of Vaginal Yeast Infections

• Itchiness• Redness• Burning urination• Yeasty odor• White discharge• Loss of libido

Thrush

• Oral infection of candida• Usually occurs in children or adults with

AIDS• White patches on mouth, tongue

and throat• Painful swallowing

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?

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

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

Biofilms

• Microbes live naturally in biofilms – communities that may consist of one or several species of bacteria

• Right: Staphylococcus aureus biofilm

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

Examples of Biofilm• Dental plaque• Fuzzy material on the

roots of plants• Pond scum• Intestinal microbes

(probiotics)

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

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.

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

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

Establishing Gut Biofilm

• Happens through nursing

• Immune system transports bacteria from the intestines to the breast milk to introduce intestinal microbes to infants

4 Steps to Eliminating Yeast Overgrowth

1) Modify the diet to reduce yeast overgrowth and improve general health

2) Improve general digestive and intestinal health

3) Use anti-fungal agents to reduce yeast overgrowth

4) Repopulate the body with friendly bacteria (probiotics)

Step One: Modify the Diet to Reduce Yeast

Overgrowth and Improve General Health

Food to Avoid

• All simple and refined sugars

• Refined carbohydrates• Alcohol• Foods containing yeast

and mold• Fermented foods and

vinegar• Excessive carbohydrates

What TO Eat

• High Quality Protein– Meat, eggs, plain

yoghurt, nuts

• Vegetables• Low Glycemic Fruits

– Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries

• Green Foods

Step Two: Improve General

Digestive and Intestinal

Health

Enhancing Digestion

• Garden Essence Plant Enzymes

• Digestive Enzymes• Protease Plus

between meals

Intestinal Tonics

• Cat’s Claw (Una D’Gato)

• UC3-J

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

Garlic

• Allicin from freshly crushed garlic is a powerful antibiotic and antifungal compound

• High Potency Garlic contains stabilized allicin

Candida Clear

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

Pau D’Arco

• Powerful antifungal bark from South American tree

• Has blood purifying and detoxifying qualities

• Available in capsules, liquid and bulk tea

Yeast/Fungal Detox

• Helps to destroy yeast overgrowth

• Rebuilds immune system and intestinal health

• Echinacea• Sodium Propionate• Sorbic Acid• Pau D’Arco • Garlic• Oregano• Selenium• Zinc

Candida Cleanse Enzymes

• 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

Caprylic Acid Combination

• Counteracts yeast overgrowth

• Also helpful for intestinal parasites

• Caprylic Acid• Elecampane• Black Walnut• Red Raspberry

Leaves

Step Four: Repopulate the Body with

Friendly Bacteria (Probiotics)

Probiotic Supplements

• Bifidophilus Flora Force• Herbasaurs Chewable Bifidophilus

Pre-Biotics

• Food for intestinal bacteria• Fructo-oligo saccharides

– Inulin (dandelion, burdock, chicory, elecampane and others)

More Information

• www.treelite.com• Taming the Yeast Beast DVD• Comprehensive Guide to NSP