The yeast, Candida Albicans, has probably inhabited human mucosal surfaces for hundreds of thousands of years. Mucosal surfaces line our nasal passages, the entire length of our digestive tract (including mouth and throat), as well as our vagina and urethra. The mucous membrane is about the size of a tennis court! If the body is healthy, this yeast is kept in check by our immune defenses including the good bacteria competing with the yeast for the same space. Human longevity depends largely on the health of this immune system coupled with genetic predisposition.

We have learned how to assist, improve, support, and manipulate our immune defenses to the point that life expectancy is almost double what it was a hundred years ago. Some of these advances, including the use of anti-bacterial antibiotics, corticosteroid hormones, and to some extent, female hormones, while greatly improving our quality of life, have changed the traditional balance between man and yeast. This result has also been literally fueled by our increased consumption of sugar & processed foods, chlorine in our water supply, and stress which weakens the immune system. Poor nutrition or a sluggish or impaired immune system weakens the body’s ability to fight off yeast.

Antibiotics (penicillin, tetracycline, sulfa, etc.) kill bacteria that are causing disease, but they also kill the "good bacteria" which normally compete with yeast in the vagina and digestive tract. Corticosteroid hormones (cortisone, prednisone, etc.) suppress the body's immune response, often decreasing our resistance to yeast. Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of some diseases, but are also produced in large amounts by the body itself when under stress. Finally, yeast requires fuel to grow. That fuel is SUGAR! In 1850, the average person consumed about 5 pounds a year; by 1975, the average American was consuming 110 pounds a year.

How significant is yeast?

Until fairly recently, Candida infections (too much yeast) were thought to be either trivial or rare. Women having Candida vaginal infections or infants with Candida-caused diaper rash suffered local discomfort, but little more. Studies showed that we all have yeast growing in our digestive tract and vagina, even though we have no symptoms. It can be cultured from stool and vagina and nearly all of us have antibodies against Candida in our blood. It therefore seemed a rather harmless organism.

The first recognition that Candida could be the cause of disease came from the observations of Dr. C. Orion Truss, a specialist in internal medicine. During his residency, he was called upon to treat a dying man, a young laborer who had been healthy, robust, and working about three months previously. During the extensive work-up, the only positive findings were two cultures showing Candida. Dr. Truss questioned the young man closely and found that he had been given an injection of antibiotic for a cut finger a few days before becoming severely ill. Use of the fairly primitive (by today’s standards) anti-yeast drug, SKI, resulted in rapid improvement and recovery.

Several years later, when a more powerful anti-yeast drug, Nystatin, was introduced, Dr. Truss began to use it to treat women with vaginal yeast infections. These women experienced relief of their vaginal discomfort, but interestingly some of them also noticed improvement in other symptoms such as headaches, depression, and very commonly, gastro-intestinal symptoms such as gas, indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation. Dr. Truss began cautiously to try Nystatin in other chronically ill patients, in whom no other specific disease process could be identified, having only a history of antibiotic or hormone use and/or excessive sugar consumption. Not all of his patients improved, but a significant number did - enough to suggest that his observations were important. Those who did improve often had no physical evidence of yeast overgrowth, yet noticed relief of many, seemingly unrelated, symptoms.

Two of the most common patterns of improvement were:
1) normalization of bowel function, and 2) return of more normal female reproductive system function including alleviation of irregular, painful, or heavy menstrual flow, mood swings, and other symptoms which flared around the time of menstruation. In addition, people complaining of certain nervous system symptoms including fatigue, headaches, depression, irritability, and muscle aches experienced relief. Dr. Truss also noticed that the patients he treated who complained of nasal congestion, asthma, mental fog, lack of focus and concentration, panic attacks, bladder urgency and frequency, and prostatitis often improved. Treatment also relieved other symptoms such as weight gain, skin conditions - including acne, acid reflux, infertility, fatigue, joint pain, allergies, and food cravings. These latter symptoms, as well as the digestive tract symptoms, involve mucous membrane surfaces, an ideal environment for Candida to flourish.

Along with the symptoms just discussed, it is interesting to note that many of these people had become more sensitive or allergic to a myriad of environmental substances including tobacco, perfume, formaldehyde, and other chemical odors and fumes. Many had also become sensitive to common foods, those eaten daily in a normal diet. We know that Candida, other yeasts, and molds share a similar protein make-up; therefore it is possible to be sensitive to both yeasts and molds. Since yeasts and molds are everywhere in our environment, we absorb them by breathing, eating, drinking, and from skin fungal infections such as ringworm, athlete’s foot, and jock itch, to name a few.

When yeast is in an overabundance, there may be local yeast infections in the mouth (thrush), gastrointestinal tract (gas), vagina (yeast infection), urinary tract (bladder/kidney infection), prostate gland (prostate troubles), skin (hives, rashes), fingernail or toenail (fungus of the nail bed). Too much yeast can cripple the Immune System. Yeast may lead to damage of the intestinal wall allowing food particles and toxins to enter the blood stream. The body then produces antibodies to fight these substances and typical "allergic" reactions like eczema and hay fever, along with headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, anxiety, fatigue, and muscle aches.

There may be changes in the cells. Yeast by-products are very toxic substances - ethanol and acetaldehyde. They can alter the ability of our cells in the following ways:

1) Red blood cells have difficulty passing into small capillaries. This can cause fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, or headaches.
2) White blood cells have trouble enveloping bacteria & foreign material and therefore the body has trouble fighting infection.
3) Sugar has difficulty passing through cells. Insulin cannot do its job properly, causing low blood sugar and often weight gain.
4) Thyroid hormones have trouble passing through cells so metabolism slows down, often causing low body temperature (cold hands and feet), fatigue, and intolerance to cold.
5) Minerals have trouble passing through cell walls causing fluid retention, electrolyte imbalance.
6) Messages passed from one cell to another have difficulty. This can cause muscle and nerve problems.
7) Enzymes are destroyed. Enzymes are the chemical helpers in the body hat help build, break down, and produce energy and heat. Yeast toxins can inactivate or destroy some of the enzymes, and can result in the slow down of all the functions of the body.

Currently, it is not known whether Candida causes illness by the release of toxins (metabolites) into the system, or whether individuals develop hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions to it. Dr. Truss feels, though, that many people with chronic illness defying clear definition using the medical knowledge available to us now deserve an adequate trial of anti-yeast treatment because many of these patients improve.

At this time, diagnosis is based on a careful assessment of history and symptoms as there are no definitive laboratory tests to easily identify the individual with yeast overgrowth syndrome. The decision to treat is based on the severity of symptoms; the evaluation of treatment effectiveness consists of monitoring the symptoms for improvement. In our office, Meridian Stress Assessment has proved very beneficial in determining if yeast is balanced or unbalanced in the system. The evaluation has also helped us to find the best medicines or natural treatments to reduce the yeast and fungus for the person as an individual.

Treatment of Yeast Overgrowth

Yeast is a normal, natural resident in your intestines, however, when you have an over abundance of it, it may cause symptoms. Diet changes and medication or natural anti-fungals and probiotic supplementation compose the treatment for yeast overgrowth syndrome. Since yeasts and molds are everywhere, it isn't possible to avoid them entirely; however, we can avoid big exposures contained in foods and beverages where yeast and molds are intentionally added, including yeast-raised breads and pastries, alcohol, vinegar, soured food products, mushrooms, and B-complex vitamins (unless the container is labeled otherwise). Fruit that is spoiled or about to spoil is often used to make commercially-prepared juices that therefore may contain yeasts or molds. Dried fruit is often contaminated with airborne molds during the drying process.

Diet changes will help limit the number of yeast organisms living on the mucous membrane lining your digestive tract, but because they are so hardy, medication is also recommended. Yeast lives on the surface of the cells making up this lining rather than in the cells themselves, therefore a drug that bathes the surface, and is absorbed very little, is used. Nystatin has been used for more than 50 years and has few problems. It comes in several forms, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. However, because it can kill large quantities of yeast quickly, initial use of Nystatin may be associated with worsening of symptoms because transiently, there is increased absorption of the breakdown products of dead yeast. Dr. Truss believes that Nystatin gives maximum benefit when it is taken throughout the day; so optimal treatment would be spread over at least four doses through the day, with more if the person is up at night, for instance.

Diflucan, Sporanox, and Lamisil also have been therapeutic when yeast problems are more systemic. Some of these anti-fungals can interfere with the normal work of the liver or kidney cells. It is therefore necessary to check these functions by blood tests, initially and each month while the drug is being taken. If needed, we also supplement the patient with Milk Thistle or other liver support during this time.

We are all biochemically individual and in order to strengthen our vitality an individualized approach is most beneficial. In our practice, we have found working with the Blood Type diet to be very successful with our patients. Eating foods that are beneficial to your blood type aids in immune system enhancement, which is foundational to yeast treatment. For those that choose not to follow the blood type diet, we do have a standard yeast-free diet available.

Immunotherapy Against Candida

In some cases, additional allergy testing for Candida and molds is recommended. If testing is positive, a series of injections, using gradually increasing strengths of the allergen, can be given to try to relieve the symptoms and stimulate the immune system to normal resistance. In people with allergies to inhalants (things breathed in) such as pollens, cat and dog dander, house dust, etc., reactions are usually immediate. Interestingly though, molds, mold spores, and Candida are likely to cause delayed reactions, suggesting that our bodies deal with these particular antigens differently. Dr. Truss suspects that in the more seriously ill patients the skin test may be falsely negative, suggesting that the Candida has somehow blocked the body's normal immune reaction.

Summary

The yeast overgrowth syndrome is as yet an unproven syndrome. The only solid evidence of its existence is that of improvement following clinical trial in individuals who have a history that suggests the diagnosis. Elements of treatment include avoidance of yeast and mold-containing foods and beverages, sugar, dairy, vinegar, white flour, and reduction of dietary carbohydrate (which all feed the yeast); and anti-yeast medications or natural anti-fungals and probiotic supplementation to eliminate or reduce the yeast population. Following the yeast-free lifestyle 80/20 and taking the recommended supplements will provide dramatic results. After getting your body back into balance, you will be able to see which foods are triggering you and you can determine if and how often to consume those foods. Everything in moderation is key!

Many people who have yeast overgrowth tend to give more of their lives than they have the energy to. This creates a constant energy deficit that makes their body a more favorable host to yeast. Correcting this imbalance may be as subtle as changing your perspective on something or as major as restructuring your entire life, your job, your relations, and learning when to say "no." Invest your energy well!