Ongoing fatigue, headaches, itching, carbohydrate cravings and poor concentration all stand out as typical symptoms found in systemic yeast infections. Eliminating these troublesome organisms can prove difficult, although the use of coconut oil features in many treatments.
Systemic Yeast
Dr. Lawrence Wilson explains that modern living can increase the likelihood of contracting systemic yeast infections. The physician, an expert in such conditions, notes how disturbances to the bacterial balance in the intestines can allow opportunistic yeasts such as candida to become overgrown and dominant; antibiotic use, a high sugar diet and excessive stress can all have an impact.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil, a dietary staple for many tropical islanders, demonstrates a number of health benefits. Dr. Bruce Fife, the author of "The Coconut Oil Miracle," highlights how coconut oil consumption improves cardiovascular health, increases the metabolic rate and can help clear yeast infections due to its anti-microbial effect.
Caprylic Acid
Fife points to the medium chain fatty acids as the active component in killing off undesirable yeasts. These medium chain fatty acids, which make up around three quarters of the fats in the oil, can diffuse into the membranes of the yeast cell before dissolving to kill off the organism. Caprylic acid appears particularly effective against yeast.
Evidence
In 2007, Nigerian scientists examined the effectiveness of coconut oil against a wide range of different candida species. Their results, published in the "Journal of Medicinal Food," found that the oil proved effective against all 52 strains tested.
Expert Insight
Dr. Wilson believes that coconut oil can play an important role in eradicating yeast, but only as part of a more holistic protocol. He stresses the need for a low-carbohydrate diet to help starve the yeast, the use of several anti-fungal compounds alongside the coconut oil and the introduction of probiotics to help restore a healthy bacterial balance to the intestines.
References
- "The Coconut Oil Miracle;" Dr Bruce Fife; 2004
- Pubmed.gov: "In vitro antimicrobial properties of coconut oil on Candida species in Ibadan, Nigeria;" Dr. Ogbulu et al; 2007
- Dr. Lawrence Wilson: New Information About Yeast Infections
