Candida albicans is a fungus that causes yeast infections. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that exist within your digestive tract. They help fight certain illnesses. Yogurt is a fermented milk product that is created using probiotic bacteria as a starter culture.
The probiotic microorganisms found in yogurt are believed by some alternative health practitioners to be an effective way of managing candida infections.
Significance
The candida fungus exists naturally in the mouth, stomach and vagina, where it typically causes no problems. When candida fungi overcolonize an area of the body, a variety of symptoms can result. This is called candidiasis infection.
Seventy-five percent of women experience at least one candida infection, as will 90 percent of all HIV patients, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. For those with a weakened immune system, a severe case of candidiasis could be fatal.
History
The potential for yogurt as a functional food first drew attention when Nobel Laureate Elie Metchnikoff attributed the longevity of Bulgarian people to the copious quantities of yogurt they consumed\. Within that Bulgarian yogurt, Methnikoff identified a living microorganism, a bacteria we now call Lactobacillus bulgaricus.
In 2010, the Lactobacillus bacteria found in yogurt are part of a group of microorganisms prized for their probiotic benefits.
Effects
Candidiasis can affect different areas of the body, and causes different symptoms depending on where the infection is located. Oral thrush is candidiasis of the mouth, which results in creamy white patches inside the cheeks and throat and painful cracks at the corners of the mouth. Vaginal candida infections cause itching, irritation and a white, creamy discharge, according to the UMMC. Cutaneous candidiasis occurs when the fungus infects the skin, causing what's commonly known as diaper rash.
Theory
Probiotics have been shown to be helpful in treating diarrhea, colitis and a number of other gastrointestinal illnesses, according to USProbiotics.org.The logic of using probiotics to treat candidiasis is simple: pit the friendly bacteria found in yogurt against the pathogen that's causing symptoms.
Unfortunately, the evidence is questionable regarding the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of candidiasis. Still, the UMMC states that it won't hurt you to give probiotics a try. If you prefer your probiotics in capsule form, the UMMC suggests taking 1 to 10 billion live Lactobacillus acidophilus organisms per day, a dosage available at natural food retailers.
Considerations
If you're buying yogurt to reap its probiotic benefits, read the label to be sure that it contains "live and active cultures." The Michigan Dairy Review warns that some yogurt is heat treated, a process that kills its beneficial bacteria and negates their probiotic effects.
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