Probiotics, or live beneficial bacteria promote good intestinal health. They become especially relevant in rectifying the bacterial imbalance that accompanies Candida albicans infections, where troublesome yeast take over the digestive tract and cause a range of health issues throughout the body.
Candida
Yeasts such as Candida albicans exist in each individual and, under normal circumstances, cause little problems. However, if the balance of intestinal bacteria becomes disturbed, the Candida population may grow from a controlled minority into the dominant strain. Dr. Rodger Murphree, a US physician and the author of several books on hard-to-treat medical conditions, points out that Candida infections become systemic when they breach the intestinal wall and affect the bloodstream. At this point, a wide range of symptoms may present, including "brain fog", reduced energy, itching and carbohydrate cravings; these symptoms remain the most common.
Probiotics
Probiotics describe all types of live bacteria products that promote intestinal health, although typically the name refers to yogurts or capsules. Dr. Jason Hawrelak, an Australian scientist based at the Southern Cross University in New South Wales, notes how such live bacteria can improve digestion and absorption by actively repopulating the digestive tract. He points to 1 billion viable organisms as the minimum dose required to alter the bacterial balance in the gut. Bacteria here help produce special fatty acids that aid digestive movement, help form complexes that improve mineral absorption and boost the immune system function.
Candida Treatment
Dealing with a Candida infection often involves three major steps. Murphree notes how the initial stages should focus on starving the Candida organisms through a low-carbohydrate diet. This cuts off the food supply to the pathogenic yeast that can only thrive with a steady supply of these foods. Following this stage, the use of anti-fungals such as garlic, coconut oil or grapefruit seed extract can help eliminate the Candida overgrowth. Probiotics remain necessary to complete the treatment.
Crowding Out
In the treatment of Candida, the main role of probiotics centers around the repopulation of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Jonny Bowden, the board-certified nutritionist who has written several books on natural health care, explains that these good bacteria can help "crowd out" the undesirable bacteria or yeasts that may otherwise try to take over. He notes that the good bacteria release anti-microbial chemicals that kill off other species, effectively policing the area and helping to maintain good long-term balance in the body.
