Probiotics are friendly microorganisms that live in your GI tract and aid in digestion and boost your immune system. They also help keep less beneficial bacteria, such as candida, in check. If you don't have enough probiotic bacteria, candida may flourish, leading to a systemic yeast infection that could manifest as vaginitis or jock itch, athlete's foot, or oral thrush.
Probiotics
Probiotics is a general term for a group of many different types of beneficial bacteria that can help treat yeast infections caused by Candida albicans, as well as help stop diarrhea, lessen the symptoms of IBS, speed your recovery from intestinal infections and prevent or reduce the severity of flus and colds. The Mayo Clinic notes that you can include probiotic foods in your diet or take supplements and that different strains of these microorganisms help treat different health problems.
Probiotics and Candida
Two types of probiotics -- Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium -- are particularly useful in treating candidiasis, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. You can find both of these strains in fermented dairy products such as yogurt or kefir. Look for between 1 and 10 billion live Lactobacillus acidophilus organisms and 10 billion live bifidobacterium cultures listed on the label. You can also take probiotic supplements; but there may be more live and active organisms in real food -- the bacteria live off the naturally occurring sugar in dairy products.
Probiotics and Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be very useful when you're ill, to kill bad bacteria which is making you sick. However, antibiotics don't just kill harmful bacteria -- they kill all bacteria, including beneficial probiotics. This is why taking antibiotics can lead to a yeast infection -- without good gut flora, candida can flourish without restraint. Candida is very quick to populate and as soon as there is an imbalance, candida will multiply. UMMC notes that there may be some benefit to taking probiotic supplements while taking antibiotics, and suggests talking to your doctor about alternatives to antibiotics first.
Probiotic Foods
Although yogurt and kefir may be the most common probiotic foods, any fermented food that is not pasteurized will contain probiotic bacteria. Foods such as sauerkraut, kim chi, pickles and fermented vegetables can help strengthen your immune system and fight candida overgrowth. Pasteurization is a heat process that kills both harmful and beneficial bacteria -- look for labels that list "live and active cultures."
