Thursday, November 3, 2011

Metabolism Enemy #5 – Candida Albicans Overgrowth


The topic of the candida albicans yeast is something so important to know about because it has been discovered that this yeast lowers the metabolism of the body. Candida albicans is one of the many organisms that live inside the human body. Different organisms exist most especially in the intestinal area, called the "gut flora". Within these organisms there are different classes of bacteria, various types of yeast, viruses and certain types of parasites. We don’t necessarily like to think of these types of things, but the truth is that various types of organisms like these survive inside of our body.



All humans are born with the candida yeast as a part of their intestinal and vaginal flora. It is a natural organism in all human and because it is normal to a certain amount traditional medicine hasn't placed much importance on the subject. However, since the 1980s various prominent allergists and specialists in infectious organisms have given the voice of alert about the growing infections of the candida yeast. Dr. William G. Crook, an allergist with his book, "Yeast Connection Handbook", is possibly the main exponent of what some have called "the silent epidemic of the candida albicans yeast”.



When this yeast has overgrown in the body, it causes what is called a "systemic infection". It is at this point that the candida yeast is transported through the blood and it invades other organs in the body creating serious health and metabolism problems. People with systemic infections from this yeast always have a "slow metabolism" and cannot lose weight under any diet or exercise plan. If they do lose weight, they do at such a slow rate that they generally get discouraged.



A researcher of this subject found that the candida albicans yeast produces 78 different toxins inside the body and this created a toxic and acidic environment inside the body, which basically turns off the metabolism. Having a very developed candida colony or an "overgrowth" of this yeast in the body is one of the main reasons why some people have a "slow metabolism". As long as they have this yeast infection in their body, no effort they make will work for them. The body of a person who has an "overgrowth" of the candida yeast is full of toxins produced by yeast.



It seems as if nothing produces an increase of the metabolism and allows more noticeable weight loss like doing a program of a candida yeast body cleansing. There are laboratory tests to detect if your candida albicans yeast infection is severe, but the test that measures that various toxin levels that produce this yeast in the blood cost more than $300 and really are not available in the majority of laboratories. The best way to find out if the body is infected by this yeast is to us a list of "indicators" that was developed by Dr. William Cook for his patients. Perhaps the clearest signs that you have severe infection of the candida albicans in your body are itching on your skin (mainly at night or after showering); you often have stomach or intestinal gases after eating, having sinusitis or suffering from migraines.


The complete list of the symptoms of candida albicans is the following:


Acne

· Allergies in humid environments

· Allergies to some foods

· Allergies to certain metal jewelry

· Continuously tired

· Urinary tract infections (cystitis)

· Constant or frequent Diarrhea

· Pain or vaginal burning while having sex

· Headaches or migraines

· Severe menstrual pain - PMS

· Muscular pain

· Constipation

· Fatigue or weakness

· Vaginal itching or discharge

· Coldness in extremities

· Excessive stomach or intestinal gas

· Ear infections

· Irregularity or troubles with menstruation

· Irritability or depression

· Itchy skin

· Digestive gas problems

· Excessive dryness of the skin

· A "taste of metal" in the mouth

· Rash or spots on the skin after sunbathing

· Sensitivity to solar light, teary eyes

· Sensitivity to odors from cigarettes, perfumes or chemicals

· Sinusitis



The more of these symptoms you have in your body the more severe the infection of the candida yeast. This list of symptoms is lengthy and a person can begin to justify symptoms based on other sicknesses or hereditary factors that their body has. The reality is that when a person does a candida yeast body cleansing, the majority if not all of these symptoms will disappear completely. After a natural candida yeast cleansing program people are finally able to lose weight much faster and the cleanse also eliminates a majority of the symptoms that this yeast causes.



Reducing a severe infection of this yeast is not an easy task. When we attack the yeast with natural fungicides, like oregano, the reaction can be really unpleasant (headaches, diarrhea, muscular pain, etc.). We have had to learn to increase the dose of natural fungicides "little by little". On the other hand to be successful, you can’t use common oregano oil like what they sell in natural food stores. The regular oregano oil reduces the infection of candida albicans only in the intestines and this is not good enough, given that the candida infection is generally spread throughout the entire body.



Throughout the years and hundreds of test and trials, people succeeded in finding a natural oregano oil supplement that is emulsified. An emulsion is a mixture of two generally unblendable substances like water and oil. The active yeast killing ingredient in oregano is an oily substance called carvacol. Oils don't mix well with water and our blood is primarily composed of water. This oregano oil supplement had the advantage of being emulsified and thus mixes well and travels well in the blood and kills the yeast in all of the parts of the body where it could be invading it.



The candida albicans yeast colony in the body can never be eliminated 100% since the yeast is a natural inhabitant of the body. The strategy that is used is to reduce the yeast colony to the point in which it stops being a problem to your metabolism. If a yeast infection is reduced in size, say from 100% to 20%, we will have had a success and the person will be rewarded for their efforts by losing weight. They will also experience an obvious improvement in their general state of health.



In order to resolve the problems the candida yeast causes for the metabolism and health, it is vital to educate the infected person about the characteristics of candida albicans. Part of the strategy is to educate the person so that they don't unknowingly contribute to creating a suitable environment for the growth of this yeast and so that they don't in a short time go back to having a new overgrowth that lowers their metabolism. The education includes making the person understand which factors are the ones that promote the growth of this yeast inside their body.



The factors that contribute to overgrowth of the candida yeast are:



Excess of fined refined carbohydrates:


Refined carbohydrates (sugar, candy, bread, rice, etc.) produce an excess of glucose in the blood and this excess of glucose feeds the appetite of the candida yeast and makes it grow excessively. It’s like putting fertilizer on a weed. When someone maintains high levels of glucose in their body due to their diet high in refined carbohydrates or sweet carbohydrates, the yeast feeds off of it, which makes it grow and reproduce at an accelerated rate. Someone who is accustomed to eating a lot of sweet foods will see their metabolism owed year after year until it turns into a "slow metabolism".



Taking antibiotics:


Antibiotics get rid of the bacteria that cause infections in the body, but they also get rid of the "good bacteria" that live in the intestines and vaginal area that are natural enemies of the candida albicans yeast. When the intestinal and vaginal flora die due to the dose of antibiotics, the yeast is left without competition and opposition and it invades the rest of the body quickly. When someone finds themselves obligated to take antibiotics, they should make sure to also take a supplement to replace the intestinal bacteria with "friendly bacteria". The "friendly bacteria" have names like acidophilus, bulgaricus, and bifidus. In all natural food stores they offer supplements that contain these types of beneficial bacteria which replace the lost "friendly bacteria" that an antibiotic medicine killed and that way your body isn't missing intestinal and vaginal friendly bacteria that protect you from the candida yeast.



Taking Estrogen:


Contraceptive pills, estrogen patches and medications for menopause speed up the growth of this and cause an overgrowth. Many women lose their figures after using contraceptive pills or contraceptive patches for just a few months. Estrogen, of course, is a hormone that accumulates fat and makes you fat, but also has the effects of being a growth factor for the candida albicans yeast. In other words it allows this yeast to grow quicker.



Taking Cortisone:


This medication, cortisone, which is used to lower inflammation in the body, also lowers the immune system and causes the candida albicans yeast to grow increasingly faster, which then lowers the metabolism. For example, people who suffer from asthma use an inhaler with a medication derived from cortisone. In addition many of these people not only suffer from asthma, but they also start to have weight and obesity problems.



Drinking alcoholic beverages:


When someone had a systemic infection of the candida yeast they should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages since this yeast lives on alcohol much easier than sugar.



Thyroid gland problems:


The thyroid gland and its related systems control the body’s metabolism, temperature and immune system. It is a fact that people with hypothyroidism suffer from frequent colds and infections because their immune system is low. People that have deficient thyroid gland systems tend to have strong infections of this candida yeast. This happens because their immunological systems are not protecting them from the yeast with the normal efficiency of an agile immune system.



It is Vital to know the factors that make the candida albicans yeast grow inside your body. If someone intends on lowering their level of infection of the candida yeast but doesn't take into consideration these factors that contribute to create a favorable environment for the yeast, then not much time will pass before their metabolism is lowered by a new increase of the infection with this yeast. The idea is to reduce the infection in order to recover the metabolism and change your lifestyle to see that this yeast doesn’t come back with equal or greater force.



Diabetics, as a result of their diabetic condition, are extremely infected with the candida albicans yeast. Diabetes, by definition is a condition in which glucose levels are abnormally high. It could be said that the body of a diabetic is like a paradise for yeast like candida albicans because of its constant high abundance of glucose.



-Frank Suarez, author of "The Power of Your Metabolism"