YEAST--WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
Carol Dalton, RN, is a nurse practitioner is in private practice at Wellspring for Women in
Boulder, Colorado--successfully treating women, men and teens for over 30 years. She
blends traditional medical modalities with the very latest in alternative and
complementary and health care.
What is yeast? A single celled organism. There are nine types that can cause disease,
but candida albicans is the most common form. Not all should be treated the same. In
healthy people, yeast lives in harmony with bacteria, but it can grow out of control,
resulting in:
• inflammatory reaction (allergies, asthma, eczema, sinus problems) depressed
immune system
• fatigue
• general toxic systems
What can cause yeast overgrowth? Using antibiotics, steroids, birth control,
chemotherapy, pregnancy, refined carbohydrate diet, assaults on immune system,
diabetes, stress, and low thyroid. Diabetes and TSH (thyroid) tests are recommended
Starts as small round spore in intestinal tract, grows into hypha (thread), then branches--
inside each branch are toxins that are irritants to cells. Common symptoms
• vaginal discharge with itching rectal itching
• genital rash (jock itch) nail fungus
• thrush on inside of mouth
• itching in ears
• Athletes foot itching skin
• acne rosacea
• Eczema rashes
• Sensitivity to chemicals, odors, perfumes allergies and asthma
• Bloating, gas, indigestion constipation, diarrhea, IBS
• Fatigue headaches
• Burning with urination frequent sinus infections
• PMS whole body aches and pains
What are the long and short-term effects? Inside the yeast cell are toxins. As yeast die,
the toxins are released, which weakens the immune system and irritates our body cells
Leaky gut--yeast eats microscopic holes through the protective lining of the intestines.
This allows toxins, viruses, bacteria, pollens and tiny food particles to get through into
bloodstream where they shouldn't be--this is very hard on our cleansing and detoxifying
systems. Liver gets overwhelmed trying to protect us--resulting in allergies like hay
fever, rashes, eczema, and sensitivities to chemicals, etc. We can then develop chronic
ear and sinus infections, for which we need antibiotics, starting the cycle all over again.
Antibiotics kill off both good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria are there to keep the
yeast in balance, when too many are killed off the yeast run rampant. Antibiotics should
only be used when absolutely necessary
Doing Life Intentionally Together
If you can prevent or treat a yeast problem, the immune system will be healthier and you
won't get infections and need to use antibiotics. Also related to heart disease, arthritis,
fibromyalgia--in any inflammatory health issue toxins can migrate to heart, joints and
other tissues, increase inflammation and fluids in body causing strain on heart and pain
in joints
General self-help treatments can work if the overgrowth isn't severe, but if you have a
long history of problems, we need to get serious about testing. Continuing to use OTC
treatments can lead to allergies and resistance, and the yeast can get worse.
Diagnosis: Great Smokies Diagnostic Lab stool test (takes 3-4 weeks):
• Gives clues about how our food and supplements are digested and absorbed--
food not broken down can contribute to the problem and we don't get benefits
from supplements
• Tests levels of three friendly bacteria, bad bacteria, yeasts and parasites
• Tests what medications and natural means will kill specific organisms
How to get rid of yeast overgrowth
• Lifestyle:
o Slow down, eat good food, get enough rest
o Breathe, try breathing exercises
o Exercise in general
o Wear loose clothes, avoid panty hose
o Avoid chemicals in public hot tubs and swimming pools
• Diet:
o Avoid: Sugar, refined carbs, white flour, desserts, dairy foods (except
yogurt), high sugar fruits and fruit juices (bananas, grapes, melon, citrus),
alcohol Yeast in food don't make it grow, but if you are allergic to food
with yeast, avoid foods that contain yeast
o Do eat: - Proteins, eggs, beans, nuts and seeds, low fat meat, Veggies,
whole grains, high fiber fruits (apples, pears, berries, plums), Stevia or
Splenda for sweeteners
Helpful cookbooks: The Body Ecology Diet,
Allergy and Candida Cooking Made Easy by Sondra Lewis The Companion Guide to
Healthy Cooking by N&S Nigro
o Supplements:
People are having trouble absorbing food, so they need to obtain concentrated nutrients
How to choose supplements: look for natural ingredients, quality control, scientific
testing, fresh, safe, tested for bioavailablity--recommends Shaklee for basic supplements
Basic Program:
o Vita Lea, multivitamino Instant Protein Drink Mix--mix with Diet V-8 Splash (not artificially sweetened)
o Fiber (soluble and insoluble--supplements make it easier to get 30 to 40 grams
every day), Shaklee Fiber supplements, ground flaxseed and Ultrafiber
o Optiflora: Acidophilus and Bifidus (study on yogurt showed threefold decrease in
yeast infections.) Optiflora includes both bacteria and FOS to feed it--don't use
FOS powder until gas is no longer a problem
o B complex, helps with moods and energy and binds with toxins from dead yeast
to prevent die off symptoms
o Garlic--anitfungal and antibiotic--be sure garlic supplement has enough allicin
(use Shaklee). When cooking with garlic, crush it and let it sit for a ten minutes.
o DTX--Milk thistle and schizandra to support liver detoxification
o Herb-Lax--helps cleanse toxins out of colon
o EZ-Gest--helps assist in absorption of nutrients and prevent constipation
o Betane HCl--hydrochloric acid to lower ph of digestive tract
o Supplements to support the immune system:
o Vita C plus bioflavonoids
o Zinc--helps with immunity and healing
o Shaklee DR (Echinacea plus) to help fend off infections
o GLA or EPA--essential fatty acids--for inflammation
o Alfalfa--for water retention
Supplements to kill off yeast will be recommended by stool test
Healing the digestive system--aftter yeast has been treated, need to help promote
healthy intestinal lining: Glutagenics (from Metagenics) contains glutamine, licorice, aloevera. Helps support integrity and functioning of the gut--glutamine is energy source for
rapidly growing intestinal lining cells, licorice helps protect the gut mucosa, aloe vera
promotes healthy mucous membrane on intestinal lining. Colostrum: especially if having
symptoms of irritable bowel, inflammation; also supports immune function. UltraClear
Sustain: "glue" to plug up holes in intestines. Probiotics and prebiotics: to build up
abundance of healthy organisms-- recommends not using until yeast are under control
When using proper herbs and medications you don't need to use the rigid diet as
medicine, but rather to keep problem under control. Recommends a healthy diet of lean
proteins, whole grains, veggies. Limit simple sugars, refined carbos, and alcohol. Detox
after intestines get healthy again. Candida can drain the body; stress the liver--uses
UltraClear by Metagenics plus special hypoallergenic diet; DTX (milk thistle) for liver
support; Lots of purified water
How do I keep this problem from coming back?
o Avoid antibiotics--use only when necessary
o Avoid sugars and refined carbohydrates
o Avoid foods that contain antibiotics (choose organic)
o Keep up pre- and probiotics
o Eat lots of fiber
Resources:
Tapes by Carol Dalton on Vaginitis, Skin, Digestion
Book: Yeast Connection by William Crook (has a revised version)
This information is not intended to replace medical care. This information is not
intended to diagnose, treat or cure.
