Bowel Dysbiosis, Candidiasis and Yeast

Dysbiosis is a coined term that refers to an imbalance in the intestinal tract including pathogenic agents such as candida (yeast) and parasites. When the gastrointestinal tract is compromised, the pathogenic agents proliferate, destroying the "good bacteria" in the intestines and wreaking havoc on the body's immune system.

Signs and Symptoms

Possible Causes or Contributing Factors

1. Prolonged antibiotic use which kills the good bacteria, allowing yeast overgrowth.
2. Oral contraceptive use, estrogen-replacement therapy and/or steroidal use can increase risk.
   NOTE: Yeast festers in estrogen.
3. Anti-ulcer medications including Zantac and Tagamet - reduction in HCl (hydrochloric acid) lowers natural defenses to infection with pathogens.
4. Immune suppression due to stress, environmental toxins, illness and infectious agents
5. Poor dietary habits, including high sugar intake
6. Chemical/environmental toxins
7. Alcohol use - alcohol is very toxic and feeds the yeast.
   NOTE: "Drunk disease" was first discovered in Japan when chronic candidiasis patients were tested and found to have alcohol in the blood even when they did not consume any alcohol. In these patients, it was found that they turned acetaldehyde (a toxin produced in the gut from sugar and yeast fermentation) into ethanol, which caused them to be constantly drunk. (Burton Goldberg Group, Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide, Future Medicine Publishing, Inc. WA. 1993, p. 589.)
8. Food and environmental allergies.
9. Hypothyroidism.
10. Diabetes (candida thrives in the presence of sugar).
11. Gallbladder problems - parasites especially will stagnate bile.
12. HCL and/or enzymatic deficiencies.
13. Hypoglycemia and/or hypoadrenia.
14. Impaired liver function - liver is a key organ in fighting against candida. The liver is essential in detoxifying the toxins released when killing off yeast. If the liver is not strong enough to filter the blood, the toxins will remain in the blood and cause symptoms to become worse.
15. Mercury amalgam dental fillings.

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