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Forums » Nutrition » Lifestyle Nutrition
 Dyspesia or Candida |
| Posted On Oct 4, 2008 at 5:05 PM |
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genevieve
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Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Last Visit: Nov 16, 2008
Posts: 17
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I have indigestion (dyspepsia) and IBS does that mean I have candida. So many Naturopathes talk about that but regular doctores don't believe in it. It's hard to not eat fruits and bread. Also can some people have an intolerence to olives eaten with other fats. 
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| Re: Dyspesia or Candida |
| Posted On Oct 8, 2008 at 10:54 AM |
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molivier
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Joined: Mar 13, 2008
Last Visit: Oct 30, 2008
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An excellent article contrasting food allergy with non allergic food intolerance (such as IBS, food enzyme deficiency, psychological factors, etc.) is found at the following link:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/food-allergy/DS00082/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
Most of the digestive complaints people have probably fall into the category of food intolerances.
Having "Candida" means different things to different people. For some it means having a bonifide gut infection. For others it means having higher than optimal colonization of Candida in the gut.
One thing to consider... EVERYBODY has been exposed to and harbors large amounts of Candida. In fact a standard test to ensure that the immune system of the body is working so as to trust the results of a TB skin test is to test for Candida sensitivity simultaneously with TB sensitivity.
The question then isn't so much as "Do I have Candida" but "Is it causing disease in me?"
It is always difficult to prove causation, in other words what we find with testing isn't necessarily the cause of our symptoms. However, since so many people have felt better after taking antifungal agents, who suspected Candida to be the cause of their woes, the popularity of treating Candida has mushroomed.
In some cases it is likely to be a disease causing factor, particularly if you are immunosuppressed (on dialysis, AIDS, using steroids chronically, SLE, RA, etc.), have high immune sensitivity to it, or unsually high colony counts of it in a body fluid or tissue specimen.
There is evidence that colonization with Candida increases the likelihood of immune sensitivity or allergy to certain foods. In which case treating the candida may help lessen GI disturbances. So would simply avoiding or eating infrequently those foods to which you may have become sensitive.
On the other hand treating Candida with antifungal drugs like fluconozole (Diflucan) can hurt the liver.
It seems more sensible to me to treat Candida by temporarily selecting foods that do not favor its growth.
Candida likes to grow where there's a lot of simple sugar and fat. So eating mostly raw vegetables, no fruit or grains or nuts for a short time can help lower the presence of candida. Not only is it hard not to eat fruit and bread longterm, it may also result in insufficient nutrition for the body. That's why I say do this only for a short time, 1-2 weeks, and to repeat this from time to time.
Taking probiotics may also lower Candida counts by creating competition for nutrients in the gut,... sort of a starve by less food availability approach.
Certain herbs are also antifungal in their effects such as barbery, goldeseal, and oregon grape. These herbs contain a potent growth inhibitor to Candida called "berberine". Unfortunately these also must be used with caution in that they mey hurt the liver also.
Fresh crushed garlic also shows promising results as a growth inhibitor to Candida. It has to be taken often however as the active ingredient "allicin" has only a short period of potency.
Another approach is to receive desensitization shots against candida by a qualified allergist.
Again I don't know whether you have a problem with Candida. Nor do I believe there is a reliable way to determine with testing that you have a problem with Candida.
But if you would like to try some of things I mentioned to resolve a possible Candida problem you're free to do so.
Last edited on Oct 8, 2008 at 11:30 AM by molivier.
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Michael Olivier, M.D.
Medical Director,
Black Hills Health and Education Center
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| Re: Dyspesia or Candida |
| Posted On Oct 8, 2008 at 1:27 PM |
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genevieve
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Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Last Visit: Nov 16, 2008
Posts: 17
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Thanks so much it answers alot of questions. I can't get a candida test where I live but all these herbs that health food stores sell to kill candida are expensive and eyt they don't tell us abou the damage it can do to the liver after using them for a long time. I'ts hard to cut carbs and fats for 1 to two weeks. I tried but ate olives that are soaked in salt without preervatives or vinaigar. Just wondering though how would you treat dyspepsia. sincerely, yours trying to listen to God's voice in all this. Being sick makes it hard to concentrate on spiritual things.
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Forums » Nutrition » Lifestyle Nutrition
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