What's all the hype about yeast overgrowth?

spatt786
spatt786 Posts: 24 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So what are your thoughts on yeast overgrowth? Just opening up for discussion. I've read and read on the topic and almost convinced myself to give up grains and take probiotics, but I think I'll just stick to "everything in moderation".

Replies

  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,261 Member
    Yeast likes sugar. That is why when you make bread you add some kind of sugar so the yeast will grow. If you eat a diet high in vegetables and foods that are high in probiotics that do not contain sugar it keeps the yeast in check. If you are prone to yeast infections,thrush, or taking antibiotics changing your diet might be in order. Otherwise a balanced diet is s good way to go. Like you said everything in moderation.
  • Strokingdiction
    Strokingdiction Posts: 1,164 Member
    "The concept of yeast causing conditions like chronic fatigue is not part of conventional medical thinking. This concept has developed through the evaluation and successful treatment of patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and other chronic ailments. Medicinal practices have long recognized forms of yeast as potential invaders, but usually in patients with conditions such as HIV or chemotherapy-induced immune suppression."

    From: http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/chronic-fatigue/yeast-overgrowth.htm

    Despite this article having a bias towards avoiding certain foods the might be associated with yeast overgrowth, I agree that it's a real condition. What I'm not convince about is the cause of it and how many people who are otherwise healthy are actually affected by this condition. It can be tested for so if anything thinks they might have it, they can get it checked out and work with it from there. If you're healthy and not experiencing any symptoms, its likely something that you don't need to worry about.

    Side Note: This is a potential reason to avoid "cleanses". Running nothing through your system that the normal flora of bacteria survives on can damage that population and can leave a void for less beneficial bacteria to colonize. Also, antibiotics should not be abused and used unless necessary for the same reasons.
  • takumaku
    takumaku Posts: 352 Member
    Well, from personal experience after I went through a round of flagyl and got hit with the side effect of candida overgrowth, I can say some foods didn't help my condition. The foods did exacerbate the condition I was going through. Only a round of diflucan, not eating certain foods, got rid of the overgrowth.
  • tabbyblack13
    tabbyblack13 Posts: 299 Member
    I have this issues when I take antibodics. Diflucan is one of the only things that will get this under control. I've heard that if you have high blood sugar, yeast will flourish because it is living off of suger in the blood.
  • spatt786
    spatt786 Posts: 24 Member
    That is definitely true about blood sugar and yeast. I'm a nurse, and I see many patients come in with yeast infections that don't take care of their blood sugar. I have to educate them about that. I'm not diabetic myself. I do have fatigue, crankiness, ears itch all the time, etc.... but not quite sure I have a chronic yeast overgrowth. I can relate the fatigue to my being lazy over this past depressing cold winter. I turned into a couch potato and gained 15 lbs. After I did some research on HFCS, wheat, and their relation to yeast, it made me want to try some probiotics. But other than being a little overweight, I'm pretty healthy - so I don't want to fall into the "newest craze/fad" category. Just wondering what your thoughts were and if anyone can really argue the use of probiotics.
  • spatt786
    spatt786 Posts: 24 Member
    I would never personally never do a cleanse. Same reason why I prefer to wash my hands with regular soap and water instead of antibacterial hand sanitizers. Good normal flora. I remember that well from microbiology class years ago.
  • PJPrimrose
    PJPrimrose Posts: 916 Member
    As I understand it systemic yeast infection is the result of SERIOUS illness found in auto immune compromised persons. If you have it you'll more than likely find yourself in the ICU. Here's the official info on it:


    Candida Albicans is a normally harmless yeast infection found in the mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina. Candidiasis is an infection caused by a fungus called Candida; most commonly the Candida albicans variety. The Candida infection (also known as a yeast infection) usually affects the skin and/or the mucous membranes of the mouth, intestines, or the vagina. Candida infections are rarely serious in otherwise healthy people. In rare cases, it may spread through other parts of the body if the patient's immune system is not functioning properly. In the most severe cases it can affect the blood, the membrane lining the heart muscle (endocardium), or membranes around the brain (meninges).

    Resources Web MD

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