Bits & pieces of the Candida Biofilm story have been discussed before. However, this excellent article ties it all together in easy to undertand terms. This is what we are up against and why Systemic Candida has defied any lasting cure. I have edited this file to reduce size - Grizz
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Research into Candida biofilms is relatively new so our understanding of them is still limited and in progress, but this appears to be one of the reasons why so many people are not able to eradicate their yeast overgrowth. They are one of the most frightening, but fascinating aspects of this organism, and microbes in general.
A biofilm is a complex, dynamic, three-dimensional, slimy, sticky, film or glue like, polysaccharide (think sugar, starch, inulin, cellulose) and protein structure (referred to as extracellular matrix) that Candida (and other microbes) create so that it can hide out from your immune system, antifungals or anything else that is a threat to its existence. The biofilm becomes a "protective shield" so to speak. Instead of free-floating around your body independently as a single cell, a large population of yeast organisms attach themselves to the surface of the biofilm (colonization) and create their own ecosystem.
Biofilms also exist within industrial settings, which is where we have learned much of what we now about them, as they are easier to observe here. You encounter them in your daily life in a variety of ways. Dental plaque, the slimy gunk that clogs your drain and that develops on rocks in a stream are all biofilms. They exist in the kitchen and the bath in sinks, toilets, cutting boards, and countertops.
Biofilm formation is one of the many ingenious ways that microbes have developed to survive. They may accumulate on almost any surface that provides them a mixture of moisture and the right nutrients, including natural materials, metals, plastics, above ground or under ground, and body tissue. Biofilm are a combination of liquid and solid, but in an industrial setting they can become more solid and brittle when they collect sediment, rust or calcium deposits.
The human body is seen as just another surface for them to colonize. They may exist within or outside the body, and are found in places like the blood, the gut, mouth, teeth, sinuses, adenoids and on medial devices implanted in the body. Once cells attach to a particular surface, there is cell division, proliferation and development of biofilm.
Free-floating plankton (yeast cells in this case) approach a surface and become attached where they begin to produce the glue like substance and colonize the surface. The matrix substance enables them to form a complex three dimensional structure, and the biofilm community can develop within hours. Biofilms detach as clumps or release new cells to grow and disperse into other areas.
A mature Candida biofilm displays a spaciously distributed and complex three-dimensional architecture, that is optimized to enable them to receive nutrients, get rid of waste products and establish micro niches throughout the matrix and houses a thick web of yeasts, hyphae, and pseudohyphae. The matrix may range in thickness of 25 to more than 450 µm. The tissue in the areas where the biofilm adheres is damaged and inflammation occurs. In an industrial setting (like water distribution) a thick biofilm can reduce the flow of water, so we can assume that the same could happen in the bowel.
When Candida (and other microbes) are in a group like this, then it behaves and responds to treatment very differently than it does outside the group. Treatment approaches that are typically effective against single cells may not work at all against a large organized community. Like any community, there is strength in numbers. Your immune system and antifungals cannot reach the yeast that is within the biofilm to eliminate it.
Normally the immune system recognizes an invader by the proteins in its outer membrane. When the microbes are in the biofilm it works as a "cloaking device" preventing the immune system from detecting the proteins in the membrane and thus it doesn't launch an attack and the microbes are free to proliferate.
So for example, when single cell organisms are inhaled by an individual, phagocytes (part of the immune system) in the alveoli of the lungs will gobble them up and they will not cause infection in the lungs. However, if a fragment of a biofilm is inhaled, (like might be found in a hospital setting or a sick building), the phagocytes cannot reach them and infection develops. Biofilms were implicated in the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that were disseminated through the air conditioning and ventilation systems of hotels.
Candida organisms (and all other types of microbes) within a biofilm are dramatically more resistant to antifungal agents (or whatever agent is required to eliminate the particular type of organism). A biofilm community may be as much as 1000 times more resistant than free-floating organisms. However, their actual mechanisms to achieve this resistance are not completely clear.
Research suggests that the more mature the biofilm, the more resistance that develops. The longer you have had Candida, the more time it has had to develop strong biofilms. In one study, they illustrated that Candida cells outside the matrix were not resistant to a particular antifungal, but the longer the matrix developed the more resistant they became.
It appears the resistance is the result of many multi-faceted and complex mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. Speculation suggests it may include the high density of cells within the biofilm; the effects of the biofilm matrix; decreased growth rate and nutrient limitation; the expression of resistance genes; and the presence of "persister" cells.
Although biofilms may develop with many species of yeast, Candida Albicans species is the yeast that is most commonly associated with biofilms and Candida parapsilosis is second most common in a hospital setting. However, it's interesting to note that C. parapsilosis biofilms contain less matrix material and are less complex than C albicans biofilms, but they have just as much as resistance. This clearly illustrates that there other factors in the biofilm that we have yet to understand. The capacity to create biofilms fluctuates within various strains of Candida Albicans and other species.
Candida's ability to morph into different forms (from yeast to hyphae fungus) seems to play a significant role in some biofilm structures, but not all. In some studies, the hyphae were necessary components of the integrity and multi-layered design of a mature biofilms. However, some biofilms do consist of yeast cells only, with no hyphae. It is believed that the hyphae are needed for the more sophisticated structures.
Most of the studies done on biofilms have been in situations where there is a prosthetic heart valve, a hip replacement, intravenous catheters, or other implanted medical device, but we can assume that what we observe in this situations about biofilms can be applied more broadly. However, do note, that if you have any of these devices, that colonization and biofilm formation on and around these devices is quite common and can cause very significant issues. This also includes breast implants, teeth implants, pacemakers, IUDs, contact lenses, shunts, stents, endotracheal tubes, artificial joints, metal bars or anything foreign that is inserted in the body. They may be a never ending source of infection and even lead to malfunction of the apparatus. Removal of the device may be necessary. Candida cells can also bind to bacteria.
A biofilm is responsive to its environment and can migrate across surfaces. Organisms within the biofilm can detach from the matrix and travel individually or in a clump. If they detach as a clump, they retain their increased resistance against antifungals, antibacterials, etc.
Genetic Expression is Altered in the Biofilm
All living organisms (including those within a biofilm) have DNA molecules composed of genes that transport the instructions that determine the characteristics and cellular activities of that organism, as well as what genetic material will be transferred to other generations through reproduction. So for example, the genes of a microbe will determine how it acquires nutrients, gets rid of waste, responds to its environment and what characteristics it will pass on to its offspring. These instructions are what keeps the organism alive. It has been found that microbes within a biofilm are expressing a different set of gene instructions (gene expression) than planktonic (free-floating) organisms are expressing, thus engaging in different activities and responding differently to their environment.
The individual yeast cells have the ability to communicate with one another and with other species using chemical signals, and this communication has been found to be vital in the formation of the biofilm. In studies where chemicals were used to inhibit cell-to-cell communication, formation of the biofilm was inhibited. These chemical signals have been shown to impact not only the structure of the biofilm, but attachment, detachment and other behaviors.
In their planktonic state, the chemical signals are not strong enough to modify gene expression, but the matrix material of the biofilm keeps them in such close proximity that it allows the chemical signals to build up, which enables them to alter genetic activity, and consequently, cellular behavior. They will turn on or turn off particular genes as needed to benefit the population. Some genes will not be activated until they sense through their chemical communications whether the population is large enough. The ability to recognize the population is called Quorum Sensing.
Evidence also suggests that the cell-to-cell signaling communication system allows them to create sub-populations where each one carries out a different activity needed to support the group. For example, one sub-population may work on acquiring nutrients, while another sub-population focuses on reproduction. Some cells may even be sacrificed for the better good of the group when implementing some of their strategies. Some microbes are able to share information with one another like a drug resistant gene.
The changes in genetic expression that occur within the biofilm are what enables the organisms to hide so effectively from the immune system and become more resistant to antifungals, antibacterials or whatever the case may be. It is hypothesized that they acquire these abilities in the following ways: yeast and other microbes in the planktonic state carry a lot of genetic code that cannot really be expressed until they become a group; because they are so vulnerable to antifungal or antibacterial agents as a planktonic they die before it can be activated. Additionally, they may be able to neutralize an antifungal or antimicrobial more efficiently as a group than they can as a single cell and persister cells that are spawned in the planktonic state are more vulnerable than persister cells spawned in the matrix.
A persister is a hypothetical cell state or variant of a regular cell for fungi or bacteria that doesn't grow or die in the presence of agents that should kill them, (dormant) exhibiting multi-drug tolerance. They consist of only about one percent of the entire population, but this is enough to repopulate the colony, should the rest of the population get decimated.
Some other coordinated behaviors within sub-populations that have been observed are "swarming or swimming" and wall forming. The wall formers, being those that form the wall of the fortress while the swarmers create daughter cells.
So in a nutshell, the single yeast cells (or other microbes) are able to form together and use coordinated behavior and division of labor to enhance their survival abilities, just like we humans do in our own communities.
The Candida Biofilm Houses Many Different Microbes
Although a biofilm may consist of only one species, they almost always consist of a mixture of microbes including many different species of Candida, fungi, bacteria, protozoa, and parasites. For example, more than 500 different species of bacteria have been found in dental plaque biofilms.
The structure of the biofilm consists of gradients and niches that offer living conditions that are suited to a wide variety of microbes. For example, one niche or gradient within the matrix may be rich in oxygen, while another may be void of oxygen. Therefore aerobic microbes would dominate the oxygen enriched areas of the biofilm, while anaerobic microbes will dominate the oxygen depleted areas of the biofilm. Some microbes feed on the waste products of other microbes. If a microbe is in area where it is difficult for nutrients to reach, they may become slow-growing or stop growing, which makes them less susceptible to agents that may kill them.
Therefore, a Candida biofilm may house a variety of other species or organisms and vice versa, so understanding the characteristics, behaviors, etc., of each organism and their biofilm may be necessary since each organism may be contributing to how the biofilm is impacting the body. We need to understand how their interaction with one another affects the biofilm.
Hundreds of different microbes have been found to be coexisting within a biofilm together. For example, the biofilm may contain Candida Abicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and many different strains of each of those, plus it may also house numerous bacteria as well as a variety of parasites.
How to Destroy Candida Biofilms
Just like the yeast cells themselves, the biofilm is extremely hardy and difficult to destroy. It is a slow process that takes a great deal of time and persistence; possibly years. The process is still experimental and has not been refined. Researchers are still trying to determine which products are the most effective and what we have so far doesn't work exactly as they are needed. Some people are improving greatly with these techniques, some mildly and some not at all.
Research has universally demonstrated that bacteria that are part of a biofilm community are much less susceptible to antimicrobials than the same bacteria outside the biofilm. Research at the Center for Biofilm Engineering have found that microbial biofilms in an industrial setting are treated most effectively with a higher concentrated dose of an antimicrobial. A short exposure to a concentrated dose has been found to be more effective than a low exposure to a lower dose. However, they note that in a medical setting, the dose of antimicrobial needed to destroy the biofilm may also kill the patient.
Biofilms from Candida Albicans and Candida Tropicalis have been found to consist of carbohydrate, protein, hexosamine, phosphorous and uronic acid. However, C. Albicans consisted mostly of glucose (32 percent), while C. Tropicalis consisted mostly of hexosamine (27 percent). The material of the matrix was found to affect how it responded to antifungals; some being more resistant than others. So this can help us understand why one antifungal is effective against one species and not another.
What this also illustrates is that sugar and carbohydrates do not only feed the yeast organisms itself, but they will also provide the materials needed to strengthen the biofilm. So the Candida diet is also an important component of weakening the matrix, not just restricting food for the organism itself.
Most biofilms of microbes in general also consist of minerals like calcium, iron and magnesium, DNA and fibrin (a protein created by our body for clotting the blood). It is believed the iron, calcium and magnesium help hold the matrix together and iron plays a vital role in their ability to evade the immune system. Thus supplementing with these minerals when trying to destroy a biofilm may inadvertently reinforce the matrix.
When iron is present, the outer protein membrane of the invader is not expressed. Normally, our body produces lactoferrin and transferrin to mop up excess iron and prevent biofilm development, but the pathogenic microbes are able to secrete iron chelators that complete with lactoferrin and transferrin and acquire the iron they need for survival.
Lyme bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi) uses manganese instead of iron for its survival, which enables it to get around this whole process and evade the immune system.
An agent is needed that can break down the unique characteristics of the matrix that may be somewhat different from species to species and strain to strain. There are a variety of different drugs and natural remedies that a practitioner may recommend. What works for one person may not work for another.
Liposomal formulations of Amphotericin B and a class of antifungals called echinocandins have been found to more effective against some Candida biofilms than other antifungals, but not all. As a matter of fact, in some studies the species and strains were resistant to everything but echinocandins and liposomal Amphotericin B, but this could simply be because these drugs have been around a shorter amount of time. However, some studies have found that Candida within a biofilm can become completely resistant to all antifungal agents.
Echinocandins are a class of antifungals that inhibit synthesis of glucan (carbohydrate or polysaccharide) in the cell wall of the biofilm, which is a basic substance within the cell wall of the yeast organism itself as well. Amphotericin and echinocandins have shown that they can also reduce the ability of yeast planktonic cells (basic yeast cells) to form into a biofilm.
Some other substances that have been found to be effective against biofilms include clove, lemongrass, serrapeptase, nattokinase, lumbrokinase, and a variety of other enzymes, as well as n-acetyl-cysteine, cis-2-decenoic acid (a fatty acid messenger, tindamax, and apple cider vinegar.
One study found that NAC reduced biofilm formation by 62 percent for a variety of different bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebseilla pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris. Candida was not included in this test, but it is assumed it should have a significant impact since all biofilms share similar characteristics. However, why it works is not really known. NAC is an antioxidant that helps the body produce more glutathione and supports parts of the immune system that regulate mucosal surfaces, but how it is penetrating the biofilm is not understood.
These products contain a variety of natural substances that are believed to degrade or break down the polysaccharides, fibrin and other materials that form the architecture of the biofilm and bring the fortress crumbling down, thus making it easier for the immune system and antifungals to kill the yeast. They should be used in conjunction with antifungals or antimicrobials or antiparisitics.
Antifungals (or antibiotics or antiparisitics medicines as well) cannot penetrate the biofilm to kill the microbe, so the biofilm must be destroyed first. When that is achieved, this allows the immune system and the agent to work in conjunction. An antifungal or antimicrobial agent can only work with your immune system, it just tips the scale in your favor so the immune system can get the upper hand. Thus, if the biofilm is destroyed, we can increase our success in eradicating overgrowth of yeast, bacteria and parasites.
For example, MRSA/VRSA became resistant to vancomycin, but they discovered if they treated with EDTA first, this pulled out the calcium, magnesium and iron and destroyed the biofilm. Then the vancomycin was effective against MRSA. Suggesting that the Candida biofilm may be attacked in the same way. Use one agent to break down the walls of the matrix and then an antifungal agent to get the yeast as they are released. The chelator is used to get rid of the minerals the matrix is using.
As I mentioned previously, many pathogens besides Candida have developed the ability to create biofilms. They are common in all bacteria like Lyme and parasites as well; both of which commonly occur in conjunction with Candida. So an individual may essentially have biofilms for Candida, bacteria, and parasites, and the matrix for each of these organisms may consist of a variety of different materials, which means what gets rid of one, does not necessarily get rid of the other. Each issue may need to be addressed independently. Remember some organisms of one species may hide out in another species matrix and vice versa.
Biofilms for bacteria and parasites have the same effect, they provide a matrix that protects them from your immune system and any agents you use to eliminate them. Thus, probably one of the reasons that so many people struggle with things like chronic urinary tract infections, h pylori, chronic sinusitis, and lung issues.
It is believed that a substantial percentage of all human microbial infections include biofilms and that Candida biofilms are increasing in frequency and severity. It is estimated by the National Institutes of Health that nearly eighty percent of chronic microbial infections involve colonies of biofilm.
Biofilms of all kinds are considered to be a significant contributing factor to many chronic health conditions and diseases like lyme, autism, depression, anxiety, adrenal fatigue, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, chronic stress, chronic fatigue, cognitive decline or impairment, irritable bowel, attention deficit, hyperactivity, OCD, chronic urinary tract infections, recurrent strep infections, colitis, tourette's, pandas, self injury and any persistent dysbiosis issue.
They have been implicated in a wide variety of conditions such as peptic ulcers, h pylori, lyme, otitis media (children's recurring earaches), chronic low grade infections of many kinds, gingivitis periodontics, biliary tract infections, osteomyletis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, bacterial prostatitis, bacterial endocartitis, (infection of the inner surface of the heart and valves), cystic fibrosis, cystitis, and Legionnaire's disease.
The presence of a biofilm may explain why so many people do not test positive for Candida, bacteria or parasites in many laboratory tests designed to diagnose these conditions, despite the fact that they exhibit all the symptoms of overgrowth. The microbes are able to evade detection in the stool, blood, etc., by hiding in the matrix and antibodies are not produced because the immune system doesn't recognize them.
It's also important to be aware that the healthy microbes in our gut also form a biofilm, so we want to be careful not to destroy them. Unfortunately the biofilm of the resistant and unhealthy organisms overpowers the healthy ones and prevents them from flourishing. We want to restore balance to our normal gut flora and their biofilm. In contrast to an unhealthy biofilm, a healthy biofilm consists of a thin, moist, lubricated, and non-inflamed mucus that permits the transit of nutrients through the gut wall.
Dr. Anju Usman, one of the leaders in the field of biofilms, has found that all their patients who are non-responders to traditional treatment for microbes have biofilm in their blood. You can learn more about how to destroy biofilms, as well as all the other steps that are needed in order to reduce yeast overgrowth in my book, Candida Secrets.
The world of biofilms is a very exciting aspect of Candida and other organisms; research in this area may eventually open the door for resolving many resistant cases of not only Candida, but parasites and bacteria as well. New discoveries are happening all the time.
However, do keep in mind that all protocols and work in regard to biofilms is in its infancy and still being explored. Therefore, not all pieces of the puzzle have been discovered yet and results will vary from person to person. Any biofilm or Candida protocol should only be done under the supervision of a physician. However, here are some products that are commonly used successfully.
The Rest of this article here: http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-biofilms.html
More to come on this subject. Why is iodine & Vitamin C so effective where biofilms are involved?
Candida References: http://tinyurl.com/Iodine-Candida
Grizz
IODINE ANTISEPTICS ELIMINATE BIOFILM FORMED IN VITRO
Summary
Table 1. Effect of all the forms of iodine antiseptics against biofi lm was comparable. SEM showed that after the iodine treatment eliminated biofilm eliminated eff ectively. Fig.3G shows remnants of death disfigured cells still adhered on the surface with remaining
glycocalyx around. See photos of destroyed biofilm: http://file:///home/chronos/user/Downloads/Iodine%20atiseptics%20eliminate%20biofilm_EWMA2011.pdf
While this is proof that iodine wipes out the biofilm, this is not exactly how it works in our body. Every cell in our body contains an iodine receptor and it is this iodine that is used by our immune system to kill fungus, defective/cancer cells & more. The HUGE problem with iodine deficiency is that the toxins of Fluoride, Bromide & Chlorine displace iodine in our cell receptors, thereby crippling our immune system. We need to take large doses of iodine with co-supplements to displace toxins and restore iodine to our cells; http://tinyurl.com/iodine-and-halogen-robbers Displaced toxins cause temporary detox symptoms.The result is TRILLIONS of cells, each containing iodine under control of our immune system. The ULTIMATE power for optimal health
It is extremely difficult to find detailed reports on how our immune system uses iodine to kill Systemic Candida. It is far easier to find testimonials that indicate success. I've accumulataed over 20 testimonials with more to come here: Click Candida in the index: http://tinyurl.com/iodine-testimonials
More to come on how iodine kills Candida and does so long term because the immune system is powered up so it can do its job.
Candida References: http://tinyurl.com/Iodine-Candida
More on iodine supplements: https://sites.google.com/site/iodinereferenes/iodine-support
Best to all,
Grizz
Today my research on Candida hit the goldmine. A complete explanation of why Candida is such a progressive disease in 5 stages that can even lead to death.
1st a Review of the 5 Stages of Candida:
http://aleciajeanne.hubpages.com/hub/The-5-Stages-Of-Candida-Overgrowth
Next a Blow By Blow detailed description of why this happens. GreenWillowTree has some of the best medical discussions I have seen. This is a winner and explains everything:
WELL WORTH TAKING THE TIME TO READ
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THE DEADLY PROGRESSION OF FUNGAL OVERGROWTH
by James Haszingher, edited and paraphrased by Elora Gabriel
IS THERE A COMMON CAUSE FOR MANY DISEASES?
What is the greatest threat to human health today? Is it heart disease or cancer? In the author's opinion, at this point in history the major unsuspected factor in a host of illnesses is fungus overgrowth in the human body. The problem of candida or fungus overgrowth is ignored by most and denied by the vast majority of medical practitioners. Doctors are not required to report any fungal related diseases or deaths, and in fact fungus is so insidious that such deaths or diseases would be difficult to determine.
Is there a common denominator to chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, fibromyalgia, and many other diseases? Some of these disorders are called a syndrome, casting further uncertainty on their nature and cause. And where do the great scientists of our time say all these diseases come from? No one knows. How do you correct them? No one knows. However, fatigue is associated with all of them.
It would appear that there is not one but many failing systems associated with these disorders. In most cases there are some common causes of the system failures. The most common cause seems to be a faulty immune system that allows candida or fungal overgrowth. In these conditions, candida overgrowth is generally present.
WHY DOES CANDIDA OVERGROWTH OCCUR?
Please review the amazing story that develops as we follow the clues.
If you have ever taken cortisone, birth-control pills, antibiotics, or ingested high amounts of chlorine over a prolonged period, chances are very high that you have partially or totally destroyed your secondary immune system, your anti-fungal immune system. (The anti-fungal immune system is not the same as your primary immune system, which is made up of T-cells, antibodies, etc.)
What is the anti-fungal immune system? Initially, in an adult, it is about 6-8 pounds of friendly bacteria in the lower gut. This should comprise about 85% of all organisms in the bowels. The remaining 15% should be fungus or yeast. It takes this ratio, or balance of power, to keep the fungus in check. Fungus is the aggressor, much more powerful than the normally occurring bacteria in the gut. Fungus has no antibodies to protect itself so it produces very deadly substances called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are fungal toxins that act as anti-bacterial poisons.
Remember when penicillin was found in a mold growing on bread? Scientists discovered that fungus is a natural enemy of bacteria, and have used different varieties to kill off unwanted or dangerous bacteria ever since. At that time, the danger of disrupting the delicate balance of power in our bowels between the bacteria and fungus was not understood. The use of antibiotics has led to a dangerous increase of fungus in our bodies. When the naturally occurring bacteria in the intestines are killed, the progress of fungus/yeast overgrowth begins.
Once the fungus takes over the bowels and conquers all remaining friendly bacteria, it migrates upward until it fills the small intestine, where digestion and assimilation of all nutrients takes place. However, when the small intestine fills with fungus this process cannot take place. Organs and glands are deprived of their building blocks, and systems begin to fail. Bad digestion and assimilation are now the result.
Symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) begin to show up and are usually viewed as individual diseases in and of themselves. In fact, what is happening? The fungus, in seeking its main food of SUGAR, upsets the body's whole sugar/insulin system. The person deprived of the chaperone minerals needed to escort sugar and insulin into the cells becomes hypoglycemic. (No one tells us we need these minerals to get the sugar out of the blood and into the cells.)
Without these minerals the person now has low cellular sugar but high blood sugar--a perfect playground for fungus to feed. However, now the cells do not have enough sugar to burn for energy so we become less energetic if we do not eat often. And we surely do not have enough sugar to keep us alive during the night!
The brain now signals our "fight or flight" adrenal gland to send out adrenal hormones to keep the body functioning during the night, which it does. But the side effect is that during the night the person may get hot or may even have night sweats. The adrenal gland is now working twenty-four hours per day!
All [type two] diabetics come from this type of situation. All diabetics develop from a hypoglycemic individual. If the missing chaperone minerals are not supplied, the person in time will become "insulin resistant". And if the fungus attacks and inflames the beta cells in the pancreas (causing the T-cells to clean up the mess and destroy the beta cells) the person will become diabetic. The T-cells get the blame, but the underlying culprit is the fungus overgrowth. (Recommendation: Use our "Sugar Balance" mini-minerals just before each meal.)
Constipation, diarrhea, or both are usually due to the fungus overgrowth that destroys all probiotics or friendly bacteria. Friendly bacteria are needed to plow the waste, so to speak, to keep you from becoming constipated. You can use any probiotic that works in whatever reasonable amount is needed. But do not expect the taking of any probiotics, even expensive ones, to re-populate your colon again. The ever-present mycotoxins, along with the changed pH of the colon, will stop you. In virtually all cases you will have to take probiotics forever. People resort to many remedies for constipation, from prunes to herbs, but the real reason for the problem is a lack of friendly bacteria.
THYROID DYSFUNCTION
This fermentation occurring in the intestines with resulting malabsorption begins to affect the thyroid gland. Failure to absorb nutrients means that the thyroid cannot get the necessary building blocks to produce its hormones in order to regulate metabolism and body temperature. The thyroid also plays a role in the making of some neuro-transmitters.
Not only does this lack of thyroid hormone produce fatigue and make the person's hands and feet cold, but it can affect the brain in several ways. One is foggy thinking. Candida and fungus produce alcohol as a by-product, and this seems to physically interrupt short-term memory. Alcohol is documented to cause brain and nervous system damage. (Recommendation: Use Mini-mineral Iodine and perhaps some thyroid glandular support.)
BLOATING OR GAS
Think about this for a moment: What is produced when Budweiser combines grains with yeast? They get alcohol, do they not? The yeast in your body is just waiting for you to eat some bread, corn, or other grain foods like pancakes or oatmeal. The alcohol by-product can make you semi-drunk and foggy minded. This can also happen when you take in any food that turns into quick sugar.
Bloating is caused by the combining of sugar with yeast. This makes alcohol and another by-product, carbon dioxide. (You are now like a glass of beer with the bubbles rising.) This fermenting process disrupts the proper digestion process.
The person either bloats and holds the carbon dioxide, or produces the gas and releases it whenever they eat high glycemic carbohydrates, grains or beans, etc. This is because these foods are the main source of fast sugars that the fungus thrives on. Either avoid all foods that make you bloat or kill off the fungus overgrowth that is having a party with the food you just ate. (Recommendation: Use our Syclovir made from plankton. One teaspoon in 4 ounces of water even while bloating should be appropriate.)
THE BRAIN
The brain gets semi-drunk on ethanol alcohol, which is a by-product produced by the fungus when it digests sugars. This may cause brain fog, slurred speech or slow thinking. However, if the person also has a low body temperature, the enzymes needed to break down the ethanol may not be available. In this case the ethanol begins to cause actual brain damage. (Recommendation: Use our system to raise body temperature and/or take hot baths, etc. to keep temperature up as much as possible. Low body temperature may be dangerous in other ways also.)
Malabsorption is the result of fungus in the small intestine. Normally yeast/fungus is only found in the large intestine. With yeast overgrowth it migrates into the small intestine and covers all the receptors for absorption, and it dilutes all normal processes of digestion. The person now begins to have organs and glands starving for nutrients. Without those nutrients systems begin to shut down. For example, the blood cannot get iron from food, causing anemia. The thyroid cannot get the amino acids necessary to make hormones, thus hypothyroidism. The chaperone minerals are missing to escort sugar and insulin into the cells, thus hypoglycemia, etc. (Recommendation: Same as "Leaky Gut Syndrome" below.)
DEPRESSION
There are at least two major common causes for many cases of depression: hypothyroidism and/or an imbalance of female hormones. See PROGESTERONE below.
Due to malabsorption, the thyroid may be deprived of iodine and the amino acid tyrosine. Due to this deprivation, a severe case of hypothyroidism may result. One effect of low thyroid function is often depression. However, often upon examination the thyroid will fall into a low-end-zone of what is considered medically "normal". In most cases no hormone is given and the condition continues.
Individuals usually do not know that the thyroid is also involved in the production of some neuro-transmitters. Without these they may soon feel they require a drug for problems with depression. Upon medical examination, a Prozac-like drug may be prescribed.
And this is only the beginning.
Remember that the thyroid is also one of the body's power plants. Low thyroid hormone means low heat, low body temperature, low blood pressure and maybe a low pulse rate which all equates to low energy. The thyroid is only one broken system. There are more to come.
PROGESTERONE
Did you ever wonder why so many women have to use progesterone cream? It is because fungus devours this hormone and changes it into prednisone. In fact, one MD reports that drug companies farm fungus colonies, feeding them progesterone to make the drug prednisone--which they then sell to consumers as a remedy for everything. Prednisone is just one of the many powerful mycotoxins produced by fungus which can kill bacteria.
This explains why most women are estrogen dominant. Generally these women do not have an excess of estrogen, but they lack progesterone due to fungus overgrowth. These hormonal imbalances can cause the face to break out, breasts to lose firmness, hair problems, and perhaps most significantly, depression and migraines. Aside from these problems a woman's skin can become so sensitive she can't stand to be touched. The vagina can become so painful that intimacy becomes impossible. (Recommendation: Use our Amazon Female Formula.)
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Once the secondary immune system (the healthy bacteria the gut) has been destroyed or compromised, the main immune system (which is comprised of the white blood cells, T-cells, and so on) is now the only defense against fungus. Unfortunately it is not equipped for this big of a job throughout the whole body. This keeps the immune system so busy that other unwanted guests enter the body without much opposition. In fact the mycotoxins secreted by the fungus confuse the immune system, and therefore these unwanted invaders can hide in open view without an immune response.
It is a little known fact that candida suppresses the production of macrophages, one of the main components of the main immune system. And when engulfed by a macrophage, fungus is able to destroy the macrophage. Fungi secrete enzymes to digest cells. In response the body releases chemicals, which unfortunately cause more tissue death. Then when the immune system arrives on the scene to clean up the damaged cells as it is supposed to do, it often gets blamed for all the death and destruction. The person's condition is now labeled an "auto-immune disorder". An example is the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas that makes a person an insulin dependant diabetic.
Think for a moment...who benefits most when all the sugar is left in the blood with no way to enter the human cells? Is it the T-cells or the fungus? Which one will dine on its favorite food twenty-four hours per day because of this untimely death of the beta cells? Why would your T-cells only attack the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas?
ANEMIA
Returning to the problem of digestion and assimilation, more nutrients are lost than the main elements needed by the thyroid, or the minerals for proper sugar levels in the blood. IRON is also in short supply. Often the person with this condition also develops anemia due to poor digestion.
Does this produce more fatigue? Indeed it does. But it can get worse for some!
These patients often cannot get relief by taking iron supplements from a health food store. This type of iron is often toxic. It is not only the wrong sized molecule for the body to use, it is really in the wrong form. But because the body is so hungry for the right iron it will latch on to this wrong iron and will not let it go.
More and more individuals are developing what is called hemochromatosis. This just means they are toxic with improper iron and the only treatment is bloodletting by a doctor because they don't know how to make the body get rid of this wrong type of iron.
That's why many products now say on the label, "No Iron". What they are really saying is, "You caught us, so we're not going to give you any more of this wrong, toxic iron."
This problem also occurs in children in problems like autism. However, in this case the children are retaining copper in the wrong form, and it cannot be easily moved because the body is now deficient of usable copper in the right form!
Principle: When you have an overload of a mineral that cannot be moved out, it may mean you do not have the correct form of the mineral and the body is really starved for the proper form of the mineral. So, like a magnet the body holds on to anything that resembles the proper mineral.
A hair analysis may tell you that you have plenty copper in the body but it will not tell you if it is usable. Perhaps if you satisfy the cells' desire for the real mineral they will let go of the bad one. (Recommendation: Use Mini-minerals "Iron" plus folic acid and sublingual B-12.)
ACID REFLUX
When proteins are eaten, the stomach secretes hydrochloric acid and its two enzymes into the stomach to begin pre-digestion. However, the fungus often will migrate upward from the small intestine and move even into the stomach where this pre-digestion is taking place. When this happens the hydrochloric acid is diluted and the signal for the valve at the top of the stomach to close tightly is muted. As a result, often it stays partly open.
Acid may now be able to go up towards the mouth, burning the esophagus. The problem is not too much acid, it is not enough acid to close the valve due to the presence of fungus in the stomach. (Recommendation: Syclovir.)
THRUSH
If the fungus climbs all the way to the mouth the person will be said to have thrush. The tongue turns white with yeast. But by the time this is seen the person has many more problems than just thrush! And this is not really a disease, it is just a symptom. (Recommendation: Syclovir.)
LEAKY GUT SYNDROME
In order to search for the food required to feed its ever-multiplying colonies, fungus wants to get into the bloodstream. Therefore it drills holes in the small intestine and makes its way into the blood stream. These holes allow undigested food to leak into the blood. Because the body cannot recognize them, these foods will eventually be tagged as alien, and antibodies will be made to attack them. This situation can cause full-blown food allergies. These are often low-grade allergies that cause a lot of problems without any major symptoms that would allow the person to make a connection. After years, a person may develop joint problems like arthritis and even allergy shiners (dark circles around the eyes.)
(Recommendation: Syclovir, made from plankton. For Autism it may be helpful to use Colostrum to repair the gut. All others may use L-Glutamine. It should take 90-120 days to repair leaky gut syndrome if you keep the gut clear of fungus.)
GALL BLADDER
Once the body is full of fungus, it migrates freely into many places in the body such as the gallbladder. It can fill this organ, causing problems with its function.
KIDNEY
It is estimated by some, including doctors, that fungus may be the leading cause of kidney failure without anyone being aware of it.
EARS
When fungus migrates into the ears it causes ringing. As with the other symptoms of fungus overgrowth, doctors give it a name and treat it as a separate disease. In the early stages, fungus in the ears may cause itchy ears or clicking sounds. If it moves further in, it can cause dizziness and loss of balance. What is the medical explanation for this? Old age! However it also affects the young!
SINUSITIS
When fungus migrates into the sinuses things get worse. Doctors have no remedy for this except to operate and scrape the sinuses. This is a short-term remedy, as the fungus will come back in time. This disorder is miserable and adversely affects the health with post-nasal drip. Sometimes large fungal balls have to be removed from the sinuses by means of surgery. Doctors have no idea what causes this, and no long-term solution. (Recommendation: See our liquid Resp-Aide in a motorized nebulizer for the respiratory system, along with Syclovir for the circulatory system.)
EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS
Individuals with severe fungal overgrowth often carry the Epstein Barr virus, or another large viral colony that hides in the spinal fluid or other locations. It is easy for viruses to hide in the midst of fungal mycotoxins that confuse the immune system. Viruses are notorious for weakening the body's organs while the fungus helps to hide them from the immune system. (Recommendation: Ultra 1, 2, & 3.)
On Sept. 19, 2000, a Wall Street Journal writer wrote an article entitled "New Theory Emerges on Fatigue Ailment." The article presented information from researcher Dr. Lerner, who had done daylong cardiac monitoring on chronic fatigue patients in two separate small studies. The cardiac monitoring, done by Lerner and his research team, revealed that 95% of chronic fatigue patients had abnormal electrocardiograms indicative of heart damage.
Dr. Lerner said he suspects the heart damage is caused by Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus, both long implicated in the chronic fatigue syndrome. And to top it off, all of us have an 80% chance of also having the herpes virus. Epstein-Barr is a type of herpes virus.
OTHER UNWANTED GUESTS
Do you ever wonder why some people get pneumonia every year, whereas others periodically get staph infections? Or why some get strep once or twice a year? Why do others get frequent colds and flu?
The reason is that these infections may never leave the body at all. People have an episode and the microbe then hides in the presence of the fungus and its mycotoxins. To eliminate these pathogens totally, the fungus and its poisons must be controlled. (Recommendation: See our Ultra 1, 2 & 3, also Syclovir.)
ATP PRODUCTION
Long-term candida/fungus problems eventually seem to include a crippling of the ATP energy cycle. This is probably the most difficult problem to overcome.
ADRENAL GLAND
The end result is now an overworked, depleted and exhausted adrenal gland as it tries to maintain enough energy for the person to live another day. When all the other energy systems are failing, especially the sugar/insulin system, this puts stress on the adrenals. Due to lack of glucose in the cells, the body's engines would shut off during the night. As a last resort, the brain signals the adrenal glands to send out adrenal hormones to keep all the cells working even without sugar (their normal fuel). Adrenal hormones generate heat as they are usually used in the "flight or fight" response. The pumping out of adrenal hormones at night may cause night sweats, with the intensity depending on the lack of sugar in the cells on any given night.
CANCER
Fungus is always seeking sugar, and as a parasite it cannot produce sugar. It is also very ready to donate half of its DNA to any life form so it can make a hybrid that can produce sugar. In nature fungus overpowers algae and makes a hybrid called lichen, which is found growing on rocks. Fungus is not an air breather and neither is cancer! Read the book by Dr. Doug Kaufman MD dealing with the fungus/cancer relationship.
LEPROSY AND TUBERCULOSIS
Both of these diseases are listed as a "mycobacterium". Myco means fungal and bacterium is a bacteria. As we already know, hybrid mycobacteriums can be very deadly. Leprosy is called "mycobacterium leprae".
HEART DISEASE
Once the sugar/insulin system is severely disrupted, people like autistic children, those with ADD or ADHD, hypoglycemics, and especially the diabetic, will begin to lay down plaque in the arteries ten to one hundred times faster than normal. This explains why virtually all diabetics, after suffering a life of pain and problems, in the end die from a plaque induced heart attack!
MYCOTOXINS
A final note about these abundant toxins that get embedded into the colon wall: They are not water soluble; they are somewhat heat stable; they are resistant to UV light. No one as yet has found a perfect or easy way to neutralize these toxins or to repopulate the colon and reestablish the daily, natural, friendly, bacterial protection from fungus overgrowth. These toxins also confuse the immune system, which may allow unwanted guests to remain in the body even after they seem to be gone. Some of these pathogens, such as cold or flu viruses, staph, strep, pneumonia and bronchitis, may be repeat offenders in many individuals due to the mycotoxins.
When we stop taking probiotics, we have no friendly bacteria in our intestines, largely due to these toxins. Until we find a way to rectify this we will have to use something to manually control our fungal levels each day to protect ourselves from the ultimate goal of fungus: to bring us back to the dust. For without our pristine bacterial secondary immune system, the fungus assumes we are dead.
HOW PERMANENT IS THE DAMAGE TO OUR SECONDARY IMMUNE SYSTEM?
Our original secondary immune system, composed of 6-8 pounds of friendly bacteria for an adult, was no little thing to lose. Please understand that it was like a priceless crystal vase standing on a pedestal. Once the vase gets knocked off the pedestal and shatters into a zillion pieces, can it be easily put back together again? It cannot. That's why our generation has to take probiotics and cannot stop taking them. The colony virtually never re-appears again on the wall of the colon. We can only keep friendly bacteria in the waste itself.
To remain healthy, you must daily: 1. Take probiotics 2. Minimize fungal feeding foods 3. Take a great destroyer of fungus daily.
And always remember yeast is like Elvis, always ready to make a comeback because it is in the very air we breathe.
IDENTIFYING FUNGUS/YEAST OVERGROWTH
Do you...
bloat when you eat?
form gas when you eat?
have cold hands or feet?
have acid reflux?
have brain fog?
have an itchy nose?
ear sensitivity/ringing/itching or fluid in the ears?
suffer from fatigue for no reason?
have a dry mouth?
have vision that gets blurry then clear then blurry?
Are you...
hypoglycemic? (shaky if meal is missed, sleepy after a meal, sweat during sleep)
prone to constipation or diarrhea or both?
hypothyroid? (cold hands or feet, sluggish metabolism)
borderline anemic?
as a female, suffering from hormone imbalance producing headaches, migraines, depression or painful periods?
Some of the more than 100 symptoms of Candida overgrowth are as follows:
Short term memory loss, persistent drowsiness, fatigue, brain fog, headaches, mood swings, dizziness, loss of balance, lack of coordination, ear sensitivity/ringing/itching or fluid in the ears, blurred vision, rashes, mucous in stools, diarrhea/constipation or both, postnasal drip, frequent colds, (recurring strep throat, sinusitis or bronchitis), heartburn, nasal itch and or congestion, nervous irritability, tightness of the chest, dry mouth or throat.
Because of belching, bloating, flatulence or indigestion, we develop bad breath, cold hands or feet, thyroid problems, depression, anemia and sugar disorders. Some of the above are usually worse on damp days.
Some disorders that usually are accompanied by Candida Overgrowth: Irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, cancer, diabetes, hypoglycemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Ebstein-barr virus, pneumonia, lupus, and most situations involving acid reflux and hiatal hernia.
Lack of progesterone in women is often the result of Candida overgrowth converting their progesterone into prednisone.
ANTI FUNGAL DIET from World Health Mall, Inc. Do you crave any of these foods? Avoid foods that feed Candida. These include high glycemic foods like alcoholic beverages, white rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, corn (including popcorn) carrots, apples, bananas, and grapes. Also avoid vinegar, most dairy products, peanuts, and cashews. Remember, all grains and beans feed fungus.
Remember to follow the clues.
What is the main food of fungus? Sugar!
What is the craving of a person who suffers from hypoglycemia? Sugar!
What is diabetes linked to? Sugar!
What is the primary food of cancer? Sugar!
It doesn't take a genius to realize that the hypoglycemic, the diabetic and the cancer patient all crave and depend on SUGAR!
http://www.greenwillowtree.com/page.bok?file=deadly.html
It is now clear: The Lowest Common Denominator to almost all disease is Systemic Candida
Also, I think we have proven that the Immune systems can be rebuilt using a strict Paleo Diet, Vitamin D3 & the Dr. Brownstein Iodine Protocol.
See details at our Candida references
http://tinyurl.com/Iodine-Candida
Best to all,
Grizz
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