By Peter Melamed, Lic.Ac, RN, Ph.D.
Many people have heard the words Candida but have a vague idea of what it is. Let’s explain it in a simple way. Our body, especially the colon, is filled with myriads of microorganisms. Their number exceeds the number of cells in the human body. Some are good for us, some are harmful, and some are opportunistic. Opportunistic microorganisms live in our bodies in small quantities and behave well. But if they have the opportunity, they can outgrow and behave like parasites.
The main player in this confrontation is the beneficial intestinal bacteria, the “good” bacteria. Our body has powerful multi-level mechanisms that control opportunistic infection. In addition, the proper amount of stomach acid and the antimicrobial activity of pancreatic juice and bile keep our digestive tract safe from harmful invaders.
Problems arise when these mechanisms are disrupted, and opportunistic pathogens such as microbes, fungi, yeasts, and parasites are allowed to thrive.
Let’s take a look. Most Americans eat highly processed foods, high in carbohydrates, and drink sugary sodas and alcohol. Millions of Americans take antibiotics, gastric acid suppressors, birth control pills, and steroids, which can cause dysbiosis. Is some of this related to you?
Dysbiosis is when good bacteria are diminished and opportunistic bacteria and yeasts, mostly Candida, overgrowth. What is wrong with that? A lot. Candida produces a hundred mycotoxins. These toxins poison the human body causing myriad symptoms in the digestive, immune, nervous, and hormonal systems. Candida is a great mimicker.
There is also another source of mycotoxins from outside of the human body. Molds that can produce mycotoxins grow on many foodstuffs. [1] Approximately a quarter of the world’s crops, including cereals, nuts, spices, wine, and coffee, are contaminated with mold and mycotoxins.
People live in many moldy houses with mold in basements. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the I.S… describes “sick building syndrome” as a building-related illness.[2].
Because mold and Candida can affect the brain, intestines, pancreas, liver, kidneys, skin, hormonal, nervous, and immune systems, symptoms can vary widely and may include:
- Chronic digestive issues such as gas, bloating, GERD, pancreatitis, IBS, constipation/diarrhea, and more.
- Headache
- foggy thinking
- Weight gain
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Nasal congestion
- Allergy
- Skin rash
- Attention Deficit Disorders
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- Irregular periods and infertility
The first step to convincing a person and fixing mycotoxin problems is to find out what is wrong. Our whole idea is to test, not guess. You can’t fix what you can’t find! For skeptics or people who want to know more, we at the Biotherapy Alternative Medicine Clinic can arrange Ig tests for common fungi, molds, and Candida. This is an informative, inexpensive blood test.
Some of our patients and their doctors deny the connection between dysbiosis and health problems. If you would like to see an example of tests of a very skeptical lady with multiple digestive, hormonal, and neuropsychiatric problems, please click here.
You are getting Candida positive test. What’s next? There is no magic cure or procedure to completely eliminate mold, fungi, and Candida from your body. The main idea is to restore the natural ways of how your body is designed to manage it. Restoring beneficial gut bacteria through colon hydrotherapy, a therapeutic diet, and taking a good quantity and quality of herbs and supplements, acupuncture has helped many of our patients and may be able to help you. Practitioners at the Biotherapy Clinic will provide you with a personalized healing program that focuses on the root of the problem. The choice is yours.
Key facts about mycotoxins from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the I.S.
· Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by certain moulds (fungi) and can be found in food.
· The moulds grow on a variety of different crops and foodstuffs including cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, apples and coffee beans, often under warm and humid conditions.
· Mycotoxins can cause a variety of adverse health effects and pose a serious health threat to both humans and livestock.
· The adverse health effects of mycotoxins range from acute poisoning to long-term effects such as immune deficiency and cancer.
· A scientific expert committee jointly convened by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – called JECFA – is the international body responsible for evaluating the health risk from natural toxins including mycotoxins.
· International standards and codes of practice to limit exposure to mycotoxins from certain foods are established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission based on JECFA assessments.[1]
References.
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mycotoxins#:~:text=Mycotoxins%20are%20naturally%20occurring%20toxins,under%20warm%20and%20humid%20conditio
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nioshtic-2/20031618.html#:~:text=The%20most%20frequent%20constellation%20of,frequently%2C%20dry%20or%20itchy%20skin
