I have struggled with yeast infection of the gut for years and in the last 3 months I have made remarkable progress that I'd like to share. Perhaps the one thing that had the biggest impact on helping me understand what was really going on inside me and why I was stuck was seeing this picture:
The white stuff is yeast clinging to the walls of the intestine. Up to this time I had imagined yeast as tiny cells simply floating inside the gut. I imagined it would be a simple thing to knock them out by starving them by adhering to a diet void of sugars and starches (yeast food) and taking plenty of antifungals and probiotics. It seemed to work at first but never delivered the knock-out punch I was looking for. Now, after seeing this picture I realized that the yeast was clinging to the intestinal walls like barnacles on a ship's hull. And an average adult's intestinal walls have a surface area equal to the size of a tennis court! Those white spots on the gut walls are actually clumps of yeast cells. Millions maybe even billions. Antifungals will killl lots of the surface ones but when the antifungals pass on, there are plenty left to proliferate and continue on.
Then what furthered my understanding and led to real progress was learning about biofilms. Apparently, yeast has evolved to evade being wiped out by antifungals and the immune system by forming a biofilm around a colony of yeast cells that protects them. I think I read that biofims were discovered in 1997. In doing further research I found Dr. Ettinger's Biofilm Protocol. Bookmark this page:
http://www.advancedhealing.com/dr-ettingers-biofilm-protocol-for-lyme-and-gut...
His protocol lists important supplements to deal with the biofilms.
Lauricidin: Fantastic stuff! Made from coconut oil. Totally non-toxic and no side effects. Will not harm probiotics. One teaspoonful is equal to 12 tablespoonfuls of coconut oil. Comes in small pellets. Easy to swallow with liquids. Do not chew pellets. Very bitter if chewed. This stuff is a game changer. I like to take it with meals. It helps to take a teaspoonful of olive oil if meal is low fat. Cheapest price is found at laurcidin home page:
http://lauricidin.com
Discount for buying in quantity.
Anti-Biofilm Enzymes
Interfase Plus was recently recalled (I have no idea why). I use another enzyme product similar to Candex but way cheaper:
http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-yst-management-240-vegetarian-capsules
Buy one bottle, get the next for 50% off. Free shipping on orders > $50
Nattokinse. Vitacost has it cheaper:
http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-mega-nattokinase-2000-fu-90-vegetarian-capsules
Even though Serrapeptase in not listed as required, I think it helps quite a bit.
http://www.vitacost.com/doctors-best-high-potency-serrapeptase-120000-spu-90-...
Take your enzymes first thing in the morning at least 2 hours before any food. You want the enzymes to be digesting biofilm and yeast, not food.
Probiotics: Healthy bacteria living in the gut that keep yeast in check. Antibiotics which kill probiotics is the number one cause of yeast infection. You need to take 2 kinds of probiotics, one which has soil based bacteria and one which has lactobaccillus and bifida bacteria.
Prescript-Assist: Name brand of soil based probiotic. Kinda pricey but worth it. Other people like 5 Lac.
http://www.amazon.com/Prescript-Assist-Probiotic-Prebiotic-Scientifically-Adv...
There are lots of "normal" probiotic formulas out there. Get a high-potency one. 30-50 billion count per day at least. Some people take 200 billion a day. Here are several that have good ratings:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LIW11Q/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00309S4C4/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0031BUDLG/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COTA5BO/
I almost forgot to mention another important probiotic, totally unique. Bacillus Laterosporus BOD. To learn more and purchase go here:
http://www.flora-balance.com/Flora-Balance.htm
Take the probiotics at bedtime. You need to separate taking probiotics away from taking antifungals. Antifungals won't kill all the probiotics but will kill some. Also it is good to drink a plain, unsweetened kefir. I drink Lifeway Lowfat Kefir Probiotic (Plain, Unsweetened). No telling how many probiotics per serving is in this. Lots. Drink often, with food, without food. I bet your regular grocery store carries this brand. Found next to the soy milk.
http://www.lifeway.net/products/kefir/lowfatkefir/lowfatplain.aspx
Xylitol. This is news to me. Apparently xylitol which is a sweetener extracted from corn and/or birch barch has antifungal properties. Who knew? I have heard people saying it cured them of yeast. Perhaps if they did the other things in this protocol also. Anyway, we need all the help we can get. Take on heaping teaspoonful in 6 oz. or less of water. You will have to stir it a minute or two to dissolve. More time if water is cold. Take 2 or 3 times a day. Some report diahrrea with this. I've never had that problem. Try one dose one day a wait a day and see if it affects you that way before proceeding.
http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-xylitol-natural-sweetener
Diatomaceous Earth: Get the food grade variety. Mix one tablespoonful in a half glass of water and stir till completely dissolved. Chug it down, don't sip it. Doesn't taste awful but is kinda fine grainy going down. Take 2 times a day at least. Diatomaceous earth kills all sorts of pathogens and parasites. Completely safe to consume.
www.amazon.com/dp/B00025H2PY/
These helped me the most. I cannot stess enough the need to avoid sugars and starches. I know it's hard but necessary. Meats and non-starchy veggies are the safest. You can't get over yeast by taking antifungals with foods that feed the yeast. Doesnt' work at all. I found a almond butter that has no sugar. It is sold at Trader Joe's under their own brand name. I'm looking for a sunflower seed butter with no sugar. Haven't found one yet. Tahini (sesame seed butter) is to bitter for me to like.
So what has helped you the most in your journey to overcoming candida?