Candida albicans - The Yeast Responsible for Yeast Infections
The yeast that is responsible for vaginal yeast infections,
male yeast infections, diaper and skin rashes and oral thrush
is a tiny fungus called Candida albicans.
 Occasionally,
a yeast infection is caused by a form of yeast other than the
common C. albicans. Some of these other yeasts include
C. dubliniensi and C. stellatoidea, but infections
by yeasts other than Candida albicans are rare.
It is important to note that Candida doesn’t technically
cause a yeast infection. This yeast lives in and on most humans
most of the time, and we are rarely aware of it. Something must
happen to upset our internal balance or the health of our immune
system before the organism becomes a problem for us. If we remember
that yeast is really not the enemy, it is easier to understand
how to prevent future infections.
When our system is upset, perhaps because of a hormone change,
antibiotic use, or poor diet, your normally “nice”
yeast can morph into an infectious form. As soon as your health
conditions improve, the yeast will morph back to its benign
form, and stop making you itch.
Some of the things that cause yeast to switch from friendly
to aggravating can be controlled by diet or lifestyle changes,
while other conditions need the assistance of a health care
provider.
The following list shows some of the more common things that
can trigger a yeast infection:
1. The balance of power between bacteria and yeast
is disturbed.
The beneficial bacteria that live in our intestines, gut and
skin are our first line of defense against yeast. Bacteria and
yeast are natural enemies, so your beneficial bacteria will
keep your internal population of yeast from growing out of control.
Generally, bacteria in the colon and vagina vastly outnumber
yeast cells.
However, when antibiotics are used to fight a bacterial infection,
we lose this important safeguard and yeast is able to take over.
A diet high in refined sugars and other carbohydrates will
also favor the growth of yeast and inhibit the growth of bacteria.
This can result in the same type of imbalance that is caused
by antibiotics. This imbalance can lead to a yeast infection
in the mouth or vagina, and is one of the main reasons why so
many otherwise healthy women keep having yeast infections. (See
sgmjournals.org and pubmedcentral.nih.gov)
2. Changing hormone balances, due to pregnancy,
hormone replacement therapy during menopause, using oral contraceptives,
and certain illnesses like diabetes.
The hormones in your body affect your chemical balance and
pH, and changes in the hormone balance can create the conditions
that cause Candida to change into its infectious form. Insulin
resistance, which is a symptom of type 2 diabetes, is another
thing that can change the hormone balance and create an opportunity
for a yeast infection.
Obesity can cause insulin resistance, and obese women are more
likely to get yeast infections than their thinner sisters.
3. The immune system is compromised by an
HIV infection, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, Lyme disease,
or immune-suppressing medication used after an organ transplant.
Premature babies are also at risk of yeast infections. Yeast
infections can be fatal for some immune compromised patients.
The use of steroid medications to combat auto-immune diseases
like rheumatoid arthritis can also trigger a yeast infection.
4. An underlying illness or condition. Chronic
yeast infections are often the first symptom of a more serious
underlying illness, such as diabetes, thyroid disorder, leukemia
or AIDS.
|  Articles
on this site were written by Jonni Good, author of one of
the Web's most popular books on sugar
addiction.
A number of people have asked me for advice about natural
yeast infection remedies to use when nothing seems to work.
I read through many books and articles, and I recommend
Yeast
Infection Away by Crystal McBride. Her information
is well researched, and the instructions are easy to follow. |
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Disclaimer:
The information presented on this page and other pages on this
site is based upon the opinions of the author, and on the author's
interpretation of published reports and articles. It is not intended
to replace your relationship with a qualified health care professional,
and is not intended as medical advice.
The author encourages
you to make your own health care decisions based upon knowledge
of the issues of nutrition and health, and in partnership with
a qualified health care professional.
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