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Linda Lazarides'
Nutritional Health Bible
an essential reference book for everyone serious about health and nutrition
Treat Yourself with
Nutritional Therapy
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Calorie
A unit of energy considered to be the amount of heat needed
to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. In nutrition what is described as a calorie is in fact a kilocalorie (kcal). This is equivalent to 1,000 calories.
- 1 gram of carbohydrate yields 4 kcal
- 1 gram of protein yields 4 kcal
- 1 gram of fat yields 9 kcal
- 1 gram of alcohol yields 7 kcal
Candida albicans (also see Dysbiosis)
A yeast which can colonize the mouth, vagina or intestinal
tract, and may be able to migrate to other parts and organs of the body. When it
forms an overgrowth in the mouth or vagina it is known as thrush, and is visible
as a creamy white deposit or discharge which in the vagina can cause intense
itching. An overgrowth of Candida albicans
in the intestinal tract is known as candidiasis, and is particularly
encouraged by the use of antibiotics. This is because Candida is normally kept
under control by so-called 'friendly' bacteria in the intestines. Antibiotics destroy these friendly bacteria, allowing Candida
to proliferate out of control. Systemic candidiasis, where Candida colonizes
many parts of the body, can also occur, usually in individuals with a severe,
life-threatening depletion of the immune system as in terminal cancer or Aids.
Intestinal candidiasis is capable of causing much ill-health, including
symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, digestive disturbances, headaches and
malaise. The yeast's waste products, which are absorbed into the bloodstream and
include the highly poisonous acetaldehyde, are responsible for some of the
symptoms. Damage and irritation caused by the growth of Candida on the
intestinal wall are responsible for others. In some circles candidiasis has
become something of a bandwagon, blamed for all occurrences of these symptoms
when no other cause is found by standard medical tests. In fact all the symptoms
of candidiasis are non-specific and can also be caused by food allergy, other
micro-organisms, digestive enzyme dysfunction, or by some other source of
toxins.
Candida is often linked with food and inhalant allergies, which it
promotes in two ways. First, because Candida is a yeast, a Candida overgrowth
can cause an individual to become sensitized not only to Candida but also to
other yeasts. The presence of Candida in the intestines then causes chronic
allergic reactions like bloating and inflammation, diarrhoea and skin rashes.
The consumption of yeast in the diet, from bread, wine, beer, stock cubes and
yeast extract, can aggravate these symptoms or cause additional allergic
reactions. Nutritional deficiencies can develop in time as the absorptive
surface of the intestine becomes coated with Candida overgrowth.
Many microbiologists have pointed out that under the right conditions,
the Candida yeast can change into a so-called mycelial form, developing a
fungus-like structure which is capable of burrowing roots into the intestinal
walls. The damage which this can cause to the intestines promotes further
malfunction, and in particular a condition known as 'leaky gut syndrome'. A leaky or over-permeable intestine can result in
undigested food particles coming more easily into contact with the bloodstream,
and thus further inflammation. Toxins are also more easily absorbed into the
blood from a leaky, over-permeable gut, resulting in increased stress on the
liver, which is already overburdened with Candida toxins. As liver detoxifying
enzymes become overloaded, sensitivity to odours, environmental factors and
natural chemicals in many foods can develop, producing varied symptoms and often
a severely debilitating fatigue.
It is difficult to diagnose intestinal candidiasis, since it is normal
for most individuals to have some of this yeast harmlessly resident in their
digestive tract. Some specialist centres now provide tests based on stool
cultures, available through nutritional therapists. A significant history of antibiotic use (especially if together with the contraceptive pill) and/or vaginal or oral thrush, suggests that Candida could be present in large numbers and that you would benefit from having it treated.
Candidiasis (see Candida albicans)
Adapted from the Nutritional Health Bible by Linda Lazarides
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