Probiotics can help control candida, a type of fungus that can cause thrush or yeast infections when it grows in excess. Friendly bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, can reduce candida growth in the digestive tract. Probiotic supplements can help restore a healthy balance and prevent yeast infections, especially after taking antibiotics.
Candida and probiotics are related in that probiotics, which occur naturally in the body, may help control candida. Candida refers to Candida albicans, a type of fungus that is normally found on the skin, in the digestive tract, and on most mucosal surfaces of the body, such as those in the mouth and lungs. Candida usually has no harmful effects, but when it grows in excess, it can cause thrush or yeast infections. Probiotics are so-called friendly bacteria that normally inhabit the same areas of the body, especially the digestive tract. Healthy populations of probiotics reduce opportunities for candida to grow and cause infection.
The human intestinal flora, which is the population of microorganisms normally found in the digestive tract, is composed primarily of various types of bacteria and yeasts. C. albicans is a type of yeast, and all yeast species are types of fungi. Candida and probiotics are constantly competing in the digestive tract, so higher levels of friendly bacteria can crowd out candida. This reduces the chances of yeast infection.
There are a few different ways to create or restore a healthy balance between candida and probiotics. One of the most common ways to do this is by adding the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus to the diet, either through food sources or supplements. > L. acidophilus and other probiotics occur naturally in some fermented dairy products like yogurt, specifically those that contain live cultures. Some other probiotics include different Lactobacillus species and some Bifidobacterium species, which are available as supplements.
Dietary supplements can be taken to exploit the connection between candida and probiotics. Probiotics can be taken in supplements such as pills or powder. Different strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are available, some of which are proprietary. In addition to L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium bifidus are often taken. Combining fermented dairy foods with supplements can help ensure the presence of a variety of health-promoting bacteria.
Infections that sometimes occur after taking antibiotics can help illustrate the relationship between candida and probiotics. Sometimes yeast infections occur after taking antibiotics. This is because antibiotics kill friendly bacteria as well as unfriendly bacteria. The loss of friendly bacteria can lead to yeast infections because these helpful bacteria are no longer present in the digestive tract and therefore cannot compete with the yeast. Using probiotic supplements to recolonize the body with healthy bacteria can help prevent these infections.
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