The Science behind Candida #1

Many of the anti-candida programs today were developed in the 1950s. Nystatin, caprylic acid, lauric acid, undecenoic acid (Candida Force) aren't always the effective ways to treat candida.

Dr. Jeff McCombs reviews the pros and cons of common anti-fungals used to treat Candida albicans: Nystatin, Caprylic Acid, Lauric Acid and Undecenoic Acid -- how they work and how they affect the body, some rather negatively! 

I wish I had discovered this info when I was so sick with candida several years ago. 

Source

After watching this, the next YouTube clip started streaming and it was very insightful in regard to what the candida yeast overgrowth does to the body, antibiotics, and the flora of the body. Incredibly insightful on probiotics, sugar, and dietary triggers that people just don't realize.

The Truth about Candida: What Works, What Doesn't by Markus Rothkranz

80% Alkaline + 20% Acid = Balance

The Rule of 80/20: The body needs a balance of alkaline-forming and acid-forming natural vegetarian food. The following rule has evolved as a consequence of many years of research and clinical findings vis-a-vis the use of nutrition to heal disease.

To replenish and sustain your proper alkaline and acid reserves, eat 80% of your foods from the alkaline-forming list and 20% from the acid-forming list.

The following is an outline of the major vegetarian food groups and their chemical reaction tendencies in the body. All of the food items should be raw and organically grown (this collection of data from Hippocrates Health Institute).

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ALKALINE-FORMING

• sprouts of small seeds, beans and most grains
• leafy and root vegetables
• vine-ripened fruits/vegetables (cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, etc)
• sea vegetables (dulse, nori, wakame)
• fresh food herbs
• cayenne pepper
• garlic and onions
• tree-ripened fruits
• small grains (amaranth, millet, quinoa, teff, etc)
• fresh beans
• fresh sweet corn
• sesame seeds (soaked 3 hours)
• nuts (soaked 12-24 hours) (most are acid-forming but exception to the rule -- almonds, fresh coconut with jelly, pine nuts
• freshly-squeezed green vegetable juices, consumed on an empty stomach

ACID-FORMING (recommended)

• fruits (most are alkaline-forming, exception to the rule) -- blueberries, cranberries, plums, prunes
• grains (soaked 8-12 hours) most are not recommended, but buckwheat (slightly acid) and rye ok
• dry beans (soaked 12-16 hours)
• nuts (soaked 12-16 hours) filberts/hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts
• seeds (soaked 5-8 hours) pumpkin, sunflower

Not recommended (listed for reference)

• large grains -- barley, rice (basmati, brown, white), oats, wheat (slightly acid)
• refined sugar
• salt (all types)
• alcoholic beverages
• coffee
• tobacco
• vinegar
• refined condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, etc)

BEWARE -- the following are not only acid-forming in the cell but also cause excessive mucous in the body:

• meat
• dairy products
• wheat flour
• eggs
• salt
•  refined sugars
• alcohol
• tobacco

ALKALINE-FORMING ACTIVITES

Physical:

• moderate sunshine
• proper food combining
• rest--sleep
• deep breathing of fresh air
• fasting and eating less
• relaxation
• soothing music
• moderate exercise
• adequate water intake

Emotional and Mental

• laughter
• releasing processes
• self-esteem

ACID-FORMING ACTIVITIES

Physical:

• cooking and processing food
• improper food combining
• lack of rest -- lack of sleep
• lack of oxygen
• overeating (too much or too often)
• stress
• noise
• excessive or no excercise
• dehydration

Emotional and Mental

• anger
• denial
• confusion
• fear

Bottled Water - SamDaSoo, Seoksu, Kirkland

After an extended vacation outside of Korea, I came back and didn't have any filtered water in my house to drink, so went to the supermarket and bought a couple of bottles, the brand Seoksu, since the "best" brand in Korea SamDaSoo wasn't available that day. Earlier in the year I had reacted to the water, with numbness in the head and arms, but I needed just a couple of bottles till I could get to a filter or get to Costco for the imported Kirkland brand, which doesn't bother me.

Well, I drank one glass of the Seoksu bottled water and my feet felt weird within seconds. I looked down and within five minutes my ankles had swollen. Needless to say, I didn't drink much of that water till I could get to the office filter the next day, but by the second glass my ankles were very swollen! That water must have had an instantaneous, and very scary, effect on my kidneys to get that kind of reaction. Thank goodness that within a few hours of drinking the filtered water, my ankles returned to normal.

So, using a couple of different water-testing spa kits, I thought I'd test the water of the two bottled waters, Seoksu and SamDaSoo (which also bothers me), just to "know" a bit more about them, I also tested straight Bragg's organic raw apple cider vinegar plus some pau d'arco made with Kirkland water and slow-cooked in the crockpot for a few hours. The raw apple cider vinegar is acidic, of course, but it supposed to have an alkalinizing effect on the body (like lemons and limes, according to the research) and the pau d'arco is a bark that is anti-fungal and who knows if it would interact and change the pH and other things of the water that was used to make it. TI should have tested the Costco Kirkland water without making it into a tea, but wasn't thinking. Ah well. The test is only for alkaline and acidity and doesn't find other minerals aspects or contaminants so it would only have been for very basic info.

Wheat Grass, the Complete Food

What is wheat grass?

• One of the richest natural resources of vitamins A, C, D, K and B-complex ... also a natural source of Laetril (B-17)
• The richest source of chlorophyll, which is the "blood" of plants, with a molecular structure that is almost identical to the hemoglobin molecule of the human blood.
• Contains beta-carotene, which is found in red, green, and yellow pigmented fruits and vegetables. Beta-carotene acts as a scavenger against harmful molecules flowing naturally through toxins inhaled from cigarette smoke, air pollution, or other environmental toxins.

What it will do for you:

• Drinking wheat grass and green juices helps your body to build red blood cells which carry oxygen to every single cell.
• Chlorophyll helps wash drug deposits from the body, purifies the blood and organs, and counteracts toxins. Wheat grass helps remove toxic heavy metals (lead, mercury, aluminum) that have become stored in the tissues.
• Wheat grass juice helps to increase the enzyme level in our cells, which aids in the rejuvenation of the body.
• Wheat grass is one of the most direct and highly concentrated forms of the sun's energy, and is the optimal energizer when it is juiced. Just 2 ounces of wheat grass juice is nutritionally equivalent to 4-5 pounds of fresh vegetables and contains 103 vitamins and minerals.
• The juice made from wheat grass is 70% chlorophyll and oxygenates the white blood cells of the body, in turn boosting the immune system.
• Wheat grass is also very beneficial for people who wish to lose weight. Just 2 ounces of wheat grass juice a day can increase your metabolism and make you feel great in every way.

30+ other facts about wheat grass:

• Wheat grass juice is one of the best sources of living chlorophyll available and is the basis of all plant life.
• Chlorophyll is the first product of light and therefore contains more light energy than any other element.
• Wheat grass juice is crude chlorophyll and can be taken orally and as a colon implant.
• Wheat grass is high in oxygen, like all green plants that contain chlorophyll. The brain and all body tissues function at an optimal level in a highly-oxygenated environment. Disease cannot exist in an alkaline and oxygenated body.
• Chlorophyll is anti-bacterial and can be used inside and outside the body as a healer.

• Dr. Bernard Jensen says that it only takes minutes to digest wheat grass juice and uses up very little body energy.
• Science has proven that chlorophyll arrests growth and development of unfriendly bacteria.
• Chlorophyll (wheat grass) rebuilds the bloodstream. Studies of various animals have shown chlorophyll to be free of any toxic reaction. The red cell count was returned to normal within 4-5 days of the administration of chlorophyll, even in those animals which were known to be extremely anemic or low in red cell count.
• Chlorophyll can be extracted from many plants, but wheat grass is superior because it has been found to have over 100 elements needed by man. If grown in organic soil, it absorbs 92 of the known 102 minerals from the soil.
• Wheat grass has what is called the grass-juice factor, which has been shown to keep herbivorous animals alive for a longer period of time.  

• Dr. Ann Wigmore and institutes based on her teachings have been helping people get well from chronic disorders of more than six decades using wheat grass.
• Liquid chlorophyll gets into the tissues, refines them, makes them over.
• Wheat grass juice is a superior detoxification agent compared to carrot juice and other fruits and vegetables. Dr. Earp-Thomas, associate of Ann Wigmore, says that 15 pounds of wheat grass is equivalent to 350 pounds of carrot, lettuce, celery, and other nutritious vegetables.
• Liquid chlorophyll washes drug deposits from the body.
• Chlorophyll neutralizes toxins in the body.
• Chlorophyll helps purify the liver.

• Chlorophyll improves blood sugar problems.
• Wheat grass juice acts as a detergent in the body and is used as a body deodorant.
• A small amount of wheat grass juice in the human diet helps prevent tooth decay.
• Wheat grass juice held in the mouth for 5 minutes will help eliminate toothaches. It pulls poisons from the gums.
• Gargle with wheat grass juice for a sore throat.

• Drink wheat grass juice for skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis.
• Wheat grass juice keeps the hair from graying.
• By taking wheat grass juice, one may feel a difference in strength, endurance, health, and spirituality, and experience a sense of well-being.
• Wheat grass juice improves the digestion. Wheat grass juice is high in enzymes.
• Wheat grass juice is an excellent skin cleanser and can be absorbed through the skin for nutrition. Pour green juice over your body in a tub of warm water and soak for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with cold water.

• Wheat grass implants (enemas) are great for healing and detoxifying the colon walls. The implants also heal and cleanse the internal organs. After an enema, implant 4 ounces of wheat grass juice. Try to retain for 20 minutes or longer.
• Wheat grass juice is great for constipation and keeping the bowels regular.
• Dr. Birscher, a research scientist, called chlorophyll "concentrated sun power". He said, "Chlorophyll increases the function of the heart, affects the vascular system, the intestines, the uterus, and the lungs."
• Wheat grass juice can dissolve the scars that are formed in the lungs from breathing acid gasses. The effect of carbon monoxide is minimized since chlorophyll increases hemoglobin production.
• Wheat grass juice reduces high blood pressure and enhances the capillaries.
• Wheat grass juice can remove heavy metals from the body.

When drinking wheat grass, drink slowly, allowing the juices to mix with saliva. Drink the fresh juice within 15 minutes for maximum benefit to the body as the juice becomes oxygenated which reduces the juice's effectiveness and nutritional benefits.  

If storing wheat grass in a refrigerator because of time inconveniences in making fresh wheat grass juice both morning and evening, it is best to store the wheat grass in a glass container. Dark glass also minimizes light exposure which may also help extend the nutritional life of the juice.

The Value of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (not just any apple cider vinegar but the raw organic that still has the "mother", the beneficial sediment) is said to be a natural remedy for many ailments and a powerful cleansing agent and legendary weight reduction catalyst.

Traces of apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been discovered in Egyptian urns as far back as 3000 B.C. Babylonians used it as a condiment and preservative, while Julius Caesar's army used an apple cider vinegar tonic to stay healthy and fight off disease. The Greeks and Romans kept vinegar vessels for healing and flavoring. In Babylonians times apple cider vinegar was used an as antiseptic and a healing agent, and it is mentioned in the Bible. In 400 B.C. Hippocrates (the father of modern medicine) knew about apple cider vinegar's antibiotic properties and recommended it to his patients for its healing properties. In Paris in the Middle Ages it was sold from barrels by street vendors as a body deodorant, healing tonic and delicious vinegar drink to keep the body healthy and ageless. Even Christopher Columbus on his voyage to discover America in 1492 had vinegar bottles for prevention of scurvy as did Captain James Cook on his ships to the South Seas. During the Civil War it was used to disinfect and heal the US soldiers' wounds. For centuries in Japan, the feared Samurai warriors drank it for power. The Chinese call vinegar a "friend" because they have used it for centuries to process herbal medicines. For thousands of years, apple cider vinegar has been used not only for health reasons, but as a cleansing agent to remove bacteria, germs, mold, odors, even stains and spots.

Apple cider vinegar has known anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. Among the ailments it is said to cure are allergies, acne, high cholesterol, joint pain, weight loss, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, dandruff, chronic fatigue, candida, sore throat, gum infection, sinus infection, flu, acid reflux, leg cramps and ear infections. It is also used to help dissolve kidney stones, lower high blood pressure, and has been shown to help with type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity.

Even though vinegar is acidic, ACV has an alkaline effect on our bodies when taken internally and this alkalinizing of our blood pH could play a large part in its reputed curative powers. Our bodies need a slightly alkaline pH balance to be healthy; however, the typical western diet creates an acidic pH in our bodies, which results in many health problems. Therefore, taking a tonic containing apple cider vinegar can help restore alkalinity, and therefore assist the body in getting rid of some of the health problems listed above.

ACV also reacts to some toxins in our bodies, converting them to less toxic substances. Much of the evidence to support the healing powers of ACV is lacking scientific corroboration and is just anecdotal - Internet sources, testimonies in Apple Cider Vinegar: Miracle Health System by Bragg and Bragg. With such widespread testimony, even with the lack of scientific evidence, there seems to be something of value here worth looking into!

ACV contains acetic acid, great for controlling insulin and helping to control blood sugar. It also contains malic acid which positively affects metabolism and energy production. Being made from apples, ACV is also rich in pectin, rich in soluable fiber for lowering cholesterol, as well as potassium, which promotes cell and tissue growth. ACV also has almost all of the minerals, vitamins and trace elements that our bodies need, which raises the question why ACV can't be proven scientifically to be beneficial for fighting diseases, etc.

Benefits of raw apple cider vinegar with "mother"

Beneficial ingredients in raw apple cider vinegar give it its power to make us feel better, look better and feel energized. Just look at some of the beneficial ingredients in raw apple cider vinegar:

• Potassium – helps to prevent brittle teeth, hair loss and runny noses as well as cell and tissue growth
• Pectin – rich in soluable fiber, helps to regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol
• Malic Acid – gives ACV the properties of being anti-viral, anti-bacterial & anti-fungal; positively affects metabolism and energy production
• Calcium – helps create strong bones and teeth
• Ash – gives ACV its alkaline property which aids the body in maintaining proper pH levels for a healthy alkaline state
• Acetic Acid – slows the digestion of starch which can lower the rise in glucose which commonly occurs after meals

Other benefits

• 1 tablespoon of raw ACV mixed in 4 ounces of purified water after a meal has been used as a natural remedy for heartburn and as a replacement for toxic heartburn medications (although it is usually not a good idea to dilute gastric juices after eating with liquids as digesting is greatly disturbed)
• may help improve bowel irregularity, thereby removing toxins from the body at a faster rate
• helps clear up skin conditions and blemishes giving a smoother texture and complexion
• may also help with joint pain and stiffness.
• helps to break down fats so the body can use them rather than store them - for this reason, ACV is included in many diets
• helps reduce levels of glucose, as published by Arizona State University in a preliminary study in the Diabetes Care journal

Click on the picture to enlarge

More on the benefits of raw apple cider vinegar with "mother"

1. Diabetes
In 2007 a study, published in Diabetes Care, found that Type II diabetes patients who consumed two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar at bedtime showed favorable changes in blood sugar levels the following morning.

The biologically active constituent of vinegar is acetic acid, also the source of the liquid’s lip-puckering pungency. Nobumasa Ogawa, Ph.D., of Tokyo University in Tokyo, discovered that the acetic acid inhibits the activity of several carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, including amylase, sucrase, maltase, and lactase. As a result, when vinegar is present in the intestines, some sugars and starches temporarily pass through without being digested, so they have less of an impact on blood sugar.

[This is very insightful as to WHY the apple cider vinegar helps lower blood sugar levels. For me, according to blood tests I have very low amylase production, that is the ability to digest carbohydrate starches, and so I wonder about the value of ACV for me because the outcome might be that I have even lower digestion rate increasing my malabsorption problem as shown by many lines on my fingernails.]

2. Weight Loss
A study published in 2009 found that obese people who consumed acetic acid (found in apple cider vinegar) daily for 12 weeks experienced significant decreases in body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference, and triglycerides.

Most apple cider vinegar weight loss home remedies, like the one investigated in Vermont by Dr D. C. Jarvis, M.D., call for the taking of one or two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water before each meal. Patricia Bragg recommends adding 1 or 2 teaspoons of raw honey to this mixture.

Whichever way you take it, don’t expect a rapid weight loss, the weight will be lost gradually, as it should be to allow the body’s fat cells to adjust to their new size.

3. Blood Pressure & Cholesterol
High blood pressure can lead to major health problems including heart attack, stroke, aneurysms, congestive heart failure and kidney damage. A normal blood pressure reading is considered to be 120/80. If yours is higher, consider apple cider vinegar as a normalizing agent.

Studies conducted on rats found that acetic acid may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

4. Alkaline-Acid Balance

The theory behind the alkaline diet is that our blood is slightly alkaline (with a normal pH level of between 7.35 and 7.45) and that our diet should reflect this pH level. Proponents of the alkaline-acid theory believe that a diet high in acid-producing foods leads to lack of energy, excessive mucous production, infections, anxiety, irritability, headache, sore throat, nasal and sinus congestion, allergic reactions, and increased risk of conditions such as arthritis and gout.

Despite being an acidic solution, it is believed that apple cider vinegar has an alkalinizing effect on the body. One to two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in water as a daily is recommended.

Take only raw unfiltered ACV with the "mother"

The health benefits of apple cider vinegar will vary depending on the ingredients and process used in making it. Commercial production can use wood shavings, and other vinegars as the base (speeding fermentation), but changing the makeup of the end product. Therefore, the apple cider vinegar with its natural acetic acid, malic acid, pectin and potassium and which is made from organic apples, fermented using traditional methods (raw/unpasteurized and unfiltered) is supportive and balancing to the human body.

Clear vinegar has none of the benefits of raw organic apple cider vinegar. Through its processing and distilling, it’s been stripped of everything beneficial and can be detrimental to one's health due to the fact that it is dead instead of alive. Only raw organic apple cider vinegar has the “mother of vinegar” that makes the vinegar so beneficial. The “mother” is made up living nutrients and bacteria. You can actually see it settled in the bottom of the bottle like sediment.

http://www.fitlife.tv/featured/4-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/

http://thehealthyeatingsite.com/benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/the-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/

Apple Cider Vinegar: Miracle Health System by Bragg and Bragg

 

 

COMMENTS: I am still very unsure that this raw organic apple cider vinegar is benefiting me. Some sites say 'no vinegar' if a person has a bacteria and many, many other sites say that raw apple cider vinegar (only that vinegar) can help battle against candida. Well, I've tried it daily for 2 months now and am still not sure. It doesn't affect me negatively like other fermented things do, but then there have been subtle changes and tiny crampings in my left hand and left foot again ... but I can't honestly link them to the vinegar, so I'm still stymied. Anyway, I'm not supporting raw organic apple cider vinegar for fighting against candida yet. I'm still trying to make my very informed decision. 






In March and April, for three weeks, I went for a  serious raw food and therapy detox at Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. Day 1 I learned DO NOT TAKE ANY VINEGAR, NOT EVEN THE RAW ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!!! IT HAS BEEN FERMENTED AND WILL FEED CANDIDA!!! And so I have my answer, the one I suspected all along.