Kefir and Candida

[Guest guest]

Ok, I have a paranoia question. Dom raises the question on his site

without answering it to my satisfaction. Anyone know what would stop

candida albicans growing in kefir, when it is host to many

(beneficial) yeasts? In other words why would candida albicans not

grow in kefir? I am suddenly afraid of my kefir since I've had such

problems with candida (albicans) infection in the past. Would love

to get reassurance why kefir is 100% safe, also safe for culturing

veggies. Thx.

From Dom's Kefir Site:

NOTE ON Candida albicans: I have no current knowledge that Candida

albicans has ever been isolated from kefir grains. In fact, with the

help of daily intake of kefir and ingesting actual kefir grains on a

regular basis, I was able to regain control over C. albicans

infection [Candidiasis] in myself in the early part of 1983. Although

kefir was only part of a natural treatment-system in whole, I feel

kefir definitely played an important role in aiding to regain a

healthy balance due to a systemic yeast infection. One other thing to

mention is that I acted as soon as first symptoms appeared. It was

some 6 months later for symptoms to begin to subside. Also note that

some yeasts of kefir include the name Candida as part of the

nomenclature [name]. These yeasts are not opportunistic yeasts as is

C. albicans. The former yeasts are Generally Regarded As Safe [GRAS].

In fact, it may be such yeasts which have the ability to keep C.

albicans under control in the host. Not forgetting to mention the

vast friendly microbial component of kefir grains, including the

properties of the grains themselves, may play an important role to

this effect.

[Guest guest]

>Anyone know what would stop

>candida albicans growing in kefir, when it is host to many

>(beneficial) yeasts? In other words why would candida albicans not

>grow in kefir? I am suddenly afraid of my kefir since I've had such

>problems with candida (albicans) infection in the past. Would love

>to get reassurance why kefir is 100% safe, also safe for culturing

>veggies. Thx.

I don't know about candida specifically, but they have done a lot

of experiments with kefir against various baddies, esp. e. coli.

Basically a kefir colony is symbiotic, and the bacteria and yeast

that it likes, it tolerates, and it kills off anything else. Why does

it so happen that the 50 or so species it " likes " also happen

to be species that are ok with humans? Who knows?

But anectdotally, kefir kills candida infections. Scientifically,

the bacterial assays of kefir have never included candida albicans.

And the kefiili and kefir-beer I've had growing (in far less than

sterile conditions) have not changed one iota except when

I inadvertantly swapped one strain of Leuconostoc Cremoris

for a different strain. Usually when kefir goes bad, it's like the

whole colony goes REALLY bad -- it is obviously off. It's like

the microbes together are an organism of sorts and the

cells work together -- if the cells in your hand get infected,

you KNOW it. If the cells in your hand don't get infected,

you know that too. Your hand keeps itself relatively germ-free,

internally, even though it gets exposed to all kinds of germs.

The bacteria in kefir produce a lot of antibiotics and bacteriocides

to kill off competing bacteria, just as your body does to kill

off bacteria. Personally I think kefir is full of bacteriophages too,

which might be part of it's secret.

However, I think part of the problem with candida albicans is

sugar -- high starch or high sugar diets. Eating probiotics with

meals (any probiotics) help keep it in check. Milk doesn't have

the kind of sugar that most yeasts like. If you mix kefir with

flour, you will see a LOT more yeast activity. So if you are worried

about yeasts in general, don't use kefir with starch or sugar.

Is kefir 100% safe? Is ANYTHING 100% safe? I do know though,

that I feel a lot safer with foods that have been " kefired. " Foods

that have no probiotics, or acid, and not much salt are just

waiting for a bacterial infection, and I'd rather know what bacteria

was growing in them!

-- Heidi

[Guest guest]

Yes, there are good and bad yeasts. Candida albicans is one of the bad yeasts.

I didn't think I had a candida problem but come to find out, I do. But Candida

can cause a problem in more than the usual yeast infection or thrush way. Take

the Candida Self Assessment and Saliva test.

http://www.aquaflorainc.com/candida-test.html

Al

Kefir and Candida

Have not had a yeast infection in 10 years. I've been drinking kefir for

several months and now have an infection. I know my homemade kefir has yeast

because I can smell it but I thought it was a different kind of yeast. Any

thoughts? Patty H.