Guest guest Posted August 7, 2003 Report Share Posted August 7, 2003 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2003 Report Share Posted August 7, 2003 >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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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