Dysbiosis: The Common Cause of Disease

"The Intestinal Zoo"

Our gastrointestinal tract is home to over 400 species of good bacteria and other flora. There are approximately 3lbs of this "gut flora" in our intestines. The gut flora perform many functions that contribute to the health of the human host. This "friendly bacteria" mostly have names beginning with 'Lactobacillus' or 'Bifidobacteria' which denotes the genus they belong to. The major functions of friendly bacteria are the following:

*Producing short chain fatty acids that contribute to a large proportion of our energy.

*Producing a number of valuable nutrients such as B vitamins and vitamin K.

*Metabolising drugs, hormones, and carcinogens

*Protect us from pathogenic bacteria

*Helps us maintain a healthy intestinal pH

* Enhancing immune function

Among these "friendly bacteria" are a number or organisms that don't provide us with any benefits. Examples of these organisms include yeasts/fungus, parasites, coliform bacteria (such as E.coli) and other harmful bacteria.

Introduction to Candida

What is "Candida"?

"Candida albicans: A yeast-like fungal organism found in small amounts in the normal human intestinal tract. Normally kept in check by the body's own helpful bacteria, C. albicans can increase in numbers when this balance is disturbed to cause candidiasis of the intestinal tract, or yeast infections of other parts of the body. C. albicans causes thrush." (Commonly mispronounced, say KAN'-di-duh, not Kan-DEE'-duh)

Our immune system is designed to defend us from illness. But many medical conditions in our modern world can compromise it: excessive use of antibiotics or steroids, oral contraceptives, overly-acidic pH levels from processed foods and stress, hormone imbalances, exposure to environmental toxins (often molds) and chronic illness. Our exposure to all these modern medical conditions sets us up for the fall into the medical condition known as Candida yeast overgrowth.

When our immune systems are compromised, a normal yeast present in our bodies, called Candida, can "morph" from being a beneficial yeast into a HARMFUL FUNGUS. This fungal yeast can quickly grow out of the normal balance that nature intended and overwhelm the beneficial flora (acidophilus type bacteria) that normally keeps natural yeast levels in check.

This yeast OVERGROWTH condition is called CANDIDIASIS. This new fungal form of yeast develops rhizoids (long, burrowing legs) that hook into and can penetrate the mucus membranes in the intestinal tract and cause serious bowel pain.

As time goes on, the morphed fungal yeast may burrow right through the intestinal wall. This condition, called Leaky Gut Syndrome, allows partially digested proteins and the yeast itself to travel into the bloodstream where they become toxins.

As undigested foods directly enter the bloodstream this may cause an immediate allergic reaction to those foods. Once the Yeast infection has access to the whole body, you have system-wide or Systemic Candidiasis.

What is Dysbiosis?

DYSBIOSIS...probably not a word you hear a lot or at all. DYSBIOSIS is the term used to describe an imbalance of the bacteria in the digestive tract or there is too much yeast, harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites in the intestines. Because 70% of our immune system starts in the intestines, these friendly organisms in our gut play an important role in protecting our bodies against diseases caused by bad bacteria, viruses, parasites as well as fungus. When this balance of healthy organisms are disturbed, it results in Dysbiosis. DYSBIOSIS alters your immune system, hormonal balance as well as the whole equilibrium of the body. DYSBIOSIS alters mind functions leading to common problems such as depression, anxiety and irritability. DYSBIOSIS will lead to a myriad of diseases and health problems... affecting every aspect of health.

The Process of Dysbiosis

Now that we know what causes dysbiosis, we ask "How can dysbiosis cause so many health problems?" The answer lies in the process of dysbiosis. The process of dysbiosis include

1. Disruption with the friendly bacteria which causes yeast and fungal overgrowth

2. Putrefaction

3. Allergy and Inflammation

4. Malnutrion

5. Hepatic stress

6. Leaky Gut Syndrome

When we kill off the friendly bacteria in our intestines, it will lead to fungal overgrowth in almost all instances. When we consume sugars, grains and alcohol, the intestinal tract will become a PUTRID, infected environment. This is an ideal environment for yeasts and fungus. Then an allergic reaction will occur causing inflammation of the mucous membranes in the intestinal tract. When this mucous covers the intestinal tract, it inhibits our body from absorbing valuable nutrients from our food thus leading to malnutrition. When these yeast hook onto our intestinal wall, they puncture this lining allowing wastes, food particles, bacteria and toxins to "leak" into our bloodstream leading to a myriad of health problems.

Signs and Symptoms of Dysbiosis

article from www.ei-resource.org

Everyone knows that drinking too much alcohol makes you feel less than great, imagine if your body is absorbing a level of alcohol a lot higher than normal, constantly, over a period of years. This is clearly going to lead to a less than optimal state of health. Nutrients will be depleted, valuable liver enzymes will become depleted, resulting in oxidative stress, due to being constantly overworked trying to detoxify the yeast products and the yeast products themselves will also cause direct damage to multiple body systems.

As you can probably imagine, as the whole body is effectively "poisoned" by an overgrowth of Candida, the number of symptoms it can produce are vast and affect every bodily system.

Listed below are dysbiosis related conditions:

Arthritis
Acne
Alcoholism
Allergies
Anorexia
Asthma
Attention deficit disorder
Anxiety attacks
Back prblems
Bedwetting
Behavioural problems
Bulimia
Candida
Cancer
Chronic fatigue
Colitis
Constipation
Depression
Diabetes
Diarrhoea
Drug addiction
Ear problems
Eczema

Endometriosis
Epilepsy
Fibrositis
Gastritis
Hairloss
Headaches
Hormone problems
Hives
Hyperactivity
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
Joint pains
Lactose intolerance
Menstrual problems
Memory loss Multiple Sclerosis
Muscle pains
Nervousness
Obesity
Psoriasis
Sinusitis
Spastic colon
Sleeping disorders
Vaginal infections

Warning signs of “Dysbiosis” one or more of these might indicate intestinal imbalance

· Acne, eczema, skin & foot problems

· Allergies and chronic food sensitivities

· Bad breath and gum disease

· Chronic unexplained fatigue

· Chronic yeast problems and Candida albicans overgrowth

· Difficulty losing weight

· Faulty digestion including acid reflux

· Frequent colds, flu and infections

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If you are suffering any health problems, especially the ones listed above, please take the Candida Yeast Test on this website. It will help you determine whether or not your health problems are related to Dysbiosis.

Fungus: A Thousand Year Old Problem

Fungus is a widespread epidemic in our world today. Even though studies are finally proving fungi{yeasts (candida), mold, mildew} causes disease, this issue dates back thousands of years. The Bible even mentions fungus as being “unclean”. In Leviticus 14:34, the King James Bible calls it a leprosy, the New International Version calls it a mildew (fungi). The New English Bible calls it a fungus infection. This passage from scripture tells us that even in Bible times, fungus was to be avoided and cleaned out. The reason being is FUNGUS CAUSES DISEASES. Fungus is harmful to our bodies. Once fungus inhabits our bodies, it is the nature of fungus to break down and recycle. While this fungus inhabits our body, it is constantly decomposing the waste producing deadly mycotoxins. We add to the destruction by feeding the fungus what it needs to survive…SUGAR. The Bible even outlines the foods that we are to consume. The Lord said in Genesis 1:30 “And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food." God even gave us specific details on what was good and not good to eat. Leviticus 11:3-8 says “ Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.” The Bible goes on in Leviticus about clean and unclean food. It is proven there that even thousands of years ago that what we put into our bodies is important.