Natural Antifungal: Niacin

If you suspect you have health problems that are related to fungi or mycotoxins (fungal poisons), you have a variety of tools available to you when it comes to taking control over your own health. One of the best tools available to you is diet; by eating a certain way, we believe it is possible to starve a pathogenic fungal infection and lower the risk of exposure to mycotoxins inherent in parts of our food supply. This is the philosophy behind our Kaufmann 1 Diet program.

You also have the ability to test for the presence of toxic mold/fungi in your living and work space, and then (should you find toxic mold) remediate accordingly. Eliminating indoor mold can vastly improve the air quality in your living or work space, and you may be surprised at what symptoms you have that suddenly clear up upon the removal of mold and/or fungi in your home.

A third tool you have available to you are anti-fungal supplements. There are a wide variety anti-fungal supplements available, and many can be found at your local health food store. These range from garlic to oregano oil, to caprylic acid, to olive leaf extract and many more. In fact, most vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, herbs and spices exhibit some sort of anti-fungal or anti-mycotic property. (This is one reason why a nutrient-dense diet may aid in preventing a fungal infection.) View The Fungus Link Book in our store here.

One of these supplements is niacin, or vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid. Niacin brings a legion of benefits to the table, not least of which is its potent anti-fungal properties; researchers at the University of Montreal published in 2010 that niacin is an excellent treatment for candida Albicans infections, a common problem for AIDs patients, patients undergoing chemotherapy or patients who have received organ transplants.

Many people know niacin for its “flushing” properties. Niacin is a vasodilator, meaning it opens up tiny blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow through them. This allows cells to eliminate more waste, “flushing” waste and toxins out of the system; this is often accompanied by multiple minutes of red, blotchy skin and an itching or warm, burning sensation on the skin. While non-threatening, it can be surprising or uncomfortable for those who have never taken “flush” niacin. But niacin is good for more than just detoxing and also comes in non-flush forms. Niacin is known to aid in promoting healthy cholesterol levels and may even aid in the reversal of heart disease. It can also be beneficial for those experiencing arthritis pain. (Some types of niacin in high enough dosages have been shown to cause liver damage, so it is a supplement that you would likely want to talk to you doctor before including in your regimen, particularly if you have liver problems or are taking other forms of medication.)

Niacin is one more tool you have against pathogenic fungi and for promoting your own good health.