Yeast, Stomach Problems and Beneficial Bacteria

Can probiotics help fix stomach problems?

Everyone experiences occasional gas, belching, bloating, diarrhea, indigestion, or other stomach discomforts from time; but for many people, these can be chronic problems.

There is a legion of reasons why you may experience stomach discomfort, from stress to poor diet, to undiagnosed food allergy. For many, however, the reasons they seem to be having stomach problems remain largely unknown. Fewer people likely realize that fungi and yeasts like candida can play a role in stomach problems.

Inside all of our digestive tracts exist’s billions of naturally-occurring, good bacteria that assist in a number of important functions. These bacteria manufacture important nutrients, like B Vitamins. They assist us in digesting our food. They comprise an important part of our immune defense against invading pathogens. Needless to say, they are an important part of a healthy body.

Problems can arise, however, when the beneficial bacterial colonies are damaged. This can happen through a variety of ways. Taking rounds of antibiotics your doctors prescribes when you are sick can damage these bacteria. Drinking alcohol, smoking or using other kinds of drugs can damage these bacteria. A poor diet rich in processed foods has also been shown to damage bacterial colonies. Other contaminants, such as poisonous mold byproducts (known as mycotoxins) that contaminate many of the foods that people eat every day can damage the bacteria in the digestive system.

It is very likely that all of us at some time have done something, whether it is taking a round of antibiotics or eating a poor diet, to damage the beneficial bacterial colonies in the digestive system.

What many people do not realize, is that we also have yeasts lining the digestive tract; these, too, occur naturally. When beneficial bacterial colonies are damaged, yeasts, including naturally-occurring yeasts and other more pathogenic yeasts can flourish in the digestive tract. For many, this might offer some explanation as to why you are experiencing stomach problems.

Indeed, many other health problems––many that may be associated with yeasts and fungi––may actually begin this way. Once yeasts flourish in the gut, from there they can proliferate.

The Role Of Diet and Probiotics

Fortunately, there are ways to fix stomach problems that might be the result of yeast and fungal overgrowth in the gut.

Diet becomes key; this is the purpose of an anti-fungal program, such as the Kaufmann Diet. The first step should be starving pathogenic yeast of their favorite foods, which includes sugar and carb-heavy foods. Eliminating foods high in sugar––even “healthy” fruits like melons, bananas, and oranges––might also assist to this end.

Next, as you begin to starve pathogenic yeasts and fungi, it is important to add beneficial bacteria back into the digestive tract. This can be done by taking a probiotic supplement on a daily basis. It may be beneficial to start with a loading dose, and then taper off to a regular dose.

Often, when people address there stomach problems through changed diet and probiotic supplementation, they notice not just an improvement in stomach health, but overall health and well-being, as well.