Most people aren’t aware of all the different problems that can be linked to it, frequent urinary tract infections, dry mouth, or indigestion, as well as a whole host of other symptoms. However, this yeast is one that our bodies actually do need.
There are many functions of the body that Candida is responsible for. It helps with the process of digestion so that your body can get the vitamins and minerals from the foods you consume. But in order for candida to do it's job properly, it demands on the breakdown of foods you eat. It is crucial your body can metabolize and process foods you eat. Many digestive enzymes break down different food elements. (For a great, informative, and easy read on the importance of enzymes, check out the free eBook). There are amalyse, lipase (for fats), protease (for proteins), cellulase (for fibers), and others. In an ideal world if these food groups are broken down before going into the small intestine and then into the colon, they don't sit around and inevitably rot causing putrifactive bacteria. This is important because this type of bacteria then in turn creates a very friendly environment for candida growth. In fact, candida is a by-product of the decomposition of foods. The more the food is digested properly, the less the candida will be forming, and this candida feeds mainly on the sugars of the decomposed foods.
Many foods are broken down into sugars of different kinds, whether or not they are broken down by our own manufacture of enzymes or are broken down by ingested enzymes. Our brains and muscles wouldn't work without sugars (i.e. glucose), so they are important. But it's the types of sugars that causes the candida to thrive. What makes the candida worse is simple sugars we dump into our systems, directly feeding the candida. Foods (even vegetables) that are metabolized into various sugars for system functioning are different, as long as they are not heavy carbohydrate foods.
So how do you stop this overgrowth of bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract? Eat foods that don't generally create a large insulin reaction, normally those low on the glycemic index. (If you are unsure of what the glycemic index is, there are plenty of resources like this that can give you info about it. But in a nutshell is tells the sugar content of foods). So to answer question, yes, men can have yeast infections just like woman. And the best way for both men and women to control these outbreaks is through better digestion of the foods in their diet; and better digestion begins with a properly functioning digestive tract loaded with good probiotics.
Bonus: I've made available a checklist of the 5 most important things to look in a probiotic supplement to combat candida. (click here for my printable checklist).
Bonus #2: To save this as a downloadable podcast, click here.
Jared Toay, aka. the "Popsicle Dude" or the "Mad Scientist" has actively been promoting the importance of gut health and digestion for more than 5 years. A weight loss researcher, bodybuilder, and creator of Jared's ProPops and Probiotic Foods, he has had a lengthy journey on his way to healthy living. An accomplished author and speaker, he would love to help you begin your journey to better health by sending you a coupon for a free ProPop. Simply join him on his "Jared's ProPops" fan page on Facebook or google "Jared's ProPops" to learn about his revolutionary and one-of-a-kind probiotic products.
Who Am I?
I am just someone who likes to talk about health, is obsessively passionate about gut health and digestion, and is on a personal mission to ferment just about anything. This blog is a continuous flow of those thoughts.