Making the Yeast Connection: The real reason diets don't work!
Have you tried every diet known to man yet you still can't shed those extra pounds? Well, it may not be your fault. Learn how a common fungus could be keeping you trapped in a vicious dieting cycle.
As a nation, we are in the midst of an epidemic so large experts say over 75 percent of the population will be affected within 10 years. No, it is not some new virus or a deadly strain of bacteria. Shockingly, it is obesity.
Currently, there are over 127-million people in the US suffering from obesity. That translates to an unbelievable 64 percent of the population, almost 15 percent of which are children.
It should come as no big surprise to learn that diet and lifestyle are the leading cause of our expanding waistlines. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say the typical Western diet is slowly killing us. Our motto seems to be “if it isn’t processed, fried, dipped or full of chemicals, it isn’t food!” And just as our waistlines have ballooned, so has the fast food industry, raking in over 105 billion a year producing 2,680 nutritionally void calories for every man, woman and child in the country.
We have all been told about the health risks of obesity and its irrefutable link to heart disease and diabetes, but little is taught about the underlying importance of diet and how it affects every aspect of our health. The truth is that diet is much more than a number we fantasize about on the bathroom scale. It is a way of life that doesn’t include starving ourselves to atone for the pint of Ben and Jerry’s we downed watching the latest episode of Desperate Housewives. Diet is why so many Americans find themselves in the middle of the fat war, waking up chronically sick, tired and lacking vitality.
So, what’s a body to do? For starters, don’t look to the latest fad diet or miracle pill to shed those extra pounds. The reason most diets fail is because, like the medical industry, they focus on the symptoms (fat), not the underlying cause.
The Yeast Connection
Are you one of those people who continually diets, cutting calories until you feel you are surviving on air alone, yet you simply cannot lose weight? Well, good news. It may not be your fault. Without a doubt, one of the biggest problems with weight loss is yeast. This natural fungus thrives and breeds in an acidic body. If you are like the majority of the population and you eat a lot of refined foods like wheat, hydrogenated oils, caffeine, sugar, soda or alcohol, chances are your body is acidic and is the perfect environment for yeast.
Also known as Candida Albicans, this common fungus can produce over 180 chemical toxins responsible for everything from chronic fatigue and dizziness to hormone imbalances, thyroid irregularities and an insatiable craving for sugar, each of which lead to excessive weight gain.
Candida is found naturally in the large intestine and other mucous membranes of the body. When in balance, it is an essential part of the immune system, working in conjunction with friendly bacteria to destroy harmful microorganisms. When there are excessive candida cells however, they quickly metabolize into a very toxic fungus responsible for an entire laundry list of symptoms. This dangerous fungus runs rampant looking for food, eventually invading the small intestine where it pokes tiny holes in the intestinal lining causing a condition known as Leaky Gut. These holes in turn allow the 180 chemical by-products produced by this yeast to enter the bloodstream and tissue cells. In response, the body begins to retain fluid in an effort to dilute the yeast toxins. Eventually, this fluid buildup leads to cellulite, weight gain and pronounced abdominal bloating, which can add up to seven inches to your waistline.
In addition, excessive yeast triggers your immune system to go into overdrive as it tries to remove the toxic overload. This causes tremendous stress on the adrenal glands and raises cortisol levels. This natural hormone then signals the body there is a crisis and it responds by storing fat to prevent cellular starvation. Cortisol further raises blood sugar, which feeds the yeast creating a never-ending cycle of weight gain.
The body also reacts to candidiasis (the overgrowth of yeast) in other ways. Chronic inflammation (pain), allergic reactions and impaired thyroid function are typical. As well, candidiasis can suppress the immune and central nervous systems and wreak havoc on hormone levels, eventually leading to severe obesity.
Unfortunately, the only way to deal with candida is through diet and lifestyle change. If left unchecked, candida can become serious and eventually lead to chronic illnesses such as arthritis and fybromyalgia.
Helpful Tips
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Avoid all refined wheat and sugar, dairy products, any fermented foods and alcohol as much as possible until you get the yeast under control. Candida feeds on these foods. Always start with small changes so as not to overwhelm yourself.
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Take probiotics (good bacteria) such as acidophilus and bifidus with a minimum of 2-10 billion organisms per capsule. You can find these at any health food store.
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If you take antibiotics, ALWAYS take probiotics. An unfortunate side effect of antibiotics is that they also kill off any good bacteria in your intestinal tract, a perfect scenario for yeast overgrowth.
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Exercise. Physical exertion helps to circulate lymph throughout the body, which helps clear the toxins produced by yeast.
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Reduce stress in your life. Stress raises cortisol levels, which in turn raise blood sugar levels and feed yeast. Even little changes will make a big difference.
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Take an antifungal supplement like grapefruit seed extract (GSE), garlic or oregano oil. Caprylic acid, Pau d’Arco, olive leaf and black walnut are also helpful.