We recently received an email from Josh (name changed for privacy) asking if candida overgrowth was the cause of his sore throat and swollen gland and lymph nodes. Josh lived a fairly healthy lifestyle: he exercised regularly and stayed away from heavy sources of sugar such as soda.

Josh became concerned when he started to have trouble swallowing: his throat was sore and he felt swollen lumps around his neck and jaw. His first thought was that the pain and swelling were signs of a cold or allergies, however there were no other symptoms. Antihistamines did not work, he did not become sicker, and the problem was still around after a month.

Josh’s doctor presumed that his concerns were also from allergies, and gave him prescription antihistamine medication to try. He was tested for thyroid health and other potential causes, but all of his results were normal. Going to the gym or being able to hike on steep slopes became uncomfortable because he was short on breath and deep breaths hurt. Eating was becoming more difficult, too, and he had difficulty swallowing his supplements.

Josh did some research online and found that his symptoms may have been from candida overgrowth. He was not able to find a comprehensive answer, and thought that candida was typically only a problem for women. His question was simple: do yeast infections cause swollen lymph nodes and glands?

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Salivary Glands and Candida

Many people will feel sore lumps around their neck, jaw, and ears, and associate these spots with lymph nodes. However, these swollen areas could be salivary glands. Saliva is a strong source of bacteria and other pathogens, and candida can settle in these glands. The glands can feel like stones, swell up into huge lumps, cause sore throats and painful swallowing, and affect the lymph nodes. People who have experienced swollen salivary glands and done candida cleanses with a focus on antifungal mouthwashes have found huge success in healing their glands.

Lymph Nodes Overview

Lymph nodes are tied to the immune system, and assist in fighting bacteria, viruses, and other infections. Cervical nodes are around the neck, and easily felt in the throat when swollen. The pelvic area, armpits, and the chest and breast area are a few other locations. Every node is susceptible to swelling, but the throat is the easiest place to feel and notice when the nodes are enlarged.

Though uncommon, excessive yeast may cause swollen lymph nodes. There is no clear answer, however some potential causes for the swelling may have a link to yeast. Other possible reasons for sore throats and swollen lymph nodes will be discussed further along in this article.

Lymph Nodes and Candida

One method of deciding whether or not yeast could be contributing to inflamed lymph nodes is to look for other signs of infections. Gas and bloating, cravings for sugar, excessive phlegm (think: excessive sniffling, running nose, and coughing), general pain around the body, and fungal infections are common indications of candida overgrowth.

A sore throat and difficulty swallowing may connect to excessive candida even if the lymph nodes are not affected. Thrush is a fungal infection in the mouth which can cause these symptoms. White spots on the tongue and inside the mouth that are lumpy, a constant bad taste in the mouth, and red, cracked areas at the corners of the lips are also signs of thrush. If any of these signs are present, then there is most likely candida overgrowth.

When undergoing a candida cleanse, be aware that the die-off effects may cause lymph nodes to swell, as the body is being attacked by toxins that the yeast releases while dying. Supplements such as molybdenum (canXida Rebuild) and comprehensive herbal formulas can help ease or completely counter the negative die-off effects associated with a candida cleanse.

Other Potential Causes

Though Josh brought up that he did not think allergies were the problem, the body’s attack on harmless particles can be an ongoing problem in some individuals. Many people associate allergies with isolated and environmental factors, such as the season, pollen, and pets, however food allergies are a common problem.

More awareness is being brought to food allergies, which can cause the lymph nodes to swell. These allergic reactions are difficult to manage even when the culprit food is avoided. Prepackaged snacks and meals, as well as restaurants, add in allergens.

Allergens may have alternate names on food labels, especially corn. Many ingredients such as xanthan gum, ascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C), and baking powder are derived from corn and will have the same negative effects as eating corn. Some foods have similar chemical structures, such as brown rice and wheat. This means that people who are allergic to wheat or gluten may have a reaction when eating brown rice.

Excessive yeast in the body can contribute to worsened allergic reactions to food, as the gut is already inflamed and the immune system imbalanced. Many people who have followed a strict candida cleanse diet found that their allergic reactions to food and environmental factors lessened, and in some cases, went away completely.

An often overlooked cause of health concerns is stress. Depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation and insomnia, mood, and other factors can cause swollen lymph nodes. Stress puts pressure on the immune system and creates inflammation in the body. Stress is not an isolated problem, either: yeast overgrowth is a common result of excessive, unmanaged stress in life.

The adrenal glands are responsible for stress and hormonal regulations, and work with the thyroid to maintain a healthy body. If overloaded from stress, thyroid levels can become too high or low. Thyroid diseases are not uncommon, even in men, and may cause sluggishness or anxiety symptoms such as an increased heart rate. If someone has rapid weight gain or weight loss and has not altered their diet or exercise much, they may have a thyroid condition.

Though not related directly to candida overgrowth, excessive toxins in the body can contribute to poor health which includes node swelling and sore throats. Long-term use of antibiotics, environmental factors such as polluted areas, diet, and food additives can contribute overtime to a toxic body.

Toxins put stress on the immune system, and people are often more susceptible to becoming sick, and have trouble fighting a flu or cold. People have done candida cleanses for their toxic bodies and found much success in cleaning out their system.

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Lymph Cleansing

Regular care of the lymph nodes can support healthy immune function and prevent inflammation. Certain practices can help cleanse the nodes and alleviate the pain.

Chamomile tea cools the body, while ginger warms the body up. Depending on how the body feels, balancing it out is important. Massages can also detoxify and drain the nodes as a relaxation method.

Sweating is another helpful practice for draining lymph nodes. Detox baths are available if exercise is difficult. Jumping up and down for at least ten minutes can wake up the lymphatic system. Jump rope, jumping jacks, and trampolines are a few options. Another method is to be in a hot shower and rapidly change the water to cold.

Even if candida overgrowth or another cause affects the lymph nodes, draining them will offer some relief while the underlying issue is being determined and resolved. Though sore throats and swollen lymph nodes are not a direct result of yeast overgrowth, other causes may still relate to infections.

It has long been known that the brain is connected to the gut by something called the gut-brain axis. What this implies is that if your intestines are unhealthy (or you have a suboptimal gut flora), this will have a repercussion on your overall psychological health.

With Candida yeast overgrowth being such a widespread condition, you would think that most of us would be aware of the various ways the yeast overgrowth can affect our psychological health.

Unfortunately, when individuals with Candida yeast overgrowth report symptoms such as chronic fatigue or a drop in libido, they are often told that these symptoms are ‘in their head’. But that’s definitely not the case – check out this article for a list of the most common symptoms of Candida yeast overgrowth and how these symptoms can affect our psychological health.

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1. Vaginitis

As a woman, have you ever had those thick, white discharges that resemble cottage cheese? Did the discharge bother you?

For some women, vaginal yeast infections (or vaginitis) are not a big deal and are no more inconvenient than thrush. However, many others are not so lucky especially those women who experience vaginal discharges that give off a really foul smell. These women often feel disgusted with the smell – this makes them feel awkward and embarrassed to be around others. As a result, many tend to isolate themselves from society because they are afraid others might smell the yeast as well.

2. Severe seasonal allergies and itching

Did you know that seasonal allergies have an extremely negative impact on the quality of life of a lot of people? Studies have shown that due to severe allergies and itching, 29 percent of individuals with allergies suffer from a decrease in work productivity – this is mainly because they are exhausted and cannot concentrate properly on their allocated tasks.

Moreover, 52 percent cannot even think about enjoying outdoor activities with their relatives and friends and, as such, restrict themselves to indoor ones such as board games and playing cards. Another 60 percent of allergy sufferers report feeling utterly miserable because they had to give up so many activities they used to enjoy with their peers and relatives. On top of that, research also indicates that there is a greater probability for seasonal allergy sufferers to experience mental fatigue, irritability and sorrow compared to those who don’t.

3. Body odor

“Ugh, what is that awful smell?”

I am sure this has crossed your mind at least once in your life when you were on the bus or waiting to pay for your groceries. Well, many people suffering from Candida yeast overgrowth have acknowledged that the smell coming from their body is sometimes so strong that they feel disgusted with their own selves and prefer to avoid socializing with others.

Since body odors have been shown to provoke nervousness, apprehension and other adverse psychological reactions, they can cause individuals to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable around others. As such, many feel hopelessly doomed and excluded.

4. Bloating and constipation

A swollen, tight and perhaps even painful abdomen – does this sound familiar? For those with Candida yeast overgrowth, bloating is unfortunately often a part of their daily life. Although some may joke that they get so bloated that they ‘can hold a cup of tea on their belly’ or they ‘look like they’re six months pregnant’, bloating can have a significantly adverse effect on the emotional well-being of those affected.

For instance, some individuals report that bloating can even ruin their holidays because they need to lie down (and miss out on the fun) due to the lethargy, pain and discomfort they experience. Others explained that bloating can lead to a loss of sexual drive because they ‘feel so fat and unattractive’. Moreover, others often claim that bloating has reduced their self-esteem because they cannot wear many clothes they like or because they need to shop for bigger sizes.

5. Diarrhea

Recurrent diarrhea is another digestive symptom of Candida Yeast overgrowth. Individuals who suffer from chronic diarrhea explain that they often become obsessed with questions such as ‘Will I make it?’, ‘Where is the nearest toilet?’ or ‘Will I be able to reach the toilet before it is too late?’ As such, many begin to dread activities they would usually enjoy (such as going to the beach or watching a movie with friends). Moreover, because they often have to excuse themselves from classes or work, these individuals may live with a fear of losing their job or failing classes.

6. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Did you know that chronic fatigue syndrome is a common symptom of Candida yeast overgrowth? Frequent among both adults and teenagers, chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex disorder characterized by extreme tiredness that does not appear to be caused by any underlying medical complication. Although the fatigue may get worse with physical or mental activity, it does not improve when one rests. As such, this debilitating chronic illness has an impact on both the physical and emotional wellbeing of an individual.

The emotional impact of a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome is different for each person,” says Peter Rowe, MD, director of the Chronic Fatigue Clinic at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, “but it relates to the loss of the ability to do the things you were good at before.” Dr Rowe also explains that “people with chronic fatigue symptoms often get frustrated and fed up with being sick all the time.

People affected by the condition usually see a decrease in their peers and social network. The reason being that most of the time, they feel completely drained and cannot take part in activities they love.

To crown it all, what preoccupies chronic fatigue syndrome patients is that if they cannot work anymore, they will lose their independence and livelihood simultaneously. This ends up making them feel guilty and isolated.

7. Depression

If you have a loved one suffering from depression, you have definitely witnessed how this disorder has deeply impacted her/his daily life. At work, individuals who are depressed are prone to be quite slow and unproductive. Feelings of gloom and despair fill up their heart and mind, leaving them totally shattered. They often feel unable to make decisions by themselves as they fear that they might make a lot of mistakes. Individuals who are depressed may also not feel interested to do anything and can prefer to remain alone rather than attending gatherings and parties. This is worsened by the inexplicable sudden mood swings that usually accompanies depression. Unfortunately, someone who gets easily irritated will alienate others – realizing that one is being avoided can further worsen the depression.

8. Eczema and psoriasis

Like any other skin disease, eczema and psoriasis can also adversely impact the emotional wellbeing of an individual. You see, individuals with these conditions often worry about what others will think if they see their red inflamed skin – some could feel disgusted, make hurtful remarks or wrongly think that they are contagious. As such, they often like they have no choice but to wear lots of makeup, long sleeves or long infinity scarves to cover their chest and neck. Moreover, because many people do not understand how living with eczema can take a toll on one’s energy levels, many tend to judge the person suffering from eczema when s/he calls into work sick. Since eczema flares can be very severe, individuals suffering from the condition do not want to leave their house and are scared of having a personal life since they don’t want others to see their skin. For some, eczema even feels like a life-sentence.

9. Loss of sex drive.

When candida yeast overgrowth barges into someone’s life, it sometimes causes a severe hormonal disturbance. When this happens, that person’s body becomes inflamed, resulting in vaginal foul smells and itching. Women experiencing this are mortified at the idea that their sexual partners might notice the change in their body and therefore, start to distance themselves from loved ones. This leads them to stay away from certain sexual practices, including oral sex. Some of them avoid sex altogether because they are too self-conscious and because they do not want to be thought of as ‘unhygienic’, ‘sexually immoral’ or ‘ethically unsound’. Such a change in a woman’s behavior generally ends up with the couple breaking up.

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10. Difficulty concentrating and brain fog

We’ve all experienced times in our lives when we just couldn’t focus for long but this usually improves after a good night’s rest. However, individuals with Candida yeast overgrowth may feel like they wake up each morning in a completely zombie-like mode and go through the day without being able to concentrate on the simplest of task. They may find it hard to think right and this can lead them to feel totally disconnected from their surroundings. As you may guess, these kinds of feelings can lead to a loss of drive, motivation and confidence especially for those who always had a sharp memory. Many individuals who suffer from prolonged periods of brain fog or difficulty concentrating may even withdraw themselves from their loved ones especially if they have trouble recounting the recent activities in which they took part in.

Recognizing the symptoms of Candida yeast overgrowth, and how they can deeply impact your emotional wellbeing and overall quality of life, can make it easier for you to deal with the symptoms. If any of the above apply to you, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider – if the latter shrugs off your concerns, it might be high time for you to look for another professional with a more open mind.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve experienced the annoying effects of fungal Candida.

While you can get rid of the fungus, fungal Candida can unfortunately show its ugly head again even if an overgrowth has been successfully treated. The good news is that research suggests that candidiasis reoccurs in fewer than 5% of women who develop an overgrowth. Knowing what triggers fungal Candida recurrence will help you keep the fungus at bay.

What does recurrent candidiasis imply?

Candidiasis is considered recurrent when an individual experiences either:

• At least four specific episodes in a year.
• Or at least three episodes unrelated to antibiotic therapy within one year.

Factors associated with recurrence of fungal Candida

More research is needed to clearly understand the reasons why some individuals are repeatedly affected by recurring Candida infections. However, there are a number of factors that increase the predisposition to fungal Candida recurrence.

These include:

1. Failure to eliminate Candida overgrowth for good.

If followed properly, anti-fungal therapies involving drugs such as Diflucan or herbs like Pau D’Arco and oregano extracts do a great job when it comes to killing the Candida. However, in many cases, the Candida can become immune to the drugs or herbs. You see, when the Candida ‘notices’ that it is being attacked, it fights back by producing spores which will lay ‘dormant’ until the attacks stop. This causes the symptoms to clear up and that is when the individual will usually stop the therapy. However, once the spores sense that the immune response has stopped, they will go out of hiding resulting in a new bout of Candida infection.

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2. Prolonged antibiotic use.

The issue with antibiotics is that they do not only kill pathogens (harmful bacteria): they also eradicate healthy bacteria. In other words, prolonged use of antibiotics will suppress the immune system – this will adversely impact the body’s production of antibodies and phagocytes (immune cells that engulf pathogens) thus leading to a lowered resistance to fungal Candida infections.

Moreover, when antibiotics are used for an extended period of time, Candida is able to alter the gut flora by dominating the gut as it rebuilds after the antibiotic therapy. In fact, research indicates that Candida alters the gut’s pH while also preventing the growth of good bacteria that are likely to thwart its growth. For instance, Lactobacillacae reduce the gut’s pH and, in doing so, they prevent Candida from colonizing the gut. By increasing the gut’s pH and preventing these good bacteria from populating the gut, the Candida is in fact creating an environment where it can grow faster and colonize the gut more extensively.

3. Uncontrolled diabetes or persistently high blood glucose levels.

Have you ever tried an anti-Candida diet? This diet recommends limiting sugar and carbohydrate intake since Candida absolutely loves feasting on sugar. Put simply, the more sugar the Candida has access to, the more it will grow. So if someone has uncontrolled diabetes or has blood glucose levels that are consistently high, the Candida will be encouraged to keep growing. Seemingly healthy diets can lead to spikes in blood glucose levels – for instance, if someone regularly consumes a breakfast consisting of fruit juice and a big bowl of oats, her/his blood glucose levels will surge allowing the Candida to celebrate.

That’s not all; high blood glucose levels also impair the body’s defense mechanisms and depress the immune system – this creates the perfect environment for the Candida (and other pathogens) to flourish. In another study, researchers reported that diabetes mellitus (also known as diabetes type II), stimulates the formation of budding Candida cells – this facilitates the transition from colonization to a full blown infection.

4. Contraceptive methods.

Spermicidal jellies and creams, the contraceptive sponge and the diaphragm have been associated with recurrent Candida infections. You see, most spermicides are really harsh on the vagina and can lead to a disruption of the vaginal flora. This, in turn, facilitates the adhesion of Candida organisms. In fact, it is usually a clear indication that the vaginal immunity is being disturbed if the woman feels that the spermicide is irritating her vagina.

Research also suggests that women who take oral contraceptive pills are more likely to suffer from recurrent episodes of fungal Candida infections. One proposed theory is that Candida cells possess both estrogen and progesterone receptors. When these receptors are stimulated by the oral contraceptive pills, proliferation of the Candida cells often occurs.

5. A weakened immune system.

Scientific research indicates that individuals who are more prone to reoccurrence of fungal Candida overgrowth might have a deficient cell-mediated immunity. For instance, 40 to 70 percent of women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis often do not have a normal immune response to fungal Candida. This causes their bodies to produce a suboptimal level of T-lymphocytes (a subtype of white blood cells which play a central role in cell-mediated immunity) in response to Candida.

6. Mechanical factors.

Wearing tightly fitted or synthetic clothes or underwear that do not allow for proper ventilation can also cause fungal Candida to reoccur. That’s because these types of clothes increase both local temperature and moisture thus creating the optimal conditions for the Candida to grow. Moreover, these types of clothes can also irritate the skin, creating micro tears that will make it easy for the Candida cells to get a strong foothold.

It is also worth noting that synthetic panty liners also impede ventilation in the vaginal area – this increases the vagina’s temperature and moisture, making it a perfect area for the yeast to proliferate. As such, it is recommended to wear cotton panties and to change them every six to twelve hours.

Tampons, whether synthetic or scented, also irritate the vaginal tissues – as mentioned, anything that irritates the delicate tissues of the vagina can facilitate the growth of the Candida and cause the infection to reoccur.

7. Excess body weight

Obese individuals often have more skin folds (in other words, more warm and moist areas) than their leaner counterparts. As mentioned earlier, this can facilitate the growth of the Candida.

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8. Transmission from a sexual partner.

The role of sexual transmission when it comes to fungal Candida recurrence is still controversial. Although it seems logical that a person who has Candida overgrowth can infect her/his partner, clinical trials that attempted to treat male sexual partners were not found to prevent recurrences of candidiasis.

Do you suffer from recurrent episodes of Candida infections? If so, which of the above factors could be triggering these infections and what have you tried to get rid of them?

Antioxidants are great when fighting candida yeast overgrowth. Here are 11 great antioxidants that you should incorporate in your diet.

1. White Tea

Green tea has long since been appreciated as an effective antioxidant, but in more recent years it would seem that white tea is becoming even more well recognized for its health benefits.

There is however no secret to the benefits of white tea because it is not a special or new variety discovered to contain additional phytochemicals. White tea is exactly the same strain as both green and black teas (Camellia sinesis) but it is simply picked at an earlier or immature stage of development.

Yet the superior properties of white tea are not simply attributed to the fact that it’s picked at an earlier stage of growth but also because the younger leaf needs much less processing than its more mature counterparts. And these are at least 2 factors which are thought to assist in it retaining a much higher level of polyphenols.

A third factor contributing to its superior health effects relate to how it is processed compared to other teas. For example, when it comes to black tea the leaves of the shrub are not only fermented but this process can take as long as a month to complete. To produce green tea the leaves are dried and this process takes a few days. But when it comes to the young white tea the leaves are not only steamed but this is done immediately after harvesting. This means that white tea has a much higher proportion of antioxidants than either black or green not only because it is steamed but also because the compounds in the leaves have a very limited time in which to oxidize and lose their medicinal value.

Because white tea has a much higher number of antioxidants this results in fewer free radicals within the body and the end result is a win-win situation all round. Although much of the research which exists focuses on the ability of white tea to kill cancer cells, what we do know about antioxidants is that they reduce cell damage all round and this is why white tea is being strongly promoted as not only a fatigue reducer but also for its potential to limit age damage to the skin.

2. Shiitake Mushroom

Although in the Western world we are accustomed to using mushrooms for culinary purposes, Asian and exotic fungi have long since been utilized in a variety of ways as traditional medicine. Yet it is only now that science is investigating how and why these common foods have beneficial effects and much of the emerging research supports the fact that fungi have numerous and varied medicinal benefits. Of all the exotic fungi investigated one of the most studied is that of the Shiitake mushroom.

Although much of the recent research undertaken has investigated the effects of mushrooms relating to their ability to both prevent and reverse various forms of cancer, Shiitake mushrooms have been studied in respect of their ability to improve the strength of the immune system and correspondingly reducing inflammation which is often caused by the immune system itself. A small, but significant study published in 2015 examined the effects of eating one 4 ounce serving of Shittake mushrooms per day for four weeks on people aged between 21 and 41. The results showed striking improvements in both immune and inflammatory responses and this, it has to be remembered, was achieved not in sick adults or the elderly but in people who were thought to be free from illness or aging ¹.

By strengthening the immune system and reducing inflammatory responses the overall health of those ingesting Shiitake mushrooms could be much improved and suggestions were made that this could be achieved by eating the equivalent of only one Shiitake per day and thus it may well maintain health rather than simply helping to restore health when we become ill.

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3. Goji Berries

Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum) were initially marketed to the Western world as a superfood and although some people subsequently questioned their efficacy emerging research has more than restored their status in providing potential health and medicinal benefits.

One of the most active elements in Goji berries are lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) and it is this aspect which has initiated much of the interest from the medical and scientific communities. There are suggestions that LBPs may be effective in an extremely broad range of conditions ranging from cancer to diabetes and through to improving general well-being on a day-to-day basis.

Although we might discuss ‘well-being’ as a broad yet indistinct concept, there are numerous biochemical processes which go toward enhancing or conversely inhibiting this overall feeling.When we talk of our well-being what we really mean is that we are functioning at optimum levels on both a physical and emotional level and often, even when it comes to emotional optimization, it is our physical well-being that influences this.

Well-being is in fact a response to how well we are functioning both emotionally and physically and when it comes to Goji berries it would seem that the LBPs it contains have been suggested to significantly improve both physical conditions and those more closely accepted has having psychological impact such as Alzheimer’s.

There is now a lot of research in existence which shows that Goji berries and the influence of LBPs in particular are worthy of further investigation. This clinical update reveals that studies have shown it to have positive influences on everything from liver function to glaucoma and, of course, it is thought to enhance that feeling of general ‘well-being.’ ²

4. Reishi Mushrooms

When it comes to Reishi mushrooms much of the research which has been undertaken focuses on one particular active compound contained within the fungi and the compound in question is ganoderma. Although ganoderma has underpinned many studies examining the effects on a diverse range of ailments, one which stands out is the ability to reduce fatigue in patients undergoing specific treatments for cancer. Because most studies are performed on animals or in the laboratory, their potential for success in the human form can sometimes be debatable. However in this case the extract was given to patients in a real life situation and it provided significant positive results ³.

Of course the implications of ganoderma relieving the symptoms of fatigue in a wide variety of situations is now open to further investigation.

Yet when it comes to complimentary treatments and medicines it is nature that provides the recipe for success and often this does not tally with the workings of modern science. More often than not in an effort to identify why and how a natural compound is successful, scientists will analyze the components, isolate what they believe to be the most powerful compound and examine the effects. Yet Reishi, as with all natural treatments, is not a compound in isolation. In fact the quote by Artistotle, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ could perhaps reflect this scenario more accurately than any other.

It has long since been recognized that even though there may be a significantly powerful element in a natural treatment, this alone, even when given in large quantities, will not produce the effects that all the parts do when working together. Of course, it will often take scientists many decades to not only establish how and why each individual compound works and interacts with another, but simply to isolate and identify them!

5. Astragalus

Astragalus is an herb which in Asian medicine comes under the category of an adaptogen. This means the compound has the ability not to target a specific condition, but to provide the body with access to its store of phytochemicals which will bring it back to a state of harmony or homeostatis. Adaptogens assist the body in dealing with the 3 main types of stressors it may face which are biological, chemical and physical. In doing so the compound should normalize the states and it should achieve this by exerting or influencing only the affected areas of the body. This means your body should only use the amount of the compound it needs but also that it should not cause significant side-effects. This is contrary to modern drugs where you will often hear that side-effects are to be expected. This is because modern drugs act on more than one part of the body whether it needs it or not. Contemporary medications will have effects even if you are fully fit.

Astragalus is recorded as having many beneficial effects, however as an adaptogen it can also be used in a protective capacity to assist the body in resisting stressors and therefore preventing illnesses from arising.

Most of the research performed using this particular herb has either been in a laboratory or used in patients suffering from life-threatening conditions and undertaking aggressive treatments. The research has not been performed to establish whether or not the herb can stop, slow or reverse the condition itself but usually used to establish if it can mitigate the symptoms arising from the treatments. In some cases, such as in chemotherapy treatments, patients have experienced relief and particularly from the fatigue which normally occurs. One study however, undertaken in 2002, looked specifically at whether it reduced fatigue in athletes and concluded that it did increase oxygen uptake, increase its utility and therefore reduced fatigue ⁴. Although there are many different varieties of astragalus the one used in medications uses the latin name, Astragalus membranaceus (Huang qi) and it is this variety that potential purchasers should keep an eye out for.

6. Licorice (Liquorice)

Licorice has been a traditional treatment for numerous medical conditions for many, many centuries. Few people however realize that in its more natural forms it is also used topically to aid wound healing. More recently licorice has been the subject of some concerns when it is provided in its whole form because of suspected side effects, however most of the licorice you buy in supplement form is the deglycyrrhizinated version which is not thought to produce the same problems.

Research into the medicinal properties is ongoing however licorice is thought to help with the common cold, acid reflux and has been proven to aid the reduction of phlegm in respect of various breathing problems as it acts as an expectorant.

More recently licorice has been studied not in respect of maintaining health but with regard to its potential as a weight loss aid. One study performed in 2003 found that even in people who were healthy taking a regular amount of commercial preparation licorice every day for for 2 months reduced body fat mass despite body mass index remaining static ⁵.

It is not recommended that commercial preparation licorice is consumed every day to directly target weight loss, but it may be useful to consume small amounts of extract as an aid to maintaining healthy weight levels.

Clearly the many traditional uses of licorice both as a topical application and ingestible treatment are now being found by science to have some substance. It remains to be seen exactly how, what most in contemporary society know as a candy, can be proven to help with the diverse range of conditions it has historically been shown to relieve.

7. Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a fungi although not one we would immediately recognize. It is in fact parasitic and forms after invading the body of an insect or occasionally, another fungi. There are many species of cordyceps and not only do the majority have some historical use in treating disease, but many have undergone scientific study and their phytochemical compounds have been used to treat disease in contemporary medicine.

The drugs which have been developed from various pharmacological properties provided by different strains of cordyceps have been used not only in cases where organ rejection has been a possibility but also in respect of multiple sclerosis and renal failure.

One area which has received extensive interest from the scientific community particularly in Asia, has been the positive influence of cordyceps on hyposexuality or low libido. Such has been the significant effects that since the late 1980s dozens of experiments have been performed and they continue to this time ⁶.

However like astragalus, cordyceps is considered to be an adaptogen and this could well be the reason for the fungi reporting positive or significant results when used to ascertain its effectiveness against such a diverse range of conditions. As we know adaptogens normalize the metabolism and assist in it resisting the physical stressors which result in illness. When it comes to its adaptogenic capabilities cordyceps is noted for having 2 principle properties: firstly it increases oxygen capacity and secondly it increases something known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which provides fuel for all the cells in the body. When this happens then we have enough energy to keep our bodies performing in the way we expect them to ⁷.

So, when it comes to cordyceps being proven to increase energy levels then there certainly is the research to support not only that this does happen, but why.

8. Schizandra Berry

This herbal supplement had essentially been hidden from the West up until recent decades. Most studies undertaken which assessed its efficacy as an adaptogen were performed in Russia when it was closed to the rest of the world. Since Russia opened up its doors these studies revealed it had been proven significantly effective in treating an extensive range of conditions and diseases.

The pharmacological properties of schizandra berry are far too extensive to go into any detail here, however it has been proven to have benefits in respect of smooth muscle function, which are muscles which function automatically rather than consciously for example those involved in circulatory function such as venous muscles. It has also been shown to be beneficial in providing the body with protection from specific stressors including:

• Aspectic inflammation
• Cooling
• Frostbite
• Heat shock
• Heavy metal toxicity
• Irradiation
• Skin burn

As with other adaptogens it appears to increase oxygen levels allowing better breathing control and function under emotional and physical stressors and also improves metabolic functioning in healthy individuals⁸.

More recently a study indicated that this particular phytochemical was able to assist in reducing muscle atrophy and particularly the levels of acidity which are associated with degenerative muscle conditions. This finding is of sufficient significance to suggest that the pharmacological properties of schizandra berry have the potential to assist with conditions and situations which produce detrimental effects on muscle function. The implications of course are not simply assigned to areas of illness but could also be of benefit to those who participate in athletics or are simply looking to improve general well-being of muscles on a daily basis⁹.

9. Silymarin – Milk Thistle

Silibin is the primary active constituent contained within silymarin which in itself is an extract of Milk Thistle seeds. Although it is deemed to have many pharmacological properties the one which has achieved the most notoriety concerns itself with liver function. The drug has been tested on a variety of conditions associated with the liver including hepatitis whether viral or induced and cirrhosis. The findings vary but overall there is still enough interest in the beneficial properties of this herbal treatment to ensure that research study are not only extensive but are still on-going.

Other areas where silymarin has been studied relate to nasal symptoms arising from allergic reactions, as an antioxidant and particularly in respect of certain toxicity situations. It has also been used to increase fertility, to mitigate diabetic neuropathy and positively affect sugar absorption in diabetics. It was also indicated in reducing cholesterol levels when given with standard contemporary medications. Silymarin has also been used for osteoarthritis and, when applied topically, as a treatment for skin damaged through irradiation.

Other uses which silymarin is suggested to help include heartburn, neurodegenerative disorders and even menopausal symptoms. Silymarin has even been shown to provide some benefits to patients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorders although these have not yet been proven to outweigh the benefits of contemporary medications. It is though suggested that further research is performed on all these conditions to establish firm conclusions with regard to the benefit silymarin may provide whether alone or in conjunction with prescribed treatments.

However there can be little doubt that silymarin has been successful in providing relief from the symptoms arising from a broad range of conditions even if is has not yet been proven to resolve the cause of such conditions or reverse their effects totally. In most cases many people taking silymarin do so as a preventative and to maintain optimal health.

10. Chinese Skullcap

As an herbal treatment Chinese skullcap has been used for centuries to treat a broad range of ailments. It has now been accepted that Chinese skullcap does have proven medicinal benefits particularly when it comes to the flavonoid compounds contained within it and providing both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However scientists are currently unable to explain how these are manufactured within the plant and to explain exactly how they work. Very recently though further advances have been made with the Chinese skullcap in respect of anti-cancer properties. The plant, and in particular two flavones it contains, wogonin and baicalin, appear to be capable of killing cancer cells but leave healthy cells undamaged due to their lacking an -OH (hydroxyl) group.

Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) which is known in China as Huang Qin, was, as recently as April 2016, discovered to produce flavones different to other plants because the enzymes which are normally involved are some which are not only previously unidentified but they are actually produced by a building block called chrysin which was also previously unknown. This means that the plant acts on different metabolic pathways to other plant based flavones and so can provide a reason as to why it is effective ¹⁰.

By establishing just how this particular herbal root differs in its structure comparative to other phytochemical treatments, it is possible that the gateway has been opened for more intensive investigation into the medicinal benefits of it. And, although traditionally and anecdotally Chinese skullcap has been noted as a distinctive treatment for conditions such as fevers, liver and lung diseases, it may well prove that in the future it can be used to treat illnesses which arise as a direct result of cancerous growths.

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11. Maitake Mushroom Extract

Maitake are a fungi originating in Japan but which are now cultivated in both the US and Europe. They are sometimes alternatively known as the Dancing Mushroom or Hen of the Woods.

The botanical name for the Maitake is Grifola frondosa and either the whole extract or compounds isolated from it have been used to research potential efficacy in a variety of conditions. Although many of the studies concerned were carried out in the laboratory there are indications that the fungi may assist in a variety of conditions. These include tests which indicate that the mushroom induces apoptosis or celll death in certain cancer cells and also that it has the potential to stimulate the immune system. Maitake has also been shown to lower blood sugar levels, a process known as a hypoglycemic effect, which indicates it may be helpful in assisting to manage diabetic conditions.

However Maitake is possibly most well known for the results arising from a research study performed on patients suffering from breast cancer which showed that the fungi could stimulate the immune system and help the body to fight the condition.
There is no doubt that the Maitake is worthy of further research when it comes to cancer fighting properties, as in laboratory experiments the results of which were published in 2009, showed that when a particular compound PDF (proteoglucan D-fraction) was used in conjunction with an established contemporary drug, the results showed that significant apoptosis in bladder cancer cells¹¹.

Maitake has also been examined in respect of the antioxidants it contains which indicate it is a good source of compounds which will fight oxidative stress and so induce healthy cell development.

References

1. Xiaoshuang Dai, Joy M. Stanilka, Cheryl A. Rowe, Elizabethe A. Esteves, Carmelo Nieves, Samuel J. Spaiser, Mary C. Christman, Bobbi Langkamp-Henken, Susan S. Percival. ConsumingLentinula edodes(Shiitake) Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2015; 1 DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2014.950391
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25552899
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3236089/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12147200
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14594116
6. https://www.nuskin.com/content/dam/global/library/pdf/studyref/venix.pdf
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11439844
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18515024
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26064425
10. https://www.hindustantimes.com/health-and-fitness/chinese-skullcap-scientists-reveal-how-the-wonder-plant-cures-cancer/story-AldlcRyLLJnliqRd8CBRoK.html
11. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2009.08870.x/abstract

There is a lot of talk these days about the gut and how a compromise of the gut lining can affect one’s health. Health blogs and postings online are claiming that everything from intestinal disease (like celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome) to food allergies, migraine, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, eczema, multiple sclerosis and even autism are linked to a disruption of integrity of the intestinal lining. The reason for disruption of the gut lining (leaky gut) is blamed on bacterial or candida overgrowth, poor diet or antibiotic overuse.

Most of the sites tell us that undigested food particles, bacterial toxins and even whole bacteria are able to pass the disrupted lining of the gut and enter the bloodstream where they trigger immune response and cause chronic inflammation. But is this scientifically proven? Is leaky gut fact or fiction? Is it really possible for large molecules or microbes to pass through the intestinal lining to enter the blood stream? And finally, is there any solid proof to the claims of candida being responsible for a leaky gut (if it exists at all)? Let us try and understand our intestinal biology and discover if what we are told has a solid foundation.

Intestinal wall:

Our intestines play a role not only in absorption of nutrients, but also act as a barrier to prevent disease causing organisms and toxins from entering the body to cause disease. It produces some secretions that have various other functions apart from immune response.

The wall of the intestine has four specialized layers:

1. Mucosa: This is the innermost layer. This is where nutrients are absorbed. This layer in turn is made up of 3 layers:
   1. Epithelial cells: This layer faces the inside of the gut. It is a single layer of glandular cells attached to a basement membrane. There are specialized cells called the goblet cells which secrete gel-forming mucins that form mucus.
   2. Lamina propria: This is the middle layer and is made up of connective tissue and lymph nodes. There are specialized cells in this area called the plasma cells which produce IgA type antibodies.
   3. Muscularis mucosae: This is the third layer which is a sheet of muscle cells.
2. Submucosa: This is the second layer. It has different inflammatory cells, lymphatics, nerve fibers, and nerve cell clusters called ganglions. It is this layer that is also a branching and distribution zone for arteries and veins (the blood vessels).
3. Muscularis propria: This is a layer of muscle cells. The muscle cells are arranged in two layers between which are nerve fibers and clusters of ganglions. This layer functions to propel the food through the gut through contraction waves (called peristaltic waves). The peristalsis (process of propelling the food in the gut) is started and controlled by nerve transmission and hormones.
4. Serosa: Most of the intestine is lined by this protective layer. Serosa is made up of a muscle cell layer followed by a thin sheet of connective tissue which is followed by a sheet of epithelial cells (mesothelium). Serosa prevents the spread of inflammation if it occurs at all.

As we can see, the intestine isn’t single layered and the many layers by themselves are a barrier against unwanted molecules and microbes to pass through to the blood supply added to which are the mucus secretions and antibodies that prevent this even further. However, the intestinal barrier is a much advanced system than this; let us find out what the components of this barrier are.

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Components of intestinal barrier

We unknowingly eat microbes and toxins along with our food and drinks. While some of the microbes may be essential for our functioning, toxins and pathogenic microbes can cause disease. There are not one, but four components to the intestinal barrier. These protect our body against disease causing microbes and toxins that we eat along with our food. If the large molecules and microbes must pass these, all these 4 barriers need to be crossed.

1. Physical barrier: This is the first line of defense. It is made up of the epithelial cell lining of the mucosa (described above). Additionally, there are junctions (closely associated areas) between these cells. Tight junctions are the primary barriers. These are formed by proteins spanning across the space between two cells of gut epithelium.These allow the passage of fluids, electrolytes and small molecules, but prevent the passage of large molecules – this means that food that is digested into small molecules, vitamins, minerals and water can pass through these junctions, but larger, undigested molecules and bacteria are prevented from passing through into the blood.
2. Chemical barrier: Mucus forms the chemical barrier of the intestine. It is a slippery secretion that covers all of the intestinal epithelium. Not only is mucus a physical barrier against the diffusion of unwanted substances into the cell, but also prevents the cells from drying out and also acts as a lubricant that prevents the friction between digesting food and the epithelial cells of intestine.In 2008, Johansson and colleagues from Sweden showed that colonic mucus in mice has two layers – an outer and an inner layer. While the outer layer is movable and is colonized by bacteria, the inner layer is tightly packed and has no bacteria at all. In humans, a thicker inner mucus layer separates bacteria from the tissue.The mucus layer also contains antimicrobial peptides which destroy bacteria through different mechanisms. This controls both good and the bad microbes from reaching the intestinal cells. In a review published in 2012, Gallo and Hooper from USA discussed these antimicrobial proteins, the mechanisms by which these protect against bad microbes, and how these also regulate the balance of the gut microbial flora. They also describe how microbes have failed to develop resistance to these antimicrobial proteins over evolutionary timescales.
3. Immunological barrier: As mentioned earlier, plasma cells in the lamina propria layer of the mucosa produce IgA antibodies. The intestinal immune system performs two tasks: a) immune defense against pathogenic organisms, and b) avoiding reaction against food antigens and normal flora of the intestine.In a 2012 review, Miron and Cristea from Romania described how the intestinal mucosal immune system needs to be able to differentiate between harmful things that it must react to and the harmless things that it should not react against. They described research by various scientists on how the intestinal cells maintain the equilibrium between activation and tolerance in the gut mucosa by reacting intelligently to the large number of antigens that the gut comes across. The intestinal cells use a variety of mechanisms that involve special protein molecules called receptors, anti-microbial peptides, and cell communication using small secreted proteins called cytokines. However, this field is still growing and a lot still remains to be discovered.
4. Microbiological barrier: Research has showed that the good microbes living in our guts have the ability to suppress our gut immune system so that it does not attack them. On the other hand, research has also showed that these good microbes that reside in our gut increase our immunity against the bad, disease causing microbes. A review article by Andrew S. Neish from USA, published in 2008, discussed the multiple factors that allow the good microbes to make us resistant against the disease causing ones. They suggest that the normal flora may compete for access to the binding sites on the gut epithelial surface, or may stimulate secretion of mucus. The short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by the good microbes may stop the growth of other harmful bacteria either directly or by increasing acidity. Neish cites 2007 research by Corr and colleagues from Ireland who showed that some good microbes like Lactobacillus salivarius also produce small peptide molecules called bacteriocins which inhibit the growth of other disease causing microbes like listeria or even kill them.In 2015, a very interesting research published by Johansson and colleagues from Sweden and Norway showed that genetically similar laboratory mice with slightly different microbiota had very different inner mucus inner layers. To their surprise they found that the free-living mice who had more viral and parasitic infections compared to the laboratory mice had an even more developed mucus layer. They found that mice with better mucus barrier had a particular type of supposedly beneficial bacteria. However, when change in food increased the number of these bacteria, the gut was found to be more permeable. Mice with more permeable gut, on the other hand, had a different type of bacteria – bacteria of the type that are associated with irritable bowel disease and Crohn’s disease.Thus, it is likely that the good microbes not only prevent bad microbes from growing, but they also may be involved in modulating the health of the physico-chemical barrier, the mucus.

Understanding the gut biology and the barriers that it poses, it seems like it is not really easy for toxins, microbes, undigested food, etc. to pass through to the blood circulation. These substances and organisms need to pass through not one but four different barriers. So, can “leaky gut” really occur? If so, under what circumstances? And can it cause the range of conditions it is claimed to cause?

Leaky gut – is it fact or fiction?

While, it is widely accepted that in HIV infection the final immune deregulation is driven by increased gut permeability where the microbes from the intestine end up in the blood circulation, there is much debate regarding the involvement of leaky gut in causing a wide range of diseases. There is contradictory information floating around regarding leaky gut. On the one hand, National Health Services, UK considers “leaky gut” to be a “proposed condition” and a theory that is supported largely by the practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine who link it to a wide range of other conditions from allergies to autism. NHS, UK finds little evidence to suggest that these conditions could be caused by leaky gut and warn the patients to be “wary of treatments offered by people who claim to be able to cure leaky gut syndrome”.

On the other hand, scientists like Allesio Fasano, director of Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston who spent 30 years studying gut and its role in human health told the Time Magazine early in 2016:

We now believe that under certain circumstances, fissures open up in the intestinal barrier that may allow things to get through.

Zonulin, a gut protein which regulates the permeability of the tight junctions was discovered by Fasano and his team in 2001. According to Fasano’s 2012 review article, people of a certain genetic makeup are more susceptible to a leaky gut. In such individuals, there is a deregulation of the zonulin pathway. Why only some with such genetic makeup develop the syndrome and not others may depend on environmental factors that they are exposed to.

Fasano says that there still is a lot of debate over how large molecules that cause allergies or autoimmune disease got into the bloodstream from the gut, but it does seem like “gaps may sometime form between the cells that may allow larger molecules to pass through.” According to him, leaky gut syndrome is legit and it is likely that it plays a role in food allergies, type-1 diabetes, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, IBS and other issues related to digestion. However, he also said that the scientific community has refused to accept the concept of leaky gut due to the use and abuse of the term “leaky gut” by some alternative medicine practitioners who, without any evidence, attributed everything from autism to cancer to be caused by a leaky gut.

There definitely is evidence that problems with intestinal gut permeability can cause issues related to digestion. There is some preliminary evidence that leaky gut may also be related to other non-digestion related issues like multiple sclerosis (MS) as was shown in 2014 by Lavasani’s research group from Sweden. However, this was a study on mouse models and lot more studies will be needed to establish a clear link between leaky gut and MS in humans.

However, Quigley from USA, in his 2016 review provides arguments against the concept that leaky gut can cause a plethora of diseases and says that the evidence is rather flimsy. He maintains that;

Strictly speaking, this term [Leaky gut] should be restricted to those situations where epithelial tight junctional function is impaired resulting in increased flux across the paracellular route; a phenomenon, though accessible to measurement in vivo in man, has little to do with the diseases and disorders in which a ‘leaky gut’ is thought to play a role.

His main arguments are:

• Changed gut permeability could be a phenomenon that is secondary to something else like inflammation, dietary components, bile acids, allergens, stress and physical activity. The question he is asking is, for example – does leaky gut lead to inflammation, or does inflammation lead to leaky gut? In other words, does leaky gut cause celiac disease or celiac disease cause leaky gut? However, he does mention that there is some “circumstantial” evidence that gut permeability may have a more primary role.
• Experiments in animals have not been able to show that a leaky gut by itself results in disease. However, as Fasano mentioned the impact of a leaky gut may be seen only in combination with other factors. This does not per se negate the effect of leaky gut on disease causation.
• It is not necessary that increased permeability is bad. The research that he cites for this argument shows that when the gut permeability was artificially increased in mice using ethanol or cholera toxin, the immune system was activated that protected the mucosa from inflammation. However, it is natural for the gut to respond in this manner – gut is after all also an immune barrier. One could imagine that a constant abuse of the intestinal lining by the toxin or ethanol will overcome the immune barrier. This work by Boirivant and colleagues from Italy in fact mentions that only a mild or transient breach in epithelial barrier would cause protective effects – which means that if there is a constant leaky gut the protective function of the gut immune system will be overwhelmed.
• There is no convincing evidence that an intervention that restores or improves barrier function can improve the disease. There are some studies on mice, however, that show that certain probiotics can prevent the development of some diseases. It is true though that there are no human studies yet that show the same effect. We can only hope that more research in humans on these lines will lend weight to this point.

Overall, leaky gut is an actual phenomenon and it does seem like a possibility that some if not all diseases could be caused due to this in combination with other factors.

Overcoming the barriers

When there is evidence that leaky gut is an actual phenomenon, what happens then that allows the toxins, microbes, undigested food etc. to cross the four intestinal barriers? The question is how can these things overcome not one but four barriers? Do these things overcome the barriers themselves or do they get help from some other factors?

1. Microbes: A 2014 study by Johansson and colleagues from Sweden found that normally the inner mucus layer of our gut cannot be penetrated by bacteria. In case of ulcerative colitis, this layer allows the bacteria to penetrate and reach the epithelial cells. As described earlier in the “barriers section”, the microbes themselves may modulate our mucus barrier – make the layer thicker and impenetrable or thinner and more penetrable by microbes and other molecules. Antibiotic usage can result in the loss of good microbes that help the mucus to stay healthy and impenetrable, resulting in thin layers of mucus that are more penetrable. Also, as described in a 2009 review article by Groschwitz and Hogan from USA, an associated overgrowth of disease causing microbes will result in these secreting toxins and protein degrading compounds (proteases) that help overcome the gut barrier by damaging the gut cells and causing cell death, or by changing the ion transport, or by breaking down the tight junctions, or a combination of these. Apart from this, these microbes also may disrupt intestinal barrier by binding to cell surface molecules and inducing changes in the proteins that are involved in forming the tight junctions.While some penetration of the intestinal cells after passing through the mucus layer can be effectively handled by the gut immune system, if the immune system is over-stimulated by too much stuff passing through constantly, it can lead to chronic inflammation of the gut – which is what happens in cases of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a disease with proven link to a leaky gut.
2. Intestinal motility: The peristaltic movement of our intestines affects the intestinal barrier by propelling microbes and toxins. Peristalsis makes sure that the bacteria and toxins, along with the digested food material, moves ahead through the intestine. This ensures that the microbes and toxins do not stay for a long time in the same place, thus preventing them from having any adverse impact on the lining of the gut. The gut microflora is also responsible for regulation of intestinal motility – they secrete various substances that can influence intestinal movement. This means that any deregulation of microflora can reduce gut motility leading to slow movement of digested food, microbes and toxins through the intestine. This would allow more time for these to be able to overcome some if not all barriers.
3. Stress: The role of stress in increasing intestinal permeability is well documented – Söderholm and Perdue have described the extensive body of research on the role of stress in intestinal permeability issues in their review from 2001. There is evidence from animal studies that acute and chronic stress can change gut permeability. Chronic stress also seems to worsen colitis, enhances reactivation of disease, and reduces mucus production by colon apart from increasing gut permeability. The stress can be either physical such as trauma or surgery, or can also be psychological.
4. Alcohol: Intestinal permeability is found to be increased on moderate and chronic intake of alcohol via acetaldehyde and nitric oxide formation. In 2006, Ferrier and colleagues from France showed in rats that the gut microflora converted the ethanol quickly to acetaldehyde which increased gut permeability. They also found that a special group of immune cells called the mast cells get activated by ethanol and cause inflammation resulting in gut permeability impairment. Apart from this there are some other mechanisms that are thought to be responsible for ethanol mediated leaky gut, although the exact mechanism is not completely understood yet.
5. Diet: Diet affects the gut microflora which in turn affects intestinal permeability. Amit-Romach and colleagues from Israel showed with their experiments in 2009 that a vitamin A deficient diet increased the total amount of bacteria in the gut and changed the gut microflora. Such diets caused a reduction in proportion of lactobacilli (good bacteria) and increased the proportion of E.coli (bad bacteria). They also showed that vitamin A deficiency caused loss of integrity of the mucosal barrier.In 2008, a study by Kong and colleagues from USA showed that similar effects could be observed in cases of vitamin D deficiency which increased the risk for IBD. Although vitamin D is mostly obtained from sunlight, a part of vitamin D also comes from diet.Fermentation of undigested dietary carbohydrates by bacteria in the colon produces short chain fatty acids (SCFA) like acetate, propionate, butyrate and valerate. Butyrate is particularly important for maintaining the intestinal barrier. In IBD, there is a deficit of butyrate which increases gut permeability as was shown by Plöger and colleagues from Germany in 2012.A diet high in fats has been found to increase intestinal permeability. A study on 8 healthy people by Pendyala and colleagues, published in 2012, found that when these people were given Western-style diet that is rich in fats and carbohydrates for one month it changed their gut barrier function. The scientists also say that the effect could also be due to a change in the composition of gut microbes – which in turn change gut permeability.
6. Exercise: Gut complaints are common in endurance athletes. Bill Rodgers, the marathon legend once said “More marathons are won or lost in the porta-toilets than at the dinner table”. Breakdown of mucosal barrier and ischemic colitis apart from other symptoms has been observed after long distance running. In a 2014 review, de Oliviera and colleagues from Brazil have detailed the different effects of high endurance exercise on the gut which includes reduced blood circulation to the gut, increased gut permeability, mechanical damage due to posture, and nutrition.
7. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): There is sufficient evidence showing that NSAIDS (a type of pain killers) like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen can increase intestinal permeability. For example, a study by Bjarnason and colleagues from the UK showed in 1987 that NSAIDS could induce inflammation in us humans and that this inflammation can last for up to 16 months. In 1997, Lanas and colleagues from Spain found strong association between use of NSAIDS and gastrointestinal perforation – a hole that is formed in the gut wall and needs emergency treatment. However, it has been found that intestinal damage caused by NSAIDS is a multistage process and involves a number of mechanisms which would mean that only a regular intake of these pain killers (possibly also along with other factors) will increase gut permeability.One point to note here is that taking pain killers after high endurance exercise can potentially deal you double damage in terms of increased gut permeability – so regular high endurance exercise combined with regular intake of NSAID pain killers will be doubly bad for your gut and for your body.
8. Pollution: An unexpected link was discovered between air pollution and changes in gut permeability! A 2011 article by American scientists (Mutlu and colleagues) describes their study on mice which found a link between exposure to air pollution and increased gut permeability and inflammation. The air pollution in form of particulate matter can cause death of gut epithelial cells, disrupt the tight junctions, increase inflammation and gut permeability. Kish and colleagues from Canada found in their mouse study in 2013 that the particle matter in air can alter our gut microflora and induce acute and chronic inflammation in the intestine accompanied by increased gut permeability.
9. Disruption of body clock: Our body clock regulates a number of functions. Disruption of body-clock can happen in people who work shifts, those who have irregular sleep-wake cycles or irregular eating times, in people who fly long distance regularly, etc. The genes involved in our body clock also regulate the physiology and function of the gut. In 2013, it was shown in mice by Summa and colleagues from USA that when the body clock is disrupted, it can increase gut permeability. They also found that disruption of body clock increased alcohol mediated gut leakiness. They suggest from their studies that the increased gut permeability could be caused due to a reduction in the number of tight junction proteins that are bound to the cell membrane. What this means is that although the number of tight junction proteins is not reduced per se by a disrupted body clock, there is a reduction in the number of proteins that are bound to the cell membrane – and unless these proteins are bound to the cell membrane, they cannot form tight junctions!

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Intestinal permeability and Candida

So, is there any role that candida can play in increasing gut leakiness? From the information above, the following logical conclusion can be made:

Candida is a microbe that is clearly implicated in dysbiosis – Candida could easily overgrow in the gut when the normal microflora is disturbed as in case of antibiotic and NSAID overuse, alcohol abuse, imbalanced diet and vitamin deficiencies, etc. . Dysbiosis seems to play a huge role in increasing gut permeability (of course, along with other factors). If you have understood this, you will be able to see the possibility that candida overgrowth could very likely cause intestinal permeability.

It sounds logically fine, you would say, but is there any scientific evidence to this? Are there any studies conducted at all that show a link between candida and leaky gut? Surprise, surprise, there are a few studies in animals conducted by scientists that implicate candida in increase of gut permeability.

Yamaguchi and colleagues from Japan showed with their mouse study in 2006 that gut colonization by candida promotes food allergy partly by increasing gut permeability which is mediated by activation of mast cells that causes inflammation. Once the guts of mice were colonized with candida, there was an increase in antibodies in blood against food proteins which indicated that the food protein antigens had entered the blood stream from the gut. The authors however are careful to mention that the situation could be different in humans and that human studies will clarify whether or not the same holds true for humans as well.

A 2013 article by Carol Kumamoto from USA reviews the research that provides proof of gut colonization by candida and inflammation. She found that candida colonization in patients with gut problems is documented in various conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers etc. She finds that these patients along with their healthy relatives have a leaky gut. She also cites research in mouse and rat models that showed that candida colonization inhibits healing of inflammatory lesions. On the other hand she also provides research evidence that inflammation promotes gut colonization by candida. She suggests that this, along with lowered healing, can lead to a vicious cycle where inflammation promotes candida colonization and candida does not allow inflammation to heal, which again works in the favor of candida, and so on.

Invasive candida infection has emerged as a life-threatening disease in immune-compromised, critically ill patients. In such patients, candida is able to enhance colonization and penetration of the cells by changing from yeast to hyphal form and take advantage of reduced immunity to become invasive. Another 2013 article by Yan, Yang and Tan from China review the studies on virulence factors of candida albicans and how mucosal barrier works against these factors and how candida works its way through these barriers. Candida penetrates the mucus barrier by producing special protein breaking enzymes that break down the mucus layer and distorts cell membranes. This helps candida in binding to the cells and invading them. Additionally, candida can “contact sense” weak areas and invade these. It also produces certain enzymes that impair the tight junctions, break down the epithelium and increase permeability.

Thus, there is some evidence that candida can cause increased gut permeability that would allow large molecules, toxins, and small undigested food proteins to pass through the intestinal lining into the blood-stream causing inflammation. However, we need to remember that there are a variety of factors working in combination to cause leaky gut and more studies need to be carried out in humans to find out what exactly happens in human gut and if it is any different from the mouse and rat gut.