Does Smoking and Drinking Coffee Make Candida Worse?

by Eric Bakker N.D.

Smoking has some interesting side effects when it comes to Candida.

What many people are concerned about with Candida is keeping their blood sugar stable.

When you eat any food that has protein, carbs, or fat in it, your body is going to convert those nutrients into the sugar that fees your cells. Everything eventually breaks down into sugar. If you are low on sugar, the body is triggered to release stored sugar. Cortisol, adrenaline, and other hormones are produced and then stimulate the liver to release glycogen, a form of stored sugar. Once the body senses the increased sugar in the bloodstream, the Islet of Langerhans cells in the pancreas release insulin. Insulin facilitate the entry of sugar into the cells, helping to fuel cells and maintain homeostasis.

Nicotine has an interesting impact on the body because it constricts blood vessels and stimulates a stress response in the body. Nicotine also triggers the release of glycogen, and when this happens, the pancreas releases insulin to allow sugar to enter the cells.

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Nicotine has a very interesting effect on adrenal glands as well. Nicotine stimulates the release of adrenaline which also stimulates the release of glycogen. There is quite a vicious cycle triggered by smoking. The nicotine initiates a stress response, which pushes the blood sugar up. Insulin is released, sugar enters the cells, and now the blood sugar low occurs. The up and down blood sugar is what makes you want to have a cigarette every two to three hours.

There is definitely a link between tobacco and the continuation of Candida. Some studies show that nicotine also initiates oral Candida and bad breath. Other studies show that nicotine is bad for the stomach and for acid production in the stomach. Nicotine can cause appetite increase or appetite suppression. It also affects neurotransmitters like dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin. Nicotine also impacts receptors in the small intestine.

Smoking is not good for your pocket, and it’s not good for your health in general.

My advice is to stop smoking. I don’t think vaping is any better. There is a lot of concern that vaping may result in people inhaling particles of metal from these devices. We don’t know the long-term health ramifications of vaping. By 2050 we will probably know that vaping is worse for you than smoking. Anything that you inhale into your lungs is going to damage the body.

Caffeine and nicotine have similar impacts on Candida. They are both alkaloids, chemicals that can affect you adversely. I don’t see one cup of coffee a day being bad for people. But many people who have caffeine don’t eat the right kinds of foods and they drink not one cup of coffee, but six or seven. I consider that caffeine overkill.

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About Eric Bakker N.D.

Eric Bakker ND has completed almost ten years of study and has almost almost 25 years of clinical experience in natural and integrative forms of medicine, and has pursued continuous post-graduate study in Australia, America, India as well as in New Zealand.

Eric is the past Vice President of the NZ Natural Medicine Association and is currently on their editorial advisory board.