Incredible Microbiological News For Candida Sufferers That Will Blow You Away

Incredible Microbiological News For Candida Sufferers That Will Blow You Away

Coconut oil has been making headlines all over as a topical moisturizer, source of medium-chain fatty acids, and even as a way to help reduce stress and fight depression. As it turns out, coconut oil may have even more virtues than science originally thought- microbiologists have discovered that it may help fight candida.

Candida, a genus of yeasts responsible for infections in the human body, causes millions of dollars’ worth of medical expenses every year. It’s natural to have some yeast in and on the body, but overgrowth (often triggered by things like stress, poor diet, and antibiotic use) is no small matter. In fact, C. Albicans is often referred to as the most common pathogenic organism in humans. While most people who’ve had a brush with Candida recognize it as the fungus responsible for itchy, uncomfortable skin infections, these yeasts also have a much more sinister side – everything from skin discolorations, to long-term digestive issues, to allergies. Like other pathogens, Candida infections can be treated by medication. Unfortunately, these medications have a long list of side effects, are often expensive, and are not always properly used. Improper use is the leading cause of antifungal-resistant strains of Candida, leaving many patients with untreated (and potentially untreatable) Candida infections. Fortunately, coconut oil offers some new hope for yeast sufferers.

In a study published in mSphere, the American Society for Microbiology’s publication, mice fed diets including either coconut oil, beef fat, soybean oil, or a control diet offered some surprising results. The mice fed the coconut oil diet managed to reduce the numbers of C. Albicans cells in their digestive systems by over 90%. When mice originally given beef fat or soybean oil were switched to coconut oil, their C. Albicans numbers decreased. Researchers came to the conclusion that coconut oil may be an effective alternative or complementary therapy for people suffering from C. Albicans infections.

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Don’t rush out to buy jars of coconut oil yet, however. Researchers also caution the public that coconut oil’s high levels of saturated fat may make it a poor dietary choice for people at risk for heart disease or stroke. For this reason, it is currently viewed as a promising short-term treatment to help reduce the dependency on antifungal drugs as a first-line defense against candida infections. This would allow the medication to be reserved purely for dire situations, hopefully reducing the likelihood of creating new strains of antifungal-resistant yeasts. At the moment, it is hypothesized that adding coconut oil to the diets of those vulnerable to Candida infections may act as a preventative.

In a time when drug-resistant pathogens are on the rise and becoming more deadly every day, the need for non-drug alternative treatments is higher than ever. Coconut oil’s innate antifungal properties are shaping up to make it the latest in safe, natural, over-the-counter methods for treating topical and digestive candida infections. For patients struggling with painful Candida infections or antifungal remedies that aren’t effective, relief may be as close as the nearest grocery store.

Msphere.asm.org   Thehealthavengers.com   Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov