One
family of yeasts, Candida albicans, normally
lives on the warm inner creases of the digestive tract,
vagina and skin. Healthy women have a natural community
of Candida albicans organisms in all three
locations. When your immune system is healthy, "friendly"
intestinal bacteria like Bifidobacteria bifidum
and Lactobaccillus acidophilus create a symbiotic
system with the yeast that keeps everything in balance.
But
when this system gets out of balance – through
use of antibiotics, birth control pills or improper
diet – candida cells develop rapidly, overwhelm
the friendly bacteria, and create potentially serious
results. Imbalance of intestinal flora is sometimes
referred to as dysbiosis. The effects
range from vaginitis to irritable bowel syndrome,
food allergies, migraines, asthma and a host of other
chronic health conditions. See Yeast-Fighting Program for ideas to help you determine whether
dysbiosis plays a role in your health
and try our suggestions for reviving your body's natural
balance.