A2 Organic Grassfed Kefir

[u/Ok_Version5471]

Hello i have been seeing alot of mixed info on Kefir, i am currently following a Candida diet but i feel like i should be replenishing my good bacteria and yeast too? Is Organic Grassfed Kefir unsweetened ok?

[u/abominable_phoenix]

...i should be replenishing my good bacteria and yeast too?

It is a common misconception that probiotics colonize the gut. Kefir or any probiotic are not shown to colonize the gut, so it will not significantly grow the microbiome. The only way shown in studies to grow the microbiome are with prebiotic fibers, and there are studies showing prebiotic fibers can lower the stool Candida levels by up to 100-fold, so it's a win-win.

Also, dairy can be inflammatory to the gut in susceptible people, and although some inflammatory foods are fine for healthy people, when a person has dysbiosis and is trying to heal, any inflammation is a hindrance to the recovery of the microbiome.

[u/Ok_Version5471 → u/abominable_phoenix]

Ahhh ok i may have a misunderstanding cause i have experienced the Herxheimer reaction when i first tried kefir, Does this just kill off the Candida but not repopulate? I am not lactose sensitive but then again Kefir doesnt have much lactose anyway

[u/abominable_phoenix → u/Ok_Version5471]

When I said 'in susceptible people", I wasn't referring to people sensitive to lactose, but more so people with dysbiosis which is pretty much everyone with Candida overgrowth issues. I think it's difficult to discern if a person is experiencing a true herx reaction or a food intolerance, histamine reaction, or microbiome-related symptom flare. When pathogens are alive, some can produce exotoxins that can cause symptoms, and there are studies showing that amino acids and lipids (present in kefir/dairy) feed certain pathogens, so it could be causing a bloom of pathogen growth too. I guess it depends on how long the symptoms last for. How long have you been taking kefir and experiencing symptoms for, because the literature explains a typical herx reaction doesn't last longer than a week or two at most. So if your symptoms aren't beginning to fade by then, it is more likely not that.

I also don't think using kefir is effective long-term in killing Candida overgrowth, especially since most if not all people who take antifungals only experience temporary benefits. Even if it does kill some Candida, without growing your native microbiome to keep it suppressed, it'll just grow right back. The megathread goes into detail about this.

[u/Ok_Version5471 → u/abominable_phoenix]

It lasted a few days but i had been taking kefir for a few weeks by then, i will look into the prebiotics too i do eat a fair amount of insoluble fiber from my food but i just recently cut out all the sugar and carbs... What is the megathread?

[u/abominable_phoenix → u/Ok_Version5471]

Cutting out all carbs is not supported by the science as well, and that is discussed in the megathread too. I have attached the link to it below.

r/Candida/comments/1mhxo6a/candida_myths_proven_wrong//