By Ross Pelton, RPh, PhD, CCN
For the past several decades, the rise of antibiotic-resistant ‘Superbug’ infections has been a growing global health crisis. Now there is a new and potentially more severe epidemic which is the rise of infections with a drug-resistant fungal organism named Candida auris.
How serious is this epidemic? A study published in the Oct. 2018 issues of Emerging Infectious Diseases journal reported that nearly 50% of individuals infected with Candida auris die within 90 days.i The highly respected health author and journalist Bill Sardi has written an article titled “Hidden Epidemic: Death By Hospitalii”. Because antibiotics and anti-fungal drugs are commonly used in hospitals, hospitals are becoming high-risk environments for exposure to drug-resistant organisms. Consequently, in the future, hospitals may be one of the most dangerous work environments, and the hospital industry may find it difficult to get nurses and physicians to agree to work in such high-risk jobs.
What is the Cause? The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in agricultural animals and physician overprescribing of antibiotic drugs is responsible for the growing epidemic of antibiotic-resistant superbug infections. Similarly, it appears that the rampant use of anti-fungal chemicals in agriculture is contributing to the rapid rise in the incidence of drug-resistant fungal infections such as Candida auris. Chemical fungicides are routinely applied to agricultural crops to prevent rotting due to fungal infections. Frequent use allows the development of resistant strains.
How To Protect Yourself: A comment often used in sports is “The best offense is a good defense.” When we consider health, the appropriate phrase is, “Prevention is the best protection.” Maintaining a healthy microbiome and healthy intestinal ecosystem creates a gastrointestinal environment that inhibits the growth (or overgrowth) of yeast and fungi as well as pathological bacteria.
Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics® is the best product available to create and maintain a healthy microbiome ecosystem. In addition to delivering probiotic bacteria, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics deliver a multitude of postbiotic metabolites. Numerous postbiotic metabolites such as lactic acid,iii hydrogen peroxideiv and bacteriocinsv have a direct growth inhibitory effect on Candida and other yeast/fungus organisms.
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Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3: Boosting glutathione levels is another important proactive step to increase your level of protection. Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 is a unique strain of probiotic bacteria that synthesizes glutathione. In human clinical trials, people taking ME-3 gained a remarkable 49% increase in the ratio between reduced to oxidized glutathione.
A large group of glutathione-dependent detoxification enzymes named glutathione S-transferases are directly involved in the metabolism and detoxification of mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are the toxins produced by molds and fungi. Boosting glutathione levels enhances the body’s ability to produce these glutathione-dependent detox enzymes so that the toxins from yeasts and fungi can be neutralized and eliminated.
The most effective way to boost your glutathione levels is to take one of the products with the brand name Reg’Activ,®which contain Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3. Reg’Activ products can be purchased at many fine health food stores or online at Amazon.com.
Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics are also available at most fine health food & vitamin stores or online at Amazon.com.