Madison Area Lyme Support Group

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/kills-yeast-a-brief-guide

Updated: 7/15/24

By Dr. Marty Ross

The Problem with Intestinal Yeast and Lyme, Bartonella or Babesia Treatment

Too many yeast in the intestines (yeast overgrowth) is a common problem that occurs in those with chronic Lyme disease, Bartonella, and Babesia. This problem occurs during treatment, or prior to beginning treatment. Prescription antibiotics, and to a much lesser degree herbal antibiotics, lead to intestinal yeast excess. Immune suppression prior to starting antibiotics can also cause yeast overgrowth.

The Problem. Yeast overgrowth can result in an ongoing systemic allergic reaction to the yeast that can suppress the immune system. Yeast overgrowth also leads to inflammatory cytokine excess that causes many of the Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia symptoms and pain. Food allergies and sensitivities are the result of yeast overgrowth, too. Learn more about cytokines in Control Cytokines: A Guide to Fix Lyme Symptoms & The Immune System.

In this article, I lay out several natural and prescription medicine options to treat yeast and to prevent future problems with yeast overgrowth. These options have three basic steps using a feed, seed and weed approach. For best results take the feed, seed and weed steps simultaneously and throughout treatment.

• Feed your intestinal microbiome to promote gut health;
• Seed your intestinal microbiome with the right probiotic based on your intestinal health; and
• Weed your intestinal microbiome to decrease your intestinal yeast germ load.

How to Diagnose Yeast Overgrowth in Lyme Disease

For information about diagnosing too many yeast, read A Silent Problem—Is It Yeast?

Step 1. Feed your intestinal microbiome with polyphenols and prebiotic fibers *

It is important to do the actions in Step 1. throughout your herbal or prescription antibiotic treatment with or without intestinal yeast overgrowth.

Option 1. Use Supplements

• Polyphenol 2 capsules one time a day. I prefer Polyphenol Booster by Pendulum.*
• Prebiotic non-digestible sugars 1 to 2 pills 3 times a day. I prefer MegaPre by Multibiome Labs.*

Option 2. Eat a Plant-forward Whole Food Diet

• Include polyphenols and prebiotic plant fibers in your diet by eating a whole food diet rich in colorful berries and fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. Aim for at least 30 grams of plant-based fiber a day which you can track using an app like MyFitnessPal or by having at least 5 servings a day of the various foods types listed above. In choosing a whole-foods plant-forward diet, it is ok to use animal proteins or plant-based proteins for your protein source.

Here are some resources to help you eat a plant-forward whole food diet.

• • For a paleo-based diet rich in plant foods and low-inflammatory animal proteins see The Best Brain, Inflammation, Pain, Energy & Detox Diet Ever.
  • Mediterranean diets are also a good choice.
  • If you are new to plant-based eating, consider working with the Whole30 diet program to get started.

An elimination diet is another diet to consider starting if you are very reactive to several foods. For detailed information, see Elimination Diet to Find Food Problems.  (See link for article)

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**Comment**

Excellent information.  I caution on an entirely vegan diet.  I have found food choice to be extremely important to healing, but every patient is different in what they can tolerate.  If you are unequipped on this topic, consider going to a nutritionist and/or a naturopath who is at least Lyme-friendly, and very experienced.  This topic alone can make THE difference in your journey.  Don’t underestimate it.