Vitamin Research News
December 2010

Mercury and Candida --[CUSTOMER CORNER]

Dear Dr. Meletis,

Thank you for mentioning the connection between mercury and candida. That is very interesting. I have also been diagnosed (thru Omega Testing) of having a high concentration of mercury in my system. The more I read lately about candida, the more I am hearing about mercury. Can you make any suggestions on ridding myself of the mercury and also is it a useless battle to try to rid myself of the candida while I still have high mercury in my system?

Thanks again,
Ms.J
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Dear Ms. J.,

As you have read, there is a belief by some that candida actually may indirectly protect the body from mercury. There is controversy around this concept, yet it is intriguing. Mercury can theoretically be chelated from the body, yet if not properly removed it can trigger more and sometimes worse symptoms. I have patients with high mercury that through good diet, high non-digestible fiber, 2 to 3 bowel movements per day, and a candida control program of suppportive bontaticals (as found in KandidaPlex), probiotics (such as BioPro) and immune support have shown positive effect, relative to quality of life. So, don't lose hope. As you will also read, some people once yeast overgrowth is addressed, if not possible to fully eradicate, feel the benefits of the lower burden. Of course individual results will vary.

Sincerely,
Chris D. Meletis, ND

(Perhaps this article on 'Mercury and Candida' will help some.)
Vitamin Research Products ~

Thanks Abishag,

It might be possible that the body does harbour an increase in yeast as a form of defense, but I'm not sure and indeed this is a contraversial subject. Because when I left my candida alone with a mercury toxic body, it was disastrous. I was incredibly toxic, depressed and suicidal and so ill, that my face was greyish in colour. When I addressed the candida, many of my symptoms lessened and I could function better and of course, detox better and colour improved, as well as energy, weight and quality of skin/hair/eyes etc.

So I imagine that it's more an imbalance from a mercury toxic system (and subsequent lowered immunity) that is struggling to keep yeast levels in check. I believe that yeast can change form and get out of control and become almost a disease in itself, adding to the burden of an already mercury poisoned system. So if the body harbours a little more yeast due to mercury for protective measures (which I'm a bit dubious about), I believe if that already overgrown yeast is fed even further and changes form from when it does not harm, to where it does, the person can be utterly miserable.

So to me, the diet is essential for the body to try and balance it out as much as possible. Such a diet isn't just about candida, but rather about immunity and health of the body anyway, which then allows the body to keep excessive or imbalanced candida in better check and back into a form that is not harmful and also health of the gut/liver/kidneys etc. Removing sugar and other harmful foods (and wheat/gluten/yeast if the person has a gluten allergy and excessive yeast problems), and consuming foods closer to nature is surely a benefit in any situation.

Even without addressing the mercury, I gained many benefits from simply treating candida. Though it was evidentally not the underlying problem, but rather a symptom of a toxic body and lowered immunity. Treating candida (and wheat/gluten intolerance) lessened toxicity and heightened my immunity.

The mercury impairs the immure systtem and encourages candida overgrowth, then the candida makes it easy to get parasite infections. If one doesn't do something about the candida and parasites, they might feel very ill. The candida and parasites not only release toxins which further poison the body, but they also impair digestion and absorption of nutrients.

http://www.flcv.com/cfsfm.html