HIV AIDS and its' Relationship to Candida

There is a connection between HIV AIDS and Candida and our Immune system and a very strong overall impact on the body.

What is HIV

The virus primarily destroys CD4 T-cells, which are a type of lymphocyte (white blood cell that helps coordinate the immune system’s response to infection and disease). The patient’s CD4 cell count is used as a marker to determine how far the disease has progressed. Individuals with a CD4 cell count lower than 200 cells per microlitre of blood have progressed to AIDS. The virus weakens the immune system.

What is AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).(Wikipedia)

AIDS progressively reduces the ability of the immune system to function effectively, thereby, leaving individuals susceptible to infections and other health issues.

The Relationship between Candida and HIV AIDS

Since HIV AIDS patients are suffering from a nearly defenseless immune system, it is very difficult to fend off Candida.

Candidiasis can be very serious with someone who has a seriously impaired immune system.

Candida can:

- Get into the bloodstream,

- Interfere with functions of vital organs,

- Stop the body from absorbing necessary vitamins and nutrients.

When people are given chemotherapy, the same thing can happen, especially people with HIV AIDS. Yeast infections can be the doctor's first clue that there might be a problem with the immune system strength.

The Candida albicans fungus, is responsible for the development of candidiasis and is found almost everywhere in the environment.

Most people have small amounts of Candida albicans present in their mouths and/or vagina at any given time. Healthy individuals are able to prevent the fungus from causing any infection.

HIV Symptoms

Immune compromised patients, such as HIV AIDS patients, often suffer from severe symptoms. Painful lesions in the mouth, that can appear, make it very difficult to eat.

Oral Health

HIV patients are more vulnerable than the general population to developing diseases and infections, including mucocutaneous candidiasis.

This is a rare form of candidiasis characterized by candida infection lesions of the skin, mucous membranes, GI tract, and respiratory tract.

Oral candidiasis, commonly known as oral thrush, usually develops in HIV patients once their CD4 cell count drops below 350.

Oral thrush is the least serious of the fungal infections. This may still indicate that a patient’s HIV condition is worsening.

The oral infection can progress to esophageal candidiasis, which occurs when thrush spreads to the esophagus. This occurs when the HIV patients CD4 cell counts are 200 or less.

Esophageal candidiasis is the only type of candidiasis that is considered an AIDS-defining illness.

Yeast Overgrowth

A yeast overgrowth can develop for many reasons.

- including a poor diet

- sedentary lifestyle

- antibiotics

- sexual contact

If you are a person who has constant yeast infections you need to look at whether or not there is another cause for this problem.

Common Remedies to Consider

You might consider taking a probiotic and prebiotic supplement, changing your diet to include foods that fight candida such as organic coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, raw garlic, probiotic yogurt and prebiotic kefir.

Whole leaf aloe vera juice also builds the immune system to help fight arthritis, AIDS, cancer and other degenerative illnesses.

The good news for those who suffer from recurring yeast infections is that knowledge is increasing about ways to fight this off and do so naturally.

Your body’s immune system can be strengthened which can increase your health and longevity.

Toronto People With Aids Foundation

Learn more about the Toronto People With Aids Foundation and Bike Rally in 2010. click here

This is a photograph of Philip and David with me, just before the 2008 Bike Rally took off, bright and early one morning. Coconut Oil

Tests for Coconut Oil and HIV AIDS are underway and the results of these tests are truly astounding.

The potential uses of coconut oil for treating and preventing a wide assortment of infections, ranging from the flu to life-threatening conditions such as AIDS show great promise.

One of the most exciting and active areas of research with Medium-Chain Fatty Acids, found in Coconut Oil, is HIV treatment.

HIV has a lipid membrane that is vulnerable to Medium-Chain Fatty Acids.

In the 1980’s it was discovered that the MCFA’s called lauric and capric acids, were effective in killing HIV in lab cultures.

MCFA’s break the virus apart. Much like the other fatty acids that make up the virus’s lipid membrane, the MCFA’s are absorbed by the virus; this weakens the membrane until it breaks apart, killing the virus.

The problems with HIV drugs and antiviral drugs, there are side effects such as:

muscle wasting

nausea

vomiting

anorexia

bone marrow suppression

ulcerations

skin rash

anemia

fatigue

altered mental function

Echinacea and HIV and AIDS

Echinacea is being studied as a possible treatment. Ref: Chevallier, A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, NY,NY. Dorling Kinderslay, 1996.

Research has confirmed echinacea's ability to increase the immune system's production of interferon--the substance which fights viral infection in the body, as well as it's ability to increase production of T-lymphocytes (T-cells) and other white blood cells which fight bacterial toxins.

I hope this site will contribute to your knowledge of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.


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