acid/alkaline confusion re: yeast

[Guest guest]

Somewhere, I have some pH strips, but I can't find them right now! Anyway, I'm assuming that since I'm having a problem with yeast, I must have too acidic a pH right now. (Though I eat a very alkaline diet...but have been under a lot of stress and was getting very little sleep through much of the spring.) However, I'm confused about this, because some sources say that for yeast, you should acidify with cranberry juice, apple cider vinegar, or the like. I'm in the process of doing more research on this, but...can anyone explain to me why it would be beneficial to acidify for a condition that is connected with already being too acidic? I think the advice is correct--apple cider vinegar does seem to help--but WHY?

Meanwhile, it's dawned on me that my four-year-old's constipation could possibly be yeast-related (as it's quite likely I had undiagnosed yeast issues when I was pregnant with her), although it seems to me that we're already doing all that we can for her if that's what it is -- she's already taking probiotics and fish oil and a good (but iron-free) vitamin, as well as magnesium (when we can get it into her, which is hard) and zinc and a trace mineral supplement; we already avoid processed grains and sugar (though she does have more sugar in her diet than I have); and of course we already avoid dairy products. (Okay, that was a convoluted sentence--sorry!) I doubt I can get her to take apple cider vinegar. She almost always refuses sweet beverages (maybe her body is telling her something?), so I don't think I can just add it to juice. Am I missing something yeast-related that we could be doing? Biotin, maybe? We are seeing some improvement with her constipation as a result of making a big push to get more magnesium into her, but we really need a bigger improvement yet...I'm trying to get her fully potty-trained for kindergarten (right now she's using the potty with a LOT of help, and wants to wear pull-ups as much as we'll let her because of fecal incontinence), and I just don't see how she can manage it by herself if she has stool coming out of her that, often, is super-sticky.

Any thoughts?Thanks!Bonnie