Candida Overgrowth Related to Excess Garlic?

May 11, 2009

I recently had mild cold symptoms and was taking vitamin D (10K-50K IU for 3

days, now down to 4K to 8K daily), vitamin A (10K-20K IU), vitamin K2 MK-4 (5 mg

every 2-3 days) among a few other supplements. To help combat the virus I was

eating over 10 cloves of raw garlic daily as well (for maybe 5-7 days).

I got over the cold pretty quickly, but then some strange symptoms developed:

mild pain swallowing, dry lips and mild rash around my mouth, and jock itch. I

have never had jock itch or Athlete's foot in my life so I thought this was

strange. I have had thrush before (after long-term antibiotics) and this pain I

feel in swallowing is the same as thrush, just not quite as bad.

I strongly suspect Candida albicans. The question is, what threw off my natural

bacterial balance to allow the yeast overgrowth? Could it be the garlic? I've

never taken so much raw garlic before. Garlic is supposed to be an antiviral,

antibacterial, and antifungal and is listed as a *treatment* for candida.

However, I'm wondering if it kills bacteria to greater extent than fungus, thus

leading to the imbalance.

Any insights? My treatment plan right now is to avoid garlic and drink lots of

kefir to reestablish gut flora. I'm annoyed at these symptoms but I'm awed at

the apparent power of garlic!

Tom

May 11, 2009

Tom, it's weird because I could swear I also get candida sx from raw

garlic. At first I wondered if I was having a dysbiosis issue from a

sulfur breakdown issue. Now that I see your post I am wondering

anew. I have to be very careful with garlic as it does indeed upset

my gut flora in a negative way. It's too bad because I love the stuff.

AG

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