What Is the Connection between Brewer's Yeast and Candida?

When Candida yeast grows inside a person’s body without inhibition, the result is an infection which may be localized or spread throughout the body. Some holistic health practitioners believe there is a link between brewer’s yeast and Candida, and that limiting or eliminating the consumption of all yeasts helps in curbing the infection. This means that brewer’s yeast and Candida yeast can have a negative relationship with each other.

Candida yeast infections are caused by organisms that invade the body, either orally or vaginally. The organisms enter through the body’s mucous membranes. Instead of being beneficial to the body, like some other types of yeast, Candidas act as pathogens, causing infection. The pathogens are opportunistic, taking advantage of people who have lowered immune systems that are unable to fight off the infection without assistance from medication.

Brewer’s yeast comes in two different types, both of which are used in the brewing of different types of beer. Top cropping brewer’s yeasts create foam at the top of the beer during the brewing process. Bottom cropping brewer’s yeast, which work to ferment beer at lower temperatures than top cropping yeasts, are typically used to brew lager beers.

Even though brewer’s yeasts are use to make beer, this does not mean someone with a Candida yeast infection needs to abstain from consuming beer. Brewer’s yeast does not stay in the beer, but rather is filtered out after the brewing process is complete, and then made into a powder, tablet or flake for consumption. The connection between brewer’s yeast and Candida means a person with a Candida yeast infection may need to avoid health supplements that contain brewer’s yeast.

Those who consume brewer’s yeast regularly and in high quantities may open themselves up to Candida yeast infections more than those who do not take brewer’s yeast supplements. Consuming high amounts of carbohydrates, other yeasts and fermented food products also puts a person at an increased risk for Candida yeast infections.

Recognizing the symptoms of a yeast infection and knowing the connection between brewer’s yeast and Candida helps a person overcome a Candida infection in a shorter period of time. Once the person recognizes her symptoms, she can cut out her consumption of brewer’s yeast until the infection has subsided. The symptoms of a Candida yeast infection include vaginal discharge and itching, bloating and heartburn. Testing under the direction of a physician is the only way to definitively determine whether a person has a Candida yeast infection or another health condition.