I like to re-share this post every so often because I’ve received this question in various forms for YEARS now…does Absorb Plus create a candida problem?
These questions seem to have the same underlying concerns, so here is an updated version of my answer – as well as a good representation of most people’s unease.
Concern About Absorb Plus Feeding Candida
Reader Question:
I’m very concerned about the issue of Absorb Plus feeding Candida. I decided to use Absorb Plus to do The IBD Remission Diet because your book says that it would starve the good and bad bacteria in the gut, almost creating a clean slate for the gut, to be then populated with probiotics (incidentally I have been taking probiotics twice daily anyway, whilst on the diet).
Now I’m feeling this description of Absorb Plus wasn’t accurate: it seems it may starve off some bacteria but actually feeds, and can contribute to one of the most harmful, the Candida, increasing rapidly! This seems like a huge problem! – and I’m now concerned about the ultimate success of the Remission Diet for me. Perhaps I’ll be able to kill it with oregano oil, which I’ve used before. But If I’m still ingesting a product with so much fructose all the while, it seems it will be a difficult battle to fight with the Candida getting fed well all the while – and the body likely to go out of balance again when I stop the oregano. Added to that, I always get more diarrhea when taking oregano oil – and I could certainly do without that.
How will my gut be able to heal with this imbalance going on, and Candida colonising the gut more than before? And having to spend more money on Oregano oil to fight the problem, whilst the Absorb Plus feeds it, makes no sense to me.
Jini’s Answer:
Please don’t panic – thousands of people to date have successfully used Absorb Plus (Absorb Element+ in the UK). All people with IBD have some degree of Candida overgrowth, and nothing has happened to change that.
So, first of all, Candida albicans is NOT a bacteria. It is a yeast organism. And it is a natural and beneficial resident throughout our entire bodies – as long as it is in a healthy balance with other microorganisms.
The problem occurs when there is a Candida overgrowth. This happens for numerous reasons but it is usually triggered by drug antibiotic or steroid use. These drugs kill off the good bacteria in the gut, which normally keep Candida in balance.
Candida Overgrowth and Gut Disorders
Like many microorganisms, simple carbohydrates (sugars) are also the preferred food of yeast organisms. (Like Candida albicans and other strains of Candida).
Now, when it comes to healing gut disorders, the healing often has to occur in layers, because you just can’t treat everything at once – the body can’t handle it. So, compared to intestinal bleeding, malnutrition, and malabsorption, continual pain, etc. mild to moderate Candida overgrowth is definitely a ‘lesser stage’ problem and can be dealt with after the more serious symptoms are resolved.
This is because there is NO elemental product in existence that will not feed Candida – because ALL carbohydrates are broken down into sugars. So even if you ingest a fructose-free elemental product, the maltodextrin (or whatever else the carbohydrate source might be) will still feed the Candida.
If you get more diarrhea when taking wild oregano, that too is normal and is actually a positive thing. It shows that the body is flushing all the dead pathogenic microorganisms and their toxic by-products from your gut.
Candida overgrowth alone produces more than 178 toxins. By taking a high dose of probiotics before bed every night (as advised in Jini’s Wild Oregano Oil Protocol), you are also helping to stabilize and support the healing of the gut flora.
Simultaneously, the Absorb Plus during the day is helping to heal and restore the mucosal lining of the intestine and resolve malnutrition.
Keeping Candida in Check
NOTE: Dr. Roy & Debbie Steinbock put all their patients on an anti-pathogen protocol (like Jini’s Wild Oregano Oil Protocol) for 2 weeks before they start an elemental diet. This way their patients don’t confuse the pathogen die-off with the elemental diet experience. This is a great idea!
The wild oregano oil and probiotics combined should be sufficient to keep Candida in check whilst on the elemental diet – for some, it is even enough to resolve the Candida issue.
If it doesn’t resolve the Candida issue, then this issue can be fully addressed before or after completing the elemental diet. My teleseminar with Dr. Carolyn Dean (Candida, Detox & More!) gives you exact instructions for how to accomplish this.
Getting back to the “healing in layers” concept: What heals inflammation, ulceration, malabsorption in the gut is not what heals Candida overgrowth. They require different therapies and protocols. That’s just the way the body works. If you go really hard on an anti-Candida protocol before strengthening the gut.. And gaining enough weight to withstand a detox reaction, you will trigger a full-blown IBD flare. Which is worse?
I had one reader who had severe Crohn’s symptoms and she knew she needed to go on the IBD Remission Diet, but she wouldn’t use Absorb Plus because of the fructose. She insisted she would wait for the fructose-free Absorb Plus (in production at that time). Except that without healing the ulceration and malnutrition, her Crohn’s escalated and she died. Now who knows what other factors were involved here.
But the bottom line is:
Heal the most serious symptoms first and then work your way down the list, gradually clearing the rest.
Gather All Information
Now, regarding the information in The IBD Remission Diet book, in the first edition of the book I wrote that the elemental diet starves out the bad bacteria in the colon. And at the time of writing, that was what the medical literature proclaimed.
It has since been theorized that no, some of the maltodextrin does actually pass undigested into the colon. So it does not completely clear the bad bacteria. This update is included in the series of emails you should have received after purchasing the book. If you didn’t receive these emails or have lost them, please email us. The second edition automatically includes all this information.
Regardless, this is another reason why I recommend (in that same series of emails) that you simultaneously either go on Jini’s Wild Oregano Oil Protocol, or, start the high-dose probiotics at the beginning of the Diet, rather than waiting until the end. These will help to keep Candida in check whilst on the Diet (and afterward).
So, in your case, if only had a mild Candida problem to begin with, you may be fine with just taking the high dose probiotics (1 tsp of each, 3x/day). And that may be sufficient to hold the Candida in check without too much diarrhea. However, if you feel the Candida increasing, then start Jini’s Wild Oregano Oil Protocol and follow that.
And remember, when in doubt, please see your physician to get tested for infection. Then you can assess whether you have a mild, moderate or severe Candida problem. And whether you are infected with other microorganisms like C. difficile. Then you would definitely need to treat for gut infection first.
Original post February 2009. Most recently updated January 2024.
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[…] Fructose And Candida Albicans – Listen To Your Gut Do elemental diet products containing fructose and maltodextrin cause or exacerbate candida albicans overgrowth? Here are the answers… … I had one reader who had severe Crohn’s <… […]
[…] Fructose And Candida Albicans – Listen To Your Gut Do elemental diet products containing fructose and maltodextrin cause or exacerbate candida albicans overgrowth? Here are the answers… … I had one reader who had severe Crohn’s <… […]
Wondering… on 7/10/08 I got an email that you were making an UNSWEET version of Absorb Plus – and I was SO HAPPY to hear this news.
What ever happened to the UNSWEET Absorb Plus? I use the product, but it’s so sweet, that is the only thing about it I just don’t like. The extreme sweetness of it – I am not worried about candida yeast, but the way-sweet flavor.
Thanks – any news on the product would be great!
Yes, it’s still coming. There have been delays due to the recession and also due to FDA interference with Absorb Plus – they keep holding shipments to check it and every time they approve it, but that doesn’t stop them from holding up the next batch, etc. etc. Very frustrating, buy yes, it is coming and you will receive an email when it is ready.
The unsweetened absorbplus sounds very good, Jini. It looks like the only difference is that the fructose has been omitted; right? I suppose it would be redundant to ask if this product is organic. More specifically, from what kind of dairy, concerning its practices and how the cows are fed and treated, is this product derived? As agricultural laws differ from location to location, where is this dairy located?
NOTE: UNSWEETENED VANILLA ABSORB PLUS IS NOW AVAILABLE!
http://shoppe.listentoyourgut.com/absorb-plus-unsweetened-vanilla-single-serving-sample-100-grams/
The only difference between French Vanilla and Unsweetened Vanilla is that the Unsweetened does not contain any fructose.
Unfortunately we do not have grass-fed or organic whey in Absorb Plus. Obviously, I would prefer to, but the significant cost increase would put it out of reach for most people. Don’t forget, this is not a whey supplement that people use just 2 scoops per day. People use this for a complete elemental diet and they are consuming 6 – 9 shakes per day. We do use hormone-free (as confirmed by Certificate of Analysis), cold-extracted whey isolate though (C of A confirms 90% protein content), lactose-free and casein-free. The C of A also confirms no contaminants, heavy metals, pathogens, etc. The dairy is in Philadelphia.
I have leaky gut, candida and SIBO..is the unsweetened vanilla Ok for healing my condition? Thanks.
Hi Cynthia,
The unsweetened vanilla flavor is what we recommend for people who want to try Absorb Plus but who hand candida or SIBO. As long as you are doing Jini’s wild oregano protocol at the same time as the elemental diet, the unsweetened should be OK. It’s always best to consult your physician if you want to be sure, based on your specific health situation.
Kind regards.
Justin
Customer Care
I believe the Absorb Plus is making my SIBO much worse. My functional dietician said after she gets my test results back to put me on a protocol she is taking me off of the Absorb Plus because of the maltodextrin, fructose, & milk.
Hi Suzanne,
It’s unfortunate that the Absorb Plus didn’t work out for you but we receive feedback on a regular basis from people who experienced good results using Absorb Plus along with wild oregano oil for SIBO.
Absorb Plus uses Tapioca Maltodextrin because without it a bowel rest diet using only whey protein (no carbohydrate component) will quickly surpass your maximum daily protein limit whilst still feeling really hungry and tired. But more importantly, you will likely not gain any weight, so will remain very thin and weak, with low energy and lots of fatigue.
In Jini’s IBD Remission Diet, SIBO (that can be exacerbated by the maltodextrin) is addressed by using Jini’s Wild Oregano Oil Protocol (a broad-spectrum anti-pathogen) in combination with high dose Natren probiotics and in many cases, people use Jini’s Probiotic Retention Enema as well. SIBO is also addressed strongly after the Diet, with high dose oral probiotic supplementation for at least 6 months. Many people (especially if they are infected with mycobacteria) also continue on Jini’s Wild Oregano Oil Protocol for 2 – 3 more years (cycling on and off every few months). When it comes to healing gut disorders, the healing often has to occur in layers, because you just can’t treat everything at once – the body can’t handle it.
Jini’s protocols work well for a large number of people but not everyone experiences identical results as everyone is dealing with a unique blend of health challenges. It would be fantastic if there was one thing that worked equally well for everyone with any sort of GI tract illness but that’s simply not the case. That’s one reason why Jini called the program “Listen to Your Gut”… Each individual needs to find his or her own way to heal.
Kind Regards,
Cris B
Customer Care
I think its making my constipation worse
I have tried everything for 20 years i had to become a my own Dr
still not figured it out
hope you have an idea?
not sure if i want that sweetener makes me not attracted to it – i had missed that ingredient
Hello Kris,
Thanks for reaching out. There are instances where the elemental shake can cause constipation. This is because the carbohydrate component of the shake (tapioca maltodextrin) absorbs a lot of water. Jini recommend to double your water intake to combat this bowel effect. If you have chronic constipation, please check Jini’s symptom page for Constipation to treat all the root causes of constipation: http://www.listentoyourgut.com/symptoms/34/constipation.html
Kind Regards,
Cris B
Customer Care
Hi,
I have Chron’s disease and am on week three of consuming only absorb plus-vegan and it has worked wonders. My incredibly painful cramping is gone, I’ve gained some weight, my candida symptoms have greatly decreased, my fistula and hemorrhoids are healing (I’m also using the hemorrhoidheal protocal) and (besides the fact that I miss chewing food) I’m feeling fantastic. My one question is in regards to my bowel movements: they are only happening every other day but they’re totally normal and bulky. How is this possible considering I’m on a completely liquid diet?
Hi Ash – for some people, maltodextrin can have a constipating effect. That’s why I advise people to drink extra water, or add magnesium citrate (to bowel tolerance) to the shakes if this is an issue. You might want to feel into your body as to whether your body is happy with defecating every other day, or whether it would like some help (mag citrate) to poop daily.
Hi,
I have SIBO and was on antibiotics for two weeks, it helped some but now I want to go on the elemental diet, I don’t know if I have a candida or parasyte issue or not at this point. I sampled the vegan mocha latte and liked that, I tried the unsweet vegan as well and prefer the mocha latte should I be concerned about the sugar feeding the bacteria that will cause the gas, I’m still confused on the types of sugars in general that are ok in the elemental drinks, is it ok to use the absorb plus that is sweetened? should you start using the healthy udo’s fat oil when starting the elemental diet to treat SIBO and should you use oregano oil as well.
Hi Dennis! Some people will go on an elemental diet for 14 days (we’ve heard Absorb Plus Unsweetened is usually better for SIBO from our readers), and we are currently working on a low-carb version of Absorb Plus called Absorb Plus Amino. What you can also do is mix two scoops of the unsweetened and two scoops of the mocha to lessen the sugar content. 🙂
Jini also suggests following her Wild Oregano Oil Protocol and high dose oral Natren probiotics, along with a low carb, low residue diet if you do not want to go on a fully elemental diet. In fact, some people will do a half-elemental diet, meaning shakes and low residue foods. Details are here: https://listentoyourgut.com/jinis-healing-guide-natural-treatments-for-gut-infection-ebook/
Here are some low residue food ideas: https://blog.listentoyourgut.com/jinis-low-residue-diet/
And here are some of Jini’s homemade broth recipes, which are also healing for the gut: https://listentoyourgut.com/broth/
Finally, here is all the info we have on the blog pertaining to SIBO: https://blog.listentoyourgut.com/?s=SIBO
I hope this helps!