Candida (candida albicans) is a yeast which is a type of fungus that aids with nutrient absorption and digestion. But when your system is out of balance and there is too much candida, it results in a yeast infection. The most common locations for the yeast infection are the mouth, digestive tract, and the vagina. The longer the overgrowth is in the digestive system, the more likely it is to break down the walls of intestinal lining and penetrate into the blood stream. This is known as leaky gut syndrome.
The symptoms of candida are long and varied making it difficult to distinguish from other conditions. Possible symptoms include brain fog, fatigue, aches and pains, gas and bloating, skin issues, nail fungus, oral thrush, yeast infections, sinus infections, allergies, depression, anxiety, and weakened immune system.
There are many possible causes for a candida infection. These include antibiotics, a diet high in refined sugars, corticosteriod inhalers, cancer treatment, diabetes, stress, and a weakened immune system. Basically anything that feeds the candida fungus and/or harms the beneficial bacteria will throw off the balance of flora in the body.
There are a lot of different approaches to treatment. Here are some of the most common.
Cleansing & Diet
Candida overgrowth results in toxins circulating in the body. So cleansing, to get rid of the toxins, along with a diet that does not feed yeast, is a good first step. This means eliminating grains, sugars, fruits, starches and alcohol – anything that feeds yeast. You may not realize it, but even starchy vegetables like carrots, radishes, beets, sweet potatoes and white potatoes, can contribute to sugar levels and feed the candida.
Good Bacteria
Feeding the good bacteria while starving the candida, is the ultimate goal. So adding cultured dairy, preferably goat milk kefir, can help feed the good bacteria. When you are sure you have killed off the candida, you can start adding healthy fermented foods that feed the good bacteria. This includes things like kombucha, kimchi, and sauerkraut which are loaded with beneficial bacteria or microflora. Unsweetened cranberry juice can be beneficial as well because it creates an acidic environment that makes it difficult for candida to thrive. Adding a high quality probiotic and/or prebiotic supplement is another way to tip the balance in favor of the good bacteria.
Supplements
Most holistic health care providers have preferred supplements they recommend to aid in killing the candida and speeding up your recovery. The two most commonly prescribed drugs, fluconazole and itraconazole, typically don’t affect the candida albicans strain of yeast that can overgrow and cause problems that we are targeting here. Some practitioners may suggest coconut oil or caprylic acid, which is derived from coconut oil, and creates an environment that is unfriendly to candida. A milk thistle supplement can be used to help cleanse the liver from prescription medications (steroids, birth control, antibiotics, as well as others), environmental pollution, heavy metals, and the remnants from both chemotherapy and radiation. A high quality Vitamin C supplement may help boost the immune system. Activated coconut charcoal is thought to bind to the candida allowing it to be quickly expelled. Still other practitioners may suggest adding essential oils to a capsule of coconut oil. Dr. Josh Axe suggests clove, oregano, and/or myrrh oil. Due to their strength, he recommends they be taken internally for 10 days or less. Finally, there are high grade professional products that a practitioner may suggest or that you can find on your own. Some of my favorite brands are Thorne, Biotics, DaVinci Labs, Garden of Life, New Chapter, and Pure Encapsulations.
Did this help you? If so, I’d greatly appreciate it if you commented and/or share it on social media.
Email: sharonledwards@hotmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonledwardsbiz/