Candida
By Claudia Jones
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Could Candida Albicans be affecting your health?
Many Candida Albicans sufferers are unaware that this is the cause of many of their seemingly unrelated health problems. Candida is a yeast that is present in all of us, yet when this yeast grows out of control it creates an imbalance in the body creating an acidic condition that weakens the immune system and leaves us open to disease. Left untreated, Candida Albicans can become systemic, spreading through the entire body and affecting our whole wellbeing. People suffering from illnesses such as AIDS and cancer often have a systemic overgrowth of candida yeast.
What causes Candida?
Candida overgrowth has a number of causes that allow the yeast to multiply.
- Repeated use of antibiotics that kill off the friendly as well as the unfriendly bacteria in the body.
- Steroids and contraceptive pills that create a hormonal imbalance.
- Heavy metals in the body (from mercury fillings and environmental factors).
- Stress (resulting in increased cortisol in the body)
- Worms and parasites
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid),
- Diabetes
- A diet high in sugar and carbohydrates
- Chronic constipation.
How do I know if I have Candida?
Some common symptoms:
- Constipation/diarrhea
- Abdominal gas and bloating
- Headaches
- Muscle and joint pains
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Feeling spacey or foggy
- Poor concentration
- Depression
- Genital itching
You can complete a Candida Questionnaire which can give you a good indication of whether or not your problems are yeast related.
Blood tests and stool tests can also be used to determine whether you have Candida with varying degrees of accuracy.
What should I do if I have Candida?
To control the overgrowth of yeast and relieve symptoms, the balance in beneficial microflora needs to be restored. A strict anti-candida diet needs to be observed, this means a sugar free diet, no refined flour products or carbohydrates, no fermented foods including alcohol and no yeast. Plenty of probiotics are needed and cultured foods including raw cultured vegetables and raw organic apple cider vinegar to repopulate the friendly bacteria. You will need to keep your protein intake high, particularly animal proteins (fish, meat, eggs) which contain all the amino acids. Regular protein intake will help to keep blood sugar and energy levels balanced since carbohydrates have been taken away. If you are a strict vegetarian a good source of protein is spirulina which can be purchased as a powder and added into juices or taken in capsule form. Vegetable intake should also be high, particularly green veggies which are alkalizing to the system, helping to counter the acidic condition created by the yeast. A good way to take the veggies is either steamed or juiced. Raw garlic is a very effective anti-fungal and should be included in the diet daily. Caprylic acid and Virgin Coconut oil (from which the latter is derived) are also effective anti-fungal agents and should be included in the anti- Candida program.
Cutting sugar, yeast, carbohydrates and fermented foods from the diet mean that the candida has nothing to feed on and therefore must die. A strict anti-candida diet can keep the overgrowth and symptoms under control but may not fully eradicate the problem even after a number of months of following the diet. When restricted foods are reintroduced, symptoms may reappear. Only when one is symptom free for some time should attempts be made to reintroduce regular foods and only then one at a time so that any reaction can be clearly observed. If the food does not cause a problem then it can slowly become a regular part of the diet again.
Anti-Candida Detox
A specific Anti-Candida Detox Program can help. A good program will target the problem from a number of angles to tackle the many possible causes of the overgrowth. Here, at Samahita Wellness, a strict diet of green juices and green veggies is followed, along with plenty of probiotics, specific herbal tinctures, caprylic acid, citricidal and our special ayurvedic herbal detox formula. Added to this, detoxifying therapies, particularly colon hydrotherapy with specific anti-candida implants, far infrared saunas and the use of our anti-candida and parasite zapper ensure that multiple issues are addressed simultaneously. The anti-candida diet must be strictly adhered to following the detox program for the best results to be achieved.
Don't Delay!
If you think your symptoms may be yeast related, it is important to get started on an Anti - Candida program as soon as possible. Not only will your symptoms be alleviated but you will stop the yeast overgrowth from compromising your immune system in the long term.
