Many of my clients have asked what is a Candida Overgrowth? How does candida overgrowth adversely affects health? To answer the question, candida is form of fungi that populates the intestines and the mouth. In the intestines for instance, it forms part of the gut flora where other microbes co exist. All these microbes assist in digestion and enhancing the immune cells in the gut. However, due to poor diet , drinking tap water containing chlorine and the use of antibiotics, the candida can flourish uncontrollably not just in the gut area, but sometimes through out the body causing all kinds of chronic illnesses from bloating, fatigue, yeast infections, low sex drive etc. Do not go to your doctor looking for a treatment for candida over growth. They do not have the correct treatment protocol to deal with it.
Candida albicans is a diploid fungus that grows both as yeast and filamentous cells and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans
The classic way we deal with candida overgrowth is to do a candida cleanse. A candida cleanse helps to combat candida by flushing the excess candida from your body. It is not as straight forward as the other cleanses. It is one of the most difficult detox program to embark on. People struggle with symptoms of candida for years without being able to eliminate them. The yeast overgrowth can be very difficult to remove. The hardy yeast has evolved with a triple coating of three different substances, provides the candida a hiding place from the immune system. Candida is a type of yeast that is one of the most common residents of the human mucous membranes such as the gut, urinary tract and vagina. In the small intestine, Candida and Lactobacilli are the predominant residents. The most common type of Candida is ‘Candida Albicans’ but other species are also widely found. Candida is a “dimorphic” organism which means that it can exist either as a round yeast cell or as a fungus (mycelial form) with spindly outgrowths called hyphae that can penetrate and spread around the body tissue of the host, thus causing a number of health issues from urinary infections to asthma. In healthy individuals candida is kept in check by friendly bacteria and a healthy immune response and remains in the yeast form.
Causes of Candida Overgrowth
The modern American diet provides a perfect medium for Candida to thrive. Simple carbohydrates, sugar, yeast in bread and alcohol feed Candida. If your diet is high in these foods, you should do what you can to minimize your intake as well as treat your Candida.
One of the biggest causes of Candida is the overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics. Prescription antibiotics are now used routinely for too many conditions when they are not called for. This has resulted in making bacteria become completely immune to them. Antibiotics kill off the friendly bacteria as well as the unhealthy bacteria, thus destroying the gut flora. This encourages Candida to overgrow quite rapidly.
Another cause is the imbalance between estrogen and progesterone can be a causative factor in yeast overgrowth. In order to support friendly intestinal flora, adequate amounts of both hormones are needed. Any upset in this balance can cause yeast overgrowth. The hormonal imbalance must be corrected after the yeast has been reduced or relapse is sure to occur.It has also been discovered that environmental toxins contribute to candida overgrowth. This ranges from drinking tap water and air pollution to food additives and other toxins in our direct environment. This overload is a serious contributing factor to the development of a candida yeast overgrowth and other degenerative diseases. Common tap water for example, is high in chlorine which has been found to destroy friendly intestinal bacteria.
What are Candida Overgrowth Symptoms?
Think you might have Candida?
Here are some of the most common Candida symptoms that you may have experienced by candida suffers who all reported some of the following conditions:
- Consistent gas, bloating and indigestion
- Feeling very tired in the morning despite getting enough rest and sleep
- Bad breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Mouth ulcer
- Having a white coating on the tongue first thing in the morning.
- Cravings for sweets, breads and alcoholic beverages
- urinary infections that do not respond to antibiotic treatments
- fungus growing on finger or toe nails, or athletes foot
- chronic sinus drainage that does not respond to antibiotics
- weight gain while following a strict supervised diet program
- Rashes and itching in the genital areas caused by the yeast infection
- Worsening conditions of bladder and urinary infection
How Can We Eliminate Candida Albicans Overgrowth?
An effective candida cleanse program should do the following:
- Eradicates or kills the Candida
- Detoxifies or eliminates the dead Candida from your body so that the toxins do not get re-absorbed
- Increase the good bacteria in your intestines so that they can prevent the Candida from multiplying out of control again
- Heals the intestinal walls of the microscopic holes caused by the Candida. These holes trigger a condition called Leaky Gut Syndrome.
So how do we go about this
First, Improve your diet since the growth and development of candida is due to bad diet, especially sugar. Eliminating sugar and carbohydrate consumption has been important to cut the Candida overgrowth. No microwave cooked food should be eaten as this weakens the immune system. In addition full fat, unsweetened live yogurt is recommended, as is coconut milk.
Second, start on an anti candida protocol powerful enough to eliminate candida. In my practice i recommend an effective Protocol Suitable for all Viral, Bacterial, Protozoan, Mycoplasmal, Parasitical and Fungal infections. These are
- Iodine – Lugol’s 7% Solution
- Anti-parasite formular
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Colloidal Silver
- Vitalyza 3 – Elemental Silicon
- Apple cider vinegar
In addition to the above protocol, try colon hydrotherapy, increase your fiber intake, avoid eating raw vegetables, drink plenty of clean water. Embark on physical activities as it balances and relieves stress.
Psycho-physical activities will help you balance your body and will help you relief accumulated stress. You will have to find a form of exercise that suit you. I tend to recommend rebounding and stretching.