An imbalance in gut
flora can allow specific bacteria and fungi to invade our
bodies. Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast, and a very small amount
of it lives in your mouth and intestines. When overgrowth over-growth occurs,
candida breaks down the wall of the intestine and penetrates the bloodstream,
releasing toxic byproducts into your body. This can lead to many different
health problems, ranging from digestive issues to depression and even cancer.
How do you get candida overgrowth?
The healthy bacteria in your gut typically keep
your candida levels in check. However, several factors can cause the candida
population to get out of hand:
Eating
a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar (which feed the yeast)
Consuming
a lot of alcohol
Taking
oral contraceptives
Living
a high-stress lifestyle
Taking
a round of antibiotics that killed too many of those friendly bacteria
Symptoms Caused by Candida Overgrowth
When Candida Albicans is
under control it poses no problem, but when it gets out of control it begins to
overgrow causing numerous symptoms and health problems from the top of the head
to the tips of the toes, from migraines to nail fungus. It can result in
symptoms inside (pain and malfunction of organs, even brain lesions) and
outside (eczema and hives). It can also cause problems with the mind and emotions.
Here are many of the symptoms caused by an overproduction of candida.
- Allergies,
sensitivities and intolerances that worsen in damp, muggy or moldy places or
weather that is damp, muggy, humid or rainy.
- Hay
fever and asthma.
- Intolerances
or allergies to perfumes, odors, fumes, fabric shop odors, grass, cats, dogs or
other animals, tobacco smoke, chemicals, smog, molds, dust mites, dust, pollen,
and other airborne substances.
- Athletes’
foot.
- Babies
– colic, diaper rash, thrush (coated white tongue), and cradle cap.
- Bruising
easily.
- Cheekbone
or forehead tenderness, pain.
- Cold
hands or feet, low body temperature.
- Cold-like
symptoms – excessive mucus in the sinuses, nose, throat, bronchial tubes and
lungs.
- Cravings
or addictions for sugar, bread, pasta and other high carb foods, and also
alcohol.
- Cysts,
abnormal formation of, in different parts of the body, especially around the
neck, throat, and ovaries, and in the bladder or scrotum.
- Digestive
problems – diarrhea, constipation, abdominal distention, bloating or pain, gas,
mucus in the stools, hiatal hernia, ulcers, suffering from bacteria, i.e.
salmonella, E. coli, h. pylori, etc.
- Ears
– ringing in the ears (tinnitus), sounds in the ears, ear infections, dryness,
itchiness, ear pain, ear aches, ear discharges, fluid in ears, deafness,
abnormal wax build-up.
- Eyes
– erratic vision, spots in front of eyes (eye floaters) and flashing lights;
redness, dryness, itching, excessive tearing, inability to tear, etc.
- Fatigue, chronic fatigue
syndrome or Epstein Barr or a feeling of being drained of
energy, lethargy, drowsiness.
- Flu-like
symptoms.
- Glands
swollen, too little saliva (dryness in the mouth), blocked salivary glands,
swollen lymph nodes.
- Hair
loss, scum on the scalp, dandruff, itchy scalp, scalp sores and dryness.
- Heart
palpitations and irregular heart beat.
- Headaches,
migraines, brain fog, dizziness, etc.
- Hemorrhoids,
and rectal itching, rash, irritation and redness.
- Hypoglycemia
(low blood sugar), and diabetes.
- Hypothyroidism,
Wilson’s Thyroid Syndrome, Hashimoto’s disease, hyperthyroidism, erratic
thyroid function, etc.
- Irritability,
nervousness, jitteriness and panic attacks.
- Lesions
on the skin, and inside the body, i.e. the brain.
- Male
associated problems – jock itch, loss of sex drive, impotence, prostitis, penis
infections, difficulty urinating, urinary frequency or urgency, painful
intercourse, swollen scrotum, etc.
- Female
health problems – infertility, vaginitis, unusual odors, endometriosis
(irregular or painful menstruation), cramps, menstrual irregularities,
pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), discharge, painful intercourse, loss of sexual
drive, redness or swelling of the vulva and surrounding area, vaginal itching
or thrush, burning or redness, or persistent infections.
- Fungal
infections of the skin or nails, i.e. ringworm, saborrheic dermatitis, dark and
light patches on the skin (tinea versicolor), etc.
- Joint
pain, stiffness or swelling (arthritis).
- Kidney
and bladder – infections, cystitis (inflammation of the bladder with possible
infection), urinary frequency or urgency, low urine output, smelly urine,
difficulty urinating, burning pain when urinating.
- Lack
of appetite.
- Mind
and Mood – anxiety attacks, crying spells, memory loss, feeling spaced out,
depression (including suicidal feelings), manic feelings, inability to
concentrate, mood swings, irritability, etc.
- Mouth
sores or blisters, canker sores, dryness, bad breath, a white coating on the
tongue (thrush) and blocked salivary glands.
- Muscle
aches and pain, numbness, burning or tingling, and lack of strength and
coordination.
- Nasal
congestion, postnasal drip, itching, dryness.
- Odor
of the feet, hair or body not relieved by washing.
- Respiratory
– cough, bronchitis or pneumonia, pain or tightness in the chest, wheezing,
shortness of breath, asthma.
- Sick
all over feeling.
- Sinus
inflammation, swelling and infections.
- Skin
– dryness, dry red patches, acne, pimples, hives, rashes, itching skin, eczema,
psoriasis, seborrhoea, ringworm, contact dermatitis, rosacea, etc.
- Stomach
– h.pylori bacteria
(causes ulcers), heartburn, indigestion, hiatal hernia, acid reflux, belching,
vomiting, burning, stomach pains, needle-like pains, food that seems to sit in
the stomach like a lump, etc.
- Sleep
– insomnia, waking up frequently, nightmares, restless sleep, etc.
- Sore
throat, hoarse voice, constant tickle in the throat, laryngitis (loss of
voice), etc.
What Causes Candida to Get Out of Control?
The causes of immune system dysfunction are varied
and complex, but antibiotics are the biggest culprits because they wipe out
friendly micro-organisms, in the digestive system. Because Candida is
resistant to antibiotics the imbalance of micro-organisms allows it to take
over. It begins to change its shape and starts to overgrow; raising large
families called colonies. Adding to the problem of malabsorption are
nutritional deficiencies that also weaken the immune system. Today’s
standard diet lacks the necessary nutrients to maintain a healthy immune
system. It is loaded with sugar, carbohydrates, hydrogenated oils and fats
(trans-fats), white flour products, processed foods, food additives,
preservatives, pesticides, and heavy metals. This, in addition to
foods being irradiated (exposed to high levels of radiation to extend shelf
life), and being grown in nutrient depleted soil, long storage and
transportation time, and improper handling, cooking and microwaving that goes
on in most homes, further depletes nutrients available. All of these factors
contribute to a weakened immune system.
Testing for Candida at Home
Your holistic practitioner will have conclusive
means of testing for candida, however for a simple at home test try the
following. First thing in the morning, before you put anything in your mouth,
fill a clear glass with room temperature bottled water.
Work up a bit of saliva, and spit it into the
glass of water. Check the water every 15 minutes or so for up to one hour.
If you see strings (fibers) traveling down into
the water from the saliva floating on the top, cloudy specks (particles
suspended in the water) or cloudy saliva that sinks to the bottom of the glass
you have a candida problem.
The Candida Control Program
In order to get Candida overgrowth under control
five things need to be done simultaneously:
1. Eliminate foods that feed Candida
Candida overgrowth is mainly fueled by sugar,
refined carbohydrates and gluten. Let’s look at each of these separately so you
know what to avoid exactly.
Candida’s main food supply is sugar and all forms
of it, such as lactose contained in dairy products, honey, glucose, fructose,
and sugar substitutes, i.e. Nutrasweet, aspartame, saccharin. Eliminating sugar
is the most important part of the Candida Program. All fruit, except lemons,
are also very high in sugar and should be extremely limited during the initial
stages of the program, along with some vegetables that are very high in sugar,
such as sweet potatoes, parsnips and beets. Sugar also contained is most
processed foods such as smoked luncheon meats, ketchup, cereal, and yogurt
making it important to read labels carefully.
Most Candida sufferers are gluten intolerant.
Gluten is an elastic and gluey protein found in wheat, rye, barley, oats,
spelt, kamut, triticale and it is hidden in an endless variety of processed
foods. Triticale is a new hybrid grain with the properties of wheat and rye,
while spelt and kamut are gluten-containing wheat variants and are likely to
cause problems similar to other wheat varieties. Gluten-containing grains have
come to be used extensively in breads and other baked goods because of their
“glutinous,” sticky consistency.
Gluten grains feed Candida because they have a high
glycemic index just like sugar, and like sugar, creates insulin resistance
within the cells which leads to blood sugar problems like hypoglycemia and
diabetes. The cells become resistant to insulin as they try to protect
themselves from the toxic effective of high doses of insulin caused by high
intake of sugar and simple carbohydrates. As the cells become insulin
resistant, the pancreas produces more insulin which creates a vicious cycle.
This exhausts the pancreas eventually leading to its breakdown resulting in
diabetes.
Gluten grains contain a protein that is difficult
to digest and interferes with mineral absorption and causes intestinal damage.
This damage makes the intestines incapable of absorbing nutrients such as
proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and even water in some
cases. Our grain food supply also contains mycotoxins (a toxin produced by a
fungus), especially found in corn and wheat. Mycotoxins can suppress our normal
immune function. See the section on Yeast, Mold and Fungus for more
information.
2. Build up the immune system
Taking
essential supplements
Avoiding
yeast, mold and fungus
If the wrong diet is constantly consumed, or if
yeast overgrowth damage is never reversed from previous drug and antibiotic
use, a cure can almost never be achieved. Eating the right foods is the most
important aspect of getting Candida under control and building up the immune
system. The “Candida Control Diet” is high in protein and good saturated fats
and oils, and low in carbohydrates, and contains no sugars, grains or processed
foods. All foods must be as fresh and natural as possible, and free of
additives, pesticides, heavy metals, irradiation, mycotoxins, etc.
Good Fats and Oils - Good
fats and oils are equally important to protein in the diet and they are
essential to getting Candida under control. They not only increase the body’s
ability to absorb nutrients from the foods eaten but also provide the most
efficient source of energy. They also provide the building blocks for cell
membranes and a variety of hormones and hormone-like substances. Good fats act
as carriers for important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and for the
conversion of carotene to vitamin A, for mineral absorption and for a host of
other processes. The kinds of fats consumed greatly influence the assimilation
and utilization of vitamin D.
Essential Fatty Acids – There
are also two types of essential fatty acids that must be obtained from the diet
and these are omega-3s and omega-6s. They are called essential because we have
to get them from food because our bodies can’t manufacture them from other
fats. Most people’s diets contain an excessive amount of omega 6 fats, therefore
it is important to ensure the diet contains more omega 3 rich foods to offset
this imbalance.
Avoid all newfangled fats and oils (trans fats)
– Candida sufferers cannot afford to jeopardize their health by consuming
toxic oils and fats and must avoid all of the newfangled polyunsaturated fats
and hydrogenated vegetable oils (margarine, Canola oil, safflower oil, etc.),
called trans fats. These newfangled fats and oils are not only toxic and
increase the body’s need for vitamin E and other antioxidants, but also depress
the immune system. All trans fats, found in margarine and shortenings used in
most commercial baked goods and most processed food, should always be avoided
even by healthy people.
Coconut Oil - Coconut oil is
another healthy saturated fat that contains many properties that are beneficial
to Candida sufferers which are anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. It
also kills off yeast overgrowth. Coconut oil supports immune system function,
supplies important nutrients necessary for good health and improves digestion
and nutrient absorption.
The fat in coconut oil is easily digested and
absorbed, unlike the newfangled trans fats that act like plastic in the body.
It puts little strain on the digestive system and provides a quick source of
energy necessary to promote healing. Coconut oil is absorbed directly from the
intestines into the portal vein and sent straight to the liver, whereas other
fats require pancreatic enzymes to break them into smaller units.
Avoid Soybean and Soy-based foods – Soybeans
contains large quantities of natural toxins or “anti-nutrients,” including
potent enzyme inhibitors that block the action of enzymes needed for protein
digestion. These inhibitors are not completely deactivated during ordinary cooking
and can produce serious gastric distress, reduced protein digestion and chronic
deficiencies in amino acid (proteins) uptake. In test animals, diets high in
enzyme inhibitors cause enlargement and pathological conditions of the
pancreas, thyroid malfunction and other diseases including cancer. Soybeans
also contain haemagglutinin, a clot-promoting substance that causes red blood
cells to clump together.
Soy also contains one of the highest percentages
of pesticides of any of our foods and is 99% genetically modified. Soybeans are
also high in phytic acid, present in the bran or hulls of all seeds, which
blocks the uptake of essential minerals – calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and
especially zinc – in the intestinal tract. Candida sufferers must avoid soy and
all soy products in order to get well.
Taking
essential supplements
Candida sufferers need to build up their immune
system by supplementing with certain essential vitamins and minerals, that are
yeast-free and sugar-free, including:
- Chlorella
is a whole-food that contains a wide array of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
It helps build the immune system, detoxifies heavy metals and other pesticides
in the body, improves the digestive system, improves energy levels and
normalize blood sugar and blood pressure. Take two capsules thrice a day
- Vitamin
B Complex (non-yeast), 50 mgs. twice a day
- Vitamin
C with bioflavonoids, 1,000 mgs. twice a day
- Vitamin
D (with vitamin A) – take 1 teaspoon per 50 lbs. of body weight per day of a
high quality cod liver oil or fish oil
- Vitamin
E, containing natural alpha tocopherol, (d-alpha tocopherol is synthetic), that
is not from a soy source, 400 IU twice a day
- Calcium/Magnesium
Citrate, with “elemental amounts” containing 800-1,200 mgs. of calcium with an
equal ratio of magnesium
3. Kill off Candida overgrowth
There
are many anti-fungal agents that kill off Candida overgrowth, including raw
garlic, apple cider vinegar, olive leaf extract and Pau d’arco.
Garlic – Garlic contains a large number of
sulphur containing compounds that exhibit very potent broad-spectrum
anti-fungal properties. Among the most studied are allicin, alliin, alliinase
and S-allylcysteine.
Fresh garlic is significantly more potent against
Candida albicans than any other form, including tablets, oils and pills. Fresh
garlic is also a suitable alternative to drugs for serious systemic yeast
infections in patients with severe immune suppression. Adding fresh garlic to
food (raw and crushed), or crushing and swallowing raw clove is a cheap and
powerful anti-fungal treatment. Garlic also stimulates the immune system,
improves circulation, lowers high blood pressure, kills intestinal parasites,
and is a powerful antioxidant and antibiotic, in addition to many other health
benefits.
To obtain the most benefit from garlic buy
certified organic garlic and crush it. Crushing breaks the cell walls releasing
garlic’s beneficial properties. To kill off Candida overgrowth take 4-5 average
sized cloves per day mixed in foods or with meals. Another alternative is to
drink 3-4 cups of garlic tea per day.
Raw apple cider vinegar - Raw
apple cider vinegar and Candida do not get along. Take a tablespoon of apple
cider vinegar and mix it with a glass of water and drink before every meal. The
apple cider vinegar helps to fight off the intestinal yeast overgrowth by
actually killing the yeast, creating a die off reaction. Raw unfiltered apple
cider vinegar creates an unfriendly environment for the yeast, while helping
create a good environment for friendly gut flora.
Olive Leaf Extract – Olive
leaf extract can kill invading fungus rather than just inhibiting its growth.
It contains a a phenolic compound called oleuropein, which has antiviral,
anti-fungal, antiprotozoal, and antibacterial properties. Take as directed on
the product label.
Pau d’arco - Pau d’arco is the
bark of a rainforest tree which is inherently anti-fungal (also known as
Taheebo or Lepacho tea). Pau d’arco may be taken in a capsule or a tea. Take
capsules as directed on the product label or drink 3 cups of tea per day.
4. Plant good bacteria in the digestive tract
As the yeast overgrowth is being killed off by
anti-fungal agents it is important to ingest a constant supply of probiotics.
These are the ‘friendly’ or ‘beneficial’ bacteria, or micro organisms, that
live in the digestive tract.As yeast colonies are reduced space becomes
available for colonizing the other healthy bacteria. The most numerous bacteria
found in the small intestines are species of Lactobacilli. In the colon the
majority are mainly Bifidobacteria.
The easiest and least expensive way to plant healthy
bacteria in the digestive tract is to take Cabbage Rejuvelac. But probiotic
supplements can also plant good bacteria in the digestive tract. Unfortunately
it’s not as simple as just buying the first probiotic supplement and assuming
it will do the job. The best probiotic supplements will contain specific
strains of bacteria that have been studied and verified as effective, and they
will identified on the bottle as a series of letters or numbers after the name
of the bacteria to indicate a specific strain. Some of the most studied strains
include Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and Lactobacillus GG. Probiotic
supplements should be at least 500 billion organisms per gram, contained in
dark bottles to avoid deterioration by heat and light, and kept refrigerated,
even in the store. Take according to instructions on the bottle.
5. Manage the healing crisis
The
Healing Crisis is brought about when the body becomes overcrowded with waste
and toxins. Cells and tissues begin to throw off the waste and carry it
from the bloodstream to various eliminating organs including the bowels,
kidneys, lungs, skin, nasal passages, ears, throat, and genital organs. These
organs in turn become congested and irritated producing symptoms such as colds,
boils, kidney and bladder infections, headaches, open sores, diarrhea and
fevers.
Die-off symptoms are caused by high numbers of
yeast being killed off which releases a high number toxins into the system. In
medical terms this is called the Herxheimer’s reaction, or yeast die-off
phenomenon. Die-off symptoms resembles the flu and can be
very uncomfortable. They can be alleviated by:
Taking
1,000 mgs of Vitamin C (preferably in powdered form in pure water) several times
a day or whenever needed.
Taking
an Epsom salts bath also draws toxins out through the skin and helps minimized
die-off symptoms (add two cups, or 500 grams, of Epsom salts to warm bath
water
The most important aspect of the healing crisis is
to never go to extremes in making changes to your diet or lifestyle. It is
important to gradually introduce changes one at a time, allowing the body to
adapt to the changes and adjust itself. The keys to successfully overcoming
Candida are: 1) sticking to the Candida Control Program, 2) being patient, and
3) being persistent. You will get well.
Karen Foster is
a holistic nutritionist, avid blogger, with five kids and an active lifestyle
that keeps her in pursuit of the healthiest path towards a life of
balance.
__________________________________________________________________________
Thank you, Karen Foster, for compiling such an overview of the candida crisis. It is probably the most succinct overview of the disease that I have seen so far!
A comment to all those with systemic candida. Systemic candida means that the candida fungus has permeated the GI track and colonized throughout the body. Once it gets out of the GI track, eliminating it is very very tough. I've seen formulas like "for every year you have had candida, you need to be on the strictest candida diet for a month", and supposedly a person can lick the torment. The last line of this article promises that with the 3 Ps (the candida program, patience, and persistence), the person will get well.
Well, I can say that the strictest candida diet I could construct and for 5 1/2 years of careful control has not made me well. I am better, but I am certainly not well. I still must be very strict although I do allow myself some indulgences like root vegetables (which are starchy and therefore create sugar in the body) sometimes, and I'll nibble a piece of low-glycemic fruit (Asian pear, Granny Smith apple, apricot or a handful of black cherries) on a particular occasion when I have access to green leafies to counterbalance the sugar from the fruit. I suspect that when I was exposed to so much "bad" water (the reason I have candida) there were heavy metals involved, and heavy metals do a number on a person. In any regard, after 5 1/2 years of a strict diet and not getting well, albeit I feel very well and full of vigor on my strict candida diet, I am facing the reality that this fighting of candida may last the remainder of my life. I can deal with that ... but maybe others need to be aware that not everyone can overcome candida as easily as this ABC program.
