Beating Candida

Candida, a condition that most of us have heard about and one that’s becoming increasingly common, is well worth some investigation. Called a 20th century disease, it is considered the result of a number of factors, including over-consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates, physical and emotional stress, long term use of the birth control pill, and more importantly, the use of broad spectrum anti-biotics which kill off important intestinal flora (aka “good bacteria”).

Candida Albicans, a member of the mould family, is single celled yeast that lives in us from the age of 6 months on. It’s the “bad bacteria” that we keep hearing about. It usually resides in the lower intestinal tract, but may also be present on the skin. Simply put, it’s a parasite. There are generally no ill effects from it, but there are no benefits either. When conditions are balanced and we have a strong, healthy immune system, the yeast is kept in check. But if our defenses are weakened and it is allowed to spread, the results can be disastrous! Left untreated, it can become life threatening. It rarely becomes this serious, but even a mild overgrowth can be debilitating. The list of symptoms is long and may include:

• acne
• extreme fatigue
• allergies/food sensitivities
• intense cravings for sugar, refined carbohydrates, caffeine
• “brain fog”/trouble concentrating
• headaches/migraines
• irritable bowel
• bloating/gas
• constipation
• recurrent yeast infections
• heartburn
• anxiety/moodiness
• depression
• arthritis
• fibromyalgia

If you experience one or more of these symptoms for two months or longer, Candida overgrowth may be to blame, and you need to take action before it becomes more serious. If you don’t have Candida, it is still worth examining your diet and lifestyle because YOU DON’T WANT IT! Trust us! You know what they say about an ounce of prevention…so consider consulting a professional. A naturopath or herbalist may seem like an expensive option now, but a sure diagnosis and prompt treatment can save you time and money in the long run.

Alternatively, if you are serious about dealing with it on your own, there are some simple, effective measures that can be taken to help prevent or eliminate the disease. Diet is your first line of defense. It can be difficult to change the way we eat, but the benefits of good health are well worth the effort. And chances are that when you realize how terrific you feel (and look!), you will never want to turn back.

What can I do about it?

1. Eliminate sugar. This is what feeds Candida. And when I say eliminate sugar, I mean completely–no easy task in a food culture where sugar is at the forefront of every grocery shelf. Sugar is found in almost every processed food item, many of them foods that are marketed to us as healthy. Bread, salad dressings (substitute olive oil and lemon–tastes great!), breakfast cereals, condiments, yogurt, sauces, granola bars all contain sugar. There is even sugar in table salt! But what about the more natural sugars like honey, maple syrup or fruit? These foods are not bad, let me be clear, but they are still full of sugar, and as such, will feed the over-growth. What you want to do is STARVE the Candida. You don’t starve something by giving it little tastes here and there.

2. Eliminate Yeast. Foods with yeast, mold or fungus also feed Candida growth. This means most breads (don’t worry, there are delicious yeast-free, rice or almond bread alternatives out there), as well as fermented foods (vinegars, pickles, beer, wine, tofu, fermented cheese, etc.) .

3. Reduce dairy intake. Dairy fosters an acidic environment that encourages its growth. And unless you buy organic, most of our dairy contains hormones and antibiotics, and is fortified with vitamins that contain yeast.

4. Eat organic. Non-organic foods contain pesticides, antibiotics and hormones that assault the immune system and weaken our resolve against invaders like Candida. As Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food says, “You are what you eat eats.”

5. Take probiotics (lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium bifidum). These “friendly bacteria” can be found in capsule form or in yogurt. But remember, if you decide to go the yogurt route, go natural. Choose an unsweetened organic yogurt (no antibiotics).

6. Support your immune sytem. A good quality multi vitamin will provide you with essential nutrients and antioxidants. Boosting your glutathione levels is also key. You can read all about gluatathione here.

7. Take anti-fungals. These natural products can keep Candida from spreading. Many practitioners believe it is essential to supplement healthy eating with anti-fungals such as oregano oil, olive leaf, caprylic acid, berberine or garlic. (At the suggestion of my naturopath, I had specific anti-fungal testing done in order to find out what particular treatments would work for me in getting rid of my over-growth. Every body is different. So olive leaf might be an effective anti-fungal Candida treatment in my body, but not yours.)

8. Get informed. There are tons of resources available, both online and in print, including remedy books and recipes, and even support groups.

9. And don’t forget stress. There is a direct connection between our emotions and how efficiently our immune system functions. During periods of stress, we are far more prone to infection, an indication of a compromised immune system. This creates the perfect environment for invaders like Candida to spread and get a strong hold. We all lead such busy lives, and we often can’t control the things that leave us emotionally depleted. But if we want to be healthy, we need to take the time to examine what is going on inside and outside that could be disabling our health.

Remember, your body wants to be healthy! By making healthy choices at any stage of life you can enable your health to reach its fullest potential!

*Sources:Candida Albicans; The Non-Drug Approach to the Treatment of Candida Infection, Leon Chaitow; Candida: A Twentieth Century Disease, Shirley S. Lorenzani