Candida Treatment Blog

 We’ve looked at the first 3 aspects of effective candida treatment, which are:

• Adopting a candida diet
• Effectively killing off the yeast
• Correcting Nutritional Deficiencies

Now it’s time to address the final aspect of effective treatment, and that is to consider medications that may be affecting the yeast or helping it to grow. The most well known of these is anti-biotics.

Antibiotics

Of course,  there are times when antibiotics are necessary. If you have a severe bacterial infection, such as a urinary tract infection, antibiotics probably need to be taken as soon as possible to remove the source of the infection. There has been much written about the over-prescription of antibiotics, which is resulting now in certain strains of bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotics. 

The fact remains that they are prescribed and are often necessary. The thing to be aware of, however is that as well as killing off the unwanted bacteria that create an infection, antibiotics also kill off the beneficial bacteria that live in the intestinal system. When these bacteria are destroyed, it creates the perfect environment for candida yeast to grow and flourish.

Whenever you have to take antibiotics, for any reason, it’s a good idea to follow that treatment with a probiotic to repopulate the intestines with healthy bacteria. If you do this automatically whenever you have to take an antibiotic, you can avoid potential problems with candida yeast down the road.

Oral contraceptives

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that the birth control pill has a negative effect on many nutrients, in particular the B-Vitamins. It affects the way that the body needs and uses some vitamins and minerals. It can lead to a deficiency of zinc and other minerals. If you have been using oral contraceptives for some time and are now experiencing problems with candida, it may be time to consider alternative methods of birth control. You’ll also want to make sure you add vitamin and mineral supplementation.

These are the main two medications that can contribute to candida overgrowth. Others include steroid hormone medication, such as cortisone or corticosteroids, and ulcer medications.

If you have to take any of these medications for long periods of times, just be aware that they can contribute to candida overgrowth. For candida treatment to be most effective, it is important to avoid the use of these types of medicactions.

Having adjusted your diet to remove all foods that support and feed the candida yeast, and taken the appropriate supplements to kill off and remove the yeast from the body, you’re ready to address the third stage of effective candida treatment.

For this stage of treatment, we’re going to look at correcting nutritional deficiencies and strengthening the immune system.

Here are several important supplements that help to rebuild weakened immune function:

B-Vitamins

The B-complex vitamins are needed for many important body functions. They are needed for energy and to maintain healthy nerves, skin, eyes, hair, liver and for the gastrointestinal tract. It is best to take the B-Vitamins together in a good B-complex supplement.

Vitamin C

This vitamin is needed for the growth and repair of tissues, as well as to strengthen and support the adrenal glands.

Vitamin E

Deficiency of this vitamin suppresses the immune system. It has also been found that vitamins C and E work best when taken together.

Vitamin A

This vitamin helps to build resistance to infection and increases immune response.

Antioxidants

A good trace mineral supplement which includes selenium, calcium and zinc are also helpful.

Herbs

Pau d’arco tea or red clover tea also help to strengthen the immune system. 

Essential Fatty Acids

The body needs essential fatty acids for many important functions, and must obtain them through diet. These fatty acids can be obtained through supplements like evening primrose and fish oil.

Another important aspect for strengthening the immune system is considering what lifestyle changes may need to be made. Few things weaken the immune system more than prolonged stress. Of course we all have to deal with stress, but some people’s bodies handle stress more effectively than others. 

It may seem obvious, but one of the first things to do is to take a look at those areas of life that are causing the most stress to see what can be changed. Where it is not possible to remove or relieve the stress, there are many techniques that can help. These include practices such as meditation, prayer, journaling, breath work, and yoga. Taking care of yourself by getting regular exercise, massages, and making sure you have a strong network of people to whom you can turn in times of crisis are invaluable.

It’s important to keep in mind that candida treatment can be successful only when you take a holistic approach and address everything that encourages the growth of candida yeast – this means incorporating a candida diet, supplements and lifestyle changes.

 As mentioned previously, the first stage of effective candida treatment is to remove all foods from the diet that support or feed the candida yeast. Once the candida diet is underway, the second stage of treatment is to kill off the candida yeast.

It is important to do this in the right way, since symptoms of toxicity can easily develop when the yeast is destroyed and the body absorbs toxins from the yeast as it dies. These symptoms are sometimes known as ‘die-off symptoms’. There are many products available that are designed to kill off the candida yeast, but not all of them support the body throughout the process.

The best way to destroy the candida yeast and restore balance to the body is with the use of herbs, which not only kill the yeast, but strengthen the immune system. There are many herbs that are beneficial for this purpose and they can be used in teas or in capsule form. Some of the best herbs to use are:

• Goldenseal
• Oregon Grape
• Barberry
• German chamomile
• Aloe vera
• Ginger
• Cinnamon
• Rosemary
• Licorice
• Tea-Tree oil (also known as melaleuca)
• Garlic
• Pau D’Arco bark

Caprylic acid (which is available in capsule form) is also a great remedy. It is very easily absorbed by the body.

So the best candida remedies would have combinations of herbs like these. When choosing natural remedies, it is important to examine the products carefully since the quantity and quality of the herbs used varies a great deal. For example, some remedies will claim to have Pau d’arco bark, but only trace amounts are used, or they may use other parts of the tree, when it is the bark that is most beneficial.

As you kill off the yeast and support the body’s immune system in the process, another important part of candida treatment is to replenish the natural bacteria in the intestinal tract. To do this, a high quality probiotic should be used. A probiotic simply means supplements that provide healthy bacteria, such as bifidobacteria and acidophilus.

When you provide the support that your body needs whilst at the same time killing off and removing the candida yeast then the process of candida treatment need not be too traumatic. Of course, a lot will depend on how long you’ve had the condition and how severe it is, but when you approach treatment in this way, you will allow the body to heal itself in the most positive way possible.

Recommended Supplements for most effective treatment:

Candida Clear (14 day candida program)

Bifidophilus Flora Force

Once you’ve identified that you do, indeed have candida symptoms, there are several things you’ll need to do to treat the condition successfully.

The four main methods you’ll be using for candida treatment are:

• Diet – eliminating foods that help the yeast to grow and introducing or increasing the foods that boost the immune system and contain antifungal properties.

• Nutritional support – correcting any nutritional deficiencies and strengthening the immune system and the organs of elimination

• Kill off the yeast – with the use of herbs and supplements

• Avoidance of drugs – if possible, avoiding the drugs that encourage the growth of candida yeast

For now, we’re going to look at the first of these – the diet. A lot has been written about the candida diet, you can find many books on the subject. Some diets are very strict, some not quite so strict. How strict and intense you want the diet to be will depend on how quickly you want to eliminate the candida symptoms and how severe they are. Here we’re going to cover the most important foods to avoid and those to include. For a more intensive approach it is best to look for books that specifically address the candida diet.

Foods to avoid during candida treatment:

• Sugar – candida yeast thrives on sugar, so one of the first things that should be eliminated is sugar. This is not always as easy as it sounds. You’ll want to get into the habit of reading the labels on all foods, since sugar can often be hidden in the ingredients. Look out for corn syrup or corn starch, glucose syrup, fructose, or dextrose. Also avoid honey, maple syrup, molasses, and milk products (which contain lactose).

• Refined carbohydrates – products containing white flour also act as food for the candida yeast and often lead to bloating and itching.

• Alcohol –contains fermented and refined sugar, which helps to feed the yeast. It also depresses the immune system and should be avoided.

• Yeast – the two main types of yeast are bakers’ yeast and brewers’ yeast. Both need to be avoided. Brewers’ yeast is used for beer and other alcoholic drinks. Bakers’ yeast is found in bread and any foods that contain bread or breadcrumbs, such as fish cakes.

• Fruit Juices – sometimes foods can become contaminated with yeast. Unless fruit juice is freshly squeezed, it should be avoided.

• Mold – this is found in some foods, and these foods should be avoided – cheese, grapes, mushrooms and fermented foods.

Candida treatment – foods to make sure you include:

It is said that fresh green, leafy vegetables, and garlic contain anti-fungal properties, so it’s a good idea to include plenty of them in your diet.

One of the challenges in treating candidiasis successfully is that many people just are not aware that the symptoms they have are actually candida symptoms. There are many symptoms that may be associated with candida, depending on age, sex, medical history, the strength of a person’s immune system, as well as environmental factors.

The symptoms that most people recognize as possibly being associated with candida are recurring vaginal or urinary infections or fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot or even ringworm.

Physicians may also consider candida if you have severe digestive problems, such as bloating, cramping, gas and diarrhea as they are more commonly associated with candida symptoms.

However, there are many more health problems that can also be associated with candida yeast. Respiratory problems for example, such as frequent coughing, and wheezing. With symptoms like these, candidiasis would not necessarily be the first thing that comes to mind.

Here are some more common candida symptoms that may go unrecognized:

• Chronic fatigue – if you feel tired and lethargic a lot of the time, particularly after eating, headaches or migraines
• Depression – unexplained depression and/or anxiety, irritability , memory loss, mood swings
• Joint or muscle pains – with or without swelling
• Rashes or hives – which occur for no apparent reason
• Gastrointestinal problems – such as gas, bloating, constipation, chronic diarrhea, cramping, heartburn, colitis, irritable bowel, abdominal discomfort or burning
• Itching – anal itching, also ‘jock itch’, recurring fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot
• Allergies – including food or environmental sensitivities
• PMS – severe premenstrual syndrome
• Environmental sensitivity – extreme sensitivity to chemicals, smoke, perfume, exhaust fumes, rubber, petroleum products, etc.
• Cravings – cravings for sugar, refined carbohydrates or alcohol or intolerance to alcohol

As you can see, many of these symptoms relate to other disorders, which is why candida treatment is not often considered. So if you have one or more of these symptoms, how would you know if candida is a factor?

Candida is likely to be a factor if any of the following also apply:

• Medications – you’ve had frequent or prolonged use of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, chemotherapy, anti-inflammatories or corticosteroids
• Diet – your diet includes excessive sugar and refined/processed foods (this includes sugar drinks, such as soda)
• Nutritional deficiencies – caused by poor diet, or other factors
• Stress – you experience or have experienced severe, prolonged stress which weakens the immune system
• Mercury – high mercury levels can also result in candida symptoms. High mercury levels in the blood  from things like seafood and amalgam fillings (for more information on amalgam fillings see research by the World Health Organization – Environmental Health Criteria for Inorganic Mercury, 1991.

As you can see, candida symptoms are many and varied and can easily go unrecognized. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, and you can also identify with any of the listed contributing factors, it is highly likely that you will need to consider candida treatment.