Candida is the short name used to describe yeast overgrowth in the body. The technical term is Candidiasis.

Candida is a yeast that is a single celled fungi that belongs to the vegetable kingdom. Like their cousins the moulds, they live all round us. One family “Candida Albicans” lives in all the mucous membranes, i.e. Intestines, eyes, ears, bladder, stomach, lungs, and vagina. It is one of the billions of other friendly organisms that serve a useful purpose in the body.

One of its important functions is to recognise and destroy harmful bacteria. However, Candida is not intended to overgrow and get out of control while the body is alive.

How Candida affects us.

When Candida Albicans is under control it poses no problem, but when it gets out of control it begins to overgrow causing numerous symptoms & health problems from the top of our head to the tips of our toes. From migraines to nail fungus it can result in symptoms inside (pain & malfunction of organs, even brain lesions) and outside, (eczema and hives). It can also cause problems with the mind and emotions.

What causes Candida to get out of control?

A healthy immune system keeps Candida in balance with other micro organisms in the mucous membranes but under certain conditions it begins to overgrow and get out of control. The causes of immune system dysfunction are varied & 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 & starts to overgrow; raising large families called colonies.

These colonies excrete toxins that circulate around the body further weakening the immune system & creating havoc. The Candida produces very long root like structures that penetrate intestinal walls which allows toxins, undigested food particles, bacteria & yeast to enter the bloodstream. This condition is known as “Leaky Gut Syndrome”, which causes food allergies and many health problems, malabsorption of nutrients occur when these root like structures damage the walls of the intestines.

The immune system is further weakened by malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies.

Our 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, additives, preservatives, pesticides & heavy metals. In addition our foods are exposed to high levels of radiation to extend shelf life, nutrient depleted soil & long storage and transportation time. When we finally prepare it, we are guilty of improper handling, cooking and microwaving what is left of the nutrients available, so all of these factors contribute to a weakened immune system.

In order to get Candida overgrowth under control four things need to be done to help with its toxicity.

First eliminate foods that feed Candida, then build up the immune system, kill off Candida overgrowth and then plant good bacteria back in the digestive tract.

The main food supply of Candida is sugar in all of its forms, lactose, dairy products, honey, glucose, fructose & sugar substitutes, all fruit except lemons are all high in sugar content & should be extremely limited during initial stages of eliminating foods that feed Candida. Vegetables including sweet potato, beets and carrots should be avoided while on elimination diet. Sugar in processed foods such as luncheon meats, tomato sauce, cereals and yoghurt make it necessary to check out all product labels carefully.

Candida also feeds off high carbohydrate foods such as starches and grains i.e.: breads, pasta, pizza, cereals, baked goods and potatoes. Vegetables high in carbs include beans, beets, squash, zucchini, corn, peas, parsnips & carrots. Grain foods (wheat rice, corn, oats, etc) store their energy as complex strands of sugar molecules, a starch.

Starch breaks down into individual molecules (glucose or blood sugar) during digestion. All carbohydrates eaten turn into glucose (blood sugar) but only 58% of the protein and about 10% of the fat eaten are converted.

Most Candida sufferers are Gluten intolerant. Gluten grains feed Candida because they have a high glycemic index, like sugar & it creates insulin resistance within the cells which leads to blood sugar problems like hypoglycaemia and diabetes.

The cells become resistant to insulin, the pancreas then produces more insulin creating a vicious cycle. This exhausts the pancreas eventually leading to its breakdown resulting in diabetes.

To build up the Immune System we need to eat the right foods, take essential supplements, & avoid yeast, mould and fungus.

Protein is important for sufferers of candida and their diets. A high protein diet from a selection of dairy, eggs and meat which contain complete proteins providing the eight essential amino acids your body cannot produce on its own. Protein in the diet slows down the breakdown of carbohydrates, which decreases the need for insulin secretion by the pancreas. It also stimulates glucagon release, the hormone that unlocks our stored fuel.

Good fats and oils are equally important to protein as they aid in getting candida under control. They not only increase the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from the foods eaten, they also provide the most efficient source of energy. They also provide the building blocks for cell membranes & a variety of hormones and hormone like substances.

Good fats act as carriers for important fat soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K & for the conversion of carotene to Vitamin A. The kinds of fats consumed greatly influence the assimilation & utilization of Vitamin D.

Cholesterol is the body’s version of fat and your best friend. It helps to repair and protect & is essential for nourishing the brain and nervous system. The brain is 70% cholesterol & hormones such as estrogen and testosterone are made from cholesterol. Bile salts for digestion are also made by cholesterol; it is also a powerful antioxidant.

Candida sufferers need to build up their immune system by supplementing with certain essential vitamins and minerals that are also yeast free and sugar free.

It is not a quick fix to get your body and immune system back on the right track, it is a step by step process and it takes time and patience.

You can overcome Candida with diet and other natural supplements to help the body heal.

Ask Sharyn for assistance along with the BioSET regime for aiding her clients in ridding themselves of this debilitating condition, Sharyn is here to help you through the process.

References

Bee Wilder (editor Nourished Magazine)

The Yeast Connection by William Crook MD

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