Candida Overgrowth and YOU

Candida Overgrowth and YOU

Today's modern health problems are a complex group of signs and symptoms that usually will not have a specific causative factor identified. Modern medicine has been geared to only to relieving symptoms associated with the health problems and/or bombarding the body with synthetic chemicals to combat what might be thought to be the causative factor of a disease or disorder.

One condition that is slowly being accepted into today's medical community, is the fact that the body's normal flora (normal community of microorganisms) could become imbalanced and cause a variety of problems that many experience today. There's growing research in the medical community on the importance of gut flora and intestinal fungi.

Candida albicans is a microorganism classified as a fungus, but is commonly referred to as yeast. Fungi thrive in dark, warm and moist environment. Candida as part of our "normal flora" co-exist with approximately 300 trillion other microorganisms in the body. 

Candida is normally found in the nose, throat, mouth, genitourinary system and gastrointestinal system and  generally causes no problems. However, it is an opportunistic organism that will rapidly proliferate and colonize in many tissues of the body given the slightest opportunity. This overgrowth occurs when the immune system is weakened, or the balance between the normal flora in the gut (good bacteria) and yeast is upset.

The Hidden Infection

There are a number of causes identified for the overgrowth of Candida in the body.
Candida overgrowth may occur if any of the conditions listed below are present.

1. Widespread use of antibiotics including medications from prescription drugs for chronic infections to consumption of antibiotic-treated foods (meat, dairy, poultry and eggs).
2. High cortisol or other steroid levels from stress, prescription drugs, prolonged illness and malnutrition.
3. High estrogen levels from pregnancy, birth control pills, estrogen replacement therapy and obesity.
4. Diets high in carbohydrates, refined sugar, yeast or yeast products, molds, fermented foods, excessive juices and diabetes.

Candida, in the yeast form, reproduces by "budding", and is usually non-invasive at this stage. However, in the mycelia or fungal stage, it forms long, "rootlike" structures that can penetrate the mucus membranes.

Candidatoxins can be released and may be responsible for a myriad of symptoms. It is also thought that yeast overgrowth in the intestine may lead to a "leaky gut" syndrome. This condition leads to the lining of the intestine to allow large molecules of food to enter the blood.

Generally, Candidiasis is seen more often in women and with more side effects, but it may occur both in men and women. The signs and symptoms of Candida overgrowth are many and may masquerade as almost any chronic illness.

It's an unfortunate truth that millions of people across the world suffer from seemingly unexplainable and unpleasant symptoms like chronic tiredness, recurring yeast infections and digestive issues. 

Yeast vaginitis (itching, burning and discharge), menstrual complaints, prostatitis, impotence, bladder infections, abdominal pain, belching, bloating, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, rectal itching or irritation, nasal itching, congestion, asthma, headache, earache, “thrush” or oral Candidasis, severe depression, fatigue, confusion, extreme irritability and inability to concentrate are just some of the signs and symptoms of yeast overgrowth.

Taking care of the problem

"Candidiasis has been around for decades, ever since we began to use antibiotics but neglected to replace the good bacteria that are destroyed along with the bad." (Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D.)

Once the good bacteria in our gut are wiped out, there are several things patients can do to restore bacterial dominance in the intestinal tract. First off, it's usually necessary to make certain dietary changes. That means following a healthy, low-glycemic diet plan that doesn't nourish Candida and other pathogens in the body. Green vegetables, low-glycemic fruits, seeds, nuts, and high-quality organic animal proteins all work for a Candida-fighting diet.


Keeping the good bacteria in our digestive tract healthy and thriving is the key to keeping candida from growing out of control. Avoiding refined foods, sugar, harmful chemicals, and prescription medications is a good place to start. As for antibiotics, they should only be taken when truly necessary and always followed up with a high-quality probiotic supplement.

Sources:
 
http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1999/articles/1999-v14n04-p198.shtml

http://www.naturalnews.com/036285_Candida_disease_intestinal_health.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/033066_Candida_diagnosis.html