Candida is a fungus, (a type of yeast), which lives in small amounts in your mouth and digestive system. It’s main job is to help with digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. With our busy lifestyles nowadays, eating diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugar, consuming large amounts of alcohol and using antibiotics more frequently than we used to, Candida growth can get out of control and lead to some quite common illnesses and nasty symptoms.
What are common candida symptoms?
- Skin and nail fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot or toenail fungus
- A white coating on the tongue (fur-like) is a good indication of overgrowth
- Feeling tired and worn down, or suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
- Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, or depression
- Sinusitis, headaches, recurring sore throats, congestion, allergies, post-nasal drip and other symptoms of sinus upset
- Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, hives, and rashes
- Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea
- Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma, or multiple sclerosis
- Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, lack of focus, ADD, ADHD, and brain fog
- Vaginal infections (thrush), urinary tract infections, rectal itching, or vaginal itching
- Strong sugar and refined carbohydrate cravings
If you suspect you may have a Candida overgrowth, we recommend you take the following steps!
Cut the sugar
Not only does Candida thrive on sugar, but it also needs an acidic environment to survive. Processed and refined foods, as well as those high in gluten and sugar (including natural sugars), create an ideal home for Candida, so the most logical place to start battling the enemy is by removing those sources of growth. Restrict (or, better, eliminate completely) your intake of alcohol, sweets, bread, vinegar and foods containing vinegar, peanuts and foods high in sugar – including sweet fruits such as bananas and dates. You can replace those foods with others that are high in protein and healthy fats to keep you satisfied, including avocados, chia seeds and wild fish.
Add Candida fighters
By not allowing Candida to survive, avocados, chia seeds, wild-caught fish and other healthy foods all help with candidiasis, but there are other foods that literally attack and kill the bacteria. Garlic is a natural anti-fungal that will kill Candida, as is turmeric. But the best, most potent, all-natural Candida killer is probably coconut oil. It contains caprylic acid, which has anti-microbial properties that are proven to kill yeasts and Candida. And studies have shown that it is even more effective in treating candidiasis than the prescription drugs. A couple of tablespoons per day for approx. 10 – 14 days should do the trick!
Load up on probiotics
Reports have concluded that many doctors are overprescribing antibiotics, which is contributing to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. But with that said, we also know that sometimes antibiotics can’t be avoided. In those cases, it’s important to supplement with a high-quality probiotic such as Udo’s Choice Super 8 or Epigenetics International Super 12 probiotic mix, as probiotics help support the immune system, regulate digestion and restore a healthy balance of gut bacteria by crowding out Candida. And taking probiotics in pill form is not your only option. High-probiotic foods like kefir, kombucha and yoghurt make reaping the benefits of Candida-destroying healthy bacteria both easy and delicious.
Kinesiology can help identify whether you have a Candida/ fungal overgrowth along with what will help bring your microbiome (good and bad bacteria) back into balance. We can pinpoint whether you have a viral, bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection and help you to take steps to eliminate the infection from your body.
By Maeve Sherlock, Midlands Kinesiology, Athlone.
