Is Candida Affecting Your Health?
A very common, yet often overlooked and misdiagnosed chronic health condition is Candida, a yeast or fungal overgrowth. Candida is rarely mentioned in mainstream medicine unless it manifests as a vaginal yeast infection or thrush. Candida is a medical term for a micro-organism found naturally in the body. Candida, a form of yeast-like fungus is present in all of us. In healthy individuals with a strong functioning immune system, it’s harmless. However, when the balance of the intestinal environment changes triggered by a compromised immune system, excessive sugar and carb heavy diets, chronic stress or some other reason, Candida multiplies out of control and causes harm, often silently affecting your health.
The most common causes of yeast, fungus and Candida overgrowth include carb and sugar heavy diets, excessive alcohol (especially beer), antibiotic overuse, high stress lifestyles, oral contraceptives, and poor digestion.
Candida overgrowth indicates a deeper, internal sign of an impaired gut and that your body is out of balance and overly stressed. Possibilities include liver and gallbladder dysfunction and congestion, HCL deficiency, gut permeability (leaky gut), heavy metal toxicity or a chronic underlying bacterial, parasite or fungal infection.
It is estimated that 70-80 percent of people have Candida overgrowth and are completely unaware of it. A Candida infection can be topical, systemic, or localized to certain areas of the body most commonly the feet, nail beds, vaginal tract, uretha, belly button, ear canal, mouth, skin folds, sinuses, and intestines. Matter of fact, low-grade sinus infections are fungal in nature.
Candida secretes over 79 different toxins. These toxins can affect the central nervous system, sleep cycles, cognitive and neurological function, suppress the immune system, compromise your health, your weight and how you think, feel and look. Left untreated, Candida infections increase inflammation and causes devastating systemic problems infecting internal organs including the brain, thyroid, bowel, adrenal glands, bladder and kidneys, uterus, lungs, esophagus, liver bone marrow and the nervous system.
Candida saturates the body with a toxic by-product called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a major by-product of alcohol ingestion and it produces symptoms similar to an alcohol hangover. This serious toxin poisons tissues accumulating in the brain, spinal cord and muscles, and is not eliminated very easily. Acetaldehyde depletes nutrients and vitamins from the body, and reacts with dopamine in the brain to make a chemical called salsolinol, which acts as an opiod.
In chronic cases, Candida can eat away the intestinal mucosa and enter the blood stream where it can then be deposited around the body. When Candida changes from a yeast to a fungus, it can create root-like tendrils that infiltrate the GI tract causing leaky gut syndrome and various food sensitivities. Dr. Tullio Simoncini, Board Certified Oncologist and author of “Cancer is a Fungus,” says cancer tumors are found to be fungal in nature.
What Causes Yeast, Fungal and Candida Overgrowth?
- Overuse of antibiotics
- Oral contraceptives, steroid drugs, ulcer meds, HRT, overuse of NSAIDs
- The Standard American Diet (SAD) = Diets high in sugars, carbs, dairy products, alcohol (especially beer) and processed foods
- Exposure to environmental toxins
- Food intolerances and food sensitivities
- Hidden infections
- High levels of emotional and mental stress. Acute and chronic stress elevates cortisol. Excessive cortisol, in turn, raises blood sugar. The fungus doesn’t care whether the increased sugar in your body is from eating a candy bar or to having an episode of extreme stress; it will use the sugar as fuel to reproduce itself.
- Mercury dental fillings and toxic heavy metal body burdens
- Pregnancy
- Elevated blood sugar, pre-diabetes and diabetes
- Sleep deficiency and rest-deprived lifestyles
Candida loves sugar. Sugar, grains and carbs are a fuel source for yeast (and parasites). When you eat sugar and carbs (including whole grains), they’re eventually broken down into glucose, a simple sugar. Over-eating grains, sugar, alcohol, peanuts, high sugar fruits and pasteurized dairy products encourage Candida growth and interferes with proper gut and organ function. Candida loves the dark, warm and moist environment of the intestines. It attaches itself to the intestinal wall and when it’s in the fungal form it tries to bury itself deep into your intestinal lining. Stop Sugar Cravings for Good.
Symptoms & Conditions of Candida, yeast and fungal overgrowth
- Hives, psoriasis, eczema or chronic skin rashes
- Athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, nail fungus, dandruff or other chronic infections of the skin or nails
- Intense cravings for carbs (sugary sweets, bread, starches, alcohol) and cravings for corn chips, peanut butter
- Medications: Birth control pills; antibiotics; antacids; corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory drugs
- Rectal itching. Itchy skin. Itchy ears.
- Sinusitis or chronic sinus infections. Over 90% of sinus problems are fungal related.
- Unexplained depression. Foggy brain. Fatigue. Mood swings.
- Heavy drinkers and recovering alcoholics
- Food intolerances and food sensitivities
- Frequent headaches, joint and muscle pain
- Digestive complaints. Severe bloating. Gas. Diarrhea or constipation.
- Extreme sensitivity to chemicals, perfumes, smoke, or other odors
- Seasonal allergies.
- Undergoing chemotherapy
- White-coated tongue or greenish color to your tongue in the morning
- Prostatitis
- Severe PMS; endometriosis; bladder and UTI infections
- Autoimmune diseases including Hashimoto’s, MS, lupus, RA
Yes to 5 or more, indicates high probability of Candida.
Are you suffering from Candida Overgrowth? While there are a variety of tests that practitioners use to identify yeast overgrowth including comprehensive stool analysis, blood tests, live blood cell tests, urinalysis, etc., these tests may or may not detect Candida.
A Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) is a test that provides an extensive look at the health and function of your overall gut health. It detects pathogenic organisms including bacterial and fungal infections, parasites and levels of yeast, evaluates microbiota, determines and measures major species of good and bad gut flora that reside in your gut, bacteria imbalances, intestinal pH, immune function, secretory IgA and a number of other biomarkers of GI health. Contact my office to order a Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis.
One test that is reasonably effective is the Candida Allergy Test/IgG. However, the simple most effective way to know if you have a yeast problem is by your symptoms (see list above) or take the Candida Quiz. ► Download the Candida Questionnaire.
Some practitioners use the Candida spit test. Start with a glass of water by your bedside before bed. As soon as you wake up, before you put anything in your mouth, spit into your glass with your first morning saliva. Look for stringy or ropey legs hanging down, cloudy saliva at the bottom or cloudy saliva specs floating. Check the glass every 15 minutes for approximately one hour. Repeat for 4-5 days. If your spit floats, then you are probably free of an overgrowth of Candida, and if you see legs, specks or cloudy saliva you more than likely have Candida.
Candida overgrowth is overlooked by the medical establishment because its symptoms so closely mimic those of other conditions. Likely candidates for Candida overgrowth are individuals whose medical history includes prolonged or repeated use of antibiotics, which are frequently given for urinary and ear infections, sinusitis, bronchitis, and other infections; steroid meds (cortisone or corticosteroids) often prescribed for skin conditions such as rashes, psoriasis or eczema; ulcer meds (Tagamet, Zantac); and oral contraceptives. Certain illnesses (diabetes, cancer, and HIV) can also increase susceptibility to Candida overgrowth.
Not all practitioners treating Candida have a complete picture of what is needed for successful healing. It's important that you have a thorough understanding of the intricacies of Candida yourself and the most effective way to approach treatment before trying any particular remedy. By randomly choosing products without understanding the true nature of this beast, you can actually hinder progress in eliminating yeast overgrowth and make things worse.
Healing Candida (Candida Cleanse Booklet). The good news is you can heal naturally from Candida infections, fungal and yeast overgrowth and restore your body back to health. The only way to beat Candida is to starve it, stop feeding it, kill the overgrowth, and rebalance and re-establish healthy gut microbials. The fungus/yeast will continue to reappear if certain foods are not eliminated. It’s also important to manage stress and avoid inflammatory foods that can harm the GI tract.
The Candida Cleanse Booklet is a 32–page booklet that contains everything you need to know to get rid of Candida with detailed step-by-step instructions to heal your body from yeast, fungus, parasites and Candida for good. Dietary suggestions are included to nourish your body and starve the Candida plus recommended nutrient support to destroy the Candida and restore balance within the body. Order the Candida Cleanse Booklet now.
Schedule a free-15 minute consult. I consult with men and women around the world via telephone or Skype and with clients locally in the Phoenix area. I will determine the root cause and design a lifestyle plan and protocol so you can heal and restore your health.
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