Candi.., what? What even is Candida?
An overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans - is one of the most common, destructive, but treatable gut infections of all - and most people have never heard of it!
Have you heard of Candida?
Candida, Candida albicans, is a yeast/fungus that is naturally occurring in our body - normally living on skin and inside the body - in the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina. And it normally does not cause any problems.
However, when we are out of balance and our immune system and gut health are not optimal, this minute microbe can multiply, migrate and release toxins in our body. The overgrowth and infection of this yeast is called candidiasis.
When we are out of balance this yeast can take over and create more of an imbalance...and as this incredibly unhealthy cycle continues, we experience a myriad of symptoms and health issues including allergies, hormone dysfunction, joint and muscle pain, bowel issues, extreme fatigue, infections and emotional disorders.
How do you know if Candida is affecting your health?
Many people are unaware of the problems that Candida can cause and many don't link their symptoms with candidiasis.
Is Candida overgrowth an issue for you? How many of these questions do you answer yes to?
Have you taken antibiotics in the past 3 years?
Do you use birth control pills?
Do you regularly use medications containing corticosteroids?
Do you have cravings for sugars, bread or alcohol?
Do you have severe reactions to perfume, tobacco or chemicals?
Do you suffer from diarrhea or constipation?
Do you have indigestion - bloating or gas, or discomfort after eating fruits or sweets?
Do you get bladder infections often?
Do you feel bad all over for no apparent reason - general malaise?
Do you often feel in a mental fog?
Do you suffer from allergies?
Do you suffer from anxiety or depression?
Are you always tired or often ‘feel drained’?
Do you have an allergy or sensitivity to airborne molds, moldy or fermented foods?
Do you suffer from athlete’s foot, toenail or fingernail fungus?
Do you have eczema or psoriasis?
Female – Do you have premenstrual tension, menstrual cramps, burning or itching, endometriosis, uterine fibroids?
Male – Prostate problems or impotence?
If you answered YES to 3 or more of these questions, then a good Candida Protocol might be of benefit for you. You can email me or set up a new client appointment to take the full survey. Find out how much Candida may be affecting your health and how to stop it from getting worse.
So why do we get Candidiasis?
Prolonged antibiotic use is a very big factor in the development of chronic candidiasis. There are many factors that predispose an individual to Candida overgrowth. Some of these include:
- Nutrient deficiencies
- High sugar diet
- Use of antibiotics, corticosteroids or birth control pills
- Use of alcohol or drugs (prescription or non-prescription)
- Weakened Immune system
- Altered bowel flora (Unhealthy/Unbalanced gut)
- Impaired liver function
- Food allergies
- Stress
What happens if we just live with it?
This is a good question and one to consider. What if?
Some people are okay just living with certain symptoms - fatigue, mental fog, indigestion etc.. They just accept this as their way of life or don't notice anymore, as they may have forgotten how wonderful life without those symptoms feels!
I had this opinion once upon a time too - it is a common rut to get stuck in.
You can get out. You can live without being tired all the time, or getting infections all the time, or dealing with digestion issues all the time.
But more importantly, candidiasis can become a much worse problem over time.
Under certain conditions Candida proliferates - it gets out of control - and if left unchecked, Candida burrow into the lining of our intestines and destroy the very important microvilli there. They create tiny holes or spaces that larger microbes can pass through - making our intestinal lining permeable to unwanted molecules. This is what we call 'leaky gut'. The yeast can then pass into the bloodstream and can travel to other parts of the body - anywhere - even the brain. This is called systemic candidiasis and we don't want this!
Candida does not belong in our bloodstream.
So, how do we get rid of it?
I googled 'Candida' to see what information was out there and what the internet was telling people to do…it wasn't very helpful...
The first bit of advice given to rid the body of Candida was to take one of 2 medicines (creams, ointments, tablets and lozenges). Isn’t that always the way? Funny too, as it could have been one of our common medicines that contributed to this overgrowth in the first place - antibiotics and birth control pills – both kill off our good biota and create an unhealthy imbalance in our gut. See my Blog Post about probiotics for more info on this topic.
It will take more than this to get rid of Candida for good and leave your body in a healthy, balanced state.
There are diets and cleanses that you can follow but many fall short and don't cut out everything that needs to be cut out. The majority call for no sugar but you can still eat whole grains. Whole grains can be a great part of some healthy diets, but Candida feeds on these (see section below).
And then there are the lists of herbals and other substances recommended to “kill candida quickly”, and yes they will kill candida and that is where that plan stops.
Without a multi-pronged approach,
A well planned diet - specifically targeted to starve the yeast and strengthen your immune system
A focus on healing - rebuilding and rebalancing - the gut
An immune boosting supplement program
Anti-fungal supplement program to both kill candida in the bowel and systemically
You will not be able to prevent certain regrowth.
This is why many Candida diets/cleanses are so ineffective - they never address the root cause - poor gut health and/or a weakened immune system. Along with starving the yeast and killing it off, you need to heal your gut (with any case of systemic Candidiasis you will undoubtably have a leaky gut) and immune system to make sure it can't come back.
What does Candida feed on?
Candida feeds on sugars and undigested disaccharides (sucrose, maltose, lactose) - from breads, cheeses and dairy, ice cream, beer, breakfast cereals, cookies and cakes etc..
Why do you think you have these uncontrollable cravings? The yeast in your body is begging for the treats in your pantry or vending machine or when you are out for lunch....feed me, feed me!
And when you are continually eating these foods, your are feeding the problem, literally.
So how do we really get rid of it?
Try this Protocol!
This on-line program will focus on a very specific 3 phase (4.5 to 6.5 month) diet protocol, with accompanied supplements to starve and kill off the yeast, while healing and rebuilding your gut to re-establish balance.
Meal ideas and recipes will be given along with many educational modules and ongoing support to help prep, plan and move through each phase with confidence and to ensure your success. Biweekly Zoom group meetings will be offered to answer any questions you may have, personally, and group chats are available to share resources, celebrate successes – to cheer each other on!
Book a free 15 min call to chat here: https://p.bttr.to/3BbGmc4,
If you answered 'yes' to many of the questions above and are sick of feeling bad? Let's get started - Register for the Program here: https://p.bttr.to/3GyfV2K
The Bottom Line
Candidiasis can be a real problem and if left unchecked a really, big problem. But the good news is, with the right plan you can get rid of it - get your gut and immune health back on track and get rid of many of those unwanted and unacceptable symptoms that come with it.
I would highly recommend the plan I discussed above. It requires a commitment to eating certain things and not eating certain things for a few months - this is not a quick fix - and being okay with taking new supplements during the program. There is an investment of time and money. But isn't your health worth it?
You will feel amazing. My husband and I did this Protocol 4 years ago and we are so glad we did.
My energy came back up, clarity returned, hypoglycemia is gone...gone! My husband's digestive issues (and there were many) were resolved and he lost almost 45 pounds - I lost 25 (in places where it just never came off before). I was going to the pantry at 9:00 every night, reaching for anything starchy or sweet. I joked and called them 'snaccidents' and it was cute, at first, but it was getting out of control.
Now, I don't want or need anything after dinner. I am full and satisfied and I don't have cravings.
The yeast does not control me anymore! I feel like I got my life back.
***Please share this Blog or information about this Protocol with friends and family who you think might benefit from this information.***