Candida is a fungus, a form of yeast, naturally present in our digestive tract. It helps with our digestion and absorption of nutrients.
However, in times of stress, poor diet, low immune functioning or high sugar intake the candida can grow out of control leading to digestive dysfunction as well as the production of toxins.
This overgrowth results in many different health problems ranging from gas and bloating to migraines and fatigue.
The 10 most common symptoms of a candida overgrowth include:
1. Digestive complaints such as gas and bloating
2. Low energy, fatigue
3. Headaches, migraines
4. Constipation and/or diarrhea
5. Sugar and carbohydrate cravings
6. Skin and nail fungal infections (ie. athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, red blotches in skin folds)
7. Low mood, irritability, depression
8. Difficulty concentrating and getting started on tasks, poor memory
9. Vaginal infections, rectal and vaginal itching
10. Difficulty losing weight
How do you treat Candida Overgrowth?
The best Candida treatment is to change your diet. Candida grows exponentially in response to starchy carbohydrates, sugar and fermented foods. So, it’s important to eat a whole foods diet low in sugar, refined carbohydrates and sugary fruits and vegetables. This involves eating lots of leafy green vegetables, lean protein, herbal teas and water.
INCREASE IN DIET:
Leafy green vegetables, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, green peppers, cucumber, celery, tomatoes, radishes
Herbs and spices
Lean protein such as chicken, fish, turkey, eggs and seeds
Water and caffeine free herbal teas
DECREASE IN DIET:
High carbohydrate vegetables such as squash, potatoes, beans and legumes
Grains including rice, quinoa, breads, pastas
Yoghurt and other dairy products
AVOID COMPLETELY:
Sugar and sugar containing foods such as honey, maple syrup, agave etc.
Any food hat comes in a package or box
Breads, pastries and baked goods
Alcohol and coffee
Fermented foods
Tropical fruits such as banana, papaya, mango, pineapple, melons
Fruit juices and sodas
Supplements:
There are many different supplements out there but some of the more commonly used ones are caprylic acid, oregano oil, grapefruit seed extract as well as probiotics. The tricky thing with Candida is that it can become resistant to the supplements rendering them ineffective, so it’s best to alternate between a couple different ones to prevent this from happening.
Here is a video from Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum on Candida
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