What is
Candida?
Candida is a yeast fungus. These are beneficial bacteria
in small amounts. When this population becomes too much and you have candida
overgrowth, your body will show varied symptoms. Initially it begins to break
down the wall of the intestines causing first digestive issues and symptoms in
your colon.. If this number continues to grow out of control, and it goes
unaddressed, the fungus crosses over the stomach lining into the bloodstream
causing a varied range of symptoms in many different organs or glands.. This is
known as a candida or yeast overgrowth.
Symptoms of Candida/Yeast Overgrowth:
*Fatigue, lethargy, poor memory, inability to concentrate
*Abdominal bloating, distension, diarrhea or constipation, and/or itching
*Extreme sensitivity to chemical fumes, perfumes, or tobacco smoke
*Psoriasis and skin irritations
*Recurrent or persistent cystitis, prostatitis or vaginitis
*Multiple allergic symptoms
*Premenstrual symptoms
*Frequent upper respiratory infections, colds, post nasal drip
*Depression
*Craving for sweet foods or alcohol
*Athlete’s foot, fungal nail or skin infection
*Thrush (oral or vaginal) more then once
*Erratic vision, spots before eyes
*Chronic acne
*You feel worse after eating sugary or yeasty foods or drinks
*Menstrual cramps or pain
*Swollen or aching joints for no obvious reason
*Muscle aches for no obvious reason, tingling, numbness etc.
*Vaginal discharge, irritation, vaginal yeast infection
*Impotence or loss of sexual desire
*Hormone imbalance
*Inability to lose or gain weight
*Circulatory and thyroid issues
What Causes this Overgrowth?
*Antibiotic
use:
Antibiotics wipe out all of the bad bacteria, but also all of the beneficial
good bacteria.
-If you have ever been on antibiotics and have not deliberately taken steps to
get this good bacteria replenished, you will have a yeast overgrowth. It is
more than just taking a few probiotics afterward or taking them with the
antibiotic (the antibiotic kills it as you take it).
*Diet:
The American diet is full of processed, white and sugary foods. If your diet is
heavy with sugar consumption, white processed flour as seen in breads, pasta
and rice, coffee, alcohol, sugary condiments or meat treated with
antibiotics, your good bacteria will be compromised. If you are watching your
sugar intake: good for you!! Also make sure you don't eat a lot of fruit as
this natural sugar (fructose) can deplete your good bacteria.
I want to make sure you
have the best understanding of where you will find sugar. Food manufacturers
are hoping you don't! Read your labels; anything with 'ose' on the ingredients
is sugar, as well as cane juice, malt, molasses, honey or agave. Anything white
turns to a simple sugar quickly, thus spiking your blood sugar and killing
beneficial good bacteria.
Stress:
In the world we live in today stress is inevitable. Our schedules are
overloaded. Think about having down time daily, add exercise to your regimen
and prioritize sleep.
Think about the ways you process stress. Stress kills good bacteria! Stress
comes in many ways; daily stress, hormonal stress and exercise in large
amounts, stresses your body (this kind of stress just needs to be addressed
with more probiotics).
How to maintain your good bacteria:
1. Maintain
a diet full of whole foods and whole
grains, vegetables and limited fruits. Keep your diet low in sugar, dairy
consumption, alcohol, and coffee.
2. Take a high quality, live probiotic daily in the right amount.
3. Find natural
alternatives for antibiotics! My family has not been on antibiotics since we began this
alternative lifestyle 18 years ago. Our go-to herbs are Nature's Sunshine
Silver Shield, Olive Leaf and VS-C.
4. Manage
stress! Take B complex or Nutricalm for your body to deal with stress
and protect some of your good bacteria.
Treating candida overgrowth:
*Candida
diet for cleansing. (Contact me for a copy or write in the comments
below)
-Probiotic
11 Eleven Elevated which replenish the good bacteria AND
-Silver Shield which kills the bad bacteria
-You need to have this combination of replenishing the good bacteria while eliminating the bad bacteria to repopulate the good bacteria fully.
Contact
me with questions or concerns or post a comment. I’d love to hear from you.
Diane
nbdherbs@gmail.com
