Clobber your Candida

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" Clobber your Candida " by Steve Meyerowitz, Better Nutrition Magazine

I am in the health business, so I shouldn't get sick, right? Doctors,

health practitioners and those of us who write about health or teach

about it should know better and be models of perfect health! Truly, I

have been blessed with good health and I work very hard at keeping

it. Nevertheless, the candida bug got me! In fact, my health was so

good, that I did not show any of the telltale signs of lethargy,

brain fog or stiffness of joints, or allergies that go along with

Candida albicans. I did, however, love sweets and suffered from gas

and bloating. But judging from the amount of cookies, candy,

chocolate and over-the-counter indigestion medicines sold in America,

my symptoms were commonplace enough to be considered normal. Still, I

wanted to know why, if I was eating the best organic foods, according

to proper food combining principles, my stomach was not able to

quietly go about its business without aches or noises. Over the

years, I suspected candida on more than one occasion, but the tests

were negative and the remedies produced no improvement. Thus, it

appeared, candida was not the cause. Wrong! Now, I realize that mild

cases of candida are hard to diagnose and also very common.

C. albicans is the name for a group of toxic yeast-like

microorganisms that can inhabit the mouth, throat, intestines and

genital/urinary tract. Yeast live in our intestinal tract all the

time, but they are in balance with other bacteria. When the natural

flora in the intestines fail to control the candida yeast population,

your symptoms develop. After long-term residence in the intestines,

yeast can develop into fungi that actually root themselves into the

intestinal walls. The wall then becomes porous, creating a leaky-gut,

a syndrome in which toxins from the yeast enter the bloodstream and

weaken the immune system. Candida is also implicated in the bowel

diseases, Crohn's and colitis.

Read the signs

The most common symptoms are in the gastrointestinal tract:

constipation, diarrhea, colitis, abdominal pain, gas, distension, and

heartburn. But candida can migrate from the rectal area into the

vagina causing a yeast infection there (vaginitis). It can also

travel through the bloodstream, generating a wide range of problems

from athlete's foot to ringworm, jock itch, diaper rash, muscle and

joint pain, canker sores, sore throat, tingling sensations, kidney

and bladder infections, depression and even diabetes. These symptoms

can co-exist with allergies or aggravate them. According to Dr.

Cooter, author of Beating Chronic Disease (ProMotion

Publishing, San Diego, California), " Candida is responsible for

flooding the system with an accumulation of toxic acetaldehydes.

Acetaldehydes are known to poison tissues accumulating in the brain,

spinal cord, joints, muscles and tissues. "

Candida creeps in

Bad diet, an out-of-balance intestinal terrain, and weakened immunity

are the underlying causes of candida. Overuse of antibiotics destroys

the natural flora in the intestines that keep the candida cells in

check. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, AIDS patients,

infants, diabetics and others with weakened immune systems are more

susceptible to an infection of candida (candidiasis). Corticosteroids

and oral contraceptives also upset the balance of intestinal flora.

Because yeast mutate, doctors are often forced to prescribe higher

and higher dosages of the anti-fungal drug, Nystatin. This makes the

yeast stronger and further weakens the immune system.

Four steps to clobber candida

1. Because candida's toxic byproducts flood the system, cleansing is

the crucial first order of business of any anti-candida program.

Fasting, colon cleansing, wheatgrass, fresh vegetable juices, plenty

of water, detox herbs, exercise, and anything else that furthers

detoxification is a must.

2. Reduce the yeast population with anti-microbial herbs and

phytochemicals. Formulas that include a combination of these powerful

herbs are available at your natural food store. Stay on these herbs

for only 15 days, then take 5 days off, repeating the 15/5 cycle as

long as needed. If you don't take the 5 day sabbatical, the yeast

will mutate and develop immunity to the herbs.

3. Innoculate yourself with the best friendly bacteria (probiotics)

you can find. Lactobacilli, especially bulgaricus and

bifidobacterium, along with acidophilus (found in yogurt), fight back

the yeast population and repair the intestinal wall. In cases of

vaginal candida, make sure yeast is your problem, as symptoms of a

yeast infection are similar to those of other, possibly more serious

infections.

4. The most important factor in the battle against candida is diet.

Yeast love sugar and simple carbohydrates. The best anti-microbial

herbs will not be strong enough to fight your yeast if you keep

feeding them. Stop the sugar, now! It doesn't matter if it is honey,

maple syrup, dextrose, maltose, lactose, glucose, sucrose, fructose,

(or any `ose'), fruit concentrate, fresh fruit -- it's all the same

to yeast. Artificial sweeteners like Nutrasweet should also be cut

out of your diet. Read labels carefully. Sweeteners are pervasive,

even in natural foods. Some rice crackers, for example, include rice

syrup. While you're at it, eliminate commonly allergic foods such as

dairy and wheat (flour products). This diet is strict but necessary.

Candida can live inside you for decades as long as you continue to

feed it. There are no short-cuts. Discipline yourself for a minimum

of 3 months. When your symptoms disappear, you can expand your diet,

but don't fall back into old habits. The yeast will quickly return.

Candida will never be completely eradicated, but your success will be

a matter of controlling a balanced intestinal landscape, dominated by

friendly bacteria, and symptom-free health.

Foods to avoid

Aged cheeses, alcohol, chocolate, dried fruits, fresh fruits,

fermented foods, vinegar, glutenous foods: wheat, rye, oats, barley,

all sugars, honeys and syrups, and baker's yeast. Note: nutritional

and brewer's yeasts are not harmful. They do not colonize in the

intestines.

Foods to eat

Vegetables, protein foods, live yogurt cultures (both dairy and non-

dairy,) FOS, whey, acidophilus, green algaes such as spirulina and

chlorella, and non-glutenous grains like millet, rice, rice bran and

oat bran.

Techniques for Conquering Candida:

Fasting

Colon cleansing

Antimicrobial herbs

Friendly bacteria

Sugar-free diet

Symptoms of Candida:

Gas & bloating

Brain fog

Fatigue

Allergies

Canker sores

Vaginal discharge

Athlete's foot

Ringworm

Jock itch/diaper rash

Kidney and bladder infections

Arthritis

Depression

Natural anti-candida warriors:

* Acidophilus

* Arm mesia

* Bentonite

* Black walnut

* Bifidobacterium

* Caprylic acid

* Cloves

* Garlic

* Goldenseal

* Grapefruit seed

extract

* Oregano oil

* Oregon grape

* Pantethine

* Pau d'Arco

Note: Steve Meyerowitz is the author of eight books on health and

diet.

*Posted by Moderators