Candida is a yeast that we all have living in our bowels and intestines. It is perfectly natural and works in harmony with our bodies. Candida can form into a fungus which spreads out from the intestines and out into the rest of the body. Candida symptoms can be unpleasant and affect the quality of life of the sufferer, although it is hard to diagnose, there are ways to treat the condition.
The most common causes of the condition is poor diet, over using antibiotics and stress. Digestion problems can also lead to infection. Other causes may be using HRT, use of steroids, over use of antibiotics, especially broad spectrum antibiotics which can kill the healthy bacteria in the gut.
Symptoms associated with the condition include, Indigestion and frequent stomach aches, skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis, Thrush, rashes, difficulties with concentration, fatigue, anxiety, irritability and anger, obsessive compulsive behavior, headaches, itchy skin and cravings for sugar and carbohydrates.
These symptoms do not necessarily mean that one has the condition. Diagnosing it is difficult, but can be done by identifying one or more of the symptoms and looking at the patients medical history. A stool test can help, but this will not provide conclusive evidence. The best way to identify Candida is by following an anti-Candida routine and seeing if the symptoms subside. A doctor will be able to give further advice.
If someone suspects that they may have the condition, they can follow some steps. Cut down on sugary foods, carbohydrates and yeast, this may starve out the infection. Taking probiotics can also help. Vitamin supplements of vitamin A, B2, B5, B6, B12, C and E are also worth taking as Candida can reduce these vitamins in the body, causing symptoms.
Taking a digestive enzyme in order to improve digestion is also helpful. The most important enzymes are bromelain and papain. These can help break down food more effectively and improve the absorption of nutrients. Pineapples and papaya contains these enzymes naturally. Health food stores will have these enzymes as supplements. These supplements are worth taking anyway as they help to break down hard to digest foods, like red meat.
It is also beneficial to increase the fibre in a diet. Cereals like bran and wheat contains a lot of fibre, avoid bread however as this contains yeast. Fibre supplements are also available.
Some alternative therapies claim to help treat candida. These include, acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicines, Anti fungals may also help treat the conditions. There are certain foods that contain anti-fungals, these include, coconut oil, olive leaf extract, grape seed extract, garlic and carrot juice.
Fortunately there are treatments available over the counter at a pharmacist, but before a treatment is used it is wise to identify the cause of the condition to prevent it from returning. There are a number of organizations that aim to raise awareness of candida and provide advice and support to sufferers.
Candida rarely causes very serious health problems and is not life threatening. It can however cause unpleasant symptoms and trigger other illnesses.
Author Resource:-
Everyone has candida living inside of them and sometimes, it can get overwhelming. There is no denying that those candida symptoms can be unpleasant and can have an impact on your day. Http://www.CandidaInfo.org
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 