Candida
Symptoms of Candida
Candida is also known as Yeast Over-Growth and/or Thrush. Candida is a natural microorganism than normally exists in balance with other microorganisms in and on the body without problems. However, when it is promoted to overgrow, it can lead to yeast (fungal) infections and physical symptoms. Yeast infections are typically found under the breast, in the groin area, vaginally and in the mouth (thrush) where it thrives on warmth and moistness.
Candida, or Yeast Infection, can cause, and mimic, nearly all of the symptoms of nearly all stress syndromes and can affect the mouth, digestive tract and genitals. In fact, the 'symptom' list for Candida is almost endless! It can cause stomach upset, dizziness, tiredness, aches and pains, low grade fever, burning mouth, bad breath, itchy skin, night sweats, tingling or numbness if the skin, kidney and bladder infections, PMS, diabetes, arthritis, chills, vaginitis, cravings, brain fog, irritability, mood swings, anxiety and depression, muscle twitching, sleep disorders, forgetfulness, suicidal tendencies, digestive upsets, blurred vision, binging, Asthma, indecisiveness, panic attack, heart palpitations, phobias, impotence and more.
Possible Causes of Candida Over-Growth
Eating a Diet Too High in acid forming foods (especially sugar), Stress, Chemicals, Prescription & Non-Prescription Drugs, Toxins, Fragranced Personal Hygiene Products. These are also things that cause pH imbalance.
What is not common-place in information you may find on Candida is the mention of pH balance (except maybe in hearing about the delicate pH balance of the vagina). Ladies, you will not have long lasting pH balance in the vagina without pH balance in the rest of your body. Download the TCL e-book, The Importance of pH Balance.
Spiritual/Psychological cause of Candida: There are ways you are not supporting yourself as well as you could be, which is causing anger and frustration. You may not trust your relationships with others and that makes for being rather demanding, or withholding, from others.
Associated Chakra(s): 2nd and 3rd chakras (location), although all chakras may be involved.
Associated Energy Meridian(s): Small Intestine Meridian
A healthy diet is crucial in beating any kind of Candida (yeast) infection. Eliminating foods from your diet containing simple sugars, including many fruits, white flour and rice, and anything fermented is a good beginning towards eliminating Candida overgrowth. However this is not enough. Candida can affect specific body parts, such as the mouth, stomach, vagina or penis or it can become systemic, meaning it can spread throughout your entire body through the blood.
Avoid eating refined carbohydrates, sugary foods, too many sweet fruits, prepared and prepackaged foods. Eliminate the use of refined, bleached or chemically treated flour. Eat whole foods, including whole grains, fresh vegetables and drink plenty of pure water. Eat no meats containing synthetic hormones or chemicals. Reduce eating red meat to no more than twice per week or buy organic meat from a local butcher instead.. Begin eating chicken and turkey breast, salmon and albacore tuna. Avoid dairy, unless it is organic unflavored yogurt and milk. Reduce your fat and exchange the fats you do eat with Omega-3s and Olive oil. You also want to avoid chemicals, household cleaning products that are not earth friendly and feminine hygiene products with fragrances.
Allergies to foods and additives may also cause symptoms of Candida.
Add fiber to your diet by using Psyllium seed (pronounced silly-um). Toxins in the gut love to attach to Psyllium. Then Psyllium carries them out of the body when you have a bowel movement. It is great for cleaning the colon.
Watch Your pH Balance! pH imbalance is a dominating factor of Candida (yeast) overgrowth. PH imbalance, having high levels of toxins in your blood, causes normal bacteria in the body to overgrow. The most common cause of this is a poor diet containing sugars, soft drinks, prepackaged and prepared foods. Following a diet that is more alkaline than acidic is extremely important. If you haven't already, please take this opportunity to review TCL e-book, "Eating, Naturally!". It provides a complete list of acidic foods and products to avoid and more alkaline choices to choose from. It also tells you how to easily measure your body’s pH!
Healthy vaginal pH levels are a bit different than the rest of the body, as the vagina needs to be more acidic than other parts of the body in order to maintain a healthy environment. A vaginal pH of 4.5 is healthy. If the vaginal pH is anything lower or higher you may end up with a fungus (yeast) or bacterial (vaginosis) infection as a result.
Ask your doctor to be tested for allergies. Allergies to foods and additives may also cause symptoms of Candida. This test involves a series of small needle pricks containing allergens. Your arm is then checked for any skin reactions to the allergens. Rarely, does anyone have any more of a reaction than a bit of redness or welt (hive) on their skin, but be sure to ask your doctor if you have concerns over known allergies that give you considerable problems.
Consider the drugs you use. The use of antibiotics and over-the-counter medications may also cause Candida, or make things worse. Ask your doctor about some substitute choices if a particular product seems to give you problems.
If you are under stress, have trouble digesting your foods, or are taking medications, it is important to replace the friendly bacteria in the 'gut'. You can do this through taking probiotics (helpful and friendly bacteria) which may be lost due to these conditions. There are several strains (types of bacteria) of probiotics. The more of these strains you can replace, the better off your internal system will be.
Most products carry one or two strains of necessary bacteria, such as L. acidophilus (protects the heart and improves digestion) and L.rhamnosus, better known as Lactobacillus GG (relieves Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Childhood Eczema.)
Other strains are:
L. casei - Boost immunity.
S. boulardii - Eases 'gut' stress and diarrhea.
B. lactis - Keeps your colon healthy.
B. bifidum - Strengthens the 'guts' immune system.
If You Are Preparing for Surgery, or Have Had Surgery
Start taking Lactobacillus Acidophilus supplements 2-4 weeks before surgery. Do not just eat extra yogurt. Dairy products have excess sugar, which Candida thrives on, and been known to cause tummy upsets in some individuals. They rarely contain enough Acidophilus to make a huge impact anyway. When you do eat yogurt, make sure it is plain and organic. Add your own sweetener, such as Stevia, a little honey, or a bit of fruit.
May Love & Energy Be Yours!
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