Candida Albicans is a yeast which lives in our intestines and other areas of the body e.g. skin. It is kept in check by our immune system and by 'friendly' bacteria which live with it. The candida can grow and get out of control when the hormonal balance of the body is disturbed by taking corticosteroids e.g. the contraceptive pill or antibiotics

It is normally present in the bowel. It feeds on sugars, simple carbohydrates and fermented products like alcohol and cheese. Everyone has candida in the gut but the problem with it only occurs when the numbers gets out of control. Causes for this can be: too many antibiotics, a hormone imbalance (the pill is a major factor in this) stress and poor nutrition. These affect the balance of organisms in the gut and allow the bad ones to multiply.

To get a better picture of if this condition is affecting you, ask yourself if you suffer from any of the following symptoms of ill health

Headaches

Fatigue

Constipation

Bloating

Vaginal thrush

Increased sensitivity to perfumes, chemicals, tobacco smoke and mouldy tastes/smells

Feelings of irritability

Depression

Recurrent sore throats

Nasal congestion

Joint swelling and discomfort

If so you could well be suffering from this common yeast overgrowth known as Candida.

It is not hard to see why candida has increased during the twentieth century. The use of medicines, steroids, alcohol, sweet products has increased tremendously, even hormones are now fed to cattle and chicken. Unfortunately the presence of candida in the body weakens the immune system, which has to try and cope with the toxins produced by the yeast. The yeast takes over and turns into a nasty mycelial form, which sends out mycelia or roots which invade the rest of the body. This is where the long-term problems start as unpleasant symptoms are produced in the part of the body that the yeast takes control of.

THE FACTS. So What Is Candida?
Candida Albicans is a common yeast that lives naturally and in harmony in our intestines. In women it is also found in the vagina. It is kept in check by the beneficial bacteria that co-exist with it. However, under certain circumstances, it can become what is known as an 'opportunistic pathoge' and produce a wide array of symptoms.

THE FACTS. How Does It Get Out Of Hand?
There are several factors which can cause Candida Albicans to overgrow. Frequent use of steroidal drug s and antibiotics can depress the levels of beneficial bacteria. Oral contraceptives induce hormone changes which can increase Candida levels. Diets high in nutrients on which yeast thrive (i.e. sugars and other refined simple carbohydrates) encourage yeast overgrowth.

Factors which depress the immune system can allow the opportunistic pathogen to multiply -steroidal drug s, frequent infections and a poor diet in general.

THE FACTS. How Do I Know I've Got Candida?
Symptoms of Candida overgrowth can be very diverse. The yeast cells are thoug ht to have fungus-like properties and attach themselves to the intestines by 'roots'. This causes damage to the wall of the intestine making it 'leaky' and allowing particles of partially digested food to pass throug h into the blood stream.

This leads to an immune reaction and inflammation which causes symptoms like bloating, migraine, diarrhoea and other allergy type reactions. Bacteria can ferment undigested food particles which leads to further bloatedness and flatulence. Candida produces toxic by-products which weaken the already compromised immune system and leave the sufferer fatigued and drained.
One of the toxins is acetaldehyde, which is the same chemical found in excessive amounts in cheap wine and is responsible for hangovers. Many Candida sufferers often report feeling chronically 'hung over'.

THE FACTS. Other problems associated with Candida
Frequent nose, ear and throat infections, mood swings, pre-menstrual syndrome, muscular aches and pains and cravings for sweet sugary foods, as well as frequent urogenital infections including itching and discharge. There are various diagnostic tests available which are specifically designed for Candida overgrowth analysis. These tests could be used to confirm that you do indeed have a Candida problem.

THE FACTS. How Can I Treat Candida?
In order to bring candida under control naturally, various methods may be employed. A low yeast, low carbohydrate diet, coupled with nutritional supplements to help boost the immune system, along with natural antifungal agents to destroy the Candida, and probiotics (which are beneficial bacteria to help redress the balance of the gut) can all be used simultaneously.

THE FACTS. Anti-Candida Diet
A low yeast, low carbohydrate diet is one that eliminates all foods containing these substances - wine, vinegars, marmite and bread made with yeast. Carbohydrates are found in many foods - pasta, bread, biscuits, sweets, sugars, cakes and sugar itself. Speak to your health care practitioner for more information on such a diet.

THE FACTS. Boosting the Immune System
Nutritional supplements which help to boost the immune system are extremely important in an anti-Candida regime. Cat̢۪s Claw, an ancient herb from Peru, is a potent immune booster. Echinacea is another natural herb that has very good immune boosting properties.

Vitamin A, vitamin C and the mineral zinc may also help strengthen the immune system.

Natural Antifungal Supplements which contain natural anti-fungal agents like capryllic acid and oregano oil should also be employed during an anti-candida regime.

Garlic, citrus seed extract and Black Walnut are also three well known, antifungal agents. The simple culinary herbs oregano, basil and thyme may also be helpful in eliminating a yeast overgrowth.

Other nutrients such as niacin (B3), manganese and molybdenum may also be included as these help the body detoxify the bi-products of candida.

THE FACTS. Probiotics.
Lactobacillus acidophilus and lactobacillus bifidus are beneficial micro-organisms that help to keep Candida under control. When in good supply they aid digestion, produce certain vitamins and prevent Candida from proliferating. By taking these probiotics as a supplement, the normal balance of friendly bacteria can be restored and thus the Candida organism can be kept at bay.

Also, many Nutritionists believe that for most people a stringent Four Step Dietary and Nutritional Supplement programme (detailed below), may prove very effective in the eradication of the cause of the yeast overgrowth - in many cases restoring normal gut balance and a greatly improved quality of life.

STEP 1.
A STRICT YEAST AND sugar FREE DIET TO STARVE THE CANDIDA

The purpose of the anti-Candida diet is to starve the Candida to extinction. It thrives on the sugars and yeasts available in abundance from our diet. Take them away from it and it will soon start to die off. During this period it may prove beneficial to include a multi vitamin & mineral complex into your regime. This will supply base line nutrients your body needs to support the various functions in your body (like your liver and immune system) that will be working harder to deal with the effects of the dying Candida toxins. For food ideas, click here.

STEP 2.
WHEN THE CANDIDA STARTS TO DIE, THE LIVER AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM BOTH WORK MUCH HARDER AND THEREFORE NEED EXTRA NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

Once the anti-Candida diet starts the destruction of the bulk of the Candida fungus, the dying yeast cells create toxins in our blood stream which place a heavy burden on both our immune system and the workings of our liver. Supplements can help provide the nutritional 'building blocks' needed by each of these systems to help them function optimally when they are under load from the retreating Candida. It is very important that liver and immune system support be maintained throug hout the term of the anti-Candida regime.

STEP 3.
POTENT NUTRITIONAL FORMULATIONS DESIGNED TO ERADICATE THE CANDIDA YEASTS FROM THE GUT

Anti-fungal formulations are increasingly important in the treatment of Candidiasis as often it is so difficult to remove offending foods like sugar and yeasts from our diet completely. These anti-fungal supplements give us a helping hand.

STEP 4.
AFTER THE BATTLE IS OVER, IT'S TIME TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN!

The repopulation of the gut with friendly bacteria (probiotics) is crucial to maintain the proper balance enabling us to function optimally and create a defence against the threat of a resurgence of Candida in the future.