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Suffering from ongoing Fatigue? You probably have Candida
By Bronwen E. Roberts
Most women suffer a Candida infection in their lifetime, and some of these infections are inherent and recurring. Candida is a type of yeast that we naturally have present in our digestive tract, and if kept in check it causes no harm. Problems arise when it is allowed to overgrow in our systems and starts to contribute to digestive symptoms such as IBS, bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhoea. Candida can also get into the urinary tract and vagina, leading to cystitis and thrush.
We have about 3-4lb of live bacteria in our guts. Ideally this should be made up of about 80% "friendly" bacteria and 20% "bad" bacteria. The "friendly" bacteria help keep the "bad" bacteria in check, but can be damaged by antibiotics, sugar, stress and refined foods. When there is an overgrowth of "bad" bacteria, the "friendly" become depleted and Candida grows wild, producing a multitude of symptoms such as acne, eczema, ear infections, PMS, headaches, fatigue and even contribute to depression and in some cases, life-threatening systemic fungal disease.
Are you Displaying any Signs
There are various signs and symptoms to look out for (besides the fact that you feel rotten most of the time…). Do you crave sweet things including bread or pastries and fried foods? Constipation is a biggie, as is persistent diarrhea. Are you tired when you wake up in the morning and during the day? Do you experience mood swings, crying spells, depression, PMS, menstrual pain and loss of sex drive? Is your mind sometimes hazy and it's difficult to make decisions. Do you struggle to lose weight no matter how hard you try? After a meal you are bloated and have gas or wind? Constant headaches, body pains, athlete's foot, psoriasis, eczema and chronic dermatitis - these are all signs that you could have Candida. It's important to realize that these symptoms are not going to go away by themselves and not every headache or ache can be attributed to stress. You don't have to exist feeling horrible and wondering why? Many women, and sometimes men, suffer from Candida and there is a way to sort it out.
How to Reduce Candida
As well as anti-fungal drugs and eliminating antibiotics, diet is an important part of most Candida treatment programmes. The purpose of a Candida reduction diet is to eliminate sugary starchy foods that "feed" the yeast infestation, by sticking with a restricted foods list. Once you get on the anti-Candida diet you can expect to see an improvement within 2-4 weeks. Once you have the Candida under control then you can slowly start adding restricted foods back into your diet, but you'll need to be vigilant about recurring symptoms. You are what you eat [link] and that's a fact!
The Anti-Candida Diet
The biggest thing to remove is sugars, because they feed the Candida; so all foods containing sugar: cakes biscuits, soft drinks, sweets and chocolate must be eliminated from your diet. Also honey, molasses, syrup, malt and malted foods, fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, dextrose and treacle – all of these can feed Candida in the gut. Start reading food labels and if you see anything that ends in "ose" such as maltose, dextrose, sucrose or even maltodextrin, keep away.
Foods that contain yeast should be completely eliminated. Foods like bread, beer, wine, cheese, pizza, Marmite, Bovril – look on labels to avoid "yeast extract", a common flavouring. Eliminate most dairy from your diet. Dairy foods should be removed from the diet because Candida can reduce the body's ability to digest fats which can result in a build up of fatty acids in your system.
Fermented products: alcoholic drinks, vinegar and foods with vinegar, soy sauce, mustard and chutney. Stay away from mushrooms, Brie cheese and moldy or mold-containing foods. Tea and coffee which stimulate and raise blood sugar levels release sugar to feed the Candida.
Preservatives, colourings and artificial flavours: MSG (Monosodium glutamate) is in much processed and take-away food. Read foods labels very carefully for hidden ingredients. All refined carbohydrates – white bread, pasta, rice and other grains. Foods with high gluten: breads, flour products, grains and pastas (All create too much gluten in the body which in turn creates natural sugars that again, feed the parasites.)
Eat to Combat Candida
Include meat like fish, lamb, chicken, turkey, eggs, and seafood. Eat a diet consisting mainly of fresh or cooked vegetables such as broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, garlic, greens, spinach; highly coloured vegetables and fruits such as carrots, and watercress which contain compounds that soothe the gut. (except "sweet" ones like beets, parsnips, sweet potatoes and yams)
Low gluten Grains: Millet and buckwheat; depending on the level of Candida brown rice and corn can be introduced, rice cakes, and non-flour grain breads. Non-sweet fruits: lemons, limes, cranberries (later on grapefruit may be included) Selected dairy products: Butter, ghee, plain yogurt, goats milk, (limited) farmer cheese, white cheeses)
Oils: (organic, unrefined, expeller-pressed) fish, olive, canola, pumpkin, sunflower, safflower, flax, lecithin, grape seed. Nuts and Seeds: almonds (soaked is best), almond butter, sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, flax. Cinnamon, cloves, garlic, rosemary, oregano and turmeric all have anti-Candida properties and can help keep the gut clean of unwanted problems. They are a good alternative to fermented flavourings like soy in cooking.
Lemon juice instead of vinegar for cooking and use in dressings. Fresh herbs such as basil, coriander and parsley, sauerkraut, lemon, ginger and peppermint tea all help good digestion and encourage the growth of good bacteria.
Taking a "probiotic" supplement that contains the good bacteria can be very beneficial, either as a capsule or a probiotic drink.
It is important to see a nutritionist or dietician if you suspect that you may have a Candida overgrowth, but the following advice can help to look after your good bacteria and stop feeding the Candida:
Candida needs feeding regularly and cutting off its food supply can cause it to give off loads of toxins as it dies off. These can make you feel really awful and crave the foods that feed it like sugar and yeast. If this happens, it is quite likely that you have a Candida overgrowth, so persevere and seek professional help.
About the Author
Get in touch with You are What You Eat to find out exactly how to tackle symptoms that occur in your daily life. Expert health advice is available: articles that cover everything from 'how to beat insomnia' to 'diabetes tips' and 'how to maintain a clear skin.' Getting and staying healthy is not easy for most people, but with the right information at hand you can fight off most illness successfully.
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