Candida is a strain of fungus that typically inhabits the digestive tract, but can spread throughout the body through the bloodstream. It produces acetaldehyde, a metabolic byproduct, which damages DNA in cells and can lead to oxidative stress.
There are several factors that lead to candidiasis and the most common include use of antibiotics, use of birth control pills, alcohol, drugs, stress or excessive sugar intake. It affects over 75% women, 10% of which lead to pathogenic conditions. Candida yeast overgrowth can lead to many different health problems, from digestive issues to depression. Other health complications include exhaustion, abdominal bloating, fuzzy thinking, muscle weakness, joint pains, congested sinuses, loss of interest in sex, a craving for sweets, and recurring vaginal infections. In women, candida overgrowth triggers premenstrual syndrome (PMS), decreased libido, recurrent vaginal yeast infection, vulvar itching and pain, whereas in men, prostate and bladder infections.
Still, a healthy diet and some lifestyle changes can do wonders in suppressing candida proliferation.
CANDIDA HOME TEST
If you often experience these symptoms, you don’t immediately need to call your doctor. Luckily, there’s a quick test you can do at home that shows whether you have candida yeast overgrowth. If the test is positive, then it calls for medical attention.
According to the Florida State Center for Testing Candida Infections, the best time to do this test is immediately upon waking up in the morning. The steps are:
1# Before brushing your teeth, work up some saliva in your mouth.
2# Get a clean, transparent glass and fill it up with some tap water (around 3/4 full).
3# Spit out into the glass with water inside. Make sure you leave the glass on a level surface for 10-15 minutes.
4# Wait and watch for the results.
Your saliva will remain floating on the surface, which is completely normal. However, if the following appears within 15 minutes, it’s a sign of the presence of Candida in your body.
These 3 signs can indicate the presence of Candida in your body:
- There are strings running down from the saliva. What you see are actually colonies of fungi that connect into strands. Contact your doctor and start treatment immediately.
- The water has turned cloudy/has cloudy specks, which sink slowly.
- The saliva has sunk to the bottom of the glass.
HOW CAN YOU TREAT CANDIDA NATURALLY
The first step you need to take when treating this condition is add fermented foods such as sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, because they are excellent sources of beneficial intestinal flora that will destroy bad fungi, improve digestion, strengthen your immune system and eliminate sugar cravings.
Eating organically grown products is also important because these have fewer toxins and more antioxidants, vitamins and minerals than conventionally grown produce.
In addition, coconut oil, almonds, pumpkin seeds, lemon juice and lime juice, seaweed, garlic, onion, ginger and cayenne pepper prevent candida growth. All of the above contain antifungal and antimicrobial properties that help to create a favorable pH so that the blood becomes more alkaline, rather than acidic.
Last, but not least, cutting out sugar from your diet is also important. This includes natural sugar found in dairy products and fruits (except lemon juice), honey and various syrups. This fungus feeds on sugar, and your goal is to starve Candida to death. As the fungus slowly disappears, you can feel some of the negative side-effects caused by metabolic by-products. Symptoms such as nausea, fever, swollen glands, acne and headaches are a sign that the new diet works, so it’s important not to give up at this point!
Source: Healthy Food Team
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