candida: tips to healed it.

By Rachel Freeman.

This article contains information and opinions of the writer, which do not necessarily reflect those of Bhuvaneswari teachings. Any advise accepted is solely the responsibility of the reader.
 
My relationship with candida overgrowth started in third year university.

The salad days of my youth were coming to an end. Life was good, and I was generally healthy.

However, I didn’t feel healthy. I was always tired, and seemed to always be fighting off a cold or a flu. I had constant sugar cravings. I would sometimes get a weird dry pastiness in my mouth. Something was off.

I had my family doctor run tests, but when the results came in, she would always reassure me that there was nothing was wrong with me. I saw another doctor, who told me the same. It was as if my symptoms were too subtle to be diagnosed by their tests.

Certain that “health” did not feel this way, I started to do my own research. It was at this time that I began to awaken to the world of natural healing.


What is Candida Overgrowth?

Candida Albicans is a form of yeast that lives in the digestive tract (as well as on our skin and in a woman’s vagina). The presence of candida albicans is normal, when it exists in balance with other favourable intestinal microorganisms. However, when this delicate balance is disrupted, it can lead to the overgrowth of the candida albicans yeast.

You may be familiar with probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus,  which help us to get more nutrients out of the food we eat. Candida albicans actually has the opposite effect in the digestive tract, inhibiting the proper assimilation of nutrients and releasing toxic by-products into the body.

An overgrowth of this yeast weakens the immune and endocrine systems, inhibiting its ability to respond to viruses or other harmful substances which naturally occur in our environments. Often, an over-presence of yeast can lead to a hyper-allergic state, where the body recognizes everything foreign as dangerous.

Systemic candidasis is when the yeast spreads beyond the digestive tract into other organs of the body. When this yeast is allowed to thrive, it can wreak havoc on your overall system.


Symptoms of Candida

The symptoms of high levels of candida growth may include:

• food allergies or environmental sensitivities; or, a hyper-allergic state;
• frequent colds or general low immunity;
• chronic fatigue; mental sluggishness or confusion;
• digestive disorders, including abdominal bloating, acid reflux, chronic constipation and fat intolerance;
• skin eruptions, including acne, rashes, and recurrent fungal infections (ie. athlete’s foot)
• severe PMS
• recurring headaches or migraines;
• loss of sex drive; chronic vaginitis, prostatis or anal itching;
• cravings for sweets or yeasted breads;
• anxiety; panic; depression; insomnia; irritability; mood swings;

The Causes of Systemic Candida

• a high-sugar, acid-forming, low-mineral diet.
• anti-biotics, which kill off favourable micro-organisms in the digestive tract (both prescription and in our food sources)
• birth control pills or other prescription drugs
• overuse of raw foods, foods that are too sweet or salty, alcoholic beverages or other intoxicants, yeasted breads, etc.
• stress, anxiety and worry

• environmental toxins, including chemical exposure (ie. chlorine)
• general weakened immune system
• sexual interactions with an infected partner

Candida Cleanse Tips

1.   If this is your first candida cleanse, the help of a nutritionist or natural health practitioner is recommended.

2.            Follow the principles of proper food combining.  Eat simple meals (few ingredients) and allow at least 3 hours between meals.  Eat fresh foods, and as much as possible, avoid microwaved foods and leftovers (over 24 hrs) !

3.            Eliminate all yeast-feeding foods for at least 6 weeks, or whenever conditions are exacerbated. This includes:

• all sweeteners (sugar, agave, maple syrup, honey, etc) except stevia
• alcohol
• dairy
• all fruit (some can tolerate small amounts of berries or pomegranate)
• all yeast, flour products and grains. Millet, quinoa and amaranth are exceptions. Small amounts of rice may be tolerated.
• starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, yams and squash and nightshades (eggplant and peppers)
• foods that are difficult to digest, such as nuts, seeds, avocados, oils and other fatty foods are best avoided or used sparingly.
• restrict salt intake.

4.            Meals should aim for a balance of 70% vegetables with 30% grain.

5.            Avoid overeating. This is especially difficult with candida, as the yeast often triggers cravings for more.

6.            Colon cleansing: colonic irrigation and/or enema treatments are very important, if not essential.

7.            Oxygen therapy can also be helpful and pleasant, especially in winter months. learn more about this therapy.

8.            For women, vaginal douching (either with apple cider vinegar or with tea tree oil) can be helpful in restoring the acidic conditions in the vagina, especially after intercourse or during a healing reaction. Acidophillus inserts are also available in some natural health food stores. To deal with vaginitis or persistent jock itch, apply sesame oil with a few drops of tea tree oil to irritated skin.

9.            Go to bed on an empty stomach (at least 3 hours after your last meal).

Anti-Candida Diet : Foods to Favour

• Choose foods that are alkalanizing, rather than acidic.

• Start the day off right. When you wake up, drink a tall glasses of warm or room temperature water, and follow with a cup of hot water with freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice. Allow at least 30 minutes before having breakfast.
• Non-starchy vegetables: asparagus, zucchini, beets, carrots, dandelion greens, rapini, leeks, kale, endives, fennel. Lightly cooked sprouts are also great, especially alfalfa (avoid mung sprouts). It’s helpful to have 1 cup of leafy greens/day, either steamed or sauteed in ghee and ginger.

• Millet, quinoa and amaranth. It is best to soak these grains for a few hours before cooking.

• Cooked mung beans (detoxifying) and azuki beans (dry dampness)

• Oils: cold pressed organic olive oil, coconut oil, flax oil and ghee are good.

• Pau d’arco tea - Bring 1 L of water to a boil, add 3 tbsp of the herb and simmer for 20 minutes. The tea does not have a strong flavour so you can mix it with other herbs, such as mint or cinnamon. Burdock tea is also helpful.

• Chlorophyll and micro-algae: spirulina, wheatgrass, chlorella, blue-green algae, etc.

• On salad, choose lemon or lime juice with a good quality olive oil. Herbs or a little salt can be added, to taste.

• Homemade vegetable soups

• Chia, sunflower, flax and pumpkin seeds, soaked overnight.

• Ocean vegetables (such as wakame, dulse, nori, etc), rinsed and soaked -- great for thyroid and immune system.

• Fermented foods, such as miso and tempeh or homemade kefir, can be eaten 1-2 times per week if symptoms are not severe.

• 1/2 tsp of baking soda ( aluminum-free) in water (for reducing stomach acidity), taken 1 hour before and/or 3 hours after meals for 3 days. (Some online recipes recommend mixing the baking soda with maple syrup -- not as delicious as it sounds but can be experimented with)

• Homemade raw cultured vegetables (for rebuilding intestinal flora when candida is less acute) : shred 1 cabbage, 1 head of kale and 3 carrots into a food processor. Add 1 tsp of dried dill seeds and soaked dulse. Take 1 cup of this mixture and blend with ½ cup of filtered water. Jar and let sit for 3-7 days at room temperature. Refrigerate. Enjoy a few tablespoons every day, either on a salad or on its own.

• Herbs and spices include cayenne, ginger, turmeric, fennel, basil, clove, cinnamon, coriander, dill and oregano.

• Take a good quality daily pro-biotic. Digestive enzymes are also helpful.

• Experiment! Rebuilding intestinal health requires a great deal of patience. Finding foods that nourish you and taste good is essential to your good health. 

References (also great resources) :

Pitchford, Paul (1993). Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition (3rd edition). North Atlantic Books (CA).

Gates, Donna & Shatz, Linda (1996). The Body Ecology Diet: Recovering Your Health and Rebuilding Your Immunity. Hay House Inc.

Lad, Vasant, B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc.. (1998). The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies. Three Rivers Press (NY)
 Alkalize for life: www.squidoo.com/alkalizeforlife

 Baking soda & maple syrup vs. cancer www.rexresearch.com/articles2/nacarbmapsyr.htm