What is Candida?

Candida Albicans is a type of yeast and one of those “health concerns” most doctors do not recognising arguing that candida will always be found in the bowel.  Yet, public understanding of this condition has continued to grow. 
It is true that Candida does live in the bowel, however it can easily get out of control if the balance of beneficial bacteria in the body and/or the immune system become compromised.  Beneficial bacteria can be significantly reduced in number due to antibiotics, steroids, antacids, the contraceptive pill, excess sugar, alcohol and refined foods.
Candida may be able to change from a local infection to a fungal form penetrating the gut wall, resulting in yeast and other unwanted particles passing through into the blood stream when they shouldn’t be able to.  It is believed that this over burdens the immune system.
My personal feeling is that it is a sometimes overly diagnosed condition and can easily be confused with other symptoms.  These days many people don't believe the diet needs to be quite as strict as that recommended by William Crooke who first came up with the anti-candida diet.1

Symptoms that can be linked to Candida

• Foggy brain
• Cystitis
• Feel drained, depleted or exhausted
• Numbness, burning, tingling
• Stomach pain
• Ear Infections
• Joint pain or swelling
• Muscle aching or weakness
• Constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, or belching
• Bothersome or persistent vaginal itching, burning, or discharge
• Prostatitis
• Erectile dysfunction
• Loss of sexual desire
• Asthma
• Allergies
• Menstrual irregularity or cramping
• Cold hands and feet, feel chilly
• Anal itching

Diagnosing Candida

Because it can be a gruelling diet and also involve some months of perseverance, I would personally recommend a laboratory test to confirm the presence of a past or present Candida infection and ideally working alongside a Nutritional Therapist. I would also recommend you see your doctor to check there are no other underlying reasons for your symptoms.
Too many people who “go it alone” spend many month’s on the diet without much improvement because they have failed to realise that they need to address the root cause of their symptoms, deal with other factors and to eliminate food intolerances and heal the gut.
Nutritional Therapists will usually recommend an individually prescribed programme using diet and supplements.  There needs to be a cautious approach as symptoms known as “die-off” or the Herxheimer reaction may occur if one is too aggressive at the outset.  This reaction occurs because when Candida is eliminated, it releases toxins that can create additional detoxification work for the liver and also overload the immune system.
Having said all of this, people may initially feel worse during the first two weeks with improvements usually being observed after 2 to 4 weeks.

If you would like to arrange a test please call Fiona on 01728 720736.

The Anti-Candida Diet

All sugars, yeast, alcohol, refined, marmite, pizza based, croissants,  and fermented foods should be avoided whilst on the diet with fruit being avoided for the first month but then being reintroduced thereafter but only in small amounts and of low glycaemic value.  Any foods that have mould on their outside i.e. raspberries, grapes and some cheeses should also be avoided.  Cured meats are also considered to be a no no as well.

Foods to be eaten liberally are vegetables, fish, meat, seeds, soda bread, nuts in their shells ideally (easy in December and January) but otherwise small amounts of raw unadulterated nuts, oat cakes, ryevita, lentils, beans, cottage and feta cheese, all grains, olive oil and Xylitol.

Supplements to help with Candida

Probiotics

These are the beneficial bacteria known as Acidophillus and Bifidobacteria  that live in the gut and help to make the intestinal environment more acid which helps to discourage candida and also helps to crowd it out.
 
Fiber

One teaspoon to one tablespoon of soluble fiber containing guar gum, psyllium husks, flaxseeds or pectin can be mixed in an 8 oz glass of water two times per day on an empty stomach.

Anti-Fungal Supplements

Cinnamon, Caprylic Acid, Aloe Vera, Garlic, Citricidal, Cloves, Oregano can also be helpful for helping to eliminate Candida.

see our Nutition Link Candida and Parasite Formula on our products page

Also consider NutritionLink's Liver Detox Formula when following an anti candida program