Candida

HOW TO DEAL WITH CANDIDA

Candida issues are often related to our sugar intake and is suspected to be at the root of many modern ailments. Learn what to do if you are diagnosed with this condition by taking the important steps below.
Brain fog, bloating, seasonal allergies, acne and skin conditions – these are just a few symptoms that can be linked to Candida albicans overgrowth. Many of us don’t realize the direct correlation between what we eat on a daily basis and some of these mild complaints, or that they can evolve into some more serious symptoms and issues down the road.

CUT OUT SUGAR AND REFINED CARBS

Sugar and refined carbs both feed yeast. I know we all love these foods but they feed candida like crazy. Try cutting out your refined carbs and instead learn how to enjoy whole foods and fewer starches so that you are not feeding the candida on a daily basis. Everyone is different – some people can eat fruit and not have a candida flare up, while others can’t even bite into an apple without feeling sick. Start by cutting out all sugar and refined carbs and see how you feel. There is a very specific way to do this: Take notes daily on your progress and try slowly adding foods back into your lifestyle to see if they trigger any symptoms. What many people do not realize is that you can eat a food today and react to it 72 hours later with something as minor as a headache. That’s what makes food sensitivities so difficult to pinpoint, but with some dedication and journaling, you can connect the dots to what’s going on with your immune system and wipe out candida for good.

REMOVE ALCOHOL

Alcohol feeds yeast. End of story. I know it is not what you want to hear but it’s true. It’s not ideal to think you are going to stop partying when you’re in your 20s and 30s, living in the city, but your health and wellbeing will suffer until you start to cut out all alcohol.

CUT OUT FERMENTED FOODS

Yes, fermented foods are wonderful if you have a healthy gut, but I learned I was feeding my bad bacteria by eating the fermented foods! So, if your gut bacteria is out of balance, eating fermented foods such as miso, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, etc., can do more harm than good. This is why it’s important to get a stool test from a functional medicine doctor to tell you what is going on with the bacteria in your gut. The candida and bad bacteria feed off of fermented foods so my best advice is to stop listening to what everyone else is telling you is ‘good’ for you and listen to your own body. We are all very different and every food interacts uniquely with our immune systems.

REDUCE YOUR STRESS

Stress will surely add to candida overgrowth. Plus, if you have an illness, virus, or candida, your body is already under a lot of stress. Even if you feel relaxed with your yoga, meditation, etc., organs, immune system and endocrine system can be stressed out to the max trying to fight off everything. This stress then leads to other issues such as adrenal fatigue, hypothyroidism, leaky gut and more. It is a vicious cycle.

ALTERNATIVES TO DRUGS

Since oral contraceptives and antibiotics will lead to an increase of yeast in your body, talk to your nutritionist about alternatives. So, it is important to keep your body healthy and to be mindful of how you are feeling and what is going on in your body on a daily basis so you can get control of candida before it becomes out of control.