Candida Yeast - How to Get Rid of It

One out of every three Americans suffer from health-related problems as a result of candida yeast syndrome. At least that is the opinion of Alan Levin, a prominent University of California immunologist. Other scientists believe candida yeast is linked to AIDS, allergies and cancer. Others have even suggested that fibromyalgia is simply a symptom of uncontrolled candida.

So What is Candida Albicans?

Candidiasis is not a disease in its own right, rather it is more of a condition which indicates an internal imbalance. Its symptoms may overshadow the presence of other serious diseases. If your immune system is overwhelmed in dealing with candidiasis, it does not have enough energy left to combat these other critical illnesses.”

About 400 species of microorganisms live in our gastrointestinal tract. These microorganisms are beneficial and necessary for a properly functioning digestive system. Candida albicans is one of the friendly yeasts that lives in the healthy human gut assisting in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Another tiny organism, Lactobacullus Acidophilus, competes with candida for food and space. It also releases an acid in the intestines that makes the environment less favorable to candida, thus helping to keep candida under control. All things being equal, these 400 species of microorganisms live together and keep each other in balance.

When antibiotics are taken to fight infections, they have the unfortunate habit of killing the good bacteria, like Acidophilus, with the bad. Add the misuse of other anti-inflammatory drugs, chlorinated water, and a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar, and you create the ideal environment for candida to thrive and multiply out of control. Another factor is the female hormone progesterone, which directly stimulates the growth of candida and makes women more susceptible to candidiasis than men. This hormone is elevated during pregnancy and in the second half of menstruation. Oral contraceptives use progesterone as one of their ingredients and vaginal yeast infections are often the result.

Candida yeast is a very old form of life and through millions of years has perfected its ability to adapt and proliferate. Uncontrolled, it changes from its yeast-like form to a more unfriendly fungal form and attaches to the walls of the intestines. It grows long roots that penetrate the walls and breaks down the barrier between the intestines and the blood stream. Candida starts to steal nutrients meant for the body's nourishment, especially sugars, and it produces 79 different kinds of toxins. Because the intestine's wall has been penetrated, these toxins, and candida itself, have access to the blood stream and move almost anywhere in the body.

In addition, dietary proteins that now go undigested can travel through the blood stream attacking the immune system. This can cause the immune system to produce large amounts of antibodies which can cause a variety of allergies. Since candida is very difficult to diagnose in the body, it is responsible for many ailments that seem to have no cause.

Symptoms Associated with Candida Yeast

When candida enters the blood stream it can end up nearly anywhere in the body and it has a tendency to find weaknesses. Many Americans experience symptoms of candida everyday and aren't aware of it. Some of these symptoms are:

Central Nervous System Problems - chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), headaches, dizziness, depression, anxiety and weakness.

Respiratory Problems – asthma and rhinitis

Gynecologic Problems – recurring vaginititis and prostatitis, PMS, low sex drive, and menstrual irregularities.

Gastrointestinal Problems – Irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms of bloating and excessive gas, constipation, diarrhea, chronic indigestion, abdominal pain.

Muscular Problems – swelling, weakness and aching of the joints and muscles

Skin Problems – chronic skin rashes (eczema, psoriasis), athletes foot, fungus infections of the nails

Other Problems – immune disorders, yeast infections, mood swings, irritability, difficulty concentrating, bad breath and body odor.

The Candida Yeast Syndrome Test

Many of the symptoms listed above cover a wide range of illnesses. Since many disorders can cause similar symptoms, please check with your physician to rule out these other causes.

How does someone know whether or not they are associated with the presence of too much candida. Well, take the Candida Yeast Syndrome test. Keep track of the number of Yes and No answers

1. Have you ever taken antibodies on a frequent basis?

2. Have you ever been troubled by premenstrual tension, abdominal pain, menstrual problems, vaginitis, or loss of sexual interest?

3. Does exposure to tobacco, perfume, pesticides, household cleaners, and other chemical odors provoke moderate to severe symptoms?

4. Do you crave sugar, breads, or alcoholic beverages?

5. Do you have recurrent digestive problems?

6. Do you experience fatigue, depression, poor memory or nervous tension?

7. Are you bothered by hives, psoriasis, or other chronic skin rashes?

8. Have you ever taken birth control pills?

9.Are you bothered by headaches, poor coordination or pains in muscles or joints?

10. Do you feel bad all over without any apparent cause?

If you answered "yes" three or four times, yeast may play a role in causing your symptoms. If you answered "yes" five or six times, yeast probably plays a role in causing your symptoms. If you have seven or eight “yes” answers then yeast is very likely connected.

The above test has been adapted from the Book, “The Yeast Connection, by William G. Crook M.D.” Copyright 1985

How to Get Rid of Candida

Controlling Candida Yeast is a four step program that takes about four months time. There may be other methods to control candida, but this one is the one that I am familiar with and therefore it is the one described here. Since antibiotics may have a role in causing Candida problems, none are used in this program. Before you start, please acquire all the ingredients that are described. The four steps described below are to be done at the same time.

Step one - Starve the Yeast

This involves the diet. Start with the elimination of sugars (including most fruits and their juices) and refined carbohydrates (bread, pastries, cookies, cakes, candy) for the four months of the regime. In addition to the elimination of sugar, avoid dairy (except yogurt and butter), pop, coffee, tea, white flour products and honey.

Omit fermented foods such as vinegar and alcohol, and any foods, like leftovers, that produces mold quickly. No mushrooms or peanuts.

Step two - Kill The Yeast

At the same time that the yeast is being starved in step one, it is also being killed in step two. Remember all the steps are being completed at the same time.

Use three of the following yeast killers one after the other. In other words, use the Candida Busters Kit first and when it is finished start the Pau D'Arco next. Use it for six weeks then switch to the Olive Leaf Extract or one of the last three options. The reason it is done this way is because candida adapts very quickly and becomes immune to any given treatment. By switching the killing methods the candida doesn't have time to adapt.

1. Candida Busters Kit X 2

2. Pau D'Arco – two capsules early morning on an empty stomach, and again in the evening.

3. Olive Leaf Extract – one between each meal or:

4. Oregacyn (oregano oil concentrate) one at breakfast and bedtime or:

5. Garlic – one or two per meal.

Stepthree -Replenish The Friendly Bacteria

At the same time as the first two steps, also start step three. Take one Optiflora Probiotic capsule with ½ - 1 teaspoon of Optiflora Prebiotic powder in ½ glass of water or a little yogurt daily. For severe gas problems, repeat once more later in the day. If the bowels become too loose omit the powder.

Consider consuming traditionally cultured foods (sauerkraut and other fermented/pickled vegetables/fruits). These contain beneficial bacteria that re-colonize the intestines and assist in the breakdown and absorption of food

Note on Optiflora Probiotic: This the name of a probiotic that is produced by Shaklee corporation. It supplies 500 million beneficial organisms (bifidus and acidophilus) to the intestines. Probiotics are useless if they get destroyed by the acid in the stomach as so many of them do. This is why an Optiflora capsule has a triple encapsulation that prevents it from opening until it reaches the lower intestines.

Step four - Repair The Damaged Tissue

Health care professionals routinely notice that people who have chronic yeast infections also have nutritional deficiencies. Stage four involves nutritional support to rebuild the damaged tissue brought on by candidiasis.This is to be performed at the same time as the other three stages.

Vita Lea Multivitamin - 1 or 2 at breakfast and 1 or 2 with supper

Vita C 500 – 1 or 2 with breakfast and bedtime

Calcium/magnesium – 2 at bedtime (if constipated 2 more at bedtime)

Herbal laxative – 2 or 3 at bedtime

Alfalfa – 2 or more at each meal and bedtime. Alfalfa is natures multivitamin. If multivitamins are not possible with your budget then alfalfa makes a good alternative.

B-Complex – 1 or 2 with snacks or meals

CarotoMax – 1 each day

GLA – 2 each day

OmegaGuard – 1 each meal

Vita E - 400 - 1 each day

Soy Protein Mix – 2 Tbsp. With breakfast in a shake/cereal/yogurt.

Cinch Shake – Use the unflavoured until the 3^rd week, then use 1 scoop of the Cinch in soy/almond milk or water.

Please Note: The products listed above are Shaklee Nutritional Products. They are included here because they are the best bio-available nutritional products on the market. You can replace the items from the list above with other brand name supplements if you have prejudices in favor of them. Before you do that, please read my Hub entitled, “Why the Landmark Nutritional Study is Important to You.”

Second Note: The products listed in stage two can be found in health food stores and sometimes pharmacies. Some can also be purchased through the Amazon listings below.

Third Note: It takes time to heal from this debilitating condition and re-balance the body. Patience and persistence are the keys to dealing with this, or any other chronic illness. It is common to feel worse in the first month as the body rids itself of toxins and other garbage at the cellular level. This is sometimes referred to as a healing crisis, but this is a good sign indicating that toxins are leaving the body. This process is also called re-tracing, and it is the first step to wellness.

As with any new health regime, it is always advisable to consult your physician.