by Larisa Belote
Candida overgrowth is a fungal infection that affects millions of Americans. Most doctors won’t recognize it until the infection turns into painful thrush or recurring yeast infections. Even then, most docs will simply prescribe one prescription medication after another without addressing the root cause.
The truth is, most people don’t need another anti-fungal pharmaceutical. Your body does need a certain number of fungi and bacteria to thrive. It’s when one of these organisms starts proliferating out of control that the symptoms begin and become worse over time. It is essential to address fungal overgrowth naturally and holistically, to bring the body and the microbiome into balance. What is Candida?
Candida Albicans (or candida) is a pathogenic yeast that exists in the human body. In of itself, it does not cause problems simply by existing, but when candida overgrows, it causes various symptoms and ailments that interfere with health and wellbeing.
Symptoms of candida overgrowth (also known as candidiasis) can include brain fog, chronic fatigue, joint pain, depression and anxiety, sugar cravings, digestive issues, white coating on the tongue, skin and nail fungal infections, recurring urinary tract and vaginal yeast infections and hypothyroidism.
Candida is an opportunistic organism. It will take advantage of particular environments to thrive (to grow) which is primarily rooted in consuming foods, medications, or lifestyle habits that lead to a microbial imbalance in the body. Some examples might be taking antibiotics, oral contraceptives, consuming high amounts of alcohol, refined sugars and foods and high levels of stress.
5 Steps to Combat Candida
1. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet with foods that are low in sugar. Foods that promote gut healing and contain good bacteria (like fermented foods) to encourage balance in the body and reducing candida overgrowth. Apple cider vinegar, organic and pasture-raised meats, bone broth, greens (leafy and cruciferous), coconut oil, garlic, turmeric and ginger are best foods to eat for candida.
2. Avoid foods that encourage insulin spikes and promote inflammation. Sugar, artificial sweeteners, fruit juices, soda, grains and refined flour, conventional dairy, refined oils like canola, soybean, safflower or margarine, peanuts, additives like nitrates and/or sulfates are all foods that promote candida overgrowth.
3. Take supplements that help fight off candida & support immune system like probiotics, vitamin C, magnesium, pau d ’arco, olive leaf, oregano oil, clove oil and astragalus root.
4. Sleep. Quality sleep is imperative to healing everything. During sleep, the body can spend its energy on regenerating, fighting off pathogens and improves immune system.
5. Manage Stress. It is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and important at managing candida overgrowth. Stress weakens the immune system which promotes an imbalance of bacteria in the body and allows candida to flourish.
Stress can be in physical, chemical, or emotional form. Being mindful of stress requires a holistic approach that deals with mind and body. Exercising excessively or insufficiently can both burden the body’s stress response. Toxic chemicals that are found in food, household cleaning products, or body care products can add on to body stress. Coping with emotional stress by setting boundaries and cultivating inner peace through mindfulness techniques helps calm and reset the nervous system.
Candida is a natural fungus that lives in the body but can wreak havoc if it begins to overgrow. Candida overgrowth can heal naturally using a multitherapeutic holistic approach that targets diet, supplementation, and lifestyle.
Larisa Belote, Health Practitioner/Certified Detox Specialist, is a strong believer that your body is a smart machine and can heal itself given a chance and the right set of tools. Contact Larisa to set up a 20-minute Free Consultation to determine a multi-therapeutic approach that would work best for you so you can heal and get your life back. Call/Text 732.996.6993 or email: larisa@stepbystep-wellness.com. Visit http://stepbystep-wellness.net/the-stemnomic-solution
