Candida & Your Health

Candida & Your Health

 

Candida Albicans is yeast that normally lives within your body, but can cause trouble when it becomes prolific as it makes many people feel sick, sometimes acutely.  Everyone has this form of yeast normally found in the lower bowels, vagina, and skin. 

In healthy individuals with strong immune systems it is harmless and kept in check by the good bacteria (Bifidobacteria & acidophilus).  If, however, the balance of the intestinal environment is altered by a compromised immune system or other factors then opportunistic Candida proliferates, infecting other body tissues. 

The Candida becomes pathogenic, transforming a simple yeast into an aggressive (mycelial) fungus that can severely compromise one’s health. 

This condition is known as Candidiasis. 

This yeast can then cause a variety of health disorders such as fatigue, headaches, depression, PMS, hyperactivity, skin disorders, digestive problems, and more.

Candidiasis can affect areas of the body far removed from Candida colonization in the GI tract & vagina.  It’s symptoms can cover a broad spectrum and the condition can cause a number of diseases ranging from allergies, vaginitis & thrush (a whitish fungus in the mouth and/or the vagina), to an invasion of the genital-urinary tract, eyes, liver, heart, or central nervous system.  At it’s most destructive, Candidiasis is also involved in auto-immune diseases such as Addison’s disease and AIDS. 

Other symptoms of Candidiasis include digestive problems such as bloating & cramping, wheezing, earaches, central nervous system imbalances, generalized fatigue and loss of libido.

The likely candidate of Candida overgrowth is someone whose medical history includes: Any autoimmune disorder or Cancer, Prolonged or repeated use of antibiotics (most commonly given for urinary, ear infections, sinusitis, bronchitis), steroid hormone medication (cortisone or corticosteroids), often prescribed for skin conditions such as rashes, eczema, or psoriasis; ulcer medications (Tagamet & Zentac); Stress, high sugar intake and oral contraceptives.  Certain illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, MS, and AIDS almost always increase susceptibility to Candida overgrowth. 

If you suspect you may have a Candida overgrowth (or simply want to investigate) there is plenty you can do about it, I find that the best direction to go in is Naturopathic medicine.  Treating Candidiasis is a regular part of a Naturopath’s practice, and they are able to tailor a treatment plan to suit the individual they are treating.