What is Candida?
According to homeopath Melanie Grimes' article in Natural News, Candida is a common yeast that lives in the colons of up to 100 percent of the population. Though many people live healthfully with Candida in their digestive system, too much Candida can have serious health effects. Candida can increase symptoms common with food allergies, asthma, hay fever and hives, can lead to depression and memory loss, and can cause digestive issues like heartburn, diarrhea, gas, colitis and bloating. In women, too much Candida can perpetuate yeast infections and other reproductive issues.
Where does Candida come from?
Though Candida can be present in healthy individuals' bodies, its levels can increase in a variety of ways. The use of antibiotics has been suspected of triggering Candida growth, as it kills healthy gut flora. A similar situation would be that of a yeast infection - women being treated with antibiotics often need to take probiotics, or they run the likelihood of developing the condition. Oral contraceptives, alcohol consumption and excess amounts of sugar in the diet are also suspected to increase Candida growth.
How to help reduce Candida in your colon
There are many ways to reduce the amount of Candida living in your colon. Many health professionals recommend cutting out sugar, which Candida thrives upon. Eating a plant-based - or even better, raw - diet can also help give your body the probiotics it needs to maintain a healthy digestive system. Western herbal products, probiotics, and a diet rich in plant-based nutrition and fiber are the best remedies for Candida overgrowth. Fiber is especially helpful because it helps reduce yeast levels and fights inflammation, which hurts the body in a number of ways.
In addition to taking supplements, those suffering from Candida should aim to incorporate chia seeds, coconut oil, flax, non-processed grains, plant foods and coconut oil into their diets. They should shy away from anything containing sugar, alcohol or processed carbohydrates.
