Yeast is everywhere! It is on our skin, in our guts, mouths, and in our entire body. One of the most common types of yeast is candida. Candida is a naturally occurring yeast found on and in humans. Normally, these yeast live on and in us without causing issues but occasionally they can overgrow and cause a fungal infection called candidiasis. The most common forms of candidiasis are on the skin (cutaneous candidiasis), in the vagina (vaginal yeast infection), in the gut, and in the mouth (oral thrush). Many of us have a candida overgrowth in our body and do not realize it. It can be an underlying cause for multiple issues and often goes untreated. In order to restore your gut health you must eliminate all root causes of imbalanced bacteria and candida overgrowth is a very common contributor.
Causes and Symptoms of Candidiasis
There are several reasons that candida can overgrow in the body. Here are the most common:
Poor Diet (too much sugar and carbohydrates)
Excessive alcohol consumption
Antibiotics
Stress
Leaky gut
Autoimmune disease
Signs and symptoms of candidiasis may show as the following:
Acne that won't clear with normal acne treament, itches or appears in clusters of whiteheads
Skin rashes
Eczema
Fatigue
Vaginal itching or soreness
Pain or discomfort when urinating
White coating on the tongue
Red spots inside the mouth and throat
Pain while eating
Diarrhea
Constipation
Bloating
Treatment
If you suspect you may have a candida overgrowth in your body, try making the following changes in your diet to see if your symptoms get better. Also, consult with a doctor regarding treament as your condition may not improve with just diet changes alone.
Avoid these foods:
Alcohol
Sugar
Carbohydrates
Soda
Candy
Dairy
Fermented foods (such as pickles)
There are some Over The Counter and Homeopathic options for treating candida overgrowth as well. For topical use on your skin you can get a cream called Lotrimin. For a vaginal yeast infection try Monistat 7. For your gut and over all removal of candida you should try a more homeopathic approach. There are many options available for this so do your research. I used a homeopathic treatment in the past for candida overgrowth, but it is no longer available. If there is a local health food store near you that sells homeopathic treatments, speak with someone there that may have knowledge in this area. There is also a TON of information on the web about homeopathic options, just be very thorough in your research. Also know that most of the homeopathic treatments suggest you stay on a low card and no sugar diet and avoid the items I listed above.
I wanted to introduce candida on this blog as many of us suffering from Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's have other underlying conditions that contribute to our recovery and health and being aware of things, like candida overgrowth, may contribute to the healing of someone reading this. I have another blog post about parasites (yes I know that sounds crazy) that brings awareness to another underlying issue for those with an autoimmune disease. Knowledge is power so the more you know the more power you have to heal yourself.
コメント