Very few of us get through life without a yeast infection (Candida) at some point or other and I am always happy to find out more about it. David Jockers is a natural health doctor who owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Georgia and he has shared his view on what can help make a difference to how you can deal with it.

What is it?

Candida Albicans is a fungal yeast that occurs naturally in the human body. It naturally lives in harmony with a variety of other microorganisms and actually performs some important functions. The problem occurs when certain lifestyle based environmental conditions upset the balance of microflora and this allows the yeast to proliferate and dominate certain regions of the body.

Certain lifestyle measures must be taken to conquer Candida and regain balance and health to the internal ecosystem Candida normally resides in the mucous membranes of the intestinal tract, mouth, throat and genitals. When overgrowth occurs, Candida has the ability to burrow holes in the intestinal tract and enter the blood stream. Once it gets into the blood stream it is able to make its way into any organ or region of the body.

The worst part is that it emits over 70 different toxins into the blood stream and body. Candida loves sugar and anything that breaks down into sugar. When Candida eats it releases toxic metabolites that acidify the blood stream and damage tissues. The most susceptible tissue to these toxic byproducts are in the brain and nervous system.

Common symptoms of a chronic Candida infection are:

– brain fog

– dizziness

– headaches

– chronic fatigue

– anxiety

– depression.

Other major symptoms include joint pain, digestive problems, eczema, acne, sinus infections, and respiratory infections.

Starve sugar out of your body

The first step in overcoming Candida is to starve it to death. This is done by eliminating all sugars and anything that turns into sugars.

The anti-Candida diet consists mainly of phytonutrient rich vegetables, healthy fats, and clean proteins.

* Non-starchy vegetables and anti-oxidant rich herbs are the best sources for critical immune-boosting phytonutrients.

* Healthy fat sources include coconut products, avocados, olive oil, nuts, seeds.

* Healthy protein includes wild-caught fish, grass-fed red meat and free range chicken, turkey and eggs.

Progenic (life supporting) bacteria compete with Candida for attachment sites and nutrition. Additionally, these good bacteria release anti-fungal compounds that keep Candida from overgrowing.

Adding mega-doses of good bacteria into the body is a critical step to conquering Candida. Fermented foods such as a homemade sauerkraut, kombucha, raw milk kefir provide beneficial microorganisms for the gut. A high quality probiotic that contains a wide variety of different bacterial strains and over 50 billion organisms per serving is also highly recommended as a daily supplement to reinoculate the intestines.

For more extreme cases of Candida it would be recommended to take 100+ billion organisms daily. Certain foods have very powerful anti-fungal properties. Coconut oil is extremely rich in lauric acid, which is one of the best natural anti-fungals. Anti-Candida protocols should consist of 10-14 teaspoons of coconut oil daily.

Garlic is another extraordinary anti-fungal. Garlic contains many different substances with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, including allicin, alliin, alliinase and S-allylcysteine.

Due to the variety of substances, Candida will not develop a resistance to it like it does with many pharmaceutical drugs. Chop garlic up and add it to food or use garlic capsules. Candida infections drain the body of trace minerals, alkaline salts, and anti-oxidant reserves.

Natural candida fighters

To beat Candida, one needs to consume substantial amounts of powerful anti-oxidant rich, anti-inflammatory herbs such as cinnamon, turmeric, green tea, ginger.

* Oregano and clove oil are powerful anti-fungals with very strong medicinal properties.

* Sea vegetables such as kelp & dulse are rich in trace minerals.

* Apple cider vinegar and freshly squeezed lemon/lime provide an abundance of alkaline salts and have natural anti-septic properties that destroy Candida.