Funny but honestly, Candida is a problem with the average American's diet. We, as Americans, are known worldwide for our love processed food, white bread and sugar. Yes, all these things get the big coupons at the grocery. The more we consume the sicker this country is getting. For an industrialized country, we are one of the sickest on the planet. Obesity, leaky gut, acid reflux, chronic fatigue, eczema, hormonal balance, ADHD, and the list goes on and on.
The official definition for Candida diploid fungus that grows both as yeast and filamentous cells and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans.
In English.....a whole body yeast infection. It can manifest in many ways from a skin issue to IBS. Dr. Oz referenced it on his website back in 2009.
Check out Amanda's story...does that sound familiar?
So how do you know if you have Candida? Most doctors don't test you for an overgrowth of yeast. Doctors barely have enough time to see you, treat your symptoms and not really get into the deeper issues of your health until you are REALLY REALLY sick. Who wants to be REALLY REALLY sick to get some attention? Not me.
A quiz to check and see if you might have an issue comes from TheYeastConnection.com
1. Have you taken repeated or prolonged courses of antibacterial drugs? 4 points for a yes
2. Have you been bothered by recurrent vaginal, prostate or urinary tract infections? 3 points for a yes
3. Do you feel "sick all over," yet the cause hasn't been found? 2 for a yes
4. Are you bothered by hormone disturbances, including PMS, menstrual irregularities, sexual dysfunction, sugar craving, low body temperature or fatigue? 2 for a yes
5. Are you unusually sensitive to tobacco smoke, perfumes, colognes and other chemical odors? 2 for a yes
6. Are you bothered by memory or concentration problems? Do you sometimes feel "spaced out"? 2 for a yes
7. Have you taken prolonged courses of prednisone or other steroids; or have you taken "the pill" for more than 3 years?
2 for a yes
8. Do some foods disagree with you or trigger your symptoms? 1 for a yes
9. Do you suffer with constipation, diarrhea, bloating or abdominal pain? 1 for a yes
10. Does your skin itch, tingle or burn; or is it unusually dry; or are you bothered by rashes? 1 for a yes
Scoring for women: If your score is 9 or more, your health problems are probably yeast-connected. If your score is 12 or more, your health problems are almost certainly yeast-connected.
Scoring for men: If your score is 7 or more, your health problems are probably yeast-connected. If your score is 10 or more, your health problems are almost certainly yeast-connected.
So you scored above 10 if you are a man or 12 if you are a woman...what now?
There are ways to kill off the yeast, regain your health and feel better.
You will have to change your diet first and foremost.
The processed food helped get you to this point and that means you are going to have to show it to the door. There are many lifestyle diets that promote a way of eating that can help you do this without feeling like you are starving. Eat Clean, Paleo, or the good old fashioned rule of thumb your MOTHER told you....eat your vegetables! Yes, you might have a bit of time where you have intense cravings for sugar.....Candida LOVES sugar for growth.
Your journey to better health should start with your diet and not with your doctor!
Eliminate white flour, white sugar and caffeine. Candida thrives on this trio. Once it overgrows, it produces toxins in your body that overtake the stuff your body needs to run optimally.
Drink plenty of water flavored with a citrus oil, preferably Lemon oil. Lemon oil helps to flush toxins through your body.
Exercise at least 20 minutes a day. Walking is one of the best!
Take some supplements offered by doTERRA. Follow this cleanse protocol by doTERRA US Founder, Laura Jacobs.
Not enrolled in doTERRA? The Cleanse and Restore Kit is a great way to start this process.
Now there are a few people out there that can't do this right now. I am one at the moment. Lactacting mommas should NOT do a cleanse of any kind. The toxins are release by all means to get out of your body and you don't want that junk going to the baby. Wait until you are no longer nursing. As a lactating momma, you should focus your diet to eliminate the processed food, increase fruits and veggies and get a good probiotic. PB Assist is safe. For a gentle daily cleanse, feel free to drink lots of Lemon water!
You can be assured that when I wean this baby boy, I will be doing a full cleanse. I will repeat the process for a couple months if necessary. It really is a 15 day on the cleanse then 15 days off. Currently, I have done small changes to decrease my sugar intake. Cassia with a touch of honey in my coffee was one of the most recent. It really tastes great!
I am sick of my sugar addiction, my thyroid issues, my skin issues and my weight issues. I know that by helping my body with a tune up, will help it run better longer!
