What is candida?
Candida is a fungus, a type of yeast, that naturally occurs on the skin and in the mucous membranes of human bodies including the intestines, eyes, ears, bladder, stomach, lungs, and vagina. Candida albicans is the most common species and we always have some in our system…and that’s a good thing! Discomfort occurs when the candida blooms out of control causing candidiasis manifesting as an acute yeast infection, oral or vaginal thrush, and general or local itching in usually moist body areas.
(“Human tongue infected with oral candidiasis” by James Heilman, MD)
Chronic candidiasis can lead to more severe and complicated gastrointestinal disturbances (IBS, constipation, diarrhea) which can contribute to mental (migraines, head aches, brain fog, depression, mood swings), epidermal (acne, eczema, itching, psoriasis, athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm), and systemic (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, weight gain, reduced immunity, leaky gut leading to autoimmunity) symptoms.
Why does candida exist?
We all have candida in and on our body because it exists in our environment. It is part of our normal, balanced gut flora. A healthy human body carries about 100 trillion microorganisms in the intestines. This is 10 times greater than the total number of human cells in the body! Most of the colon flora is comprised of bacteria, but it also includes fungi.
According to Dr. Graham, candida also exists in our blood as an emergency backup mechanism to consume excess sugar. When sugar levels are normal, candida stays in check. When sugar levels are elevated, the candida will bloom or multiply in order to better and more readily consume the excess blood sugar. When the sugar level drops, the extra candida die off.
Why does candida bloom?
On a cooked or raw high-fat diet in which refined or whole sugar is consumed, the sugar is unable to be efficiently processed by insulin because the fat interferes with insulin escorting sugar out of the bloodstream. Blood sugar levels stay high, candida colonies remain multiplied, and they begin to manifest overgrowth symptoms: itching and discharge.
Direct or indirect antibiotic consumption promotes candida overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract by killing off bacteria and creating an unbalanced gut flora. Because animals raised conventionally for food (meat, dairy, eggs) are routinely given antibiotics, these drugs are passed through the food and into the consumer creating gut flora imbalance.
Other medications like birth control pills, chronic use of pain relievers, steroids (prednisone, cortisone, etc.), and the over-consumption of alcohol can contribute to unbalanced gut flora and the overpopulation of candida.
How can a candida bloom be halted?
The goal is not to eradicate all candida from the body.
Traditional treatments for candidiasis call for the omission of all sugar, including whole fruit, to starve the candida. While sugar does feed the yeast, the sugar didn’t cause the bloom. The bloom was caused by too much dietary fat, medications, and/or alcohol.
In the first few days of candidiasis treatment it may be wise to reduce high-fruit consumption and it is imperative to restrict fat consumption. A low-fat, high-vegetable diet can kick-start a strong candidiasis treatment. A steady stream of green vegetable juices would be deeply cleansing. Whole fruit may be slowly re-introduced as long as fat intake remains at a minimum.
Because vegetables contain such few calories, it is challenging to meet individual caloric requirements on just vegetables. Adequate calorie consumption comes from fats and fruit. Because too much fat is problematic in any healthful diet, the bulk of calories must come from fruit in addition to vegetables.
An ideal diet to stave off many imbalances and diseases, including candidiasis, is one of mostly raw fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds with a fat intake of roughly 10% of total calories. This super clean diet provides all the necessary carbohydrates, fat, and protein in proper proportions for optimal wellbeing.
It is wise to refrain from any unnecessary antibiotic or birth control use. Alcohol and steroids need to be avoided for optimal health. Refined sugar and refined grains are destructive to health. If antibiotics have been used, if antibiotics are in use, or if you have struggled to keep your gut flora balanced, taking a high-quality pro-biotic supplement would be smart to rebuild a strong and balanced gut flora.
To address any immediate and uncomfortable external itching, soaking in epsom salt baths with therapeutic essential oils is advised. Also over-the-counter or prescription topical creams to halt intense itching may be necessary. It is imperative to keep itchy skin dry at all times.
Essential oils that may help combat yeast are: tea tree, juniper, ravensara, thyme, cumin, peppermint, cistus, lavender, lemongrass, rosemary, geranium, palmarosa, and rosewood. To order these oils and to learn how to safely use them, click HERE. Of course foods and teas that contain thyme, cumin, peppermint, lemongrass, and rosemary are good choices.
What to Expect
Living candida release toxic metabolic wastes which contribute to lethargy and other symptoms. When a concentrated effort is made to reduce overgrown yeast colonies, a mass die-off can produced pronounced symptoms. Use this as an indicator that your efforts are working, not that your candidiasis is getting worse. It is at this time that colon hydrotherapy can be useful to help your body eliminate dead yeast cells and toxins more efficiently and quickly.
This is not intended to be a thorough discourse on candidiasis. There are many resources on the internet that discuss in depth the nuances and breadth of candida and its manifestations and treatments for overgrowth. However, because whole fruit sugar is commonly advised against during the entire course of candidiasis treatment, I wanted to provide another perspective and treatment alternative that has helped many people.
Additional Resources
• Is Cancer Caused by Candida?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you, Carla for this info. I am fighting candida for the past three years, due to a doctor treating me with two very strong antibiotics, and my poor diet choices. I have an outbreak of candida all over my face, a few small places in my side. I started the candor a diet two days ago. I’m in the die off phase I believe. I have chills, headache and fatigue.
I am basically scared to eat anything, although I am eating greens, drinking lots of water and green tea tonight. The itch is unbelievable at times. I have a cream for fungus on the skin that a dermatologist gave me. I and soaking in Epsom salt with essential oils ( Lavender and peppermint). I am so tired of all the yeast! I just want to get better. So thank you!
You’re welcome Tonya! Good luck with your process. It sounds pretty miserable right now but it will get better!
The recommended diet to treat candida sounds pretty intense! Having to remove sugar and fat from you diet only leaves you with protein and some carbs, and avoiding animal products limits your options for protein as well. Is tofu a safe thing to eat while trying to control candida? Also, would taking a pro-biotic without making major changes to your diet help at all? Thanks.
I would recommend you eat complex carbs/starches (grains, legumes, tubers), vegetables, minimal nuts and seeds to limit fat, and limited fruit until the candida subsides. We need much less protein than we’re told/sold and whole plants provide an adequate amount as long as you are intaking adequate calories to sustain weight and energy. Protein deficiencies happen only in people who do not eat enough daily calories (malnourishment, anorexia, starvation). Tofu and tempeh are both high protein plant based options that are delicious. Probiotics add to the “good bacteria” in the gut. They don’t have a direct impact on candida in the blood. Reducing excess sugar (often caused by excess fat) in the blood causes the overpopulation of candida to die back. Refined carbs are to be avoided. Simple carbs (whole fruit) minimal. Complex carbs, as mentioned, will sustain your energy, metabolize slowly, and will not contribute to the growing population of candida.
Check out my Free Protein Report for more information on protein requirements.
It is amazing how the use of antibiotics increases the population of fungi. My daughter has a tonsillitis attack and always needs antibiotics. At these times always needs special care also for candida fungi.
What about diabetics? Many suffer from this but can’t eat all that fruit?
Diabetes type 2 is now understood to be first a fat problem (too much dietary fat intake) which then causes a sugar metabolism problem. It is critical to first greatly reduce fat intake. For help in reversing type 2 diabetes, read Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes without Drugs.