Candida Symptoms and How to Cleanse It from the Body

Candida, the medical term for yeast overgrowth, can occur anywhere on the body – both internally and externally. Rather than something you catch, Candida (yeast) is present in the body at all times. In fact, it plays a vital role in bodily functions, aids in digestion and keeps certain types of bacteria from overpopulating. Most of the time, yeast causes very little problems – you don’t even know it’s there. However, when yeast multiplies, you will know it.

Candida can also affect weight loss and weight gain.

“How does yeast overgrowth prevent weight loss? If yeast causes cravings for sugary, starchy foods, these empty calories get stored as fat. Yeast releases toxins, so the more yeast inside, the more toxins released. These toxins can affect many systems in the body, including those that aid in weight loss.

Lowered metabolism can be a result of yeast toxins on the thyroid. You may become bloated and retain fluid. The toxins released from yeast can create hormonal imbalances that affect your ability to lose weight. Yeast toxins may increase cortisol levels and belly fat if the toxins put enough stress on your body.” – Source

Talk to your doctor for a diagnosis.  Find out their recommendations for how you can help your body to eliminate candida and what medicines are available.  Here is some general info:

Candida Symptoms

As mentioned before, yeast infections can occur just about anywhere including the skin, genitals, throat, mouth, gastrointestinal tract and even the blood. Symptoms vary according to where the infection is located, but generally include:

• Redness or irritation at the location
• Itching
• Pain and soreness in the affected area

As long as they remain localized, yeast infections only cause local discomfort. If they enter the bloodstream, however, they can be responsible for a host of symptoms and secondary illnesses including:

• Digestive issues
• Skin and nail fungus
• Fatigue
• Autoimmune disease
• Mood swings, depression and anxiety
• Allergies
• Difficulty concentrating
• Recurrent vaginal and urinary tract infections

Candida Treatment: Medical Options

Local yeast infections are normally treated with creams, powders or oral medications. For common infections such as vaginal yeast infections, athletes foot and diaper rash, you can purchase antifungal creams and powders at any drug or department store. For infections of the mouth (thrush) or more severe infections, your doctor may prescribe the appropriate medications. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take anti-fungal medications orally over the course of several days.

Candida Treatment: Treating and Preventing Yeast Overgrowth with Nutrition

Recurring infections, especially those of the gut and bloodstream, call for a change in diet. When the infections just keep coming back or when they never go away, it’s usually due to a food allergy or an abundance of certain types of foods in the digestive system, which kills off the healthy bacteria your body needs to reduce and maintain normal levels of yeast in your body. The following nutritional tips will help you stop yeast overgrowth:

1. Follow a low carbohydrate diet. Yeast feeds off of simple carbohydrates, so try your best to eliminate these from your diet. Simple carbohydrates include breads, alcohol and virtually anything made with flour.
2. Say no to sugar. This is one of the most important things you can do to deal with candida.  Candy, cake, pie, ice cream, soda – you name it – all contain some kind of sugar. Again, sugar is a simple carbohydrate. Eliminate all sugary foods from your diet.  This includes diet products with fake sugars.
3. Cut back, but don’t eliminate complex carbohydrates. Eating one cup a day of complex carbohydrates can help eliminate yeast from your system.  You don’t want to cut out all carb because you need the fiber, but you need to cut back and give you body a chance to repopulate good bacteria and starve the yeast. Complex carbohydrates include grains, beans, fruit, pasta, potatoes and whole-grain breads.
4. Eliminate foods that contain yeast. This includes all fermented foods or those that have natural mold, including cheese, dried fruit and beverages.

It’s a the best idea to treat any yeast infection medically and follow up with a change in diet. A combination of medical treatment and diet change will not only treat any current yeast infections, it may prevent future ones from occurring.