You Can Beat Your Yeast Infection (Candida)

Studies show that intestinal yeast infections (also know as candida) affect a significant number of the population, with one out of 2 females and one out of 3 males said to be displaying varying degrees of infection.  A good understanding of the causes, signs and symptoms of the disease may help you avoid or beat yeast infection.

Causes
Your body maintains a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in your digestive system.  Sometimes, when harmful bacteria infects your lungs, ear, throat or other parts of your body, your health professional may have recommended that you undergo a round of antibiotic treatment to fight the infection.

Unfortunately, antibiotics kill both bad and healthy bacteria that thrive in your intestine.  Without good bacteria, the fungus that causes yeast infection may reproduce rapidly and overpopulate your intestine.  Certain foods also promote yeast overgrowth, such as dairy products, sweets, preserved meats, beer, bread and other foods containing yeast.

On the other hand, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) views a yeast infection as “damp heat” in the stomach, spleen, small intestine and bladder.  While TCM has a different perspective of yeast infections, it shares the Western medicine’s opinion that dairy products and food containing yeast may be the culprits behind a yeast infection.

Signs and symptoms
You may have a yeast infection if you experience many of the following signs:

1. Fatigue
2. Bloated stomach
3. Excessive and cheesy-smelling gas
4. Yellow or milky coating on the tongue
5. Dry furry feeling in your throat
6. Itchiness in the genital area

Treatment
Consult a health professional as soon as you suspect that you have a yeast infection.  Your health professional will check your symptoms and medical history as well as recommend a blood test to determine the actual condition of your digestive system, including your bowel and your immune system.  Once a yeast infection is confirmed, your health professional may recommend the following:

Bowel cleansing: To get rid of yeast overgrowth, you need to clean your bowels completely using a colon cleansing formula for a period of 8 to 20 weeks, depending on the severity of the infection.  Acidophilus may help kill the yeast fungi but a more potent anti-yeast formula together with nutrients like immunoglobulin may be necessary to eliminate the yeast completely.

Bower repair:  After getting rid of the yeast, you should reintroduce nutrients and healthy bacteria into your digestive system during the next 4 to 6 weeks.

Liver detoxification:  Cleansing and reconditioning your bowel are not enough. You also need to detoxify your liver to improve digestive function that may have been impaired by the yeast overgrowth.

Diet:  To beat yeast infection (candida) or prevent its recurrence, you should watch what you eat and avoid dairy products, sweets, preserved food and yeasty food.  Consume more fresh vegetables and lean protein instead.  Avoid fruit for the first few weeks of the cleansing program and gradually add fresh fruits after you have reconditioned your digestive system.  A regular intake of foods containing friendly live bacteria such as yogurt also helps to prevent the overgrowth of the yeast bacteria.