Invasion of the body snatchers

Is candida cramping your summer style?

by Erin Roush
Director of Wellness Services

Heat, humidity, damp bathing suits, vacation diets, pool parties, baseball games, lemonade, sangria, beer, ice cream, fruit in abundance, hours in wet bathing suits.

Sounds like the perfect recipe for a fun-filled summer, right? Absolutely. It also happens to be the perfect combination for yeast infections.

Wait! Don’t stop reading! Yeast overgrowth infections are not reserved for those taking prescription antibiotics, nor is it a health issue affecting only women.

Candida albicans (yeast) is a single-celled, microscopic, opportunistic, parasitic, sugar-loving pathogen. Doesn’t sound like something you need to be concerned with? Too bad. This free-loader naturally resides in your digestive tract and reproductive system. Yes, even YOURS.

Undesirable Candida yeast is not alone in your body. You are host to trillions of bacteria, about 80% of which are classified as beneficial flora. The “bad guys” (candida and other potentially harmful organisms) serve as food for the healthy flora population. Because candida is anaerobic (can’t survive an oxygen-rich environment), yeast cells are also killed off by the hydrogen peroxide produced by healthy bacteria.

Trouble begins with an imbalance of beneficial bacteria to harmful organisms. The most well-known and accepted cause of this imbalance is the use of antibiotic prescription medications. While antibiotics have their role in heroic medicine for destroying disease-inducing bacteria, they unfortunately have the side effect of killing the innocent civilian bystanders along with the invading enemy. Use of any antibiotic may lead to a favorable environment for yeast organisms like Candida albicans to gain strength in numbers because their natural predators (the beneficial bacteria in the gut) are weakened or destroyed by the anti-life action of antibiotics.

While the antibiotic/yeast overgrowth connection is widely accepted, there is a general lack of knowledge about the other triggers for yeast proliferation, including: use of synthetic hormones and steroids; diets high in sugar and low in fiber; prolonged stress; impaired digestion/elimination; compromised immunity; invasive procedures like surgery or catheters; and hormone fluctuations, such as during pregnancy.

When any of these conditions exist, the opportunistic nature of the single-celled Candida causes it to develop roots and change into an invasive fungal form, enabling it to penetrate the mucus membrane of the digestive tract and enter the bloodstream, where it behaves like a parasite, growing in numbers exponentially, feeding off the body, attaching to healthy cells, leaving behind toxic waste.

A human body over-taken by this parasitic yeast organism may experience any combination of vague symptoms: brain fog—caused by the toxic yeast by-product acetaldehyde—nail fungi, vaginal discomfort, yeasty discharge, itching, burning chronic ear and sinus congestion and/or itching skin rashes, oral thrush. Yeast, mold and fungus all thrive in wet, warm environments. That means that spending countless hours in a wet bathing suit this summer may dramatically increase your susceptibility. A day of kayaking may not be enough to tip the scale, but add to your favorite water activities indulgence in ice cream, too many margaritas on the patio, a round of antibiotics for a bout with an infection, or the introduction of birth control pills, and you’ve set yourself up for a fungal takeover.

Listen to the sirens your body will employ to signal an enemy invasion when yeast is given the opportunity to overgrow the colon’s healthy gut flora in numbers. Gas and bloating will result as carbon dioxide spills off fermenting sugars. Mucus may coat the stools as the colon attempts to protect itself and flush away yeast. If you don’t heed these early warning signs, a pervasive overgrowth of Candida in the intestines can lead to the devastating condition known as “leaky gut,” causing undigested particles of food and waste material to leak from the gut into the body.

OK, I might have a yeast problem. Now what?

Yeast organisms, including Candida albicans, feed on sugar. If the body’s pH balance is upset for any reason, the friendly intestinal and genital bacteria that normally metabolize sugars cannot thrive and do their jobs properly. Under these conditions, there is a risk of Candida flourishing in the sugar-rich environment.

As yeast feeds on sugar, the obvious first step in fighting an overgrowth is to cut off its food supply. Maybe you think that’s an easy task. “Okay,” you say, “I don’t really like sweets, seldom eat dessert and don’t put sugar in my tea.” Unfortunately, simple sugar is not that simple—it comes in many shapes and sizes. From the fructose in a bowl of grapes to the starch in fresh baked breads, the average person gives Candida plenty to feed on. If you suspect you are suffering from an overgrowth of this virulent strain of yeast (or know it without a doubt) you should begin a Candida-fighting diet today. Be aware that many food cravings are driven by the yeast. In fact, cravings for bread or pasta, sweets or alcohol often intensify at the beginning of a Candida cleanse.

Fermented foods should be greatly restricted or avoided, including sauerkraut, vinegars, anything pickled, condiments and bottled dressings/sauces, alcohol (especially wine and beer) and yeast breads.

For most people fighting fungal Candidiasis, the health challenges they face will not simply be eradicated by strict dietary changes. The fungal form of Candida has roots and is able to plant itself deep into body tissue, and will not be easily deforested. Yeast may seed itself in mucosal tissue like the gastrointestinal wall, vagina in females, prostate gland in men, urinary tract, skin, and even fingernails and toenails.

While there are antifungal prescriptions available, they do not come without side effects, including creating a dependency for controlling yeast. The natural remedies for treating yeast overgrowth may take longer to eradicate an infection, but without the potential for liver damage or development of resistant strains. Also, the synergistic benefit of detoxification formulas offers a deeper cleansing effect with longer-lasting results.

In the process of cleansing from yeast, it is possible to experience general flu-like symptoms. This reaction generally results from the die-off of the yeast as it releases toxic by-products into the system. Although unpleasant, the experience of muscle aches, gas or bloating, diarrhea, skin rashes, fatigue, mood swings, increased mold or chemical sensitivities, fever and chills, signifies that your cleansing efforts are working. It may be that the release of endotoxins from the yeast is occurring at a faster rate than the liver and kidneys can keep up with. To minimize the discomfort, it is essential to drink plenty of purified water (half your body weight in ounces) and keep the bowels functioning (optimally 2-3 formed bowel movements per day).

Liquid chlorophyll or a concentrate of green foods will aid in blood, liver, and lymphatic cleansing. There are enzyme blends available to both increase the vulnerability of the yeast cells and minimize the die-off effects. The length of time needed for thorough cleansing will depend on the severity of the infection and the commitment to a Candida-free lifestyle. A minimum of one month will be required for mild to moderate symptoms, with a minimum of three months recommended for more advanced infections. Ask a Freshlife Wellness Coach to help you choose the yeast cleansing formula best for your situation.