CDC Alert: Candida Auris – Our Latest Superbug Creation

Fungal infections caused by Candida are the most common type of fungal infections in the world. Fiercely opportunistic, Candida is a part of everyone’s intestinal flora. It doesn’t actually cause problems unless it takes over and crowds out the good bacteria. Then it causes numerous health issues. Four different species of Candida make up the majority of fungal infections in the United States: Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis. If you catch them early, most of these Candida infections can be taken care of with an adjustment in diet.

A Possible Scenario

The conventional medical treatment for Candida involves pharmaceuticals. Somewhat effective in killing Candida, these drugs also kill other microbes in the intestinal tract and leave you without enough beneficial bacteria to fight off other new infections.

The Center for Disease Control has issued a clinical alert to U.S. healthcare facilities asking them to be on the lookout for one such infection associated with high mortality, a resilient species of yeast called Candida auris that has shown resistance to three major classes of antifungals.

The New, Interesting Fun Guy on the Block

Identified in 10 countries worldwide, including the U.S, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, Candida auris causes invasive infections in the ear, bloodstream, and wounds. It has also shown up in the respiratory tract and in urine tests.

It may be underreported. Advanced testing facilities are needed to isolate and confirm Candida auris since it closely resembles other species of Candida. There’s speculation that Candida auris is not a new species as much as it is a result of the medical community’s unintentional and highly successful super-bacteria and fungus breeding program.

The Hospital is a Petri Dish

So why the clinical alert from the CDC, as opposed to a general notice? Tests of Candida auris outbreaks in healthcare facilities in other countries have been very closely related genetically, suggesting that the healthcare facilities are where the fungus is developing and thriving. 

pathogen memeConsider the sad irony. The fungal and bacterial pathogens that pose the most risk to us are the result of the healthcare and farm industries.

The origin of the average yeast infection isn’t a mystery, as Candida exists in everyone’s personal microbes. But the evolution of a common garden variety microbe into a species associated with a high mortality rate gets a boost from the lack of competition and the survive and thrive environment of a hospital. Go to the hospital for a yeast infection, take medication and wipe it out (along with a lot of your beneficial microbes), and you might pick up something new while you are even less equipped to fight pathogens. Convenient, no?

Are We Prepared for What’s Next?

There was one confirmed case of Candida auris in the U.S. in 2013 (although due to the lack of definitive testing, that number is likely to be higher). Sure that’s one case. But if only one confirmed case in the United States is enough for the CDC to issue a clinical alert, what does that say about this particular infection?

Bacteria and fungi are becoming increasingly resistant to drug therapy and last resort medications, and it stands to reason that the evolution of parasites and other microbes will follow close behind. In the twenty years since the first identification of Candida auris, the fungus is rapidly burning a hole through standard treatments. It’s past time to stop making drug therapy the first response. If the symptoms of these conditions continue to be merely managed and repeat infections are treated rather than addressing their causes with real change and education, everyone will be affected, not just the people who have to check into the hospital.

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Allergies, Candida, Gut Flora, and Disease – The Connection

Allergies almost always disappear when the gut’s microbiome is balanced.

Allergies are symptoms of an overwhelmed immune system trying frantically to defend itself from any and all possible threats. Allergy medications suppress symptoms, and symptom suppression eventually leads to disease. Food allergies, seasonal allergies, and most of the other kinds of allergies can be completely eliminated. But there’s a catch. You’re going to have to change your diet.

Your body’s gut flora primarily consists of bacteria and fungi. A healthy gut contains a ratio of about 1000 bacteria to 1 Candida yeast cell. The fungi that likes our body best is Candida albicans, a kind of yeast that proliferates in a host who consumes a poor diet or otherwise disrupts their gut flora. The following are examples of how our modern lifestyle tends to disrupt our natural gut bacteria:

  • Antibiotics from our food, soaps, water, and drugs
  • Refined foods that feed the wrong flora
  • Vaccines, drugs, heavy metals, and other toxins that kill beneficial flora
  • Pesticides, herbicides, and other toxins that kill our bacteria
  • Other toxic “foods” that disrupt our gut flora (like foods that contain heavy metals, artificial sweeteners, GMOs, etc.)

Naturally, our gut consists of a massive array of beneficial gut bacteria (and some Candida) that help us break down and assimilate food, assimilate nutrients, and produce hormones, all while crowding out any potential pathogens and keeping Candida at bay. It’s no coincidence that the most beneficial gut bacteria loves to dine on the most beneficial foods we can eat – raw, organic vegetables. The more fresh, raw, organic produce you eat, the healthier your gut flora will be.

Candida are Such Opportunists!

So what happens when you kill the good guys? Funny thing about Candida, the spores can survive just about anything. Candida is not all bad; it has its job to do, just like every other microbe, but when it’s not kept in check, things get messy. When you drink alcohol, take antibiotics, or do anything else that disturbs the gut flora, what you’re doing is killing beneficial bacteria and leaving behind Candida spores. These spores will hatch and flourish when they discover the coast is clear. Ideally, when this imbalance happens, our appendix squirts out some bacteria it had saved up for just such an occasion. Unfortunately, our modern sugary chemically laden diets and lifestyles have given Candida the boost it needs to take over the gut to the point at which the appendix’s bacteria can’t compete.

Candida is the key that unleashes a barrage of other infectious microbes and partially digested food from our gut into the bloodstream.

At this point there’s a very inhospitable environment in the gut. Candida doesn’t seem to mind neighbors, so once the gut is overrun by Candida, imagine a party with lots of other unsavory characters that got out of hand. Some of the gut flora that may have been beneficial to us before will now adapt to its new environment, and in turn, not be so beneficial. Microbes mutate and change in fascinating ways. Take e-coli, for instance. It’s a perfectly fine bacteria to have in our gut under natural circumstances. The problem is, when a cow is left in a pen, is fed an extremely acid and unnatural diet, and is given large quantities of antibiotics, the bacteria mutates to a much hardier and deadly form of the bacteria. Everything we put into our gut creates and manipulates the flora for better or for worse in countless ways. Feed your gut the good stuff, and you’ll have good flora. Eat the wrong foods, or take drugs, and you’ll have flora that adapts to a poor environment.

From Yeast to Pseudohyphal and Hyphal Forms – A Causal Agent of Other Infections

Speaking of adapting, once that Candida is feeling crowded and has outgrown its home in the gut, Candida can grow out of its single-cell yeast form and into a filamentous fungal form that grows root-like tentacles (hyphae) that drill deep into the mucosal lining of the gut, poking “holes” into already an irritated and inflamed, gut lining, resulting in a leaky gut. Now Candida and all kinds of other crap (excuse the pun) can leak into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Candida can infect every organ of the body and repeat the hyphal hole-making process in all of its new homes. When it takes the pseudohyphal and hyphal fungal forms, it creates a toxic biofilm that protects itself against things that would normally kill it (like antibiotics and anti-fungal medications).

Candida

Candida is the key that unleashes a barrage of other infectious microbes and partially digested food from our gut into the bloodstream. Now the body is in a constant tug of war with Candida and other invaders that continue to try to rip it apart. There is a back and forth with the gut’s permeability, as the body is constantly repairing the gut as best it can and fighting off infection from within the gut and throughout the body.

Rasterelektronische Aufnahme zur Infektion von humanem Gewebe durch Candida albicans.

Candida, parasites, infectious bacteria, other fungi, and all kinds of microbes that escape the gut will set up their colonies where they can hide and find food. Infectious microbes generally eat simple sugars and decaying cells. Pathogens like to congregate in cavities and around old injuries (this is why old injuries ache and become inflamed). The mere presence of these microbes irritates their surroundings, causing damage to cells, which end up feeding the pathogens (as mentioned, they feed on dead and decaying and damaged cells). It’s not too difficult to see why the body will crave sugar. Every time you feed the pathogens there’s a feeling of relief within the body. It feels good. The pathogens are eating the sugar and leaving us alone for a moment. Unfortunately, the next thing they do is multiply. They turn back on you when they’re out of sugar to eat. And the more damage they do to the body, the more food they have to eat.

There are at least 70 different toxins live Candida releases, and even more toxins are released when Candida dies. Two of the most prominent toxins produced are acetaldehyde and gliotoxin. Acetaldehyde which is a metabolic byproduct of Candida that is similar to carbon dioxide that we exhale, leads to oxidative stress and inflammation. Too much acetaldehyde in the body is the equivalent of alcohol poisoning. Gliotoxin is another major toxin created by yeast that suppresses the immune system and kills key immune cells, liver cells, and impairs the liver’s ability to detoxify the body.

Is Candida the Problem?

Both of the aforementioned toxins can be linked to almost every autoimmune disease or symptom there is, but once Candida permeates the gut, it’s not just Candida causing the problems. The body is susceptible to anything and everything at this point. All kinds of undigested food particles and microbes flood the bloodstream off and on as the gut walls deteriorate and heal, back and forth, all while the immune system is completely overtaxed. To make matters worse, what Candida does to the intestinal wall when it goes fungal, it will do in other areas of the body as well, which wrecks havoc on the immune system. The typical human in a modern society is dealing with so many different kinds of infections and other toxins at one time that the body reacts to anything and everything that doesn’t belong. The more inflamed the body becomes, the more the immune system becomes overburdened and confused. It’s a painful cycle that starts with allergies and eventually leads to autoimmune disease. In other words, aches and pains from old injuries and allergies, any kind of allergies, are some of the first signs of an unbalanced, unhealthy gut that is currently, or has been, seeping toxins and microbes into the body.

Most people have pockets of infection all over their bodies. Candida spores (and some other interesting pathogens) can lie in wait, completely dormant, for many months, just waiting for an opportunity to flourish. Some pathogens have other tricks that allow them to hang out undetected by the immune system for very long periods of time, while their lifecycle produces toxins that damage the body. Once the gut allows infection into the body, Candida may or may not still play a factor in disease, but it’s almost always an underlining cause. And it’s easy to see, when you can picture what happens, why a holistic approach is imperative to getting well.

How Does One Know if One has Candida?

If you’re sick, it doesn’t really matter. There’s testing, but it’s not reliable. One of the many problems with testing is that the same body may test differently a day later, depending on what’s going on in the body. Different pathogens may flourish at different times depending on many factors. Symptoms that indicate an abundance of Candida may actually be caused by another kind of fungus or any other pathogen, and in fact usually is caused by more than one pathogen effecting the body at once. A holistic approach rids the body of fungal infections, parasites, infectious bacteria, and any other pathogen that doesn’t belong while the gut heals and beneficial flora is restored. So while this is a list of “Candida Symptoms,” it’s really a list of symptoms that the gut is not well and the body is dealing with a heavy toxic load.

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Hyperactivity
  • Irritability
  • Seeing “floaters” in vision
  • Itchy ears
  • Itchy feet
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Allergies
  • Difficulty with memory and concentration
  • Flatulence
  • Digestive upset
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Recurrent urinary tract infections or other symptoms of poor urinary health
  • Decreased libido
  • Acne
  • Dry skin and other skin issues including eczema
  • Joint pain
  • Slow healing
  • Chronic sinus, ear, mouth, and jaw infections (including gum disease)
  • Menstrual disturbances
  • Premenstrual tension
  • Any autoimmune disease
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Increased sensitivity to foods
  • and much more! See Signs You Have Too Much Candida

The Holistic Approach – Natural Gut Healing Protocol

Most people can heal their body of any and every ailment provided they have all of their body parts. Things get tricky when parts are missing, but most of us can get completely and totally well with just the right diet alone. Supplements can radically speed up the process of getting well, but if you have access to the right food, supplements aren’t usually a necessity. With the wrong diet, supplements aren’t going to be nearly as effective. Here’s a protocol to rid the body of infectious microbes, heal the gut, and balance the flora. Try it for two weeks and it will change your life. But there’s a catch. You can’t go back to old habits that got you here. This is only step one. Step two is eating right and taking care from now on.

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

Drink Lots of Cranberry Lemonade

Drink between a half a gallon and a gallon of cranberry lemonade a day to flush the liver and kidneys of toxins, and help rejuvenate the endocrine system, which will help keep the blood clean and reduce “die-off symptoms” commonly associated with killing Candida.

Cranberry Lemonade Recipe

  • Glass gallon jar
  • Safe, clean, spring water or distilled water
  • 1 cup of unsweetened, organic cranberry juice, not from concentrate
  • 3 organic fresh lemons
  • A citrus juicer
  • Liquid stevia
  • Liquid cayenne

Fill the jar to about 85% capacity with spring water (or distilled water). Squeeze the lemons and pour the juice into the water. Add cranberry juice. Add stevia to taste and then add cayenne to taste. The amount of cayenne used is up to you, but the more the better.

If you don’t have access to a good source for spring water, use other clean drinking water that does not contain fluoride. If you don’t have access to organic lemons, use conventional. Fresh is almost always best. If there are no fresh lemons, use organic bottled lemon juice. If you can’t get cranberry juice that is not from concentrate, get the reconstituted kind (just don’t get any kind of cranberry juice that has any other ingredients like sweeteners or other juices). If you can’t stand cayenne, don’t use it. No glass jar? Use plastic.

Eat Right

Produce detoxifies. Fresh, whole, organic, raw vegetables, herbs, and fruits pull toxins from the body as they repopulate healthy, beneficial gut bacteria and give the body the nutrients it needs including enzymes and other phytonutrients that are almost non-existent in most modern diets.

Try to eat a huge salad every day with lots of greens, plenty of other colors, garlic, cilantro, ginger, and more. Check out this salad recipe.

saladThe Salad Base

  • Spinach
  • Arugula (I prefer baby arugula, mature arugula tastes funky)
  • Collard greens (they’re very bitter; use sparingly)
  • Lettuce (mix it up, try an organic spring mix)
  • Kale
  • Beet greens (the tops of beets)
  • Red cabbage (thinly shred like a slaw or a little thicker, depending on the texture you prefer)
  • Rainbow chard

Shredded, Grated

  • Carrots
  • Zucchini
  • Beetroot
  • Daikon (or other radish)

Chopped or Diced

  • Leeks
  • Red onions
  • Red and yellow bell peppers
  • Cucumbers
  • Cilantro
  • Asparagus (try cooking in a balsamic vinegar first)

Extras

  • Pomegranate seeds
  • Olives
  • Raisins or dried cranberries
  • Sesame seeds
  • Ground papaya seeds and/or ground pepper
  • Avocado
  • Eggs (try soft boiled)
  • Beans (black, pinto, kidney, green, garbanzo, etc.)
  • Garlic
  • Turmeric
  • Chia seeds

It’s not an exact recipe, and it doesn’t have to be. Mix it up. Try new things. My salads generally have about 15 ingredients. Make them big; make them diverse. Just imagine you’re in nature, not modern society, and all you have to eat is nothing but a wide variety of the best, whole, fresh, healthy vegetables and herbs. This is what a big salad a day can do for you: it’s life changing.

I throw in chickpeas or a three-bean salad combination. If you’re not vegan, try a sheep feta cheese with this salad, and throw on some eggs. It’s good with meat, too, like chicken or steak.

Don’t ruin it with a crappy salad dressing! All this salad needs is a little balsamic vinegar (apple cider is better, but I don’t like the taste as much in my salads), or some fresh lemon juice. It doesn’t take much.

Related: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting  (salad and lemonade recipes included)

What Else to Eat and What Not to Eat

Eat whole foods; avoid refined foods. Brown rice is good; white rice is out. Avoid any wheat; artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners; trans fats; and MSG. Avoid carbonated beverages. Avoid GMOs. Limit fruits, and besides stevia, avoid or limit anything else that’s sweet.

Our modern diet almost always includes too much-refined sugar. We would not have access to agave nectar, brown rice syrup, fruit juices, and other sweeteners in nature. It’s just too much sugar. You may be thinking honey is a good alternative, but this is only true when the gut is healed, the body is relatively free of infection, and the immune system functions properly. Otherwise, even with its antimicrobial properties, honey can feed infection as it goes through the digestion process.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

Fungal Supplement Stack – Knock Out Yeast, Candida, Mold, Fungus

The first three should be plenty for most people with the right diet, but for really prominent fungal issues or for impatient people with a bigger budget I’d recommend all of these:

Formula SF722 is one of the best products (perhaps the best) for killing any kind of fungal infection. It’s been shown in labs that Candida cannot adapt to undecenoic acid (the active ingredient in SF722) like it can with almost every other way we try to kill it.

I recommend taking the SF722, Berberine, MycoCeutics, and Microdefense with meals, and the Abzorb and Syntol separately, on an empty stomach (like in the morning and before bed). The Abzorb and the Syntol are a bit redundant, but I find good results using both if the budget can afford it. If money is really tight, just get the SF722 and put your money into your diet.

If bowel movements are a problem I would also consider Shillington’s Intestinal Cleanse and Intestnial Detox.

Shillington’s Intestinal Cleanse will kill parasites, Candida, and other bad guys while it heals the gut, improves regularity, and removes nasty biofilm (little-known fact: there’s good biofilm, and there’s bad biofilm), all while setting up a hospitable environment for beneficial flora. It will also make bowel movements easier and is often used for constipation.

Shillington’s Intestinal Detox is important for anyone who may have heavy metals in their system, and this formula heals the whole digestive tract. It’s not as necessary for more people, but if you experience digestive upset or heavy metal toxicity the intestinal detox is perfect for these issues. It can slow down the bowel movements a little and is often used with the aforementioned intestinal cleanse.

There are certain vitamins and minerals that have been proven to curb Candida growth, and of course, many of these nutrients are also nutrients that Candida depletes the body of. The right diet should suffice, but most people will do well with a nutrition formula, a mineral formula, fats and vitamin D, and a B vitamin Complex. This is especially true for anyone who doesn’t have access to high quality, nutrient dense food on a regular basis. Biotin, otherwise known as B7, helps prohibit Candida from converting to its Hyphal filamentous growth structure, which is when the tentacles drill through the gut. But there are at least a dozen other minerals and vitamins that we know are just as significant to gut balance, hence the holistic approach.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

Conclusion

Candida is a hot topic of debate within both the naturopathic community and conventional medicine, with views ranging from Candida being the root of everything that’s wrong with the body to it being a very rare issue that is completely overblown. The reality is that a Candida infection in the gut is a process that happens when one is not well, and when left unchecked (it doesn’t take long) Candida will allow other pathogens to infiltrate the body through the gut. Once someone is sick, it may or may not be Candida causing their problems. Illness is never just one type of pathogen. If you feel ill there’s a safe bet that there’s more than just one type of virus or bacteria affecting your health.

Recommended Reading:
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Antibiotics, the Yeast Beast, and Essential Oils

It is rare to watch twenty minutes of television without being bombarded with commercials for products that promise to combat toenail fungus and belly bloat, annoying and stubborn conditions that can springboard from imbalanced intestinal flora. Athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, feminine itch, intestinal gas, and other signs of systemic yeast overgrowth can all be greatly improved by using essential oils. Not only do essential oils attack acute yeast infections on sight, they also help to balance and increase good intestinal bacteria to prevent recurrences.

Excessive consumption of sugar, processed food, white flour, high fructose corn syrup, and smoked and nitrite-laden deli meats is known to contribute to yeast (Candida albicans) overgrowth, but even with a healthy diet, physical, emotional, and environmental stress can also manage to wreak havoc on the body’s core equilibrium.

Overuse of pharmaceutical antibiotics is a major factor in Candida taking hold; in fact, some sources say that it can take one year to rebuild beneficial flora in the intestines after one round of commonly-prescribed antibiotics. Good bacteria in the bowel comprise the activating force of our immune system, and when this bacteria or flora is compromised, our immunity is weakened.

In the conventional world of health, antibiotics are prescribed to fight infection, which depletes the intestinal flora that is the very foundation of strong immune response. Multiple rounds of antibiotics keep the immune system indefinitely weakened. We can only imagine what havoc this imposes upon the human body after decades. While antibiotics save lives, they are too often prescribed; collapsed immunity and drug-resistant bacteria are the result.

Essential oils, on the other hand, destroy pathogens without killing the vital intestinal flora. Interestingly, essential oils have shown to decrease bad intestinal bacteria and increase the beneficial.

Applying undiluted essential oils such as geranium, lavender, clove bud*, organic lemon*, tea tree, white thyme, ginger*, eucalyptus, and rosewood regularly to the soles of the feet increases beneficial flora in the gut, therefore giving your immune system a natural boost. Not only does this help eradicate fungal conditions, but it also helps your body fight herpes-strain viruses including chicken pox and shingles.

Clinical aromatherapy can be a fierce ally after antibiotic use or during times of stress, and can be an antidote to nutritionally bankrupt eating habits. Eliminating offending foods and lowering stress is key, but using essential oils can make it fun and effective.

Essential oils are powerful substances and many have contraindications*, so please check with your doctor or health practitioner before using them. Here are a few sure-fire recommendations to slay the yeast beast without the nasty side effects of drugstore products as well as ways to safeguard your immune system from becoming vulnerable to every virus that goes around:

For Nail Fungus

Apply 1 drop tea tree and 1 drop lavender essential oil undiluted (neat) to nail and nail bed 2x a day until things improve. Continue for another week for good measure. This combination can yield great results in a surprisingly short amount of time.

For Athlete’s Foot

Add 3 drops tea tree, 3 drops eucalyptus, and 3 drops geranium essential oil to a basin of warm water and soak feet once a day. Do not rinse. Dry feet well.

For Systemic Yeast Conditions

To boost good flora in the intestines after taking antibiotics or for systemic Candida/yeast: apply 2 drops lavender, 1 drop tea tree, and 2 drops clove essential oil undiluted to the soles of the feet every evening before bed. Do this for two weeks. For chronic systemic yeast issues, use this method for two weeks and then stop for a week; repeat as needed. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to flush toxins from the system.

For Stronger Immunity

To boost immune response, apply 2 drops organic lemon and 2 drops clove bud essential oil undiluted to the soles of the feet every evening before bed. Do this for one week then use 2 drops lavender essential oil and 2 drops tea tree essential oil for the following week. Alternating combinations helps to prevent your body from building up a tolerance and the oils from losing effectiveness over time.

For more information on the wonderful possibilities of clinical and practical aromatherapy applications, see the works of authors such as Robert Tisserand and Valerie Ann Worwood, among others.

*This essential oil is contraindicated for anyone on blood thinners. Substitutions are recommended.

Disclaimer:

The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and the material presented in this article is not intended to treat, prescribe for, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or to replace conventional medical treatments.

Sources:
  • Donato, Marlaina. Multidimensional Aromatherapy. Blairstown, NJ: Ekstasis Multimedia, 2015
  • Edwards, Victoria H. The Aromatherapy Companion. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 1999
  • Tisserand, Robert. The Art of Aromatherapy. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 1978
  • Worwood, Valerie Ann. Aromatherapy for the Soul. Novato, CA: New World Library, 1999


Foods That Feed Candida

Candida is a more common problem than most people realize. The right supplements can certainly help, but unfortunately, Candida albicans and other species of Candida (there are over 20 of them) will bounce back if you do not follow the most effective and necessary change – radically changing your diet.

Usually, the most effective protocol begins with a strict adherence to a sugar-free, grain-free, GMO-free, and processed food free diet. Over time, as the body restores balance, your immune system will be able to hold Candida in check, and more flexibility in your diet can follow. But during the first few weeks of a Candida detox diet, many foods that are normally very good for you should be avoided. The protocol for moderate-to-severe Candida overgrowth is far more restrictive than mild Candida overgrowth. Perhaps you didn’t know all of the following foods feed Candida.

Fruit

Fruits are high in natural sugars. This is by design after all fruit is nature’s candy. However, it’s important to note that sugar, any kind of sugar, feeds yeast, and Candida is a type of yeast.

For the first few weeks of a Candida detox diet, avoid all fruit. After the symptoms of Candida overgrowth die down, fruit can be reintroduced, but this should be done slowly, a few fruits at a time. Also, the reintroduction of fruit should begin with the fruits that are the lowest in sugar; the high sugar fruits should be reintroduced later. Here are some of the best fruits to initially reintroduce in the diet.

  • Lemons
  • Grapefruits
  • Limes
  • Watermelon
  • Apples
  • Raspberries
  • Kiwi
  • Strawberries
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries

Vegetables

The majority of vegetables are great for a Candida detox diet. Raw vegetables should make up the majority of the foods we eat, all the time, whether we are on a detox diet or not. After the body heals from Candida, a diet high in raw produce, with more vegetables than fruit, is the primary diet change that will keep Candida from coming back and making us sick again – and provide the foundation for health.

Unfortunately, there are a few vegetables that should be avoided for the first few weeks, and not eaten cooked while on a Candida detox diet.

Beets are so high in sugars that cultivars have been developed that are grown just to make processed sugar (sugar beets). Especially when they are cooked, beets (any cultivar) feed yeast in a big way. Healthy people without a Candida overgrowth, should consume raw beets regularly, because they are very high in nutrients.

Alcohol

It is common knowledge that alcoholic drinks are drinks that have been fermented by yeast. Candida is also a type of yeast. Even though there are many differences between the kinds of yeasts used to brew alcohol and the kinds of yeast that infect humans, they share many important characteristics. These fungi feed on sugars and release alcohol and other toxins as waste products. Not only are these toxins harmful to us, they are devastating to the beneficial bacteria in our gut.

Just as alcohol can be applied externally to disinfect wounds (killing bacteria), when taken internally, alcohol also kills bacteria, even the beneficial bacteria that help to keep Candida in check. Without competition from bacteria, Candida can very quickly multiply and cause us a myriad of health problems.

Seafood and Other Food With Heavy Metals

Today’s seafood is not the same as the seafood that we used to catch many years ago. Unfortunately, most of our seafood is contaminated with heavy metals, radioactive material, and other toxins. Sadly, farm raised seafood is usually worse. Farm raised shrimp and fish are usually given GMO feed and they are also contaminated with high levels of PCBS, mercury, and other toxins. Also the mercury in seafood kills our beneficial bacteria, clearing the way for yeast to take over our digestive tract.

Vinegars

Vinegar is made by fermentation in a two-part process. First, yeasts metabolize the sugars into alcohol and then Acetobacter bacteria are added. These bacteria turn the alcohol into acetic acid. Most vinegars can cause inflammation of the gut, and this can make us more vulnerable to yeast infections. Apple cider vinegar is an exception, and most people with Candida overgrowth benefit from consuming it, especially the raw, organic kind. Sensitivity to vinegar does vary somewhat from person to person. Some don’t experience inflammation from any type of vinegar, while others can’t tolerate any type at all, even apple cider vinegar.

Nuts

Nuts are often contaminated with mold. Small amounts don’t pose that much of a problem for us. But since mold is a type of fungus, our bodies are less able to handle the toxins present in mold if we are besieged by Candida, and many molds contain antibiotic properties as well. As you probably guessed, mold can kill off our beneficial bacteria, and we need as much beneficial bacteria as possible to battle Candida.

Beans

Beans are notoriously difficult to digest; that’s where the gas comes from. Any foods or food combinations that are difficult to digest should be avoided when you’re on a Candida detox diet. If you can’t fully digest food that you consume, you are feeding Candida. Beans are one of those foods that are good for us when we are healthy, but not good at all when we are dealing with Candida overgrowth.

Grains

Most people consume far too many grains. Eaten in moderation, some grains are okay, but when on a Candida detox diet, or any kind of detox diet for that matter, grains should be avoided.

Many of us have been taught how to choose the foods we eat from an outdated food pyramid, or the more recent myplate.gov, which is barely an improvement. Following the government recommendations for eating grains leads to chronic disease, with Candida overgrowth being the first and most common symptom that leads to other diseases.

Agave

Most agave nectar that is sold in stores is actually a mixture of corn syrup and agave nectar. After all, corn syrup is cheaper to produce. Agave nectar has been marketed in the U.S. and abroad as a healthy sweetener, and at first glance, this appears to be true. Agave nectar is very low on the glycemic index so it appears to be good for those with blood sugar problems or those who are merely trying to watch what they eat. In truth, agave nectar is worse than high fructose corn syrup.

The reason that agave nectar is sweet is that it is very high in fructose. While fructose is very difficult for the body to digest, Candida goes to town, easily feeding off of it. Consuming high amounts of fructose impedes liver function and promotes obesity. Agave nectar is higher in fructose than high fructose corn syrup. Unfortunately, there is nothing healthy about agave nectar, especially when trying to rid the body of Candida.

Artificial Chemical Ingredients

It’s tempting to think that something with zero calories, like diet soda, is good for us. It’s a comforting thought, but it has no basis in reality.

Aspartame, MSG, Splenda, Sweet N’ Low, Equal, nearly all preservatives such as nitrites and nitrates, and any other difficult to pronounce or mysterious ingredients such as “artificial flavorings” should be avoided.

These are all recent additions to modern diets, and there is no evolutionary justification for eating them. Despite what the FDA would have us believe, we are not meant to eat synthetic chemicals that come from laboratories. There are far too many artificial ingredients for us to list here, but none of them belong in a Candida detox diet.

Other Foods

Sugar feeds Candida, so sugar needs to be completely avoided. A sweet tooth leads to a leaky gut. When sugar is consumed, it feeds Candida and too much sugar transforms Candida into an invasive fungus, robbing us of our health. Candida overgrowth can even penetrate our intestines. It sounds like something out a horror movie, and many people find this hard to believe, but it’s true.

This invasive form, called “mycelial form,” actually produces rootlike tentacles called “rhizoids.” These roots can then penetrate through the lining of the GI tract, causing a pain­ful condition known as “leaky gut,” which is increased intestinal permeability. When you have a leaky gut, partially digested food particles are able to pass through the intestinal lining and directly enter the bloodstream. Not only that, but toxic waste produced by the candida passes right into the bloodstream, too. When this happens, food allergies can result, as well as symptoms of excessive bloating, gas, belching, heartburn, diarrhea and constipation. Don Colbert M.D.

Most dairy products should also be avoided with the exception of unsweetened yogurt and kefir. Dairy contains lactose, a sugar that is difficult to digest, but Candida thrives on it.

How to Eat to Eliminate Candida

It is no small wonder why Candida overgrowth is so prevalent among people these days. Take for instance the most well known all American meal, a cheeseburger and French fries. Eating foods like these promote Candida overgrowth in multiple ways.

The cheese is usually cultured from mold, which is problematic. Usually the cheese is also full of artificial ingredients, and the cow that produced the milk that made the cheese was usually fed GMOs, given hormones and antibiotics, and kept in overcrowded disease ridden conditions. That’s also where the beef came from.

The bread likely contains GMO wheat, as we have been unable to control GMO cross contamination of our food even though all GMO wheat was ordered to be destroyed years ago. Even if the wheat isn’t genetically modified, it most likely was grown with chemical fertilizers, treated with pesticides, and then doused in Roundup just prior to harvest. Also the bread is likely to contain azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in yoga mats, and of course it isn’t good for us.

The French fries are from potatoes grown in chemical fertilizers and treated with potent pesticides, then fried in genetically modified, hydrogenated oils that are high in trans saturated fats.

The healthiest foods in the meal are the lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion but even those foods do not escape the chemical onslaught typically used in conventional agriculture to produce them. The pickle probably contains GMO sugar, artificial flavors, and artificial colors. What’s worse is that out bodies cannot easily digest a meal that is high in both carbohydrates and protein, even when we are healthy. A different approach to food is needed, and there is a better way.

A truly healthy diet consists of 80% fresh, raw, organic, produce, with more vegetables than fruit. On a Candida detox diet, fruit should always be eaten on an empty stomach; it is easier to digest that way. Starches should never be mixed with protein, and the majority of meals should be made up of vegetables. This is easy to do and very satisfying when salads are regularly consumed.

A healthy salad is made up of lots of raw organic vegetables like collard greens, kale, chard, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, onions, beets, beet tops, carrots, zucchini, radishes, cucumbers, raw garlic, (can be pressed into the salad dressing), tomatoes, avocadoes, sprouts, and, a sprinkle of a few nuts or seeds. If you eat animal products, you can add eggs, meat, and sheep or goat cheese. This is an example of a meal that heals rather than harms us.

It is far better to feed our beneficial bacteria and nourish our bodies than it is to feed parasites. Whenever we make a decision about what we eat, we are making life or death decisions. This may sound melodramatic, but it is the way our bodies work. The old adage is true: we are what we eat.

No matter how strict a Candida detox diet is, if the Standard American Diet is resumed afterwards, Candida overgrowth will quickly return. If you want to be healthy, adopt an organic lifestyle. If the bulk of the diet is made up of raw vegetables, than Candida overgrowth will never be a problem again.

From The Editor:

Below, our list of recommended supplements is a protocol that I put together based on what people have found the greatest success with to balance gut flora and heal the intestinal tract. You can take them all together except the FloraMend should be taken without other supplements. If you’re looking for a topical solution, nothing works better than SF722 (both internal and externally), but it causes a burning sensation that is very intense. It does not damage the skin but it hurts until the Candida is dead.

Recommended Supplements:
  • Shillington’s Intestinal Cleanse (kills parasites, heals the intestinal walls, sets up hospital home for health flora)
  • Formula SF722 (undecenoic acid, kills candida and other fungal infections better than other antimicrobials)
  • FloraMend-Prime by Thorne (a strong probiotic designed to pass through the stomach acid and into the intestinal tract, all other supplements can be taken together, but take this one separately like early morning and late night)
  • MicroDefense – Pure Encapsulations (a parasite killer, works pretty well on Candida, but works even better on many other parasites)
  • Shillington’s Intestinal Detox (This is necessary only for those with seriously damaged intestines, anyone who has recently been vaccinated, or those looking to do a thorough detox)
Further Reading:
Sources:


How To Kill Candida, Fungi, Yeast in the Body

There are over twenty different species of Candida known to cause yeast infections. The best known, and most common, is Candida albicans. Natural treatments for yeast infection do not vary based on the type of yeast that is attacking the body; both the protocol and supplementation are the same.

Candida is typically present in healthy individuals. It can live on the skin and in mucous membranes without causing an infection or any ill effects. As a fungus, it even plays an important role in breaking down organic wastes and recycling the nutrients. A little Candida is not a bad thing, but a lot of it, especially when it spreads throughout the body, is a very bad thing.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

A Silent Epidemic

Candida is opportunistic and highly adaptive. When given the right conditions Candida albicans can overgrow very quickly causing yeast infections and fungemias (systemic fungal infections). Mild to severe Candida infections are incredibly common among the U.S. population due to the Standard American Diet, which is very conducive to Candida overgrowth.

Candidiasis is more prone to occur in warm and moist areas of the body; areas like the digestive tract, the genitals, mouth, throat, skin folds, and anywhere in the body with dead or dying tissue. After Candida eats away at dead tissue, it will often attack healthy tissue in order to keep growing. And Candida creates waste products that are neurotoxins such as formaldehyde, alcohol, and acetlyaldehyde. Candida infections include the following:

  • Skin (yeast infection or diaper rash)
  • Genitals (genital/vulvovaginal candidiasis)
  • Throat (thrush or oropharyngeal candidiasis)
  • Mouth (thrush or oropharyngeal candidiasis)
  • Blood (invasive candidiasis)
  • Digestive Tract

As you can see, yeast infections can happen just about anywhere. Athlete’s foot and ear infections are directly caused by Candida while many other ailments such as the cold and flu are indirectly caused by Candida. When our immune system is stressed and taxed from battling Candida, we are more prone to other infections. Usually, when someone is sick they are dealing with multiple pathogens including Candida and other fungi, though not always at a level where conventional medical testing would show it.

Systemic candida infections, even mild infections, can place a heavy burden on our body’s defenses making it open season for other pathogens. This is how most of us get sick. The Standard American Diet and Candida impair our immune system enough to make us susceptible to viral and bacterial illnesses.

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

Candida Overgrowth Mimics Other Conditions

There are so many symptoms of Candida overgrowth that it can be difficult to diagnose. It is exceedingly rare that someone would have all of the symptoms and the combination of symptoms varies a great deal from person to person. Far too often, symptoms of candida overgrowth are mistaken for other conditions such as ADHD, Autism, Alzheimer’s, and Multiple Sclerosis. Worse still, Candida overgrowth makes these conditions far more difficult to manage.

The symptoms of Candida overgrowth are legion. Much of the following list of symptoms of Candida overgrowth is from Donna Gates book The Body Ecology Diet.

  • Chronic fatigue
  • Poor memory
  • Feeling spacy or unreal
  • Indecisiveness
  • Numbness
  • Burning sensations
  • Tingling sensations
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle aches, or muscle weakness or bouts of paralysis
  • Pain or swelling in joints (especially the knees)
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation or Diarrhea
  • Excessive gas causing bloating, belching, or flatulence
  • Burning sensation in genitals or around genitals
  • Prostatitis
  • Impotence
  • Low libido
  • Endometriosis or infertility
  • Cramps and/or other menstrual irregularities
  • Premenstrual tension
  • Anxiety
  • Sudden feelings of sadness
  • Cold hands, feet and cold flashes
  • Shaking when hungry
  • Irritability (especially when hungry)
  • Drowsiness
  • Poor coordination
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Frequent mood swings
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness, and loss of balance
  • Pressure above ears, and a feeling of the head swelling
  • Bruising easily
  • Chronic rashes
  • Frequent itching especially in the nasal passages, ears, arches of the feet, genitals, and scalp
  • Psoriasis or recurrent hives
  • Indigestion and/or frequent heartburn
  • Food sensitivity or food intolerances
  • Food allergies and other allergies
  • Dandruff
  • Mucus in stools
  • Rectal itching
  • Dry mouth, or throat
  • Rash or blisters in mouth
  • Bad breath
  • Foot, hair, or body odor not relieved by washing
  • Nasal congestion, or post nasal drip
  • Sore throat
  • Laryngitis or loss of voice
  • Cough or recurrent bronchitis
  • Pain or tightness in chest
  • Wheezing or shortness of breath
  • Frequent need to urinate
  • Incontinence
  • Burning sensation when urinating
  • Seeing spots or blurry vision
  • Burning or tearing of eyes
  • Recurrent ear infections
  • Pain in ears and/or difficulty hearing

The Role of Bacteria

Bacteria live in and on the human body in either a harmful or a health promoting, symbiotic relationship. We have ten times more bacteria in and on our bodies than our number of human cells. We label bacteria as bad when it feeds off of healthy tissue or releases toxins through its metabolic processes.

Beneficial bacteria in the gut digest our food, assimilate the nutrients present in our food, and they even make vitamins and the body’s majority of neurotransmitters. Bacteria play a dominant role in our immune system. Beneficial bacteria work hard to keep bad bacteria and Candia in check.

The remainder of the body’s defenses would be quickly overwhelmed by invading pathogens without the help of friendly microorganisms. If we take care of our good microbes, they’ll take care of the bad microbes for us.

Diet Is Key

The easiest and most effective way to increase beneficial bacteria and build up the immune system is to eat the right foods. Without changing the diet, all of the supplements and medications in the world won’t rid the body of Candida. The right food is the best medicine; it restricts the growth of Candida and aids in the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Gut microbiomes can even influence our food cravings. This can make it even more difficult to change our diet than we once thought, but new evidence is emerging that further reinforces the notion that the change is well worth the effort.

Bad bacteria and yeast prefer junk food, low fiber, sugar, and a lot of carbohydrates and processed foods. Sugar directly feeds yeast. Simple refined sugars feed it the best. A diet high in sugar also enables viral and bacterial infections, as sugar impairs immune system function. This is standard American fare but not what we have evolved to eat. This is much of the reason why Americans are, on average, in such poor health.

We evolved to eat foods in their entirety, not reconstituted, concentrated foods. Food is more than just vitamins, minerals, and calories. The parts of food that we don’t digest, the fiber, is crucial to our health. So is a diverse diet.

High fiber foods such as raw produce modulate our metabolism. If you drink a large glass of orange juice your blood sugar will jump up. Not so if you eat a large orange. Fiber regulates the speed at which food travels through our digestive system. It slows the release of the sugars and carbohydrates from food and it feeds beneficial bacteria. Raw produce, more vegetables than fruit, creates a microbiome that kills harmful microbes and encourages beneficial ones.

Good flora can turn into bad flora because your eco system is built on what you feed it. Good food equals good flora. Flora that is even remotely capable of digesting and moving out highly processed foods such as fast food are flora that are very powerful and dangerous to us. These are the kind of microbes that can survive preservatives and exposure to other toxins.

If we damage our intestinal lining with things like alcohol, preservatives and other toxins, then we are also killing our more delicate and more friendly intestinal flora. Candida does not die off so easily, and without fierce competition from friendly bacteria, yeast can and does overgrow in the digestive tract.

Anti-Candida Diet

A Candida diet must eliminate some of the foods that you will normally eat on a healthy diet, but the basis of a healthy diet remains the same. A Candida diet should consist of 80% fresh, raw, organic produce, more vegetables than fruit. Choose a wide variety of nutrient dense foods. If you eat meat, make sure you choose organic meat. You do not want to eat meat from diseased animals that were fed hormones and antibiotics. Avoid processed foods, and do not eat any foods with artificial flavorings, colorings, preservatives, MSG, or trans fats. Avoid all GMOs. This is easy to do if all of your food choices are organic.

This is a prebiotic diet. Raw produce is high in fiber, which is essential for gut health. Fiber not only moves toxins through the bowels, it provides the perfect environment for healthy bacteria to thrive. Many conventional sites that write about a diet for Candida warn against eating fermented foods. We make the opposite recommendation, eat lots of fermented foods. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and kefir provide the healthy bacteria needed in the gut–the bacteria that will ultimately crowd out Candida. Foods that kill fungi include onions, leeks, green apples, ginger, pomegranates, and citrus fruits. Along with diet, there is an arsenal of natural treatments for Candia. It isn’t necessary to take supplements to kill Candida, but it does speed up the process faster than diet alone.

There is an undeniable link between gluten reactions and candida. This is because there is a protein found in Candida, HWP-1, which is highly homologous (nearly identical) to two gluten proteins, alpha gliadin and gamma-gliadin. These proteins are known to stimulate immune cell responses in people who otherwise might not have any problems with gluten. In other words, Candida, the yeast responsible for oral thrush and vaginal infections (and so much more), contains a similar protein as gluten, and this can trigger gluten sensitivities.

What to Avoid

Juices, gluten, GMOs, sugars, ketchup, mushrooms, refined foods, toxins that disrupt gut balance from antibiotics, vaccines, and alcohol should all be avoided if possible. Conventional meats should also be avoided due to widespread prophylactic antibiotic use, which can damage our beneficial bacteria. Also it is important to limit intake of starches. Red potatoes and sweet potatoes are good choices when eating potatoes. These restrictions are temporary. After healthy gut bacteria are well established and symptoms of Candida overgrowth are gone, some flexibility in diet will return. Should symptoms reappear, just strictly adhere to the diet for a few weeks to a few months.

Anti-Fungal Foods

A diet high in produce with more vegetables than fruits is crucial for healing Candida. There are, however, some foods that have particular anti-fungal or probiotic qualities that will speed up Candida’s demise. If you take away the foods that Candida thrive on, yeast infections will be a thing of the past, even the low-lying kind that saps you of your energy and focus.

These foods contain potent anti-fungal properties, so they do a remarkable job of killing Candida. They should make up a substantial portion of any Candida detox diet, which should also include other low-sugar, high fiber vegetables. High fiber raw produce creates the right environment for beneficial bacteria to thrive.

  • Green Apples
  • Pomegranates
  • Garlic
  • Oregano
  • Onions
  • Leeks
  • Coconut
  • Rutabaga
  • Turnips
  • Olive Oil
  • Lemons & Limes
  • Pumpkin Seeds
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Arugula
  • Watercress
  • Cabbage

These spices also have potent anti-fungal properties. Try to work them into your meals every chance you get.

  • Thyme
  • Turmeric
  • Clove
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Cinnamon

These probiotic foods are very beneficial if you can get them with live cultures. Consuming these foods will help increase the numbers and effectiveness of your beneficial bacteria. Take care to avoid MSG, artificial flavors, and other questionable ingredients that are sometimes found in these foods.

  • Sauerkraut
  • Kimchi
  • Raw apple cider vinegar
  • Acidophilus
  • BioK
  • Kombucha
  • Yogurt
  • Kefir
  • Other fermented vegetables

The problem with many of the aforementioned foods is that the stomach acid typically kills most or all of the beneficial bacteria. Some yogurts are designed with bacteria strong enough to survive stomach acid, and high quality probiotic capsules are typically designed get through acid and release in the gut.

If you want to heal from Candida faster, these supplements can help to speed up the process.

Conclusion

Candida overgrowth is incredibly common. A diet high in starches, sugars, preservatives, and processed foods feeds Candida while a diet high in raw produce feeds Candida’s competition. Once you kill off the Candida, you’ll be amazed by the clarity you gain and the difference in how you feel. In addition, the dietary changes you make will provide the foundation for a vital, healthy life.

From The Editor: Fungal Supplement Stack – Knock Out Yeast, Candida, Mold, Fungus

The first three should be plenty for most people, but for really prominent fungal issues or for impatient people with a bigger budget I’d recommend all of these:

I recommend taking the SF722, Berberine, MycoCeutics, and Microdefense with meals, and the Abzorb and Syntol separately, on an empty stomach (like in the morning and before bed). The Abzorb and the Syntol are a bit redundant, but I find good results using both if the budget can afford it. If money is really tight, just get the SF722 and put your money into your diet.

Further Reading:
Sources:


If You’re Sick, Chances Are, Candida Is the Foundation of Your Illness

The most common fungus to negatively affect humans, Candida albicans, primarily colonizes the skin and the mucosal membranes of the mouth, genitals, and digestive tract. There are also a few other types of Candida that can impact our health as well; all strains respond well to naturopathic treatment.

Conventional medical experts say that from 30-70% of the present population have a benign colonization of this yeast. I would bet any well trained naturopath will tell you that more than 90% of the population host a Candida colonization and most of them are not benign, not in our modern, processed, easy-food society. In addition, I am yet to meet anyone suffering from any illness, who is not dealing with an overabundance of Candida.

When Candida leads to disease, conventional medical belief states that the infection can be localized, invasive, or systemic. Alternative medical belief would argue that a local infection such as a skin infection, vaginitis, or thrush is an indication that the gut, and likely the whole rest of the body, is already overwhelmed. Lending credence to this belief is the fact that the fastest way to kill any type of Candida infection, and insure it does not come right back, revolves around balancing the gut microbes.

The Candida connection with allergies, asthma, and dermatitis has long been accepted. Current research suggests Candida antigens may trigger celiac and Crohn’s disease. Even though these links of Candida to disease are acknowledged, the conventional medical community is hesitant to understand and accept the role of Candida in patients with multiple complaints often labeled as either non-specific autoimmune disease or more often as psychosomatic illness. These symptoms include fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, rashes, dysuria, urinary frequency, vaginitis, and more. Nor do they realize Candida is so often the underlying cause for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, environmental exposure syndrome, and central sensitization syndrome. Candida even effects the brain, and can be the precursor to many different mental illnesses from depression to schizophrenia. In other words, when the immune system goes belly up, Candida is almost always a major factor, if not, one of the few basic causes, though this connection is often overlooked or ignored.

There are more than 200 species of Candida, but less than a dozen affect humans. Candida alternate in form from budding yeast cells called blastospores to hyphae, thread-like filaments that bore through tissue and individual cells. The fact that it can alternate back and forth in form makes it harder for the immune system to respond to it. We are now discovering that it can produce slightly differing hyphae in different parts of the body, again creating a different immune response.

Candida is controlled or eliminated through diet and supplements, but studies have shown it often reoccurs. Since the same studies showed diet was the most important factor in eliminating the overgrowth, it only stands to reason that dietary changes need to be a lifelong commitment. A return to a standard American diet is a return to disease. A healthy diet, though not as restrictive as a diet designed to kill Candida, will help prevent a recurrence.

Candida overgrowth is certainly linked to antibiotic use, but it is also clearly a by-product of our sugar laden, processed, frankenscience American diet. If you are experiencing allergies, depression, slow healing, a weak immune system, dizzy spells, brain fog, insomnia, migraines, or any autoimmune problems such as chemical sensitivities, unexplained fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, or similar symptoms, get the Candida that is in your body under control and know that eating well, eating a truly healthy diet is essential in keeping Candida at bay.

Believe it or not, chances are you eat too much sugar. Even most of us health nuts do. Sugar from fruit is fine when the fruit is whole, but sweet fruit and vegetable juices, agave, honey, brown rice syrup, and any refined sugar feeds Candida. To learn more about Candida and how to fight it, check out How To Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:
Sources:
  •  Stephen Olmstead, MD; Dennis Meiss, PhD; and Janet Ralston,BS, Candida, Fungal-Type Dysbiosis, and Chronic Disease: Exploring the Nature of theYeast Connection, Townsend Letter, June 2012