Candida Demystified

Candidiasis has been around for thousands of years, but it’s only since the advent of antibiotics that it has become a virtual epidemic. Antibiotics are a factor in the development of candidiasis because they kill off the friendly bacteria in our systems that keep the common yeast, Candida albicans, under control. When the Candida yeast overgrows its bounds, it causes a variety of symptoms that can range from general fatigue, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and frequent vaginal infections in women.

Candidiasis is difficult to diagnose. Many doctors don’t acknowledge it as a systemic problem; they treat the variety of symptoms connected with it--like thrush and vaginal infections-- and ignore the basic cause of what can be far more subtle and troublesome symptoms including depression, allergies, and inability to concentrate.

How can a simple yeast cause so many problems? In fact, the Candida albicans yeast is present in varying amounts in all of us, living in our gastrointestinal tract. The problem is created when the yeast begins to grow beyond its normal bounds, which often happens because of antibiotic use. It’s also connected with the use of oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, drugs used for ulcers including Tagamet or Zantac, or even too much sugar in the diet. A woman who is on birth control pills, has had a few courses of antibiotics, and who eats too much sugar is the typical victim. Women with diabetes are more likely to develop candidiasis because the environment of their vagina is conducive to the overgrowth of the Candida yeast. But men can suffer from candidiasis, too, especially if they have a wife or girlfriend who has recurrent yeast problems.

Candidiasis has such a wide range of symptoms because it affects so many systems of the body--including the endocrine, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, nervous, and immune systems. A complete listing of the symptoms of candidiasis may include general symptoms such as: constant fatigue and loss of interest in sex, thrush (Candida overgrowth of the mouth), canker sores, sore throat and constant cough, constipation, intestinal cramps, bloating and gas, rectal itch, recurring vaginal yeast infections and bladder infections, general menstrual problems, depression and inability to concentrate, allergies, and low immune function.

One of the troubling aspects of candidiasis is that it can begin a vicious circle of poor health: Someone with a poorly functioning immune system can be vulnerable to Candida infections. In turn, the Candida infections increase the likelihood of a poorly functioning immune system. In addition, someone whose immune system isn’t up to par is more likely to get a bacterial infection that would require treatment with antibiotics, which of course adds fuel to the fire by encouraging the overgrowth of Candida albicans.

Unfortunately, at this time, there is no simple test for candidiasis. There is a blood test for Candida antibodies, but if a woman has had recurrent vaginal yeast infections, the test will inevitably be positive; it is not a conclusive test for the syndrome. How do you know if your health problems are caused by candidiasis? The cure is the identifying factor. That is, if you have a number of the symptoms; if you have been on medications that could affect yeast growth including cortisone, hormones (including birth control pills), or antibiotics; if you’ve tried other methods to deal with your symptoms without success, then it is worth the trouble to attempt the cure outlined here including a yeastfree diet and acidophilus supplements. Supplements you can try incude: garlic - an effective anti-fungal agent, in its natural form or in the form of capsules that are available at health food stores, lactobacillus acidophilus, the live culture found in yogurt, beneficial in maintaining the healthy bacteria that fight Candidiasis. And the naturally occurring fatty acid called caprylic acid is helpful in fighting candidiasis. It is available under various names in health food stores. Potency varies; the labels will give the correct dosage. �

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