Causes of Candida or Yeast Infection

Candida infection, or Candidiasis, is a disease caused by uncontrolled, excessive growth of Candida Albicans.

This species of yeast is normally found on some body parts, such as the vagina, throat and digestive tract. Although present, the number of Candida is maintain to acceptable low with the help of good bacteria living in our stomach.

Candidiasis happens when the number of good bacteria in the body system decreases due to different factors like intake of broad-spectrum antibiotics, low immune system, unhygienic practices, etc. These factors give Candida a chance to multiply, thus the overgrowth.

Symptoms of Candidiasis

Depending on the area of growth, the symptoms of Candida infection vary. Genital itching and cottage cheese-like discharge are common in vaginal yeast, patching and skin peeling are visible on skin areas afflicted by Candida, and oral thrush is common in oral candidiasis.

Coconut Oil Vs. Candida

Coconut oil, most especially organically-made, can aid in fighting off Candida infection. Its components help strengthen the immune system, thus boosting the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacilli, which stop excessive yeast growth.

Components of coconut oil include:

Capric Acid – a type of saturated fat found in coconut oil, which is popular for its anti viral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Similar to the fatty acid found in breast milk, capric acid protects the body from infections and diseases. This useful coconut oil component has been discovered as one of the most effective yeast killer.

Caprylic Acid – like Capric acid, this is a type of saturated fat as well. This acid is proven to be a very effective, straightforward fungi and germ killer.

Caproic and Myristic Acids – like the first two components of Coconut oil, caproic and myristic acids also have anti-fungal properties, but milder.

Coconut Oil – this oil is considered one of the wonder drugs of nature. It soothes skin and relieves the digestive system. Although very mild on the body’s internal and external systems, coconut oil is a very effective way to stop fungal growth. Furthermore, unlike other anti-yeast or anti-fungal drugs, coconut oil does not make any drastic, sudden changes, making it easier for the body to recuperate.

How to Use Coconut Oil as Candida Treatment

*note*
Always consult with a doctor or health professional before making changes to your diet. 

Initially, a person with mild Candidiasis is required to take a total of 4 tablespoonfuls a day. The dosage may be divided into 3 or 4 doses spread throughout the day. After some improvement (about 7-10 days of coconut oil intake), decrease the dose down to 2 tablespoons a day.

Continue the treatment for several weeks until the symptoms are completely cleared out. This method is very effective against genital candidiasis and systemic yeast infections. Coconut oil-based topical creams are also effective against superficial yeast infections.

Experts recommend regular intake of coconut oil to maintain a healthier digestive tract, vaginal flora and an improved overall health. Even if you do not suffer from Candidasis, taking coconut oil gains you a substantial number health benefits.

Unfortunately they are hard to stop unless we completely stop eating anything that has yeast. Now, there are some other things that can rapidly reduce the count of Candida in the body, but the frustrating thing is that it is hard to tell you have a problem until the yeast infection has reached at a very high count. Eventually you face a situation which is called thrush, and it can happen to anyone and it happens commonly on the surface of the tongue (mouth thrush), genitals and some internal disorders.

What Should be Done About Thrush In Adults?

These symptoms can be quite problematic, but there are two main ways you can combat with Candida.

1. Take prescription medicines or drugs
2. Control your diet and practice hygiene

Obviously it is always best to consult a doctor and some people try a combination of both for rapid recovery, but remember that medicines have side-effects that can further complicate matters. You may want to avoid antibiotics as they can further increase the count of Candida in your body.

Taking Medicines

Prescription medicines are a common solution for medical conditions. It is important to realize that this only a short term solution to the problem and it does not attack the root of the problem. Nevertheless it is something that can give you immediate relief.

Controlling Your Diet

A separate  candida diet plan is something that is commonly used to attack to the root of the problem. The only reason why Candida is still multiplying is because you are also feeding the bacteria. The idea of a different diet plan is to minimize the count of Candida back to safer levels and eventually other symptoms should go away. It is also necessary to note that your diet should be strictly followed because any negligence will seriously compromise the momentum you are gathering from this practice.

Practicing Good Hygiene

Even if you are practicing good hygiene already, you have to work a little harder especially in cleaning the areas that are affected. If you tongue has signs of cracks or white colouration then you must clean your tongue with your own tooth brush. This will help erode the fungus that is settling on the surface of your tongue. Likewise also make sure that you are cleaning other areas that are equally affected. It is also required that you change clothes because as fungus appears on surface it begins to collect itself on clothing, so avoid wearing the same articles of clothing twice.

If you are suffering as an adult with thrush then carefully practicing these precautions and knowing them will constantly keep you aware what you need to do for yourself. It is always best to consult a doctor, but you yourself should feel the changes in your body when you follow the path to recovery.

Foods to Avoid When You Have Yeast Infection

As a rule, people experiencing yeast infection must avoid acidic and sugary foods. Processed foods must be avoided as well, since they are usually loaded with refined carbohydrates, sugars and preservatives that may serve as food for these organisms.

You should cut down, or better yet, completely eliminate intake of aged cheeses, chocolate, fresh and dried fruits, alcohol, mushrooms, fermented foods and vinegar, glutinous foods including pasta, sweets including sugar, maple syrup and honey; foods that have yeast and mold and sweetened yogurt. You must also avoid soft drinks such as colas, fruit teas, sweetened coffee, condiments that has vinegar and sugar in it such as ketchup, barbecue sauce and steak sauce; vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and beetroot; inorganic meat (antibiotic-fed animals), frozen dinners and microwavable meals, any artificial sweetener and milk.

Foods That Help Eliminate Yeast Infections

On the other hand, there are foods that slow down or inhibit the growth of yeast. These foods also help build up the body’s immune system. They also help promote growth of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli, which aids in eliminating yeast infection.

Here are some of the top Candida-fighting foods:

Garlic – known to boost the growth of good bacteria in the body and is a powerful fungicide, as well. As an anti-fungal tonic, you can drink a glass of water infused with crushed garlic.
Onions – like garlic, onions have potent antifungal property. Aside from this, it also has anti-parasitic and antibacterial functions.
Coconut Oil – one of the most effective antifungals and a potent Candida eliminator. Coconut oil has Caprylic and Lauric acid, two useful substances that prevent overgrowth of Candida yeast and help strengthen the body’s immune system. Take 2 to 3 tablespoons of pure coconut oil a day, until your yeast infection clears up.

Aside from the foods mentioned above, eating leafy vegetables, nuts and seed, low sugar fruits and black beans can help stop the overgrowth of Candida yeast. Protein-rich foods like eggs, chicken, pork and fish are also advised; however, you must only eat the ones that are hormone-free and antibiotic-free. Eating non-glutinous grains such as brown rice, millet, oat bran and rice bran also helps in the decrease of these harmful organisms. Additionally, taking chlorella and olive leaf supplements also help clear out candidiasis. Make sure you drink plenty of water as well, for this flushes out toxins and balances the bacterial and yeast levels in the body.

You may find it difficult to avoid the above mentioned restricted foods. However, if you steer clear of the restricted foods and consume only the Candida-fighting foods, your yeast infection will surely clear out in a couple of weeks, depending on its severity.

A very popular test but is it able to be trusted, or should we take the results with a grain of salt?

What Is The Candida Spit Test

The idea behind the spit test is that you spit inflation glass of water first thing in the morning and let it sit for the about 60 minutes. If after this time you find that the water is still clear, then according to the candida spit test, you do not have a candida overgrowth.

Whereas if you find the water cloudy with ‘stringy’ legs then this means that you do have a candida.

Where This Test Doesn’t Add Up

The problem with the candida spit test is that it is trying to use mucus to determine the result, but when you stop and think about it, there are plenty of reasons that your spit could be cloudy or ‘grow legs’.

• Higher Than Usual Dairy Intake
  Dairy is well known to increase your mucus levels. If you have consumed a more than usual amount of dairy products recently this could affect how your spit interacts with the water.
• More Bacteria In Your Mouth In The Morning
  Your body has had all night to build up bacteria levels and this can mean that you body will try and remove this bacteria in your spit – causing them to clump together and sink to the bottom of your glass of water.
• Allergies
  If you have ever had allergies before you will know that they definitely induce thicker than normal levels of mucus.

Alternatives To The Spit Test

It is a condition that can be hard to diagnose due to the large number of different symptoms, however, since it has gained a lot of popularity, there is much more awareness as to what yeast infection (or Candida) is and what one should do to prevent it from happening again.

How to Prevent Yeast Infection

It is a good idea to bathe with sensitive skin soap, avoid scented products, or any of the other things that women can buy that may further aggravate the disorders. After having a bath, dry yourself thoroughly with your towel. For the most part, if you take these measures, avoid scented products and regularly change your underwear.

There are some foods as well that you can use for preventing yeast infection:

• Coconut oil
  This is probably the best plant oil that you can use to kill the candida yeast. The candida is a name of the bacteria that spreads in your body in response to high sugar content. coconut oil is a good anti-candida measure that you can use as a part of your diet. You may have this for up to 3 tbsp. per day and they are also heat stable, so you will not have to worry about any skin conditions.
• Garlic
  This is a popular vegetable that does a great job in fighting candida. It is hard to consume but luckily if you can tolerate a single clove, you will be making yourself a rapid recovery against candida issues. You can chop them and perhaps include it in your diet or have it directly, whichever is more suited for your need.
• Almonds
  Almonds are a great source of protein and they have great properties against bacteria, especially candida. It is a well-known ingredient for prebiotic properties and definitely increases the levels of beneficial gut bacteria.
• Cayenne pepper
  The cayenne pepper has been a choice of the old times when other alternatives were hard to find. You can always conveniently use these in your diet and it will steadily fight you candida condition. It also improves metabolism which makes it a two-pronged approach against eliminated excess candida in your body.

Yeast Infection From Intercourse

Yeast infection can be passed between people through intercourse. So to make sure you do not get affected, always be sure to practice safe sex and be sure to keep an open dialog with your partner so that if either of you are currently affected by yeast infection – you both know.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Mouth Thrush

You may experience one or more of the following symptoms if you have oral thrush:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Pain and discomfort on the roof of your mouth, tongue and throat
• White spots on your tongue

This is a very old problem and known to be easily treatable. The problem itself is categorized as a nuisance and there are also natural remedies that have been around long before pharmaceutical companies came along. Medicinal solutions can get you dramatic relief within 12 hours but the best way to deal with these symptoms is to go for the root causes.

Root Causes Of Yeast Infection

People feel that Candida is the culprit and therefore needs to be eliminated, but this is like blaming the hero for doing something we don’t like. What happens is that we consume a fatty and sugar intensive diet that leaves us with high sugar levels in our body. To an extent our pancreas is able to create enough insulin to break down the sugar but when there are consistent elevated levels of sugar, then you will have to depend on Candida to control your sugar levels or you will have problems. At the same time your insulin is probably getting blocked up by cholesterol or other factors that slow down the blood stream.

Unfortunately this leads to more complications later on. When Candida feeds on sugar, it grows and then when the sugar content under control, the excess Candida dies. When sugar levels are consistently high, Candida begins to bloom and fight sugar levels all the time, which leads to inconvenient symptoms that we call mouth thrush.

So this makes your diet the root cause of mouth thrush. In this case you will have to make sure that you control what you eat with less sugar intensive items – this is where the yeast free diet can help.

Home Remedies For Thrush

To eliminate the root causes, you will have to practice regular hygiene. You won’t want the Candida bacteria to expand outside your body too, so hygiene will at least prevent the growth of these bacteria. Then you will also have to control your diet  and eliminate fats, sugars and processed foods. Go for yoghurt instead of ice cream and take honey instead of sugar for your intake. Very soon you will find yourself recovering from this mess. If you want faster solution to mouth thrush then you can take medications that can be prescribed by your physician and they will solve the problem too.

About The Author: Linda Allen

One of the most important things to consider when considering any information related to your health is, ‘what are the authors qualifications to be writing about this topic?‘

In this case, Linda Allen, the author of Yeast Infection No More, definitely has solid credentials to back up her research.

She is a:

• Medical Researcher
• Nutritionist
• Health Consultant
• Former Yeast Infection Sufferer
• Author

Who Is ‘Yeast Infection No More’ For?

On her website, Linda lists about 30+ common symptoms that would normally be associated with a range of different health problems. Symptoms such as:

• Lack Of Energy
• Chronic Rashes
• Painful Intercourse
• Joint Pain & Swelling
• AND EVEN Acne

Along with a whole heap of other symptoms and she claims to be able to reverse and eventually eliminate through the content of her 237 page resource. Now before you start freaking out about having to read that many pages, I can assure you that the font is purposely larger to make it easier to read.

What Does The Resource Include?

‘Yeast Free No More’ is more of a system than a book, it’s a holistic system that ‘will show you how to permanently cure your yeast infection, eliminate candida, and regain your Natural inner balance, using a unique 5-step method’.

It includes:

• Clinically Proven Holistic Plan
• Customisable To Your Condition
• How To Help Permanently Prevent Yeast Infections

PLUS… One of the biggest benefits of purchasing Yeast Infection No More is that it comes with 3 MONTHS Private ‘Email Counselling’ where you can discuss your personal situation with a nutrition specialist!

How Does Linda Support Her Claims?

There are so many people making outrageous claims these days it can be hard to work out who is telling the truth and who is just spinning a yarn.

Linda has complied a whole page of testimonials from people who have purchased her ebook and had positive results which you can find on her website and as well as that she even offers a full two months (60 days) 100% guarantee, where if you are not thrilled with your results then you can contact her for a FULL REFUND!

Now I don’t want to tell you to by this book, but if you are suffering from the symptoms of yeast infection I will encourage you to visit the Yeast Infection No More website and research what Linda is talking about and see what you think.

This is highly related to yeast and the root cause is generally related to your diet. However it can also be transmitted by another means such as through a sexual intercourse but there is a quick recovery following that. When it comes to diet, yeast actually feeds on sugar, so for that reason, if anyone is going through this type of infection they should visit their doctor and consider going on a yeast free diet.

Reason For A Yeast Free Diet

Doctors usually prescribe an anti-fungal medicine for recovery, which is very helpful, but another thing that you can do to help recover and completely eliminate the condition is  a traditional 6 week yeast free diet. The primary things to remember when following a yeast free diet is to eliminate any source of added sugar. You will also need to limit any type of high carbohydrate foods.

How Candida/Yeast Infection Develops?

Candida is a microbe that already exists in your blood stream to help control your sugar levels. Whenever your sugar levels are high, the candida comes to break them down so that your sugar levels are maintained. If there is a sustained elevated level of sugar in your blood stream, then candida continues to bloom until it is in excess. This excess of candida causes your body to start showing symptoms on the surface, which commonly include:

• Redness
• Itchiness
• Milky/cheesy discharges

How The Yeast Free Diet Works?

In order to recover from a yeast infection, what you need to do is to minimize the amount of sugar in your blood stream. If you lower the amount of yeast, so the sugar levels will come in control. If sugar levels are controlled, then there will be little reason for Candida microbes to hang around in your body. These microbes have a lifespan of mere few hours, and as these yeast and carbohydrates levels will lower, so will the Candida. Plainly speaking, all you have to do is to ‘starve’ your Candida microbes so that the infections go away too.

Avoid eating:

• Fruit
• Fruit juices
• Starchy carbohydrates
• White potatoes
• White bread
• White rice
• Pastas
• Acidic foods (like vinegar)

The food that you should be eating should be:

• Lean meat
• Beans
• Non starchy vegetables
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Cucumber salad

When you are consuming vegetables, choose raw organic ones for consumption. If you feel this is a difficult task, just remind yourself that this is only going to stay for a couple of weeks until your yeast levels drop. Eventually you can continue with your normal diet, with just a little more precaution.

You would normally see this as a problem that needs to be eliminated but it is actually caused by certain habits. A medical name for the yeast infection is candida albicans.

The most common cause that is usually connected to this problem is an improper diet. Candida is a microbe that lives in your blood stream that has the sole purpose of breaking down sugar, which is an important feature of your system.

If your blood sugar levels rise, Candida continues to multiply until the volume of sugar has gone down. If, for some reason, the blood sugar levels continue to rise then there will be excess of Candida that eventually leads to annoying problems like itching and redness.

Yeast Infection Symptoms In Men

Men usually face the symptoms in two areas, one is their mouth and the other is in the genitals.  The appearance looks like a part of the mouth is being coated with cheese.

Adults mostly face this problem in their genitals and show signs of:

• Redness
• Itchiness and flaking
• Soreness
• Burning urination
• Spots on surface, especially on the foreskin
• Milky penile discharge

This kind of problem can also spread through unprotected intercourse, because women also face yeast infection in their vagina. However, there are still many other causes why yeast infection spreads in your body.

Candida Treatment

The best way to treat yeast infection is to deal it with the root causes. If you want to start with the remedial procedure, then the right way would be to make a holistic impact. If you ignore a critical area then your recovery may take a lot more time.

To first understand the treatment, you must know the most related causes of yeast infection in men.

• Low immunity level/AIDS
• Unprotected sex
• Diabetes
• Improper hygiene
• Bad diet (excess intake of fatty foods or sweet items)

If any of these could be the reason that you have yeast infection, then you can reduce the chances of getting affected again by simply creating an alternative for each habit.

• Use good quality condoms when you want to have an intercourse.
• The best impact on your recovery will come from your improvement in your diet intake.
• Leave out all those oily foods that will add fat and cholesterol to your blood level.
• Try to have raw organic vegetables in your diet (read more about the food list for the Candida diet).
• Practice good hygiene by having daily showers, and cleaning your infected areas with a clean towel.
• Change clothing every day so that they are washed and you can minimize the spread of Candida problem.

Following these steps can help prevent and clear up yeast infection in men, and more importantly also lead a healthier life in the process.

This is because the diet is quite strict and definitely takes a lot of will-power to complete successfully.

What Is The Idea Of The Candida Diet?

The whole idea behind the Candida diet is to eliminate foods that may either feed or provide the right conditions for the yeast infection to continue growing inside the body. Recommend foods to be eliminated are some of the most popular foods in the western diet – which is why this diet is usually such a challenge for most people.

So let’s take a look at the different foods that you can and cannot eat when on the diet.

NO Foods On The Candida Diet Food List

As mentioned earlier there are a lot of food types that are not beneficial when you are looking to clear up yeast infection. It is important to give your body the best chance of fixing things and clearing up the Candida symptoms and this is why it is important to eliminate certain foods from your diet.

Here is a list of foods you should remove from your diet if you’re suffering from Candidiasis:

• Sugar
  Candida feeds on sugar, so making sure you cut all sugar from your diet is the best way to help starve off the infection. You should not not exchange soft drink for the sugar free variety as they will also have an affect.
• Yeast
  This one is quite obvious, if you are fighting a yeast infection you are not going to want to be eating any more.
• Gluten
  While some sufferers may also by highly sensitive to gluten, the main benefit is giving your body a break and allowing it focus on clearing up the infection.
• Dairy
  It is usually recommended that Candida sufferers cut back heavily on dairy foods. For the first couple of weeks it is probably best to just eliminate it completely and slowly re-introduce it later.
• Fruit
  Fruit is full of sugar. And even though it is natural sugar, the Candida will still feed off of it.
• Peanuts
  While most nuts are ok, there are a few like peanuts that have high mould levels and should be avoided.
• Alcohol & Caffeine
  Firstly alcohol is full of sugar so is not something you want to add to the mix, and also caffeine is a main trigger with Candida so you will want to eliminate that and maybe switch to a herbal tea (which is in the ‘yes foods’)
• Packaged Foods
  Full of preservatives and chemicals that can cause an imbalance in your system that may allow the Candida to thrive.

YES Foods On The Candida Diet Food List

Now before you get dejected and decide that there is no way you could follow this diet, there is a great food list of things that you can eat as well as a couple of substitutes for foods that are on the ‘don’t eat’ list above.

• Vegetables (Minus sweet potatoes, potatoes, yams, corn, and squash)
  The yeast infection feeds itself of sugar and mould. What vegetables do is starve the infection by not giving it any mould or sugar.
• Proteins
  Try to focus on fresh mean (as processed meats are not allowed) and organic just means less bad stuff.
• Seeds & Nuts
  Nuts are also high in protein but only eat the ones that do not have high amounts on mould – such as peanuts.
• Herbs
  Most herbs and spices have beneficial properties for fighting Candida, and with the strict diet they are also great for adding flavour to your meals.
• Live Cultured Yoghurts
  Yoghurts with live culture are currently being research for potential benefits such as preventing gastrointestinal infections, and boosting the immune system.
• Herbal Teas
  Teas such as Chamomile, Cinnamon, Lemongrass and other herbal teas have anti-fungal properties.

Most Atkins or high protein/no carb diets will fit into these categories so finding cookbooks for these diets might help you get a little more creative with your meals. This Candida diet food list is just a recommendation and you will want to consult a nutritionist or doctor before changing your diet substantially.