What Is An Anti-Candida Diet?

If you’ve ever had a problem with yeast then you know how difficult it can be to get rid of. The anti-Candida diet is designed to rid the body of the effects and the presence of this type of bacteria.

What Is Candida?

Mixed Candida species growing on ChromID Candida 2 Agar - detail (Photo credit: Nathan Reading)

The proper name is Candida albicans. It is yeast that can be a problem in the digestive system. When antibiotics are taken for various infections, they can rob the body of the good bacterial flora that are present. In the absence of the good flora, destructive and unwanted bacteria have a chance to grow and flourish.

Candida can be found in different areas of the body. For one you can find it in yeast infections in the vagina, mouth and under nail beds – any place that is warm and dark is a perfect breeding ground for yeast. Candida exists in all of us to some extent, and in small colonies causes no problems. However, when the body is off balance, for example, from taking antibiotics or other medications that disrupt the bacterial balance of the body, an overgrowth of candida can cause problems such as thrush, yeast infections, lowered immune function, and more.

The Diet

Getting rid of a yeast infection can be a vicious cycle. Constant yeast infections in the body can signify a systemic condition. It can affect the health of your immune system. An anti-Candida diet can help to rid the body of the yeast.

The diet is designed to take away the food for the yeast. Thinking of yeast that one would use to make bread rise - warm water helps give the yeast a perfect environment and the sugar activates it.

To get rid of yeast in the body, removing the sugar is the basic idea of the diet. But, there are other places that sugar exists besides simply in the form that we see on the kitchen table. Read the labels. Any food ending in “-ose” is a sugar in disguise and not what you want to eat on any diet designed to rid the body of yeast.

What about natural sugar, such as in fruit? While fruits contain many healthful antioxidants and vitamins, during your anti-candida diet you will want to avoid all sources of sugar - even fruit.

Sugary Pastry (Photo credit: nathanmac87)

What Not to Eat

We have already discussed avoiding sugar in its many forms. Another crucial place where you find sugars is in starchy foods. In the body, these carbohydrates break down into simple sugars. Any sugar is going to keep the Candida infection alive in the body. Avoid refined pastas, potatoes, white bread and anything made with white flour. Basically avoiding all highly processed foods will go a long way towards ridding your body of candida.

Some dairy products can hide sugars. If you like yogurt, be aware that flavored kinds can contain sugar and sabotage your efforts. Go for plain yogurts and those that contain bifidus regularis, acidophilus and other probiotic substances. These are good bacteria that will fight to regain their spot in the intestinal kingdom.

What to Eat

There are plenty of foods left that can tip the scales back in favor of the good bacteria in your body. Eat lots of vegetables, healthy grass-fed meats, omega-3 fatty acids, and garlic.

Drink plenty of water. Water removes toxins from the body. Taking a multivitamin can help rebuild the immune system along with the foods you are choosing to rebuild the bacterial flora. And if you don't eat yogurt, you should take a good daily probiotic supplement every day - even after you are done with your diet, to maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your body.

An anti-Candida diet can be followed for as long as you need to, until you are sure that your immune system is back on track. But typically if you are careful and do not eat ANY sugar, 30 days should be about the right amount of time to restore balance to your system.


Supplements That Fight Candida:

   

Six Natural & Safe Painkillers

Let's face it - pain is a part of your life.  We don't often think about it that way, but in actuality it’s something to be grateful for, because it is your body’s natural defense against further injury.  Imagine what would happen to a runner’s knee if they didn’t feel the pain of overuse or improper form?  They could damage it beyond repair.  It’s also normal to not want to feel this pain, and to want to reduce it or alleviate it when it occurs.

Coated 200 mg ibuprofen tablets. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Unfortunately, drugs such as NSAIDS come with a whole slew of possible harmful side effects.  That’s where natural painkillers can be a great benefit, particularly if you’re dealing with an injury or chronic pain.

Let’s take a look at six natural painkillers:

1.  Arnica is a wonderful herb that comes from a lovely yellow flower that grows in the mountains of Europe.  It has been shown to be quite effective in reducing inflammation and the pain related to inflammation.  This natural painkiller is great for treating arthritis, muscle and tendon sprains and strains and even bruising.  Arnica can be taken orally with a homeopathic remedy or applied as a topical gel.

2.  Curcumin, an ingredient in Turmeric, is a wonderful painkiller which also suppresses and reduces inflammation. Inflammation is often the cause of joint and muscle pain.  Curcumin can be taken as a capsule, and is said to be better absorbed by your body if you take it with bromelain which is an anti-inflammatory enzyme found in pineapple.

3.  Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory compounds that keep your body in a state of optimal health by blocking chemicals that cause inflammation in the body.  In a study of rheumatoid arthritis patients, daily supplementation with 2.7 grams of EPA and 1.8 grams of DHA resulted in a significant reduction in the number of tender joints.
 
Omega 3 fatty acids are found in flaxseed, hempseed, and cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel.  You can also take fish oil supplements.

4.  Boswellia, aka frankincense, is an herb that treats chronic pain.  Like many of the other herbs it decreases inflammatory compounds and thus leads to the reduction of pain for both minor injuries like sprains and strains and also chronic pain like arthritis.

Devil 's claw, Proboscidea louisianica (Photo credit: Vietnam Plants & The USA. plants)

5.  Devil’s claw is a fruit that is native to South Africa.  It has been used to reduce back pain and arthritis pain. Compounds called iridoid glycosides have pain-relieving and inflammation-fighting capabilities.  However, if you suffer from stomach issues, consult approval from your doctor before beginning to take Devil’s claw.

6.  Feverfew is a long-standing natural pain remedy and works quite well for headaches, minor pain, arthritis pain and fever.  It’s been shown to actually cease the development of headaches and to stop migraines in their tracks.  It works by relaxing blood vessels in your brain and preventing them from constricting. 

Natural painkillers can be your healthy way to mitigate or eliminate chronic pain or pain caused by minor injuries.  However, just because an herb is natural doesn't mean it doesn't have side effects so it pays to take caution when adding any herbal or natural remedy to your routine.  However, the side effects are generally significantly much less harmful than those of NSAIDS. Check with your alternative healthcare practitioner to be sure before using.

How to Fight Inflammation Naturally

Inflammation is your body’s reaction to injury - but it can also be caused by many toxins, which irritate your body and cause inflammation to occur. You can have external inflammation, for example a twisted ankle will swell. You can also experience inflammation internally. For example your arteries can become inflamed.
Inflammation, while it is a natural response, can be dangerous too. If your arteries are inflamed and stay inflamed then you can suffer a heart attack.

There are many medications that help fight inflammation. For a sprained ankle you might take an NSAID to reduce the swelling. For inflamed arteries you might take a Image via WikipediaStatin drug. These drugs, whether prescription or over the counter, have side effects. NSAIDs for example can cause liver damage or stomach distress. And new and an alarming study reported in the September 6 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows that regular use of NSAIDs even in small doses can DOUBLE the chances of miscarriage for pregnant women. And Statins have some of the highest numbers of dangerous side effects of any drug out there. The  more we learn about these drugs, the more we seem to find that they are actually making us sick more than they are making us well.... The good news is that there are many things you can do today to fight inflammation naturally.

Five Ways to Fight Inflammation Naturally

#1: Omega threes. Omega three fatty acids help reduce inflammation in your body naturally. You can find omega threes in many whole grains, fish and nuts. However, most people don’t get enough omega threes in their diet. The healthy ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 in the human diet should be somewhere between 1:1 and 1:4, but the typical American diet provides more like 1:20 - FAR from the ideal balance. A simple solution is to take a fish oil or omega three supplement. But additionally, you need to decrease the amount of man-made trans fats you’re eating (pretty much any standard type of vegetable oil, as well as margarine, is mainly trans fats). These types of fats contribute greatly to inflammation in your body. (For more on healthy and unhealthy oils, visit http://nhlcookingfromscratch.blogspot.com/2011/04/cooking-with-fats-oils-healthy-tips.html.)

#2: Decrease sugar consumption. Sugar is a prime source of inflammation. It causes free radical damage to your cells. This damage is an “injury” which causes inflammation. After consuming too many sweets or junk food you may notice you look Image via Wikipediapuffy. This is inflammation at work. What you cannot see is the inflammation inside your body. Take a look at how much sugar you consume and create a plan to cut back. You’ll notice a drastic difference in how you feel - and maybe even how you look - and definitely in your long-term health. Many good natural sweeteners are readily available today - from Stevia extract to Xylitol, and even good old-fashioned honey. But don't go overboard - our bodies really weren't meant to consume huge amounts of sweets. Just stick to fruit if you can!

#3: Turmeric. Turmeric is an herb commonly used in mustard and many curries, and it’s a great natural anti-inflammatory. If you don’t eat a lot of curry or mustard consider taking a turmeric supplement. They are easy to find and quite affordable, and can reduce inflammation both externally and internally.

#4: Exercise. Exercise actually helps your body reduce inflammation, and flush out toxins that can cause inflammation. It doesn’t have to be vigorous exercise either. Simply walk for thirty minutes a day. This simple step drastically reduces inflammation.

#5: Sleep. Good sleep is imperative for good health. Studies have shown that people who do not get enough quality sleep suffer from inflammation. They’re at a higher risk for obesity and heart disease. Sleep is when your body heals itself, including inflamed areas. Without this repair time, inflammation can build up in the body over time. Restless or impaired sleep, or simply not enough of it, can take a huge long-term toll on your overall health. Take a look at your sleep habits. What can you do to improve them?

There are several other simple steps you can take to reduce inflammation naturally, such as: Reduce alcohol intake. Stop smoking if you smoke. Lose weight.

If you have an injury, like a sprained ankle, consider using natural arnica gel to treat it. Add green tea to your diet and cut back on saturated and trans fats.

Simple steps to live a healthy life also fight inflammation naturally. Take a look at your existing habits. How do they support inflammation? What can you do to change your lifestyle and fight inflammation naturally?