Candidiasis

What is Candida Albicans?

Candida is the short term used to describe a particular yeast overgrowth in the body.

Candida Albicans is a yeast. Like molds, they live all around us. Candida Albicans lives in all our mucus membranes, i.e. intestines, eyes, ears, bladder, stomach, lungs, intestines, vagina, etc. It is one of the billions of other friendly organisms that serve a useful purpose in the body. One of Candida Albicans’ important functions is to recognize and destroy harmful bacteria. However, candida is not intended to overgrow and get out of control while the body is still living. That is only intended to happen when the body dies, when candida’s functions and characteristics change for the purpose of breaking the body down.

Candida Albicans lives in every digestive tract and can travel to the mouth, and elsewhere. When Candida Albicans thrives on the tongue, it is called is ‘oral thrush’. When Candida Albicans gets out of control it begins to overgrow causing numerous symptoms and health problems from the top of the head to the tips of the toes, from migraines to nail fungus. It can result in symptoms inside (pain and malfunction of organs, even brain lesions) and outside (white skin rashes, eczema and hives). It can also cause problems with the mind and emotions.

What causes Candida to get out of control?

A healthy immune system keeps Candida in balance with other micro-organisms in the mucous membranes. But under certain conditions Candida begins to overgrow and get out of control. Anything that causes the immune system to become depressed can cause Candida, but antibiotics are the biggest culprits because they wipe out friendly micro-organisms, especially in the digestive system. Candida is resistant to antibiotics so it does not die easily and instead overgrows onto the vacant spaces left by the other friendly dead micro-organisms. Other factors that depress the immune system include poor nutrition, an unhealthy environment, pollution, drugs, and stress, to name a few.

How candida overgrows, causing symptoms, diseases and dysfunction

When Candida Albicans overgrowth is rampant in the digestive tract, it starts raising large colonies and mutates from a yeast into a fungal / mould infection, namely the mycelia fungus form of Candida. This condition is called Candidiasis.

In Candidiasis, the Candida mould sends out long hook-like root structures that dig into membranes throughout the body and burrow between the skin cells. The mould attacks the cells by secreting enzymes that break down the cell walls and allow the mould to absorb the nutrients from the cells.

If unchecked, the root structures penetrate the mucosal intestinal lining that separates the gut flora (intestinal bacteria) from the bloodstream. When this happens, toxins and unwanted consituents of food normally eliminated by passing through the digestive tract now leak into the bloodstream. Candida does not allow the complete digestion of dietary protein into free amino acids and these un-digested substances are seen as toxic invaders, which initiate a powerful antigenic reaction, by the body. This undigested food can also leak into the blood stream and causes a wide range of allergies.

The Candida colonies also excrete toxins that circulate throughout the body weakening the immune system and causing a myriad of symptoms and dysfunction throughout the body. Two that are particularly devastating are acetaldehyde and ethanol. Both act as poisons on the various tissues of the body.

The immune system gets weakened since it is forced to deal with this constant drizzle of toxins at the expense of other important tasks (like gobbling up ever-present cancer cells before they nest somewhere). A compromised immune system is a recipe for chronic health problems and cancer.

The first line of defense in a healthy immune system is the intestinal wall and the probiotics (good bacteria) that colonize there. Probiotics keep Candida Albicans at a manageable level so that Candidiasis does not develop.

You think you have a sweet tooth? Well, so does Candida! And does sugar give you a nice rush of energy? It gives Candida a rush of energy too! To keep Candida under control, you must cut back on sugar.

Yeast get their energy by fermenting sugar. A high sugar diet feeds Candida. Every living thing ‘excretes’ something. Yeast excrete alcohol. If you ‘crave’ sugar regularly to cure a shaky feeling or to get rid of headaches (and you don’t have diabetes), you might be a victim of Candidiasis. And no, you’re not an alcoholic! But your body wants its ‘fix’ of alcohol – and when it doesn’t get it, you get low-level withdrawal symptoms that temporarily ‘go away’ with a bag of jellybeans or some other sugary treat. Now you know why!

Candida is destroyed by garlic, as are any number of other pathogenic gut bacteria. Remember: Candida Albicans in the digestive tract can never be eliminated – but it can be managed quite effectively. Should you test positive for Candidiasis, an anti-fungal drug may be prescribed – and that’s fine. But you can’t take such a drug forever, so you must become pro-active in keeping your gut flora in balance.

The long list of Candidiasis symptoms are so diverse, that you don’t know whether to visit your family doctor, allergist, orthopedist, gynecologist, psychiatrist, ophthalmologist, or witch doctor for relief.

Candidiasis symptoms:

Physical

White furry tongue coat or when white patches on the tongue are scraped off, the underlying red tissue bleeds slightly. Mouth sores or blisters, canker sores, dryness, bad breath

Eyes – Erratic vision, spots in front of eyes (eye floaters) and flashing lights, redness, dryness, itching

Vaginitis, unusual odors, discharge, redness or swelling of the vulva and surrounding area, vaginal itching, burning or redness, or persistent infections.

Fungal infections on the skin or nails

Nasal congestion, postnasal drip, itching, dryness

Skin – dryness, dry red patches, acne, pimples, hives, rashes, itching skin, eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoea, ringworm, contact dermatitis

Constitutional

Diarrhea, constipation, stomach bloating, pain, gas, mucus in the stools

Bruising easily

Hair loss, scum on the scalp, itchy scalp, scalp sores and dryness

Heart palpitations and irregular heartbeat

Frequent Headaches, migraines, brain fog, dizziness, etc.

Hemorrhoids, and rectal itching, rash, irritation and redness

Loss of sex drive, impotence, prostitis, penis infections, difficulty urinating, urinary urgency, painful intercourse

Allergies or reactions

Muscle aches and pain, numbness, burning or tingling, and lack of strength and coordination

Stomach – heartburn, indigestion, belching, vomiting, burning, pains, needle-like pains, food seems to sit in the stomach like a lump, etc.

Behavioral

Intolerance to perfumes, odors, fumes, dust

Cravings or addictions for sugar, bread or alcohol

Insomnia, waking up frequently, nightmares, restless sleep, etc.

Anxiety attacks, nervousness, jitteriness, memory loss, inability to concentrate, mood swings, irritability, etc.

Autoimmune Diseases & the Candida Connection

Many autoimmune diseases and other diseases have a Candida connection. Whenever the immune system is severely depressed and cannot function normally, it opens up the body to many diseases and malfunctions. Some, but not all, of these diseases are: Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Celiac Disease/Gluten Sensitivity, Crohn’s Disease, Epstein-Barr Virus, Fibromyalgia, Graves’ Disease, HIV/AIDS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis, Sjogren’s, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Candida is very opportunist when the immune system malfunctions, with candida overgrowth found in most cases. Therefore autoimmune diseases respond very well to the candida program (particularly the diet), because it builds up and strengthens the immune system.

The Candida Cure program:

Phase I of the Candida cure program – Stop feeding the Candida

1)     Stop all the following foods that feed Candida:

a)     Sugar in all its forms. Stop beetroot, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes. Stop all soft drinks. No sweet fruits. Only some fruits that are not sweet, or a half ripe papaya – Eat only one small portion a day.

b)     Wheat and all wheat products like bread, pasta, pizza, baked goods, cereals, and biscuits

c)     High Carbohydrate food like beans, potatoes, corn, zucchini, peas, parsnips, yam

d)     Rye, Barley, Oats, Spelt, Kamut & Triticale

e)     All Soyabean products

f)       All packaged fruit juices and sweet fresh fruit juices as well

g)     Alcohol, Coffee, Table salt, Fluoride in water or in foods

h)     Yeasty & Fungi likely foods like vinegar, mustard, mayonnaise, pickles & pickled food, relishes, candy, mushrooms, sausages, corned beef, ham & bacon, all dry fruits, dry roasted nuts, especially peanuts & almonds, most cheeses, sour cream, sour milk products, buttermilk & milk drinks.

i)       Packaged foods like soups, since they have unnatural additives, preservatives, coloring agents & stabilizers.

j)       Dead foods like dried leaves, dried meat & dried fish (cause they harbor fungus and have hardly any nutritional value).

k)      Microwaved foods

l)       All Antibiotics since they kill friendly bacteria

2)     Have more of the following foods:

a)     Protein diet, mainly from eggs, meat & fish

b)     Foods that contain antioxidants, Vitamin C, Oranges, Brussels sprouts, Cauliflower, Asparagus

c)     Cabbage, green beans, spinach, asparagus, celery

d)     Brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, millets (jowar & bajra)

e)     Saturated fats like butter

f)       Supplements like Calcium, Magnesium Citrate, Chlorophyll, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E

g)     Fiber (mix 1 tbsp psyllium husk, flaxseeds/pectin in 8 oz glass of water, drink on empty stomach twice a day)

h)     Cod liver oil in the winter.

i)       Pau D’arco, Calendula Officinalis (marigold) and Wild Mediteranean Oregano for Antifungal Antibacterial properties.

Phase II of the Candida cure program – Eat foods that destroy Candida

3)     Eat foods that kill Candida overgrowth

a)     Coconut oil – 1 teaspoonful three times a day and slowly increase it up to 2 tablespoons thrice a day or more

b)     Raw Garlic – Crush & eat with food. Start with 1 clove a day and increase to 4 or 5

c)     Onions, Horseradish, Broccoli, Turnip, Kale, Hot Peppers, Green Peppers

d)     Wormwood capsules, Clove, Olive leaf extract, Oregano Oil, Grapefruit seed extract

e)     Nystatin  – It is a broad spectrum fungicidal (kills fungus) drug available only by prescription in some countries. It is fast-acting and well tolerated, killing candida on contact. It is not absorbed past the intestines to any significant degree.

i)       Powdered Nystatin is preferable since it is more easily tolerated than the tablet form and as it is swallowed it kills Candida in the mouth, throat and esophagus. However, some people cannot tolerate the bad taste and have to resort to taking its tablets.

ii)      Nystatin powder is taken orally four times a day. Start with 1/8th teaspoon of dry powder added to 4 ounces of water. Do not mix and store it for later use. Gradually increase over a months time to about 1 teaspoon four times a day. Keep the Nystatin powder refrigerated and away from moisture, heat and light. Dispose off any opened powder bottle after 3 months

iii)    Nystatin Enema – The benefits of a Nystatin enema cannot be overemphasized. The main purpose of a Nystatin enema is to kill Candida in the lower bowel because it is not easily reached by antifungal agents. Nystatin enemas should be alternated with probiotic enemas. Enemas should never be done more than once every 4-5 days to allow the bowel to return to normal.

f)       Allopathic medicines – Fluconazole, Miconazole, Amphotericin, Diflucan.

Phase III of the Candida cure program – Replace the dead Candida with useful bacteria

4)     Cabbage Rejuvelac

As the yeast overgrowth is being killed off by anti-fungal agents it is important to ingest a constant supply of probiotics. These are the ‘friendly’ or ‘beneficial’ bacteria/micro-organisms that normally live in the digestive tract. Cabbage is such a vegetable that is teeming with several strains of lactobacteria.

a)     Start one morning by blending together 1-3/4 cups distilled or purified water plus 3 cups of coarsely chopped, loosely packed fresh cabbage.

b)     Start the blender at low speed and then advance the blender to high speed and blend for 30 more seconds.

c)     Pour into a jar, cover, and let stand at room temperature for 3 days.

d)     After 3 days strain off the liquid rejuvelac, saving ¼ cup for the next batch.

e)     The first batch of cabbage rejuvelac takes 3 days to mature, but succeeding batches take only one day (24 hours). Each morning after straining off the fresh rejuvelac, blend together 1-1/2 cups of distilled or purified water plus 3 cups of coarsely ground, loosely packed fresh cabbage, for 30 seconds at high speed. Pour it into a jar and add 1/4 cup of the fresh rejuvelac just strained off, cover, shake, and let it stand at room temperature until the next morning.

f)       Cabbage rejuvelac can also be made without using a blender. Just chop the cabbage very fine and use 2-1/2 cups replacing the 3 cups in the recipe above with the same amount of water. Good quality rejuvelac tastes similar to a cross between carbonated water and the whey obtained when making yogurt. Bad quality rejuvelac has a much more putrid odor and taste and should not be consumed. Avoid using tap water because chlorine will interfere with the production of the bacteria. Boiling tap water for 30 minutes uncovered will remove chlorine. Refrigerate rejuvelac if it is to be kept overnight. Discard any rejuvelac on hand 24 hours after it is poured off the cabbage.

g)     Taking Rejuvelac – Drink each day’s rejuvelac during the course of the day by taking 1/2 cup three times per day, preferably with meals. To implant a healthy population of lactobacteria in the intestinal tract take rejuvelac for 1 to 3 months. People who have candida are very sensitive to yeast so they should make a new batch every time, but they could start 3 jars 3 days in a row so they do not run out.

Do not use tap water because chlorine will interfere with the production of the bacteria. Boil tap water for 30 minutes in an open vessel or let tap water sit in an open container for 24 hours to remove chlorine.

5)     Other Probiotics that replace the dead Candida with useful bacteria:

a)     Cultured Vegetables – Recipe in the ‘Probiotics’ chapter of the book “Become Healthy or Extinct” on the homepage of this website.

b)     Probiotic Vegan Curd – A source of lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria.

c)     Lemon Grass, since it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and the ability to help repair intestine walls.

d)     Zell Oxygen, Sauerkraut, Coconut Kefir, Miso, Kimchi, Tempeh, Nato, and the herbs Sedona and Jarrow.

e)     Food having cultures of any of the following beneficial bacteria – Bifidobacterium Lactis, Bacillus Mesentericus, Streptococcus Faecalis, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Longum, Bifidobacterium Bifidum, Clostridium Butyricum, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Lactobacillus Salivarius, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Lactobacillus Sporogenes.

Antifungal, Probiotic and Coffee enemas

The benefits of a coffee, nystatin or probiotic enema cannot be overemphasized. Use anti-fungal enemas to kill candida in the lower bowel because it is not easily reached by anti-fungals taken by mouth. Probiotic enemas plant good bacteria in the lower bowel. The best time to do an enema is in the morning after you have just passed stools. For the best effect, always do a particular enema for 2 or 3 days in a row.

6)     Retained Enemas

People having Diverticulitis should not do a retained enema.

If you feel that your colon is quite empty, then you can go for a retained enema right away or you can first do a warm drinking water enema for 5 minutes just to clean out the colon.

Antifungal – Use the contents of any Antifungal capsule – One teaspoon in 1 quart of drinking water.

Probiotic – Cabbage Rejuvelac – 1 cup of Rejuvelac to 1 cup of drinking water.

Coffee – Dissolve 1 full teaspoon of powdered coffee in about 600ml to 800ml of warm drinking water and put it in the enema can. Children will need a lesser quantity.

a)   Lie on your back in the bathroom and administer the solution into the rectum with the help of the enema nozzle. After it is emptied out into the colon, remove the enema nozzle.

b)   Lying on your back, first draw your knees upwards and prop up your bottom to allow the solution to travel up the left side of your colon and be in this position for about 5 minutes. In this position, most of the solution pressure will act on the traverse colon. You may need to keep a support under your bottom if your back cannot take the stress.

c)    Next, lower your knees and rest your back on the bathroom floor once again. Then roll onto your right side and lie there for about 5 minutes. In this position, most of the solution pressure will act on the ascending colon.

d)   Next, roll onto your left side and lie there for 5 minutes. In this position, most of the solution pressure will act on the descending colon and sigmoid colon.

e)    You can then get up and evacuate your bowels as soon as you feel like. During the procedure, you will feel a few spams in the colon, which will try to force out the solution and this is a normal function of the colon, but you will need to exercise control not to do so, as you need to retain the solution for the coffee to act properly.

The Ayurvedic formula known as Triphala can also be helpful in mobilizing and eliminating toxicity through your digestive system. The recommended amount is about a gram per day in divided doses.

The general rule for the time period that you should follow the ‘Candida Cure Program’ is, 1 month for every year that you have had Candidiasis.

Not sure how long you have had it? Well, scroll up and figure out since when you’ve been having the clear Physical, Constitutional and Behavioral symptoms of Candidiasis.

I personally went on the ‘Candida Cure Program’ for 14 months – Darryl D’Souza. Yes, it is a tough regiment, but once you’re committed and you get with the program, it gets done!

Here is one variation of the 3 phases of the Candida Program:

Keep Phase I (Stop feeding the Candida) going throughout the program till complete cure. After 15 days of only Phase I, start Phase II (Eat foods that destroy Candida) in every meal. After 15 days, do Phase II activity only from the time you wake up in the morning till after lunch time. Do Phase III (Replace the dead Candida with useful bacteria) activities starting with tea time in the evening till after dinner and till you go to bed.

Look up the Candida Menu for a suggested daily eating plan.

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