Do you suffer with chronic yeast infections? Have you been on or currently on the birth control pill? Taken a course of antibiotics? If you answered yes to any of those, you most like are suffering with candidiasis. Make sure to read the previous blog post on Candida Overgrowth before continuing with this one!
The most important factor in the development of Candida albicans is the overuse of antibiotics. Most of us have taken many rounds of antibiotics in our lives, and its widespread (and sometimes inappropriate) use can lead to developing the overgrowth of yeast and other organisms that become resistant to antibiotics.
Are you, or have you been on the birth control pill? This is a really common trend that I see in my practice today. Synthetic hormones and additives found in the pill can throw the gut flora off balance, making candida a very well-known side effect of the birth control pill.
Other common causes of Candida include:
Low levels of digestive secretions
Gut bacteria imbalance
Previous food poisoning
Impaired immunity
Chronic inflammation
Nutrition deficiencies
Prolonged antibiotic use
Drugs
Impaired liver function
Diet high in sugar and dairy
If you think you have candida, it is best to work with a practitioner because the Anti-Candida Diet” is difficult to follow without guidance, as the diet itself may differ for each person. Antifungals can vary per person because of the severity of candida, so it is important to work with a practitioner to ensure the correct supplements and dosage. If you are not working with a practitioner throughout the cleanse, make sure to take things really slow so you can track when die-off occurs.
The protocols depend on past history and current dietary patterns.
We also see many of the same symptoms when suffering from intestinal parasites. If you experience food poisoning, nausea, rectal itching, diarrhea, weight loss or gain from nowhere, this could be a sign of a parasitic infection. In this case, a parasite cleanse would be done to remove the infection. Parasite and candida cleanses are very similar but involve different herbs to combat the infection. When both candida and parasites are present, it is important to do a parasite cleanse first, as it will rid the body of most candida in the process anyways. After a candida or parasite cleanse, it is important to go through a gut healing protocol as this cleanse is very invasive to the gut. In order to repair leaky gut and refrain from the infection coming back, the gut healing protocol needs to be completed.
If it sounds like you may be experiencing candida overgrowth, please send me an email and I would love to talk about the options for cleansing!
Jass and Grace (@gracetien.ca)
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