Lifestyle Support for Candida

What is candida overgrowth?

Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast that lives in your mouth and intestines. It aids with digestion and nutrient absorption but when overproduced can break down the wall of the intestine, going into the bloodstream and releasing toxic by-products into your body. Candida overgrowth can lead to a range of issues from skin irritation to vaginal infection to allergies and thrush. Using diet alone can take three to six months before candida is under control.

Behavioral/lifestyle risk factors (things you can change)

  • Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar (feeds the yeast)

  • Consuming a lot of alcohol

  • Taking oral contraceptives

  • High stress lifestyle

  • Prolonged antibiotic use

  • Using a steroid inhaler for asthma

Symptoms

  • Bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation

  • Fatigue, headache, depression, irritability

  • Sugar cravings

  • Muscle and joint aches

  • Sinusitis and recurrent colds, sore throat

  • Recurrent skin rashes

  • Women: PMS, vaginal yeast infection

  • Men: prostate and bladder infections

  • Worse on damp days

How does candida present?

  • Athlete’s foot

  • Ringworm

  • Thrush

  • Jock itch

  • Psoriasis, eczema, hives, rashes

  • Acne

  • Skin and nail fungal infections

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Vaginal infections

  • Urinary tract infections

  • Severe seasonal allergies/itchy ears

Nutrition Support

Eat more:

  • Low carbohydrate diet

  • High fiber vegetables (no starchy veggies)

  • Grains that are gluten free (amaranth, buckwheat, millet, oats, quinoa, rice, sorghum, teff)

  • Non-dairy yogurt (containing active or live acidophilus)

  • Flax and chia seeds

  • Psyllium

  • Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kefir)

Eat less:

  • Eliminate sugar (candy, desserts)

  • Eliminate coffee, soda, alcohol, tea

  • Eliminate milk and dairy

  • Eliminate corn, legumes and soy

  • Eliminate processed/cured meat

  • Eliminate mushrooms and truffles

  • Eliminate nuts (cashews, peanuts, pistachios)

  • Fruit (limit to one serving to include apples, pears and berries, no melon or dried fruit)

  • Grains/bread/pasta (limit to one serving of gluten free)

  • Potatoes (limit to one serving)

Supplemental support

  • Echinacea

  • Garlic

  • Goldenseal

  • Oil of oregano

  • Digestive enzymes

  • Caprylic Acid

  • Saccharomyces boulardi

  • Lipotropic/silymarin

  • Magnesium

  • Colloidal silver

  • Tea tree oil for topical use

Relevant dietary theories

  • The Candida Diet: created to help remove excess candida, manage yeast production and restore the body’s immune system

  • The Body Ecology Diet: emphasizes the importance of maintaining the “inner ecology” for proper body function

Exercise

  • 30 minutes per day to include cardiovascular exercise, stretching and strength training

Stress reduction and relaxation

  • Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, mediation

Lifestyle

  • Wear cotton or silk underwear

  • Avoid commercial feminine products

  • Use Neti Pot

  • Colon therapy