Candida

The common yeast Candida albicans is present in every individual and normally lives harmlessly in the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract where it is controlled by friendly gut bacteria.  Candida albicans is a yeast. Yeasts are simple organisms belonging to the vegetable kingdom which are extremely common in our environment – living in soil, on fruits and vegetables, thriving wherever there is decay and present in the air we breathe.

Candida becomes a problem as a result of the widespread use of antibiotics and oral contraception as well as too much sugar in the diet and poor digestive function all making this yeast prone to overgrowth.

Antibiotics kill off almost all the bacteria in the body, good and bad, which permits the candida to grow unchecked.   The glucose content of the mucous membranes of the body, when higher than normal, allows candida to flourish, which may result in vaginal thrush, or the more chronic condition known as candidiasis. This can occur through eating too many refined carbohydrates, sweets, soft drinks, white flour products, which find their way to the mucous to form food for the yeast. Other sugary foods which may aggravate the problem include fruits and alcohol.

Whilst most thrush infections can be cleared up rapidly, the condition may be more serious and the infection present throughout the intestinal tract. In these cases the condition is referred to as candidiasis. Candida organisms convert to a mycelial form with root like growths which penetrate into the intestine wall. This allows toxins to be absorbed from the bowel into the bloodstream, with debilitating consequences. Symptoms commonly include recurrent or persistent thrush and fungal infections of the skin and nails, chronic fatigue and loss of energy , decreased libido, allergies, psoriasis and eczema, menstrual problems, abdominal bloating, diarrhoea and constipation, frequent infections of the upper respiratory tract including coughs, colds, sinusitis, depression, anxiety and irritability.

If you think you might be suffering from a yeast overgrowth, poor digestive health or candida and would like to look at natural methods to address and rebalance, please call 01794 513153 for more information or to make an appointment.  Alternatively email  info@naturalwellbeingcentre.co.uk