Candida
What is Candida? (taken from answers.com)
A group of yeast-like fungi that lives in moist areas of the body, including the alimentary tract and vagina. Normally, the populations of candida are kept in check by beneficial bacteria in the body, but sometimes they grow beyond tolerance levels and the infected person suffers a disease called candidiasis or thrush. In the vagina, thrush causes a white discharge and is accompanied by itching and soreness. Some doctors believe that heavy infections of candida in the gut can contribute to a wide range of different disorders, including abdominal discomfort, disturbed bowel function, soreness, and itching.
Some nutritionists believe that the incidence of candidiasis is affected by an individual’s health and diet. The fungi are thought to thrive on simple sugars, bread, and biscuits, as well as fermented foods such as yoghurt, cheese, and alcohol, which form a large part of the modern diet. A person in good health can usually keep candida under control, but if the immune system is weakened by illness or stress, or if friendly bacteria are killed off (for example, by antibiotics) the opportunistic fungus grows rapidly. People suffering from candidiasis often have cravings for sweets and yeast-containing foods and drinks, which makes weight control very difficult. Candidiasis can be treated with a special diet that emphasizes the avoidance of yeasty foods and the foods on which candida thrive, but doctors often use anti-candida drugs, such as nystatin.
I have decided to collect information and participate in several groups that are focusing on candida diet and candida treatment as well as trying to locate current successful solutions, recommended by users who have managed to balance their candida growth and are sharing their “formula”.
Some of the posts are also responses of readers that have sent me questions to which I am answering and/or collating answers from other resources.
I hope you find my section useful.
