Q: if candida overgrows as a result of an improperly functioning immune system, what casued the problem with the immune system in the 1st place? does this mean that we have to stay on a candida problem forever as our immune system isn’t functioning properly?

A: Things that compromise your immune system include drugs (over-the-counter and prescription), chemical exposure (everything from cleaning products to treated fabrics to hygeine products), vaccines, and physical and emotional stress. Poor nutrition plays a huge part too. When we’re not getting all the right nutrients (and we’re eating lots of sugar and refined carbohydrate), we cause our bodies serious issues.

No, you don’t have to follow the strict candida protocol forever, but if you want to keep your immune system functioning in an optimal fashion, it’s important that you eat well, supplement well, get adequate rest, water, and exercise, refrain (as much as possible) from using drugs, and limit your chemical exposure as much as possible. Once you’ve built a strong immune system, it’ll just be a matter of maintenance, and you’ll know when your immune system isn’t functioning at its best. Then you may have to restrict your diet again and take more drastic steps to support healing.

A healthy immune system keeps Candida under control, but when the immune system becomes depressed Candida changes from a nice friendly organism into an overgrowing monster. Anything that causes the immune system to become depressed can cause Candida, but antibiotics drugs are the biggest culprits. That is because antibiotic drugs wipe out friendly micro-organisms in all of the mucus membranes, but mainly in the digestive system. Candida is resistant to antibiotics so this imbalance of micro-organisms allows Candida to overgrow out of control.
Other important factors also cause the immune system to become depressed.

Poor Nutrition – Poor nutrition is a major cause of a depressed immune system. Today’s standard diet lacks the necessary nutrients to maintain a healthy immune system because it is loaded with sugars, high carbohydrate foods, toxins, unnatural vegetable oils and fats, i.e. margarine, Canola, corn, soybean, sunflower oil, etc., and many other nutrient-devoid foods such as white flour products, processed foods, soybean products, and grains, seeds, nuts and legumes which are unfit for human consumption.  That, in addition to many toxins, i.e. food additives, preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals, dyes, etc.

Environmental Issues – Environmental issues also adversely affect the immune system, i.e. molds, chemicals, smoke, pesticide spraying, smog, electro-magnetic and radiation exposure, etc. The immune system is also depressed by many toxic substances including drugs, medicines, birth control pills, vaccines, fluoridated water, and many toxic ingredients in household and personal care products.

Emotional Issues – Emotional stress, losses, accidents, illnesses, injuries, and financial or relationship worries and concerns also depress the immune system. In some people the accumulation of these factors can cause an extremely depressed immune system.

Drugs – No one ever gets sick from a lack of drugs! Most diseases and illnesses are caused by poor nutrition, low oxygen levels in the body, stress, and an overload of toxins.
One of the major sources of toxins are drugs, including vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, birth control pills, hormone replacement treatment, blood pressure lowering drugs, pain killers, anti-depressants, etc. which are extremely toxic and poisonous to the body.

How Do You Know You Have Candida?

With such a wide variety of symptoms that mimic many other diseases, how do you know that your problem is Candida overgrowth? Unfortunately most laboratory tests cannot confirm the presence of Candida. The reason is because Candida is a normal inhabitant in all our bodies and everyone will have a certain number of yeast antibodies to it.

The best test for determining whether you have Candida overgrowth is to take Dr. William Crook’s Questionnaire.

However, even if you do not have Candida if you follow the principles of The Candida Diet Program you can
improve your health tremendously since it is just as much a natural healing program as it is for overcoming Candida. You cannot go wrong giving your body the nutrients it needs so it can heal itself!