Candidiasis, commonly called Candida, is a major cause of fungal infections worldwide.
It’s caused by an overgrowth of a type of yeast that lives on your body called Candida albicans which lives in the mouth, on the skin and in the intestines.
One of the most common symptoms of Candida in the mouth, gut and even on the skin is tiredness and fatigue.
Candida that develops in the mouth or throat is called thrush and is often associated with redness or soreness of the tongue and mouth, bumpy patches on the tongue, inner cheeks, gums, tonsils, or throat which can be quite painful and may even bleed slightly.
Poor oral hygiene or removable dentures can increase risk of Candida. In severe cases it can spread to the esophagus and cause pain or difficulty swallowing.
Other symptoms of Candida may include:
- Brain fog
- Yeast infections
- Digestive issues
- Memory loss
- Pain, stiffness, and swelling in your joints (hips and knees)
The main causes of Candida are:
- A high-sugar diet
- Antibiotics
- Chronic stress
- Contraceptive pill
- Mercury fillings
- Chemical exposure
- Diabetes
Candida causes leaky gut symptoms including:
- Digestive issues
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Gas, bloating
- Heartburn
- Food allergies and chemical sensitivities
- Skin conditions: acne, eczema, hives, rashes
- Season allergies, asthma
- Insulin resistance
- Inability to lose weight
- Autoimmune conditions
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Brain fog
Research has shown that turmeric / curcumin can help fight Candida – especially when combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) which increases the potency of curcumin by a factor of 5!
Maximise your daily turmeric / curcumin intake to help fight Candida and other inflammatory conditions. Combine our Factor 8 Joint Ease capsules or 3XR Curcumin Super Blend Powder.
We recommend adding our Advanced Gut Relief and FUEL products to help fight Candida and to help restore your gut and intestinal health.
Genital or urinary tract infections
Candida is found in the vaginal tracts of about 20% of females. An overgrowth of Candida can lead to candidiasis of the vagina, also known as a yeast infection. Males can also get genital yeast infections, but it’s much less common.
Digestive issues
The health of your digestive system relies heavily on a good balance between the “good” and “bad” bacteria that live in your gut.
The “good” bacteria that normally reside in your gut are important for digestion, as they help process starches, fibers, and some sugars.
When the bacteria in your gut become imbalanced, you can experience digestive issues, including constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas, cramps, and bloating.
Recent studies indicate that an overgrowth of Candida is associated with several diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Skin and nail symptoms
There are bacteria on your skin that prevent Candida from growing uncontrollably. All bacteria thrive in different conditions, including varying temperature, moisture, or acidity levels. For this reason, a change in the environment on your skin can allow Candida to overproduce. For example, antibacterial cosmetics, soaps, and moisturizers can often alter skin conditions.
While skin candidiasis can affect any part of the body, areas that are warm and moist, such as the armpits and groin, are particularly prone to infection. Itching and a visible rash are the two most common symptoms of skin fungal infections.
Joint pain
If a Candida infection enters your bloodstream and travels through your body, it can infect the joints and cause arthritis. This typically only happens after surgery or when an overgrowth of Candida is left untreated for an extended period of time.
Candida arthritis is associated with pain, stiffness, and swelling in your joints and often affects the hips and knees. It can also cause bone infections, or osteomyelitis, which can cause pain and tenderness in the infected area.
Candida Diet
The food you eat plays an important role in maintaining the balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut.
In particular, foods high in sugar, refined grains, dairy products, processed meats, and alcohol may promote the growth of Candida. One study has found that people who avoided these foods during treatment for Candida had better outcomes after 3 months.
Certain foods may help protect against Candida infections, including:
- Curcumin: Test-tube studies indicate that curcumin may kill Candida yeasts, or at least reduce their growth.
- Garlic: Garlic contains several antifungal compounds like allicin, some of which have been shown to act against Candida yeasts in test-tube studies.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil is high in lauric acid, which has been shown to fight Candida infections in multiple test-tube studies.
- Xylitol: According to one test-tube study, xylitol may possess powerful antimicrobial properties and could help reduce Candida growth.
- Aloe vera: Test-tube studies suggest that aloe vera gel may inhibit the growth of Candida, which could help protect against infection.
- Pomegranate: One animal study showed that certain compounds found in pomegranate peel extract could be beneficial against Candida yeasts.
- Kombucha: Kombucha tea is rich in tea polyphenols and acetic acid, both of which have been shown to kill Candida in test-tube studies.
- Probiotics: Probiotics like Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces boulardii may reduce Candida growth and protect against infections.
Be proactive every day – do all you can to combat candida and other skin and gut issues. In particular make sure you you keep up your daily intake of turmeric/curcumin.
Here are 2 recipes to help combat Candida – both use our 3xR Curcumin Super Blend Powder