How Yeast Can Create Havoc in Your Life and How to Address it

[Guest guest]

How Yeast Can Create Havoc in Your Life and How to Address it

_http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/25/how-yeast-can-c

reate-havoc-in-your-life-and-how-to-address-it.aspx_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/25/how-yeast-can-cre\

ate-havoc-in-your-life-

and-how-to-address-it.aspx)

VIDEO

If you think you may be suffering from a yeast-related problem, keep

reading. My _free special report_

(http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/Candida-Special-Report.pdf) , available for

download below, will teach you how to identify

Candida overgrowth and, more importantly, how to overcome it.

Millions of people are currently fighting a battle against a single-cell

fungus they cannot see. This fungus belongs to a family of yeasts called

Candida

albicans, and under normal circumstances it’s a harmless part of your skin,

intestines, and for women, your vagina.

But Candida cells develop rapidly, and if your system is out of balance from

eating unhealthy foods, taking certain prescription drugs, fighting an

illness, and more -- Candida can quickly grow out of control. The result is an

astounding array of health problems that can rob you of energy and interfere

with your ability to enjoy life.

What’s worse most conventional doctors do not recognize the symptoms of

Candida overgrowth, and are clueless about how to cure it.

Because Candida overgrowth, or Candidiasis, is so often overlooked by

physicians, it’s difficult to say exactly how many people may be affected,

but

estimates suggest that up to 80 million Americans may suffer from yeast-related

problems -- and 70 percent of them are women.

Some common conditions that indicate you may have Candida overgrowth

include:

Irritable bowel syndrome

Vaginitis

Food allergies

Migraines

Asthma

Chronic fatigue

PMS

Fibromyalgia

Yeast infections

Cancer

Weight gain

Depression

As you can see, the list is long and varied, and the symptoms mimic those

caused by many other diseases.

If you think you may be suffering from a yeast-related problem, keep

reading. My _free special report_

(http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/Candida-Special-Report.pdf) , available for

download below, will teach you how to identify

Candida overgrowth and, more importantly, how to overcome it.

Sources:

* _Could Candida Be Sabotaging Your Health? (Free PDF Report)_

(http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/Candida-Special-Report.pdf)

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

This is a VERY important topic for many women as up to 75 percent of all

women will experience a yeast infection in their lifetime.

But why is that?

I believe one of the most important reasons is the overconsumption of

processed foods and foods high in sugar, both of which serve as fertilizer for

the

growth of yeast and fungi in your body.

Oral contraceptives are also a factor, as these synthetic hormones create an

environment that is conducive to yeast overgrowth. And, last but not least,

overuse of antibiotics, which kill off both good and bad bacteria and promote

the growth of fungi and yeast, contributes to making this such a common

health problem.

Is Candida to Blame For Your Symptoms?

When we’re talking about Candida, it’s important to realize that vaginal

yeast infections are not the sole health problem that can ensue. In fact,

chronic fatigue is perhaps one of the most common ailments rooted in yeast and

fungal overgrowth.

Yeast may even be a causative factor in cancer.

I know that sounds surprising, but I’ve previously published an _article

with a video featuring Dr. Simoncini_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/08/05/fungus-causing-ca\

ncer-a-novel-approach-to-the-most-common-f

orm-of-death.aspx) , who explains this quite succinctly.

So how do you know if Candida is to blame for your symptoms?

Well, often you don’t know for sure, and that’s why so many people are

suffering needlessly. If you’re suffering from some of the symptoms listed

above,

and nothing else you’ve tried seems to help, there’s a fair chance Candida

is involved.

However, a good sign that Candida is taking a hold of your body is feeling “

run down†and developing a craving for sugars and carbohydrates, as this is

the main fuel for the growing amounts of yeast in your body.

The more sugar and grains you eat, the more the yeast grows out of control.

Eventually, this will weaken your immune system, which in turn can allow the

yeast to infiltrate various other organs, and the sicker you’ll become.

How to Treat Vaginal Yeast Infections Naturally

Many people opt to treat yeast infections with over-the-counter anti-fungal

creams, and when the symptoms go away, they assume they are cured.

In reality, these creams only treat the symptoms, and do nothing about the

underlying yeast overgrowth that caused the problem to begin with.

With yeast infections or thrush, the underlying causes are also related to

imbalances in your body’s terrain, such as your pH balance, and the balance

of

good and bad bacteria. Yeast thrives in an alkaline environment, so to

successfully treat a vaginal yeast infection for example, you need to adjust

the

pH in your vaginal area.

To provide near-immediate relief for a vaginal yeast infection, you can try

any of these all-natural techniques:

* Insert one Boric acid powder capsule into your vagina morning and

evening for three to seven days for an acute infection, and 14 to 30 days for a

chronic infection. I have not seen Boric acid capsules widely available in

health stores or pharmacies but you can make your own by buying a bottle of

Boric acid powder and gelatin capsules (a capsule-making machine makes the

process go faster).

Studies show the effectiveness of Boric acid is very high especially in

women with chronic resistant yeast infections -- one study with 100 women

showed

a 98 percent success rate with this condition. If you find that the Boric

acid irritates your external genitalia you can protect the tissue with vitamin

E oil.

* Insert one garlic clove into your vagina in the morning and an

acidophilus capsule in the evening for three to seven days.

* Prepare a retention douche with bentonite clay, Pau D’ Arco tea,

plain yogurt, tea tree oil and goldenseal and douche two times a day for seven

to 10 days.

* Soak a tampon with diluted tea tree oil (use a solution of one and a

half tablespoons of tea tree oil and one cup of water) and keep it in your

vagina overnight.

How to Avoid Candida with Proper Lifestyle Changes

In order to prevent yeast overgrowth, you need to create an environment that

makes it more difficult for fungus to thrive. Typically, you can do this by

making the following lifestyle changes:

1. Eat the Best Diet for You, and Exercise -- A diet rich in meats,

chicken, eggs, seeds and nuts, vegetables, and healthy oils (free range and

organic) -- while avoiding sugars and carbohydrate-rich foods -- will restrict

the amount of fuel the yeast in your intestine has available to it. Ideally you

should also make your diet in tune with _your nutritional type_

(http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/index2.htm) .

2. Get Plenty of Good Bacteria -- You will want to increase your

probiotic (good bacteria) intake with a high-quality probiotic supplement or by

eating cultured and fermented foods, such as natto. These contain the _good

bacteria_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/09/29/probiotics-benefi\

ts.aspx) that keep your vagina and gastrointestinal tract healthy

and will ultimately replace the Candida.

3. Avoid Exposure to Chemicals and Medications -- _Antibiotics_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/06/18/antibiotics-bacte\

ria.asp

x) , corticosteroids and birth control pills all need to be avoided. Paints,

household cleaners, perfumes and scents may also cause allergic reactions,

and chemical sensitivities are very common in people with yeast overgrowth.

4. Address Emotional and Psychological Issues -- Food cravings,

especially those for sweets, often are exacerbated by emotional dependencies.

Tools

like _the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)_

(http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse.htm) can help you to overcome unhealthy

food cravings and other

emotional hurdles.

Essential Food Restrictions For Yeast Control

Because yeast multiplies so quickly, it’s necessary to restrict not only

sugar and refined carbs in your diet but also all yeast- and mold-containing

foods, including:

* Alcohol

* Vinegar (and vinegar-containing foods like mustard and salad

dressing)

* Bread

* Carrots, potatoes and beets (high-sugar veggies)

* Fruits are important to avoid if you have this problem as the sugar

in the fruit typically worsens those who are suffering with yeast infections.

Fruit can be resumed once the yeast is under control.

* Peanuts and corn (which often contain mold)

* Mushrooms (fungus)

* Aged cheeses

Also remember that the number one source of calories in America is not

regular sugar, but _high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/06/corn-syrup-s-new-\

disguise.aspx) , which is

included in most all processed foods and should be avoided.

If you are already facing Candidiasis, I highly recommend working with a

natural health care practitioner who specializes in treating yeast overgrowth

to

help see you through treatment.

Related Articles:

_Holistic Treatment for Candida Infection_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/06/10/holistic-treatmen\

t-for-candida-infection.aspx)

_Fungus Causing Cancer -- A Novel Approach to the Most Common Form of Death_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/08/05/fungus-causing-

cancer-a-novel-approach-to-the-most-common-form-of-death.aspx)

_Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and The Yeast Connection: Is Yeast the

Missing Link?_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/28/fibromyalgia-yeas\

t-part-one.aspx)