CANDIDA - Did you know it can be caused by HRT, Stress, Off Balance Microbiome?

It seem like the universe is telling me to write a blog on candida albicans - I have 3 new clients in the same week with it. Lovely ladies, suffering :( Candida can show up in your vaginal tract, your gut, your skin - meaning anywhere where your microbiome lives. It is a tricky one to get rid of. BUT it can be done. Here are a few tips, I'll start with fermented foods as my last post was about this underused health resource!

"Can I eat fermented foods?", is the question one of my clients started with. Answer: yes, if they are fermented by bacteria - not yeast. For example - raw fermented sauerkraut, raw fermented kimchi, raw fermented pickles, any raw fermented vegetable is a fantastic way to add beneficial bacteria to "crowd out" the candida. This is why bread is a no - it rises by the action of yeast, and additionally it breaks down into simple sugars which feed the candida. The reason I do not recommend yogurts or fermented milk beverages is because of the inherent sugars in milk, called lactose. Additionally another reason why I do not recommend it is because sadly most yogurts have added sugars. These types of yogurts are more like melted ice cream, so any beneficial bacteria in them is null because of the sugar load that feeds the candida.

You want to starve the candida and crowd it out with beneficial bacteria.

To starve the candida one should follow a "candida diet".

The 3 basics of a "candida diet": 1. sugar-free 2. grain-free 3. dairy-free

Don't despair because the YES list is yummy!! And chock full of nutrients that will not only help to rid you of candida, but also nourish your entire being. Some examples:

Wild fish

Grass-fed beef

Pasture-raised poultry, including chicken

Eggs

Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts)

Leafy greens (kale, dandelion, lettuces)

Non Starchy vegetables (asparagus, zucchini, onions, shallots)

Ginger, Turmeric, Cinnamon

Lemon, Lime

Some kinds of fruit, including tomatoes and berries like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries (limited)

Nuts, including walnuts, almonds, and Macadamia nuts

Seeds (chia seeds, flaxseed, hemp seeds)

Herbs (cilantro, basil, oregano)

Avocado

Olive oil and olives

Coconut oil (it contains caprylic acid)

Additionally, candida doesn't like an acidic environment. So a "home remedy" is to drink 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 5 tablespoons of water 2x's per day. You won't necessarily be making your vagina, intestines, skin acidic... but it helps systemically. Additionally you can try a few antifungals in a combination supplement form - such as CAPRYLIC ACID,OREGANO OIL,GARLIC, GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT, BERBERINE HCl, OREGON GRAPE ROOT, OLIVE LEAF.

Candida, like most things, will adapt to one type of treatment over time so using several antifungals at once can be helpful.

Also just as important is finding the root cause (see the above infographic for examples) and if possible eliminating it.

You do not have to suffer!! xoxo - Jennifer