What Is Candida

Your first question may be, what is Candida?

More commonly referred to as Candida albicans, it is an infection caused by fungus which can be found in and on all areas of the body.

Usually yeast grows specifically in moist areas and, therefore, Candida is known to induce such common ailments as yeast infections, thrush, diaper rash, skin rash, and nail infections.

One of the most common forms of Candida Albicans is yeast infections.

Statistics show that approximately 75% of women have had this condition at least once in their lifetime, and a smaller proportion of women have had it more than once.

Studies have also shown that women are more prone to have yeast infections especially if they are on any type of antibiotic medication, take birth control pills, become pregnant, or have a pre-existing condition such as diabetes.

But the problem is more widespread than just yeast infections or cutaneous candidiasis which affects the skin. When there is an overgrowth of candida in the body, it will affect your overall wellbeing and symptoms can range from mild to sever and even incapacitating.

Oral candida can also be a problem for many people and this can lead to gum disease and general ill health.

In extreme cases of candida patients have been told they are suffering from fibromyalgia and at times can't even get out of bed, depression can set in and the patient will constantly feel ill.

Someone with a severe overgrowth of yeast may also be told they have food intolerances or allergies. This is often due to candida making your intestinal wall porous. When this happens minute particles of food are passed into your blood stream from your abdominal wall before they have been fully digested.

When this happens the body sees these particles as deadly and so attacks them, in a sense the body is attacking itself to get rid of these unwanted invaders. This causes an extremely unpleasant reaction.

When the abdominal wall is porous it is also difficult for the body to ingest nutrients and vitamins from the food you eat. This often leads to anemia and other vitamin and mineral diffencies in the body.

The good news is that once candida is under control the abdominal wall will repair itself and these symptoms will disappear. You may suddenly find that you can tolerate foods you previously could not and that your anemia is cured.

So perhaps the more important question here is not just what is candida, but what are the symptoms and how do you treat it?

While Candida Albicans can cause a myriad of symptoms, it can be treated effectively and without long-lasting damage. One of the main treatments is starting and sticking to a candida diet. You will also want to take several natural supplements to help aid recovery in your body and organs.

In addition, having a strong immune system plays a key role in preventing Candida albicans from occurring or re-occurring. Stress is one of the leading causes of an unhealthy immune system and once the immune system is adversely affected, infections such as Candidiasis may occur.

Maintaining good health including a proper diet, exercise, and emotional balance can make all the difference in suppressing this type of infection.

This Page, "What Is Candida?" Explains the basics of this condition. For further reading please see the links below.

Further Information:

The Candida Diet Explained

Candida and Yeast Overgrowth Symptoms

How to Treat Candida Infection

What Is Candida - Back to Home Page