Candida

There are over 400 different species of micro-organisms that call the human intestines ‘home’. These include the “good” bacteria that live synergistically with humans and the “bad” microbes – opportunistic squatters that do not provide any benefit to humans.

Candida albicans is a yeast/bacteria tagged as one of the “bad” guys! Under normal conditions we ALL have candida present to a certain degree, however if it is allowed to over-grow and proliferate, it may have serious detrimental effects. Candida was first described in paediatric texts as early as the 17th century. Nowadays, speculations are that approximately 33% of people in western countries suffer from candida overgrowth, with certain naturopathic schools of thought estimating over 80%. The reasons for this are put down to high consumption of antibiotics and dietary sugars that further promote candida proliferation. Symptoms of candida overgrowth Apart from vaginal discomfort and discharge in women, candida overgrowth may have other more obscure symptoms such as lethargy, anxiety, liver stress and reduced tissue oxygenation. As candida proliferates it changes its shape and develops root-like tendrils that can pierce the walls of the digestive tract. This reduces the integrity of the gut lining, theoretically allowing undigested food components to enter the blood stream causing an immune response that may develop into food intolerances.

What to do?

A good anti-candida programme should involve both supplemental and dietary considerations. Nature’s Way® high quality probiotic Primadophilus® Reuteri provides a mixture of fast colonising good bacteria with the added prebiotic FOS (fructooligosaccharides) which feeds the good bacteria. For best results, Reuteri could be teamed-up with Radiance® CandAid®, a synergistic blend of herbs traditionally used for yeast management that may help balance the gut flora while supporting the immune system. For those that require a more gentle approach including pregnant or breast feeding mothers, Radiance® CandEze™ provides a helping hand for taming candida symptoms. CandEze™ provides 350mg of caprylic acid, a fatty acid from coconuts that has been shown to help the body rid itself of candida overgrowth. For best results a wholistic nutritional plan that includes whole foods and plenty of water should be adhered to, along with a lifestyle that moderates sugar and alcohol intake. Most importantly – do not procrastinate. The sooner you act, the quicker candida will be controlled and good health will be restored. If you are not sure whether or not your symptoms are caused by Candida, take the quick and easy finger-prick test Candia-5®. This test accurately detects Candida antibodies confirming whether or not you have an active candida infection within 5 minutes.