Candida is a fungus; a type of yeast commonly referred to as thrush.  Candida albicans is the most common species found in humans and because it plays a crucial role in digestion and nutrient absorption, it occurs naturally in the body.
Normal levels of Candida include small amounts in the mouth and with the greater proportion found in the intestines.  Candida can be over-produced by the body, and this causes major problems, most especially to the immune system.

Knowing the correct way to treat Candida is the only hope of returning the digestive track back to good health, and in some cases, one’s reclaiming one’s social life because the odour that can occur with some forms of Candida can be quite offensive.

Serious infections are referred to as Systemic Candida; the fungus (Candida) enters the blood stream via perforations in the wall of the gastro-intestinal system, referred to as ‘leaky gut,’ and a compromised, weakened immune system can also allow Candida to thrive e.g. people who suffer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome would be at a high risk of developing Candida.

Doctors commonly prescribe drugs to treat Candida, which can help in the short term.  However, the drugs do not address the cause of the disease!
Quite often the root of Candida begins with an excess of sugar.  Candida is constantly fed given that most of what is eaten these days is laden with sugar.   Additionally, Insulin Resistance is another instance where Candida is hard to control; with Insulin resistance, it is imperative to the reduce Candida to acceptable levels.

Signs Candida may be present in the body:

• Frequent fungal infections of the skin and nails
• Feeling tired/worn out – Chronic Fatigue or Fibromyalgia
• Skin issues such as Psoriasis – which, incidentally, is an Auto Immune disease.
• Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, diarrhoea or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Auto Immune disease such as Hashimotos Thyroiditis, ulcerative Colitis, Psoriasis – there are literally hundreds of Auto Immune diseases.

Given a seemingly broad-spectrum of ill health, it is important to grasp an understanding of how a disease, such as Candida, can occur so rampantly, so as to systemically cause wide-spread havoc in the body.

Food intolerances, that occur as a result of a “leaky gut,” is ultimately caused by gluten – a protein found in some grains that can cause leaky gut.
Leaky gut is literally a pathway from the intestines through to the bloodstream.  When gluten has continually inflamed the gut for long enough, the leakage occurs.  Candida then enters the bloodstream with other microscopic particles of food eaten – commonly, it is at this point the body will develop food intolerances to whatever it has just eaten.  The intolerance is not actually because of the food eaten but rather the gluten that is perforating the gut to allow food in; please remember, food is supposed to stay in the stomach and gastro-intestinal system and not be allowed to seep into the bloodstream.  Once food particles are in the blood stream,  the Auto Immune system is alerted, and flares up from there!

Dietary tips for eliminating Candida

Take magnesium daily:  It is essential to get Insulin levels under control, using Magnesium Ultra Potent assists in reducing the amount of Insulin released from the pancreas.
Those suffering from with high blood sugar &/or uncontrolled Insulin levels will find it difficult to rid the body of Candida because Candida actually feeds off the sugars in the blood.

Pro-biotics:  Take a practitioner-only quality brand of Pro-biotic, morning and night; fermentation in the gut, and resultant leaky gut, is such a problem with Candida that it is best to avoid even the normally beneficial fermented foods such as sauerkraut in the diet.  Apple Cider Vinegar is also allowed.

Bitter foods are best:  To reiterate, sugars fuel Candida so, including bitters such as Aloe Vera Juice, Dandelion Greens, Mustard Greens, Radicchio, Radishes, Spinach and other leafy greens quell sugar cravings.
Lemon juice is also a superb weapon to aid kidney and liver function to enable easier elimination of pathogens such as Candida.

Anti-microbial herbs: Using a strong herbal formula such as Dr Cabot’s Intestinal Parasite Cleanse will eliminate unwanted bacteria in the gastro-intestinal system, in effect, while you are starving those little suckers, and they quite literally do suck onto the side of the gastro-intestinal system, knock ’em dead with anti-microbial herbs!

Garlic and Oregano Oil:  A big WOW to these two herbs!  Together, Garlic and Oregano Oil, really do have quite an effect on Candida!  Daily consumption of crushed fresh raw garlic and Oregano Oil is a powerful method of fighting and eliminating Candida.

A good quality Liver Tonic:  Whilst on the mission to rid this nasty little bug from the system, a good quality liver tonic such as LivaTone Plus, taken twice daily, will charge up the liver cells, enabling them to achieve a much higher rate of elimination than the body can achieve normally by itself.

Water:  Copious amounts of water.  The ‘Candida Protocol’ can be likened to a type of detoxification, water will be required to flush a toxic Candida-filled body and bloodstream.

Eliminate sugar and yeast:  Trying to eliminate Candida will prove pointless if a person continues to feed it!  ALL sugars must be eliminated from the diet, and that includes grains, dairy, mushrooms too as they are a yeast so out they go!
Sauces- are full of sugars.
Fruit – a big no no on the anti-Candida Protocol.  There is absolutely nothing in a fruit that cannot be obtained from vegetables; fruit is not required to be eaten for survival.
Nuts – will often contain traces of mould.

A blood sugar stabiliser:  Using a supplement such as Glicemic Balance will certainly help make the job of getting sugar cravings under control.  Taking this supplement, with each meal, will assist in reducing sugar cravings, a craving that has been proven to be stronger than narcotic cravings!
Using a supplement like Glucemic Balance will help get through the healing stage, and the good thing is it will have the sugar cravings under control in a relatively short time.  Once the blood is depleted of sugar and, in most cases, have moved into a state of Ketosis, it will not need supplemental assistance.

Eliminate Coffee:  A point of contention for many, however, coffee spikes Insulin levels, and it’s those uncontrolled Insulin levels that can prevent the elimination of the persistent and very resistant Candida.
Coffee, and some types of tea, can also contain moulds!  Ultimately, Candida is a fungus thus a mould, and yes, decaffeinated Coffee still contains traces of caffeine!

A true Candida Protocol is strict and is easy to follow with the right guidance.  To name a protocol to follow, one that springs top mind would be Paleo.
A Paleo diet does not contain grains or dairy, and will not contain Legumes; legumes are high in starch and would only feed Candida.  Another reason not to consume legumes, on a Candida elimination diet, humans cannot digest legumes as the legumes contain Lectins that prevent digestion and lack of digestion leads to Auto Immune responses!
So if you can stick to a Paleo-type diet, perhaps even eliminating meat, substituting with fish, results may be felt quicker.
Remember they key to Candida elimination is to starve it, don’t feed it!

Once Candida is under control, always be mindful, there is a reason it was contracted in the first instance, and now the body is susceptible to it, it could relapse.  Boost the immunity and adhere to a whole foods diet containing fresh green vegetables juices.  There are some great recipes, just perfect for Candida sufferers straight out of Dr Cabot’s book titled “Raw Juices Can Save Your Life”

Candida Free Recipes – that taste great!

Gazpacho   

Serves 3

You might think a cold soup sounds terrible, but if you like a coffee- then you love an iced coffee right?  So give this a go.

3-4 Tomatoes
½ Cucumber
1 Capsicum
1 Shallot
2 cloves fresh Garlic
½ cup Parsley
Juice of 2 Limes
1 tbspn Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tbspn Olive Oil
1 Cup of filtered water
½ tbspn Red Chilli flakes
Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper – to taste

Core, blanch & peel the tomatoes; dice and place in food processor or blender
Set aside approx. 1/3 of the cucumbers and capsicum, add the remaining ingredients to the tomatoes in the food processor and blend until smooth
Chop the remaining capsicum and cucumber, and stir them into the soup
Sprinkle with extra chilli flakes and serve – Enjoy!

 

Onion Herb Crackers
Makes two large sheets of Crackers

If you have been looking for that gluten-free / grain-free something to dunk in favourite dips, well here is the cracker!

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup coarsely chopped Sweet Onion
2 large cloves fresh Organic Garlic – minced
¼ cup Grape Seed Oil
2 tspn fresh Thyme leaves
¼ tspn of Sea Salt
Coarsely ground Black Pepper
1 ½ cups roughly ground Flax Seeds
¼ cup finely ground Sunflower Seeds

METHOD:
Pre-heat the oven to 110º C
Cover two large baking trays with baking paper
Pulse onion, garlic, oil, thyme, salt and pepper in a food processor until onion is a puree consistency
Add flax seeds and sunflower seeds, and pulse just until combined
Transfer mixture into a large bowl
Roll about half a cup of the cracker dough into a ball and place it in the middle of a piece of baking paper – about 12 inches wide
Fold the paper, like a book, with the ball between the covers and then roll the dough between them until it’s about 1/4 inch thick
Unfold or tear away the top half of the paper, score the crackers into 1 inch squares.  Keeping the crackers on their current sheet of baking paper, transfer the sheet to a baking tray.
Repeat steps with the remaining dough
Bake for two hours, flipping halfway through and removing the top layer of parchments paper after you’ve flipped the dough over
The baking time will vary greatly depending on how thin the cracker dough is
The end result should be Crackers that are crisp and crunchy, containing no moisture
Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for approx. 15 minutes before storing in an air-tight container