Candidiasis: What is it and How to Treat It?

Candidiasis is a fungal infection which is caused by the species of yeast, called candida. Candida is the type of yeast which usually lives on our skin, our tongue or in our mouth. It is normal for this species of yeast to reside on our body in normal quantities without causing any harmful effects. The problem arises when this number begins to increase. Once our immunity weakens, they grab the opportunity and begin multiplying themselves which can be the cause of infections in the human body.

Candida can occur in many forms and their symptoms can differ from one person to another. It can cause lots of problems in different parts of our body and show symptoms like:

  • Joint pains, once this yeast enters our blood
  • Vaginal infections or vaginal itching for women
  • Redness on the skin
  • Different kind of allergies from a particular food, season or in a particular environment
  • Digestive problems like bloating or diarrhea or constipation
  • Skin infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot
  • Cravings of food having sugar and carbohydrates food
  • Oral thrush
  • Lack of focus, and
  • Mood swings

There are several reasons which lead to an increase in the number of candida that causes infections. Reasons like taking too much of stress, excessive intake of antibiotics, taking regular birth control pills, too much sugar consumption or alcohol consumption are responsible for its growth.

Diagnosis of Candida Infection:

First of all, you should be aware of the changes that are going in your body. You should not ignore these infections which may start as small infections and they can grow into much bigger problems if ignored. In order to diagnose this fungal infection, you need to first visit the doctor and explain all your symptoms without missing any relevant details.

You need to take the prescribed medications as instructed by your doctor. If not treated by medication, or if the symptoms of your infections are not clear, you may get the following tests done (with your doctor’s instructions) which can give the clarity about what kind of infection you have and to what extent:

  • IgG, IgA and IgM candida tests
  • Stool test
  • Blood Count check

Treatment:

Once you have diagnosed the infection you have and the cause of the infection, you need to take immediate action to get rid of the infection. Taking medications will remove the infection but your body needs much more than that. You need to take the following measures which will remove the infection for good and make sure that it does not occur again:

  1. Understand the problem: Unless you fully understand what the problem is, you cannot take the correct measures to rectify it. Understanding the problem in depth solves half the problem, makes you aware and thus, you are able to take proper preventive measure to avoid it in the future. In case of yeast infections, you should study and understand what is candida, why does it occur and what can you do to prevent it.
  2. Eliminate infection causing food: The kind of diet you have is the main root cause of all your health problems. So in order to be healthy and get rid of the infection, you need to remove all the food from your diet that is causing or can cause the infections. You definitely need to stay away from the food containing sugar as sugar plays a very big role in feeding and increasing your existing infection. Along with sugar, food containing starch, and carbohydrates also feed this yeast which can increase your infection. Controlled consumption of these foods in your regular lifestyle will prevent these infections to occur in the first place.
  3. Relax your mind: If you have truly understood the occurrence of these infections, you would know that they get infected the most when your immunity is low. In order to protect and strengthen your immunity, a balanced diet and a relaxed mind is the perfect medication. When you are stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, which weakens your immune system and causes other problems like increased sugar-level and inflammation in the body. So one should learn how to manage their stress levels in order to keep your health in your control.
  4. Required supplements: A strong immune system can help you to avoid and fight this yeast infection. Along with antifungal drugs, there are certain diets and supplements that can help us to strengthen the immune system.
  • Garlic
  • Coconut oil
  • Pomegranate
  • Aloe Vera
  • Xylitol
  • Kombucha

             These are some of the foods which help you strengthen your immunity and control the growth of the candida. Remember, the existence of candida is important in your body; it is just its quantity that needs to be taken care of.