Manna-Candida-Ebook-2014.Pdf
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Content 1. What is Candida? 2. Symptoms of Candida 3. Common Causes of Candida Overgrowth Diet Medication Diabetes Stress Other 4. Test for Candida 5. Candida Cleanse 6. The Anti-Candida Diet Food to Avoid (summary) Food to Eat (summary) Reintroduce Foods 7. Dietary Supplements Probiotics Antifungals PH Balance 8. Liver Support during Detoxification Manna Health Products C a n d i d a e - b o o k Page 2 Understand Candida before you can Rectify the problem What is Candida? A yeast infection results from an overgrowth of yeast (a type of fungus) anywhere in the body, especially in the gut. Candidiasis is by far the most common type of yeast infection. There are more than 20 species of Candida, the most common being Candida albicans. These fungi live on all surfaces and, under certain conditions; they can become so numerous they cause infections, particularly in warm and moist areas of the body. Examples of such infections are vaginal yeast infections, thrush (infection of tissues of the oral cavity), skin and diaper rash, and nail bed infections. We all have millions of bacteria living in our gut at all times. Some are considered good bacteria while others are considered bad and can cause a wide variety of health conditions. In a healthy body, the good bacteria keep the bad bacteria in check so there is a nice even balance. When someone develops Candida overgrowth the balance has become upset and the bad bacteria have taken control. Symptoms of Candida (yeast overgrowth) Symptoms are many and varied, and can mimic other health conditions. Relating to digestive function bad breath bloating gas and stomach pain loose stools and diarrhoea are common. More systemically fatigue lethargy brain fog itchy skin athletes foot vaginal itching/ irritation PMS depression and mood swings are just some of the possible symptoms. Causes of Candida 1. Poor Diet and Nutrition Poor diet and nutrition actually feed the Candida fungus. If the body does not receive adequate levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that it needs to function optimally then it becomes vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, etc. Our present day diet is not nutritious in the least. It's packed with a bunch of junk food like candy, cookies, soda and chips. Manna Health Products C a n d i d a e - b o o k Page 3 Even the foods you think would be healthier such as breakfast bars and cereals are loaded with sugar and lacking in nutrients. Almost all processed food you can buy contains some sort of sugar. Our standard diet is way too high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, which actually feed the Candida fungus for optimal growth. Candida thrives on sugar and carbohydrates. A diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates is also deficient in vitamins and minerals and thus doesn't nourish a healthy body that can resist Candida overgrowth. However, sugar is not the only culprit. Starchy foods, like bread, pasta, white rice, potatoes, chips, cookies, etc. converts to glucose (sugar) in the digestive system. The more refined these foods are the quicker they are converted. It is all this excess sugar that is responsible not only for Candida yeast overgrowth but many other health conditions like obesity, malnutrition and diabetes. 2. Medication Antibiotics One of the major causes of Candida is the overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics. Antibiotics damage and kill the good flora (good bacteria) in the gut, as well as damaging the digestive enzymes, which lead to an overgrowth of the Candida fungus. Even if you don't take antibiotics directly, you might get it indirectly, because farmed animals are routinely fed antibiotics, our meat supply is injected with hormones and antibiotics and the feed that our farm animals eat is laced with antibiotics, all under the false pretence that it makes our food safer, when in fact what it really does is contribute to this problem of making bacteria immune to antibiotics and damaging the good flora and digestive enzymes in our gut. When you eat the meat of these animals, or eat their by-products such as milk, cheese and cottage cheese, etc., you absorb the antibiotic into your body. The bottom line is: Prescription antibiotics causes gut health problems which lead to … An Impaired Immune System GUT health problems IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) Candida (yeast overgrowth) Insulin Resistance Obesity (struggle to lose weight) Type 2 Diabetes Infertility Manna Health Products C a n d i d a e - b o o k Page 4 The Pill The contraceptive pill can also cause an outbreak of Candida overgrowth. The stomach is a delicate organ, containing a precise mixture of microorganisms and yeasts that help process and digest food. They depend on the right balance of chemicals to support them, but this equilibrium can be thrown off by the hormonal imbalances caused by the Pill. By disturbing this balance, the Pill opens the door for Candida to once again outgrow its competitors in the gut. Estrogen, the major ingredient in the Pill, is known to promote the growth of yeast. If you need evidence of how this can happen, see how many women get regular yeast infections while on the Pill, it’s exactly the same principle. 3. Diabetes Candida is just one of many conditions that Diabetes can bring about, and diabetic women are particularly susceptible to any yeast infection. An elevated blood sugar level feeds the Candida yeast, allowing it grow quickly and dominate the other microorganisms in your gut. 4. Stress Stress affects your body in two ways, both of which can lead to excess Candida. One of your body’s first reactions to a stressful situation is to release Cortisol, a hormone that depresses your immune system and raises your blood sugar level. The Candida yeast feeds on the extra sugar, while your weakened immune system is powerless to stop it. Quickly it overpowers the balanced mixture of microorganisms in your small intestine. Prolonged stress can also weaken your adrenal glands, which are an important part of your immune system. These small organs release hormones that regulate several different systems within your body, and they are responsible for production of the ‘fight or flight’ hormone adrenaline. If your adrenals become drained you will feel constantly tired, and probably find yourself drinking cup after cup of coffee. Your immune system becomes similarly drained and unable to respond properly to pathogens like the Candida yeast. 5. Other Causes of Candida In addition to the main causes of Candida – antibiotics, diet and stress, there are a few other factors that can contribute as well. Other instigators of Candida causes may include the use of cortisone, or other steroid type drugs, immune suppressing drugs, and synthetic estrogen. All these create a hormonal imbalance in the body and allow the Candida to thrive and take over. Individuals with diseases that weaken the immune system such as HIV are also more vulnerable to Candida yeast overgrowth. Manna Health Products C a n d i d a e - b o o k Page 5 Candida Detection To evaluate for yeast overgrowth, there are two primary tests to run. One is a blood test checking for antibodies (immune cells that might show reactivity to candida). The other is urine test looking for the actual metabolites of Candida. Are Your Health Problems Yeast Connected? If your answer is "yes" to most of the following questions, you probably have an overgrowth of the Candida fungus. Have you taken repeated or prolonged courses of antibacterial drugs? Have you been bothered by recurrent vaginal, prostate or urinary tract infections? Do you feel "sick all over," yet the cause hasn't been found? Are you bothered by hormone disturbances, including PMS, menstrual irregularities, sexual dysfunction, sugar craving, low body temperature or fatigue? Are you unusually sensitive to tobacco smoke, perfumes, colognes and other chemical odors? Are you bothered by memory or concentration problems? Do you sometimes feel "spaced out"? Have you taken prolonged courses of prednisone or other steroids; or have you taken "the pill" for more than 3 years? Do some foods disagree with you or trigger your symptoms? Do you suffer with constipation, diarrhea, bloating or abdominal pain? Does your skin itch, tingle or burn; or is it unusually dry; or are you bothered by rashes? Conquer Candida the Healthy Way One of the easiest ways to avoid yeast overgrowth is to limit dietary intake of sugars, carbs and alcohol. The Candida fungus feeds on sugar, so anything that breaks down to sugar (which even complex carbs do) is a potential fuel source for this yeast. Alcohol, being mostly sugar and yeast, is a perfect fuel source. Since antibiotic use is one of the causes of yeast overgrowth (they tend to wipe out everything in the gut, good and bad, allowing for yeast to take a hold), patients taking antibiotics must be especially careful to take high- potency probiotics as a preventive measure. Some avoidance of “yeasty” foods such as mushrooms, breads and vinegars can be helpful. We believe that Candida can be rebalanced with a moderate dietary approach along with supplemental probiotics, digestive enzymes and anti-fungal remedies. (see “supplements”) Other natural anti-fungal agents that can be used are garlic, pau d’arco, caprylic acid, oregano oil and grapefruit seed extract. Manna Health Products C a n d i d a e - b o o k Page 6 Stage 1: Doing the Candida Cleanse If you begin your Candida treatment with a cleanse, you should be focusing on flushing your colon. This is where most of your Candida colonies reside, so flushing out this part of your body will go a long way towards beating your Candida overgrowth.