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by: Dr. Craig A. Maxwell
Woman and men with chronic yeast infections frequently treat them with those over-the-counter creams, often receiving temporary or no relief. When does a yeast infection turn into chronic candida infection? On this page, you’ll learn the symptoms of chronic candidiasis and the natural steps you need to take to eradicate the yeast and prevent future health problems.
What is Chronic Candida?
Candida albicans is a benign fungus or yeast that grows in the digestive tract and sexual organs. In limited quantities, this yeast is harmless. However, when candida yeast is allowed to grow unchecked, it can cause serious health problems. An overgrowth of candida yeast can lead to a condition called chronic candida or chronic candidiasis that leads to a myriad of mystery symptoms that can sometimes be difficult to pin down.
Symptoms of Candida Yeast Overgrowth
Conventional physicians often overlook the signs and symptoms of candida overgrowth and some don’t believe it even exists. This leaves many patients frustrated and unsure of where to turn.
Do these symptoms sound familiar to you?
- Chronic vaginal yeast infections
- Frequent colds and flu
- Itchy ears and nose
- Sinus infections
- Rectal itching
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Increased body odor
- Depression
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Cravings for sugar and starch
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Oral thrush
- Bloating, gas, indigestion
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Asthma/wheezing
- Abdominal discomfort
- Multiple food and chemical allergies
- Brain fog
- Skin rash
If you only have one or two of these symptoms, it may or may not be related to chronic candida. However, if you suffer from 5 or more, an overgrowth of yeast may be causing your symptoms.
Causes of Chronic Candidiasis
If a conventional physician does find an overgrowth of yeast in your system, he or she may immediately prescribe a round of high-powered antibiotics. This is one of the worst responses to candida infection because antibiotic use destroys the probiotics (healthy bacteria) in your gut that would normally fight candida yeast overgrowth.
In addition to chronic antibiotic use, other causes of chronic candida include:
- Birth control pills
- NSAID pain relievers
- Steroids
- Chemicals, additives, preservatives, and sugars in food
- Commercially-raised meat products containing antibiotics and growth hormones
- Constipation
- Over-consumption of alcohol and recreational drugs
- Mercury toxicity (dental fillings)
- Extreme stress
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Diagnosing Candida Yeast Overgrowth
Since candida symptoms are varied and can be difficult to diagnose, I recommend the Candida Intensive Culture-Genova KIT from Direct Labs. This comprehensive culture not only measures candida in your stool but also in your blood. Just purchase the KIT and take the culture to your nearest Direct Labs office for blood draw and analysis. You should receive your results with 7-10 business days.
Also, since systemic yeast can also be related to parasitic infection as well as leaky gut syndrome, I also recommend Doctor’s Data Comprehensive Stool Analysis x 3 DD Kit. This test evaluates for parasitic infection, leaky gut syndrome, and candida while measuring dysbiotic bacteria, digestive enzymes, digestion capability, and even a count of all probiotics!
Treating Chronic Candida Naturally
Once the Direct Lab tests have confirmed your symptoms are indeed related to systemic candida yeast, you can take some positive steps to heal naturally. Healing chronic candidiasis takes commitment to a natural lifestyle and can cause frustration and worsening symptoms at first as your body clears out toxins. However, once you get through the detoxifying process, you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel!
- Dietary Changes
If you have chronic candida yeast overgrowth, you may be making your symptoms worse with the diet you consume. Refined flour, sugar, preservatives, additives, food dyes, antibiotics, and growth hormones all feed yeast and encourage it to grow.
In order to effectively eradicate chronic candida, you must cut the junk food out of your diet completely. A diet filled with pure, healing whole foods is what your body needs to heal. This means dining on organic vegetables and fruit, organic meat, wild-caught fish, organic dairy products, healthy fats (virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil), and fermented probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and plain organic yogurt.
Cayenne pepper, organic garlic, and turmeric are also excellent herbs for chronic candida sufferers as these ingredients kill off candida yeast, fight inflammation, and boost intestinal integrity.
For any of my patients with digestive issues, I encourage eating small meals several times per day for better digestion and optimal absorption of nutrients. I also recommend making and eating healing stews and soups that are easier on the digestive system.
- Supplements
When it comes to treating systemic candida, it’s important to first address any nutritional deficiencies. This is why I recommend a good-quality multivitamin supplement. If you’re already taking a multivitamin supplement, I encourage you to read the label. If it’s not a whole-food vitamin, you may be encouraging further yeast growth. Many store-bought multivitamins contain a host of preservatives and additives your body cannot absorb and make use of.
Our formula, Diamond Nutritionals’ Foundation Vitamins Formula, is superior because it is made without additives or preservatives.
Foundation’s nutrients include:
- Vitamin A – 7,500 IU
- Vitamin C – 500 mg
- Vitamin D3 – 500 IU
- Vitamin E – 100 IU
- Vitamin K – 50 mcg
- Thiamine – 25 mg
- Riboflavin – 25 mg
- Niacin – 25 mg
- Vitamin B6 – 38 mg
- Folic Acid – 400 mcg
- Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg
- Biotin – 200 mcg
- Panthothenic Acid – 150 mg
- Calcium – 100 mg
- Iodine – 113 mcg
- Magnesium – 200 mg
- Zinc – 10 mg
- Selenium – 100 mcg
- Copper – 1 mg
- Manganese – 2.5 mg
- Chromium – 200 mcg
- Molybdenum – 25 mcg
- Potassium – 50 mg
- Choline Bitartrate USP – 50 mg
- Inositol – 50 mg
- Mixed Tocopherols – 50 mg
- Lipoic Acid – 25 mg
- N-Acetyl-Cysteine USP – 25 mg
- Rutin – 25 mg
- Lutein – 3 mg
- Boron – 1.5 mg
- Lycopene – 1 mg
- Vanadyl Sulfate Hydrate – 1 mg
Diamond Nutritionals’ Ultra Probiotic Formula
Chronic candida infection doesn’t need antibiotics, it needs probiotics. So for my patients with recurrent yeast infections and systemic yeast, I recommend a good-quality full-strength probiotic.
Diamond Nutritionals’ Ultra Probiotic Formula is unlike other probiotics you’ve tried. Each packet of Ultra Probiotic Formula contains 225 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) complete with six unique probiotic strains to populate your gut fast to boost your immune system and relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
These strains include lactobacillus plantarum, lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium lactis, lactobacillus salivarius, lactobacillus casei, and bifidobacterium bifidum.
Diamond Nutritional’s Candi-Calm Formula
We also carry a formula specifically designed to heal chronic candida infection. Diamond Nutritionals’ Candi-Calm Formula contains a synergistic blend of ingredients designed to eradicate yeast, calm inflammation, and help heal a ravaged digestive system.
These ingredients include:
- Biotin – With the presence of the B vitamin, biotin, yeast is unable to change into its mycelium form and spread throughout the body.
- Zinc – A powerful antioxidant, this mineral helps boost the immune system while destroying excess candida yeast.
- Sodium Caprylate – A form of caprylic acid, sodium caprylate has been used successfully in topical anti-fungal creams.
- Berberine HCI – This plant-root alkaloid extract has confirmed anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.
- Cinnamon Bark, Ginger Root, Oregano Leaf Extract – These common kitchen spices work in conjunction to provide powerful yeast relief.
- Pau D’Arco – This tree park has been used to treat bacterial and fungal infections for hundreds of years.
- Rosemary Leaf Extract – Contains powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
- German Chamomile Flower – Chamomile helps treat the inflammation, intestinal spasms, and anxiety related to chronic candida infection.
If you believe the strange symptoms you’ve been suffering from could be related to chronic candidiasis, you’re not alone. Millions of people just like you are living with candida symptoms and aren’t even aware that they could feel any better.
Diagnosing and treating candida can be frustrating at first but the commitment you make to cleaning up your diet and starting on supplements will be a long-term investment in your health that will be well worth it. Don’t just mask the symptoms of chronic candida with over-the-counter treatments. When you start on the inside and work your way out, you’ll always come out on top no matter what disease or condition you treat!
