Candidias: What your doctor probably won't tell you.

What is Candidias?
Candidiasis is a yeast overgrowth first identified in the 1970’s. Candida albians lives in everybody’s intestines, usually with no ill effects. However, antibiotics destroy many microorganisms including beneficial ones, allowing candida to colonize and penetrate the intestine (leaky gut syndrome). Transformed into fungal spores it absorbs into the body allowing toxins to enter the bloodstream and strain the immune system. The absorption of vitamins and minerals are compromised exacerbating any immunity complications. Candida is mostly associated with thrush but this is often just the beginning of the problem. The whole body can be effected to chronic and debilitating degrees as can be seen in the list of symptoms below.

Who’s at risk?
The disease is mostly associated with women although men and children can be effected. Hormonal imbalance is related to endocrine disorder, which is often a symptom of Candidias. Women are exposed to oral contraception, HRT (Hormone replacement therapy), menstruation, the menopause, pregnancy and breastfeeding. High oestrogen is linked to cancer, couple this with a compromised immune system and candida patients could be at a higher risk of cancer. Even if we avoid taking antibiotics and hormones ourselves meat is often contains them. Dental mercury in fillings are believed to contribute to candida overgrowth. As a society we are consuming vast amounts to toxins with devastating effect, unless we change our habits candidias is likely to become more widespread.

Symptoms
Hyperglycemias, ear and throat infections, skin conditions, allergies, menstrual disturbance and infertility, thrush, poor memory, lack of concentration, chest infections, digestive disorders, high blood pressure, cardiac and respiratory problems, pain and fatigue, memory and concentration loss, phobias, sleep and eating disorders to name a few.

Diagnoses
Candidias is a condition usually misunderstood by mainstream medicine, with most practitioners and medical authorities ignoring or denouncing the disease. This is not surprising since the lack of agreement between medical associations on testing and treatment leave no concrete guidelines. More research and raised awareness is needed to clear up these confusions. When treatments are offered they deal with the discomfort of symptoms individually rather than the illness. Conventional medicine derives from profit driven pharmaceutical companies. Since treatments for candidia depend on supplements, anti fungal herbs and strict diet, pharmaceutical companies do not stand to profit. Perhaps this is why there is a lack of research and acknowledgment of the illness.

Candidias is hard to identify, it manifests itself in broad spectrum of symptoms, any of which independently would not necessarily indicate the disease. It is characterised by clusters of persistent, recurrent symptoms. Symptoms change as the candida invades different parts of the body. The list of symptoms for anyone sufferer can be extensive. Unaware or dismissive of the causes GP’s prescribe, antidepressants, sleeping tablets, pain killers, steroids and antibiotics, easing the discomfort of symptoms rather than the cause, often aggravating the disease.
There are no reliable statistics as to how many people suffer since patients are often misdiagnosed. Those who continue to search for diagnoses and treatment are driven to alternative sources which are not funded by the N.H.S and would not feature in government statistics. Since statistics are not reliable it is difficult to ascertain rates of recovery. I have contacted the chief minister for health with a few questions, I will post his response.

Treatments
Since N.H.S support is not very forthcoming treatment can be expensive for the patient. Recovery is partly dependent on diet, as featured in my blog nutrition anxieties. Abstain from all sugar and sweeteners in any form, fruit -including lemons, tomatoes, mushrooms, dairy -accept plain natural yogurt and cottage cheese, wheat-at first to rule out intolerance, refined grains, tea and coffee -even decaffeinated, alcohol except vodka, citric acid, vinegar, malt, yeast and moulds, cured or smoked products, refined grains, sprouted grains and pulses, seeds and nuts -unless freshly cracked and no peanuts, chillies or any strong spice. Avoid inorganic or processed foods and reduce consumption of starch and carbohydrates like potatoes, rice. Supplements, milk thistle, vitamin c 500mg 3 times a day, psyllium husks, pro biotic and a good quality multi vitamin and mineral, an essential fatty acid - flax/hemp oil,capyric acid, pau d'arco and chromium. Make sure these are yeast and sugar free! Drink 2 litres of water daily. Stick to natural organic products generally and avoid mouldy environments.

Gruesome fact
The Ancient Egyptians embalmed corpses with anti-fungal herbs and removed the intestines during mummification. They were safeguarding against candida, which is responsible for the decomposition process.


Celebrity sufferer
Ex Mrs Bill Wyman, Mand Smith