Candida, a yeast found in the mouth, throat and intestines, helps with digestion of food. This bacteria causes problems when other infections are present or the immune system is weak. Candida can be spread through sexual intercourse, deep kissing and oral sex. It often causes yeast infections of the genitals and skin infections on the feet or hands. Systemic candida occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel through the body, causing other complications.
Significance
Candida is yeast or bacteria present in everyone's digestive tract. Problems occur when the immune system is impaired. Sometimes the bacteria are killed by the antibiotics that the patient takes for other infections. Food allergies or other environmental irritants cause further problems in the body. Candida often develops as a yeast infection in the vagina of women. Infections occur on the skin like athlete's foot or eczema. The infection spreads throughout the body when it enters the bloodstream, becoming systemic candida. The blood carries the yeast to different areas of the body, causing illness.
Function
When the bacteria change they become invasive and the line between the digestive tract and blood circulation breaks down. The bacteria invade the body, allowing chemicals and allergens to enter the bloodstream. Women contract the disease more than men. Symptoms for systemic candida are fatigue, migraine headaches, dizziness and muscle pain. There are gastrointestinal symptoms like indigestion, diarrhea, gas and rectal itching. Candida causes bladder inflammation, chronic urinary tract infections and cystitis.
Diagnosis
A simple stool test shows when the candida yeast is growing wildly. A blood test tells if a food or chemical causes the problem. These blood tests are called ALCAT or RAST panels. The tests reveal that certain foods cause a reaction to the bacteria in the body. Foods that cause severe symptoms are wheat, corn, soy, shellfish, eggs, nuts, yeast and food coloring. Natural environmental chemicals like mold, pollen, dust, mites, feathers and cleaning products cause candida. Often, samples of the skin or nails are taken to be examined under a microscope. The Heidelberg pH capsule gastric analysis requires swallowing a pill that has a pH probe to determine levels of stomach acid. High levels of stomach acid indicate an infection of candida
Diet Treatments
A special diet often is prescribed for treatment of candida. The candida diet includes plenty of fresh vegetables and about three servings of fruit daily. Eat fresh protein like meat, poultry and fish in addition to grains, beans, rice, nuts and seeds. Avoid foods with yeast like beer, wine, breads, rolls and vinegar and also foods like olives, sauerkraut, and potato chips. Avoid food containing mold like mushrooms, soy sauce, peanuts, cheese, canned or prepared tomatoes and concentrated sugars
Supplements and Medications
Natural supplements often are prescribed to aid the digestive system. Take digestive enzymes that counteract the effect of the bacteria like bearberry and berberine. They break down food as it goes through the digestive system. Probiotics provide beneficial yeast that helps digest food. Avoid birth control pills, antibiotics and steroids when being treated for candida. Nystatin is a prescription medication prescribed for yeast infections. It can be taken two weeks without side effects. Stronger medications for yeast infections that have side effects are Nizoral, Diflucan, and Sporonox. There also are topical treatments for skin infections and intravenous treatments for severe candida infections.
Tags: yeast infections, body causing, digestive system, digestive tract, enter bloodstream, immune system,