What is Candida

What is Candida
Candida infections are typically known as yeast infections
and strike thousands of individuals each year. There are
about twenty different types of Candida but the most common
one is Candida albicans. Candida that causes vaginal
infections is almost always present in the human body, but
when the controlling organisms are removed, the Candida
multiplies to the point where the symptoms appear.
Diagnosis of Candida is normally by one of three methods: a
stool Candida culture, a serum Candida antigen measure, or
a serum Candida antibody test. Once the yeast begins to
proliferate dramatically, it may takes weeks or months or
treatment in order to complete eliminate the yeast from the
body and at the same time to promote the regrowth of the
good bacteria.

Who gets Candida?

The yeast infection typically affects parts of the body
that remain warm and moist. This can include the vaginal
area in women, men's foreskin or penis, the mouth, the
nostrils or the ear. Sometimes new mothers who are
breastfeeding will have symptoms of Candida on the nipples.
Infants Candida shows up as diaper rash. Nearly
seventy-five percent of women experience yeast infections
at some point during their lifetime.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of yeast infection include a gray or grayish white
discharge particularly when the vagina is involved along
with pain, severe itching and burning of the vulva and the
vagina. When Candida grows unrestrained in the intestinal
trace, the person may manifest symptoms such as eye
fatigue, frequent urination, conjunctivae, irritable bowel
syndrome. Inflamed hair follicles throughout the body, eye
fatigue, hives, facial rash--the list goes on and on. If
you have experienced any of the causative factors recently
and are showing the symptoms, it may be appropriate to be
tested for the presence of Candida.

What are the causes?

The major cause associated with the start of a yeast
infection is a missing or weak immune system. It has been
found that taking antibiotics or steroids will cause
symptoms of Candida yeast infection. It is believed that
killing off the helpful bacteria in the system along with
the bad as happens when using antibiotics allows the
Candida to multiply unchecked. Other factors which have
been implicated in the onset of a Candida yeast infection
include diabetic onset, cuts in the skin in areas where
profuse sweating occurs, taking contraceptives, semen, and
menstruation. When the Candida multiplies rapidly in the
body it actually becomes pathogenic rather than remaining
benign. The fungal yeast infection can spore through the
intestinal wall since the yeast has already weakened and
irritated the tissues. This allows toxins and undigested
food to leak into the bloodstream.

What role does diet play?

In understanding the role of diet in curing Candida
infections, a review of the class of compounds known as
phytochemicals is important. These compounds play a vital
role in the defense systems of humans and plants.
Phytochemicals are the compounds that fight infection. They
are effective against fungus infections. Some of the best
known phytochemicals are garlic and onion. These two foods
are effective against a wide variety of illness and
infections such as Candida. Although not all health
professionals and Candida patients agree about the perfect
anti Candida diet, most suggest that the following foods
should be avoided: mushrooms, yeasts, soda, alcoholic
drinks, caffeine, cheese, chocolate, refined sugars and
many fruits.

Are there natural remedies?

Candida is usually treated by medical professionals through
prescription doses of anti fungal drugs or antimycotics.
These drugs include clotrimazole, ketoconazole, nystatin
and fluconazole. Both ketoconacole and nystatin are used
topically. Candida in infants, manifested as diaper rash
can be treated by being scrupulous about removing wet or
soiled diapers as soon as possible and making sure the
child is thoroughly cleaned and dried following each diaper
change.

When a change in diet and prescription medications have
reversed the growth of the the Candida, it is generally
helpful to promote the re-growth of the good bacteria.
This is done by increasing the amount of good
bacteria--Lactobacillus acidophilus in the body. Yogurt of
containing live active cultures will help to aid the
regrowth of the good bacteria in the intestinal tract.

Often remedies that clear the intestinal tract of the
overrunning yeast are combined with natural substances for
a complete detoxification of the system.

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If would like to find out how you could prevent or cure
Candida infection then visit:
http://www.cureyeastinfection.org