Overcoming Candida OVergrowth

by Claudia Beck
(Australia)

Many people can be stubborn about taking care of their health issues, I know this because I was one of them.

For many years I suffered from many symptoms including headaches, dry mouth, itchy skin as well as more serious issues such as cramping, upset stomach and recurring yeast infections.

After reading and discovering Candida I realized that there may be a larger issue that connected all of my smaller symptoms. I did the ‘spittle test’ at home which spurred me on to speak to a doctor about how all my symptoms could be connected, turns out I did indeed have Candida Overgrowth!

It’s important to consult with your doctor who may be able to help you test or organise a test for the problem. Having dealt with issues that affected my work, social life and at home I wish I had spoken to someone earlier.

I was confused as to how I got Candida into my system in the first place, but I learn to tick off some of the main causes of Candida:

• Taking antibiotics. Antibiotics kill good bacteria along with harmful bacteria which sets the stage for Candida Albicans to take over.
• Alcohol intake. Most alcohol is fermented and contains sugar that will also feed the yeast, allowing it to continue to grow in your system.
• Taking the pill. The birth control pill can disrupt the bacterial balance in the microbiome, causing the effects of Candida to worsen.
• Eating unhealthy, processed foods. Carbohydrates and sugar act as food for yeast and feed candida overgrowth in the gut.

I was on the contraceptive pill, eating and drinking however I pleased, and had taken a long course of antibiotics for a chest infection almost a year earlier. I developed my symptoms in the following years, but due to my lack of urgency, they had escalated before I decided to act.

Initially cutting a significant amount of unnecessary sugar out of my diet by putting less sugar in my coffee and skipping dessert more often was easy enough. I also found that spending a little more to buy fresh food instead of packaged made a stark difference to how I felt after I ate and if I went out for drinks, I had one or two instead of three or four.

During the first couple of weeks, there is something called candida die-off where your body expels the excess bad bacteria and you experience all sorts of cravings while you’re low on energy.

Once over this hurdle the process becomes more manageable, and it becomes easier to exercise regularly with a bit more energy. My cramping upset stomach troubled me less as time went on and I felt more in control.

A few everyday choices and activities caused the overgrowth, but it was almost just as easy to get myself back on track.

Key takeaways:
1. Discuss any issues you may have with your doctor before it gets unmanageable
2. Don’t abuse your body with what you put in it
3. It’s not hard to get back on track
4. Love your body and your life

Grace : Thank you, Claudia for sharing your experience of overcoming Candida overgrowth. It shows that by changing your diet and lifestyle, Candida can be treated successfully.