What is Candida?
Well, Candida Albicans is the most common type of yeast infection found in the mouth, intestinal tract and vagina, and it may affect skin and other mucous membranes. It is not an itchy yeast infection so don’t think you do not have it because you are not itching. If the immune system is functioning optimally, this type of yeast infection is rarely serious. However, if the immune system is not functioning properly, the candida infection can migrate to other areas of the body, including the blood and membranes around the heart or brain.
Candida is a fungus that aids with nutrient absorption and digestion, and prevents men and women from losing weight, when in proper levels in the body. When it overproduces, the typical candida symptoms may appear. In the digestive tract, left unchecked, it breaks down the walls of the intestinal lining and penetrates into the bloodstream. This releases by-product toxins and other toxins from your system, causing leaky gut syndrome.
When your body’s natural pH balance is upset, the candida can grow out of control, creating a problem. Good healthy bacteria and a properly functioning immune system are essential when fighting this stubborn infection.
Candida Overgrowth Syndrome, or COS, is the term used when candida has grown out of control in your body. Make no mistake: This is a chronic health condition. Individuals that have never experienced a serious yeast infection can find they have developed new sensitivities, allergies or intolerance's to a variety of foods. These foods include dairy, eggs, corn and gluten. Interesting right? Always wondered why you would eat certain foods and all of a sudden not be able to anymore!! Look how the Gluten Free intolerance has sky rocketed to almost 1 Million people. Health conditions start in the gut.
Research from Rice University shows that 70 percent of all people are affected by Candida, a systemic fungal infection. According to the molecular biologists at Rice University, Candida is common in humans and is often found in colonies in their intestines, mouths, or on their skin. When researchers delved deeper into how Candida albicans moved throughout the body, with findings published in the journal PLOS One, they noted that the "remarkable pathogen" Candida can cause infection in the body that is both superficial and systemic by penetrating epithelial barriers.
A Harvard University fellow in infectious disease, Julia Koehler, found that Candida is the predominant fungal infection behind human disease. According to Koehler, Candida was responsible for 60 percent of the fungal infections acquired in hospitals, killing one in three people with a bloodstream infection.
In patients with weakened immune systems, like those with AIDS or cancer, Candida in the bloodstream can (and often does) become the actual cause of death. Dr. Andrew Koh, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology at the UT Southwest Medical Center, estimates that for a cancer patient with a Candida infection in the bloodstream, the fatality rate is roughly 30 percent
Here are the most common Symptoms:
Skin and nail fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot or toenail fungus
Feeling tired and worn down, or suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma, or multiple sclerosis
Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, lack of focus, ADD, ADHD, and brain fog
Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, hives, and rashes
Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, or depression
Vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, rectal itching, or vaginal itching
Severe seasonal allergies or itchy ears
Strong sugar and refined carbohydrate cravings
Don't take COS lightly! Find out if you have it by doing a simple at home test.
Here is my friend Audrey's Test results!
Now that you have done the test and you tested positive, your probably thinking OMG what do I do next?? Find out here.