1. Give Your Immune System a Boost
Believe it or not, a great way to prevent fungal infections is to make sure you are getting the nutrients your body needs to fight them off. This includes getting your USRDA requirements of vitamins and minerals, as well as consuming lots of phytonutrients. For instance, chlorophyll, which is abundant in spinach, has proven beneficial in all sorts of ways. It improves digestion, which makes it easier for your body to absorb all those USRDA nutrients from your vitamin pill. It also raises your hemoglobin by building up your red blood cells, detoxifies the colon and protects the body from low levels of radiation, including radiation from things like your computer monitor. Eating your green leafy vegetables and making sure you get your daily requirements of nutrients and exercise gives your immune system the stuff it needs to fight the yeast invaders. Some nutritionist say to avoid certain foods, like alcohol, wheat, dairy, caffeine, yeast and the big one, sugar, and include things like fresh garlic in your diet. This prevents some increased growth of yeast. Sugar and the others encourage growth and anyone wishing to prevent fungal infections should avoid them. Garlic, on the other hand, suppresses yeast growth, and eating more fresh garlic may prevent its spread.
2. Wash and Dry
Fungus spreads from spores, these spores can inhabit things like shoes, socks, gloves and other warm moist locations. To prevent fungal infections, and to prevent them from spreading, make sure you wash and dry each washable item in the washer with hot water and dry on the hottest heat setting. Bleaching towels, socks and other clothing that's been in contact with any fungus-infected part is best. Also, wash and dry yourself. Keeping your body, nails, scalp and hair clean and dry keeps the amount of spores that can infect at a minimum. Be sure to dry your scalp, nails and groin area thoroughly, which prevents ideal conditions for the fungus to grow. Don't share towels, shoes or other items of clothing and be sure to change your socks daily. This keeps the amount of spores down. Anything that cannot be completely washed, toss out. Be sure to toss old shoes and gloves to prevent re-infection.
3. Try the Anti-fungal Fashion Statement
Proper footwear for those prone to fungal infections seems to be of some debate. Some experts say to wear cotton socks to absorb the excess moisture, while others say to wear acrylic since cotton absorbs and possibly could hold the moisture. To prevent fungal infections of the feet, wear whatever keeps your feet the driest. If your cotton socks get soaked with perspiration and you're walking in a soggy mess, try acrylic or vise versa. There's no debate, however, when it comes to wearing artificial nails. Nail fungus can grow underneath and infect your nail and possibly your cuticle. Also be sure to clean and disinfect any of your nail clippers, and don't re-use emery boards. Another item you may want to try on is rubber gloves while doing the dishes, which prevents nails from getting soaked in dishwater.
