1. Being Candid About Candida
Candida is a type of yeast that, as an opportunistic pathogen, has the potential to cause infection in the human body under certain circumstances. Although candida is most often associated with vaginal yeast infections in women, it also commonly affects men, creating a host of symptoms that range from indigestion and gas to aggression, depressed sex drive and even a craving for alcohol. The important thing in all cases, is to report your symptoms candidly to your physician.
2. Don't Pop That Pill
One of the leading causes of candida related infection is the overuse of antibiotics. Antibiotics upset a careful balance of bacteria in the human body by killing probiotics, or bacteria that live in the human body and assist with daily function such as digestion. Using antibiotics too much or, worse, without a doctor's prescription can lead to a bacterial imbalance that can eventually cause a candida related infection.
3. Set Your Diet Straight
Cases of infection caused by candida have skyrocketed over the past few decades. Researchers think the increase in candida infections results from a diet that is high in sugars and processed foods and low in raw, nutritious whole foods and high fiber sources. Since preventing candida infections is the best way to treat them, changing your daily diet so that you reduce sugars and simple carbohydrates and increase your intake of high fiber foods like whole grains and vegetables is an excellent way to combat candida.
4. Virtues and Vice of Candida
If you didn't have enough reasons already to stop smoking, then you can add yeast infections caused by candida to your list. If you happen to be a smoker who "only smokes when drinking" or "smokes socially" (in other words, when drinking) then you have twice the reason to quit since both alcohol and tobacco heavily increase the chances that otherwise benign candida yeasts will lead to infection.
5. No One's Immune
The major cause of infections stemming from candida is a weakened immune system. While this is especially true with immunocompromised patients such as cancer or AIDS patients, it still holds for people who live unhealthy lifestyles that neglect correct eating and exercise. Very small adjustments to your life, such as taking a multivitamin and doing 20 minutes of healthy exercise a day, strengthen your immune system considerably and reduce the chances of your getting a candida infection.
