What is Candida?

Are you always craving sugary foods, feeling bloated after every meal, and having brain fog? You’re likely fighting a yeast or a fungal infection. Let it be known that all of these symptoms are rather common.

However, when they appear with other uncomfortable symptoms, it could be indicative of a more serious and deeper underlying issue.

Here’s the thing – our stomach houses trillions of tiny bacteria, microbes, and viruses. One of those is called Candida albicans. Candida is a yeast strain that exists naturally in your mouth, digestive tract, and skin. In tiny amounts, this strain poses no harm. As a matter of fact, when it’s part of the gut microbiome, it aids in the digestion process. It helps it keep it running smoothly.

It’s only when there’s an overgrowth, does it contribute to a condition called candidiasis. Often, it can result in a multitude of health concerns and problems. Candidiasis has also been associated with the autoimmune condition. If you want to learn in-depth about this condition and how to heal it, you should read an ebook by Eric Bakker on this subject.

How Long Does it Take to Get Rid of Candida?

The length of the treatment largely depends on 2 main factors –

The severity of the infection
Type of treatment

If the infection is only mild, you could clear it up within a few days. Sometimes as quickly as 3 days. In some cases, even treatment may be unnecessary. However, in case of moderate to severe infection, it may take up to two weeks before the symptoms go away.

There are a bunch of home remedies and over-the-counter medicines that can effectively treat milder degrees of candida infection. However, they might not be as powerful as medical prescriptions. In case of a severe infection, you may experience symptoms for a longer time. You should also seek professional advice.

Even if you can clear your infection without treatment, you would still need to restore the natural balance of bacteria and yeast in your vagina and skin. Infections that go properly untreated carry a high likelihood of recurring.

How to Get Rid of Candida Naturally?

The first step in treating and preventing Candidiasis recurrence is to first find out the underlying root cause of the issue.

After that, you have to pay special attention to the foods you eat. Get on a well-formulated candida diet plan. It’s important to eat foods that help to maintain a balance between the good and the bad gut bacteria.

Avoid foods that feed the bad bacteria

Here are the top contenders to watch out for –

Refined sugar
Dairy products that are high-lactose
Sugary fruits like raisins, bananas, grapes, mango, dates
Glutenous grains like barley, rye, and wheat
Meats like farm-raised fish and deli meats
Refined oils

Consuming too much of these above-listed foods can promote the infection while also suppressing the immune system.

Consume foods that kill Candida

Below are the foods that you should eat more of if you’re trying to fight candida –

Garlic – Garlic has powerful antifungal properties because of allicin. This substance has been studied to fight yeast infection during several studies.

Coconut oil – contains lauric acid which, according to many studies, helps fight Candida overgrowth.
Curcumin – This is present in turmeric and is again a powerful agent in reducing the growth of candida and yeast infections, as shown by the studies.
Aloe vera – the gel of aloe vera may prevent candida infections from recurring
Pomegranate
Kombucha
Probiotics

Get Regular Movement

Exercising is important because, for one thing – it improves energy levels which is often a side-effect of candida. It can kick away fatigue, boost mental awareness, and overall feeling of well-being. If you can make aerobic exercise a part of your routine, it will increase the amount of oxygen in your body which will smother the candida cells and inhibit their growth. Other than that, you can engage in dancing, running, swimming, biking, etc. All of these are great ways to keep candida growth at bay.

Get Enough Sleep

Candida overgrowth can wreak havoc on your body’s immune system. We know that sleep can majorly impact how our immune system functions. It keeps our circadian rhythm in check. Therefore, getting enough and regular rest is crucial.

Consume Probiotics

Yogurt, kefir, kombucha, soy products, are all part of a good candida cleanse. They will increase the population of good bacteria which help to fight off infection. Consuming high-quality probiotics also helps to maintain the pH level of your body. You can also consume probiotics in the form of drinks and capsules.

Bottom Line

There’s no need to feel scared of Candida. It may be somewhat difficult to fight off this infection but it’s certainly not impossible.