Fatigue and Bloating? It May Be Candida

There are many diseases out there that can negatively impact our everyday life, despite being invisible to the people around us. Chronic candidiasis is one of those conditions - learn about its signs, symptoms, causes, and natural remedies that can alleviate the associated health problems.

Each one of us experiences occassional fatigue and digestive problems, but for patients with chronic candidiasis, these symptoms become an everyday struggle. In addition, it's not uncommon for people with candida overgrowth (which is another name for the condition) to experience a whole array of bizzare and seemingly unrelated health problems such as headaches, yeast infections, and sugar cravings:

• overwhelming tiredness
• digestive issues - bloating, diarrhea or constipation
• genital yeast infections
• headaches and migraines
• adult onset allergies
• sugar cravings
• lack of concentration, "brain fog"

Candidiasis is caused by an out-of-control growth of yeast called Candida albicans in the human body. The yeast is a natural inhabitant of our digestive tract, but in some cases it can grow out of control and overwhlem other microbes in the gut, causing intestinal imbalance. And when there's not enough beneficial organisms in the gut to control Candida colonies, the yeast can quickly proliferate and produce various toxins that tax our immune system, which results in all the unpleasant problems mentioned above.

In fact, some patients report "feeling drunk", and that's because Candida produces alcohol and acetaldehyde as its main by-products.

Chronic Candida And Its Causes & Treatment

Among factors that can disrupt intestinal balance in the body and cause candida overgrowth are antibiotics, birth control pills, anabolic steroids, stress, and unhealthy diets high in sugar. The role of broad spectrum antibiotics is especially controversial, as antibiotics kill not only the "bad" bacteria, but the good ones, too! The yeast, however, is kept intact, which creates a breeding ground for Candida overgrowth and other chronic health problems.

Because candidiasis is caused by an imbalanced intestinal environment, the treatment is usually not simple and may take even several months, depending on the severity of the disease.

Conventional treatments rely on prescription drugs such as Nystatin and Diflucan, but quite a few patients report that these pharmaceuticals offer only temporary relief. As a result, many physicians choose a multi-faceted treatment that involves natural methods to regain the intestinal balance between Candida and the friendly bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus.

The first step to better health is changing what we eat. All yeasts thrive on sugar - and Candida albicans is no exception. That's why it's recommended to avoid high glycemic foods and consume lots of fiber to help the stored toxins and debris move out of the body.

Another popular treatment option is targetted supplementation. A high quality probiotic and an antifungal supplement can do wonders when dealing with systemic yeast overgrowth.

Consult with your doctor for more information on how to best treat and prevent this condition.

James Schreiber is a 21-year-old student who currently pursues a degree in law. He also dedicates part of his spare time to raising awareness of chronic candidiasis and other "invisible" and misdiagnosed conditions.