I have often said that any existing health challenge will inevitably be made worse during periods of excess stress. This is true for those with yeast overgrowth as well. When systemic candida is present it is already over stimulating your immune system. This accounts for the many people who develop so-called “adult onset allergies”, which are most often not true allergies at all but a response from an over stimulated immune system. Stress, when present to excess, further interrupts the natural function of the immune system due to its effect on the adrenal glands. This pathway can make the candida sufferer feel much worse.
If excess stress is present, supporting the central nervous system as well as the adrenal glands is essential. How much is too much stress? That question must be answered by each individual. In essence any amount of stress that makes you feel anxious and overwhelmed is too much for you.
Stress management can come in the form of prayer, medication, biofeedback, and other such methods but it can also come in the form of key nutrient intake. We have identified the need for specific nutrients that the nervous systems as well as the adrenal glands require. Under periods of heightened stress the need for these nutrients in increasing amounts occurs. Under periods of excess stress the body can utilize up to 60 mg of Pantothenic Acid a B Vitamin, per hour. The Daily Value or requirement is just 60 mg per day!!!
If you are dealing with a candida issue, especially if it has become systemic, take stock of your stress levels and if significant consider adding a high potency stress formula to your support program.
The So-Called Anti-Yeast Diet
We have discussed the concept of diet and candida before and it is our position that while dietary changes can reduce the severity of symptoms from yeast overgrowth, once it becomes systemic in the soft tissues of the body, diet will have no effect.
There are several versions of so-called “yeast-free” diets. These are really of value to only those with a clinical allergy to yeast. It is important to understand that human yeast or candida albicans has no relationship whatsoever to food yeasts. One does not “feed” the other.
If a diet high in sugar and plant yeasts actually caused a candida overgrowth then 90 percent of all of us would have this problem and we don’t. By focusing our attention on diet rather than the root causes of candida overgrowth we will never completely address and eliminate this problem. Antibiotic abuse, steroids, and even birth control all lead to yeast overgrowth. Once present it can get into the bloodstream and become a systemic problem very quickly. This scenario, along with a weakened systems, can lead to serious problems.
How common is yeast overgrowth? It is estimated that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men have some level of yeast overgrowth at any given time. Should this become a systemic issue then the approach to eliminating the problems must change drastically.
Candida and Overseas Travel
Candida is a naturally occurring organism within the human body. It is regulated and monitored by the friendly bacteria in the gut. It is also monitored by your immune system. Whenever your immune system becomes under active or over active yeast overgrowth is much more likely.
When traveling abroad your body will be exposed to a wide variety of pathogens that may not be familiar to your system. As such this puts extra work on your immunity to identify and build antibodies to these potentially invading organisms. Under this circumstance yeast overgrowth may be more likely to occur. For example, many women complain of getting yeast infections while traveling and blame it on everything from the weather to the hotel soap. The fact is most of the time it is due to immune stress. Check back soon for more information about the best candida cleansing.
