Intestinal Candida: The gut pain

Too much of a good thing is bad and the same goes for the friendly bacteria or yeast residing in our intestines. These Candida albicans is the generally the main cause of intestinal candida.

Yeast is a normal part of our intestinal flora; however it is kept in check by the other organisms present in the gut. Women more than men are generally afflicted with intestinal candida and most of them will at least face this problem once in their life time. The reason for this is simple. Candida albicans is a natural inhabitant in the vaginal area of women and quite a peace loving organism most of the time. However, some times due to certain triggers, these organisms may multiply and can cause problems in the vagina and the intestines as well.

These triggers include problems like diabetes mellitus, antibiotics and using birth control pills or other kinds of contraceptives. Vaginal irritation, itching in the vulva, a thick curdy discharge or a discharge which has a breadish smell are some of the classic symptoms of a candida infection.

Though there are a lot of over the counter medications for this problem, nature has some of the best cures. One of the most well known cures is applying unsweetened yogurt to the vagina or eating a lot of yogurt. The lactobacillus bacteria present in yogurt can kill and inhabit the vaginal growth. Garlic is also a well known way to tackle this problem. You can crush some garlic cloves and apply them to the vagina. A natural disinfectant, boric acid powder can also be used by inserting it into the vaginal in gel caps for about four nights.

These home cures can help in getting rid of intestinal candida at the onset. However, if Candidiasis is left unchecked then it can grow out of proportions and can cause a myriad of problems. Hence, a candida infection, however small should never be taken lightly and along with these cures a lot of other holistic treatment measures need to be followed. Most of these holistic methods also include a change in lifestyle and eating habits.

Diet is an important part of the candida treatment. It is common known fact that certain foods can help in enhancing the growth of the yeast which causes intestinal candida and there are some other foods which actually inhabit the growth. Hence, it is important to avoid those foods which can worsen the infection.

There are three classes of foods which are to be avoided if you want to get rid of your candida infection naturally:

Sugar: Avoid sugar in all shapes, forms and sizes. This means you need to avoid anything which is naturally or artificially sweet including sweet fruits, chocolates, dried fruit and all kinds of sweet additives.
Yeast: Whether it is the yeast containing spreads like Marmite, vegemite and promote or foods containing bakers yeast like breads or pastries, all these yeast containing products are to be completely kept away from.
Refined carbohydrates: These include the typical fast foods like pastas, cookies, potatoes and breads.

On the other hand you need to get generous with garlic, olive oil, fish and whole grain foods to inhabit the growth of yeast and prevent the reoccurrence of intestinal candida.

Men and Yeast Infection

For many men yeast infection happens when the way they eat and live makes their bodies perfect hosts for the yeast bacteria. These then multiply way beyond their limits, and start to take over your body.

It is also known as candidiasis because the infection is caused by Candida fungus which is normally present in our body but imbalance in the body system allows Candida to grow out of control and leads to yeast infection. Infection may occur in moist areas of the body like the mouth and genital area which are the perfect home for the fungus.

Friendly bacteria that are present in the digestive tract keep Candida at low levels by feeding on the yeast. These friendly bacteria are killed by antibiotics, cortisone and chemotherapy, etc.

Men who are uncircumcised are at a greater risk of having a yeast infection because the skin folds of the foreskin are hard to keep clean, are moist, and can become a breeding ground for fungus. Also, men who are diabetic or have a disease or illness that lowers the immune system are also more at risk for contracting a yeast infection.

It is possible for men to get a yeast infection from sexual intercourse, but this doesn’t mean it is a sexually transmitted disease.

For some men yeast infection symptoms are similar to those in women: itching, irritation, slight discharge, sores on the foreskin, pain during sexual intercourse, and appearance of a white cheese-like material. Physically, it can cause dryness and itching of the skin. It can also cause digestive disorders and constipation.

The type of treatment you need, will depend on the type of yeast infection you have, although natural remedies have proven to very beneficial. Garlic, yogurt, tea tree oil, oregano oil, aloe vera and other home remedies have proven to be effective for men with yeast infection.

Medications may temporarily get rid of the symptoms and offer short-term relief, but the root cause of the problem, the yeast spores, remains and inevitably will lead to future outbreaks. If you find that the over the counter medications aren’t working or that your yeast infection is recurring you may need more effective treatment that only a doctor can prescribe.

Whilst you are treating men yeast infection, it is advisable to use a water soluble lubricating gel during sex and always wear condoms too, to avoid passing the infection onto your partner.