CAUSES OF CANDIDA

Causes of Candida

1. Antibiotics

The most common cause of Candida overgrowth is antibiotics. In today’s world antibiotics are over prescribed and do more harm than good in some causes. A full course of antibiotics kills all the bacteria in your body, both the harmful bacteria of which the medication is prescribed and beneficial friendly bacteria that aid in digestion.

This can leave your body vulnerable to Candida to invade your system and quickly dominate the small intestine.

The next time you fall ill, make sure there is no alternative treatment to your condition before you take antibiotics. If you must take antibiotics, be sure to take a good probiotic supplement during and after the treatment to replenish the healthy bacteria population.

Another way to reduce your exposure to antibiotics is to buy organic meat and dairy. An astounding 55% of the antibiotics used in the US are in the livestock industry. American cattle are fed antibiotics to keep infections at bay, mortality rates low, and profit margins high. When consumers in turn, ingest antibiotics when they eat meat or dairy from the treated cattle.

2. The American Diet

The modern diet is lacking in essential vitamins and nutrients but full of artificial ingredients and sugar, Candida’s food source. Candida’s food supply comes from all forms of sugar, including soda, sweets, processed foods, and baked goods, to name a few. Refined carbohydrates like processed food made with white flour, other refined grains and alcohol can all contribute to Candida growth.

Overtime, a diet rich is sugar depresses your immune system leaving it open to Candida to attack. To keep Candida at bay, follow the Candida Diet Guidelines and consume fresh organic fruits and vegetables, organic meat, eggs, and dairy, and eliminate sugar.

3. Oral Contraceptives

Oral contraceptives are a major causes of Candida overgrowth in women. Birth control pills are mostly synthetic estrogen, which been found to promote the growth of yeast.

Another contraceptive device that may cause Candida is the copper IUD. It has been shown that copper can increase yeast growth in much the same way as Estrogen does. Like antibiotics, women taking oral contraceptives or IUD should supplement with a probiotic.

4. Chronic Stress

When your body is under stress it releases a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol causes the depression the immune system and also raises blood sugar. The elevation in blood sugar provides the perfect environment for yeast to grow, while the depression in immune function leaves the body defenseless against the sudden elevation in yeast. Keeping cortisol in check through stress reduction and management, is key for fighting Candida overgrowth.

5. Worm and Parasites

Parasites and intestinal worms are more common then anyone would think. Some researchers have estimated that over 85% of all people living in North America and Canada have parasites. Parasites can be large worm-like creatures or small microscopic organisms. Either type destroy friendly bacteria in the intestines making yeast overgrowth possible.

Parasites can often be found in contaminated water supplies, particularly in less developed parts of the world. Don’t drink tap water or water from streams, rivers or lakes. Also, be careful when swimming in these fresh water lakes, as you can contract a parasite this way also.

Parasites can also be contracted from eating raw meat and fish and other contaminated food. Always make sure your meat is well-cooked and that you wash all your fruits and vegetable with a solution made out of grapefruit seed extract and water. Lastly, our pets can also give us worms, so be sure to regularly de-worm them and always wash your hands after handling them.

Return to Physical Wellness

Return from Causes of Candida to Six Dimensions of Wellnes