Natural Feminine Health Care

Candida Cleanse

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Nearly 75 percent of all adult women have had at least one genital "yeast infection" in their lifetime, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On rare occasions, men may also experience genital candidiasis. Candida occurs more frequently and more severely in people with weakened immune systems. There are some other conditions, such as use of antibiotics, which may put a woman at risk for genital candidiasis. "Our society makes it easy for fungus to thrive in our bodies," says health author Melissa Lynn Block, writing in The Doctors' Prescription for Healthy Living. "Antibiotics, birth control pills, prescription drugs, and many other factors kill the friendly bacteria that our bodies need to fight [fungus and other microbials]. Our diets make it worse by feeding the fungus that causes the problems."

Candida is always present in the body in small amounts, says the CDC. So it isn't that we want to eliminate it completely. However, when an imbalance occurs, such as when the body's population of food bacteria changes and the normal acidity of the vagina is altered, or when hormonal balance changes occur, candida can multiply almost overnight and take over your body. When that happens, symptoms start to appear.

Women usually experience genital itching or burning, with or without a "cottage cheese-like" vaginal discharge. Males with genital candidiasis may experience an itchy rash on the penis. Oral and topical medications can help to make the acute episode more comfortable. But they won't prevent future outbreaks. Sometimes doctors end up prescribing powerful antibiotics that might well have caused the problem in the first place. An overall program of natural health with natural safe cleansing can help to prevent future episodes. In addition, dietary and lifestyle changes can help.

INTERNAL CLEANSING

The problem initially is that antibiotics your doctor prescribes for some other condition can end up killing off good bacterial populations, leading to an imbalance---dysbiosis---that allows resident bad guys to occupy more turf in your gastrointestinal tract. What you need is to send in the special police units that will help to rid your body's communities of the villains and also supply your body with a legion of other rebuilding units to help restore populations of healthy bacterial communities. Naturopaths often speak of the terrain in alleviating problems like candida, and they might recommend herbal fungal cleansers for a short period as means of helping the body's natural immune defenses.

In order to get rid of the fungus, you will want to take some nutrients with antifungal properties. Undecylenic acid, grapefruit seed extract, neem, caprylic acid, olive leaf extract, apple cider vinegar and odorless garlic appear to be some of the most often mentioned cleansing herbs. Some naturopaths recommend combinations of these herbs.

The product should be formulated by a knowledgeable health professional, herbalist or responsible member of the natural products industry. BioActive Nutrients markets its Apple Cider Vinegar & Odorless Garlic capsules, which, in their simplicity, are ingenious. Apple cider vinegar has numerous antifungal and antimicrobial benefits and is great as a tonic, while garlic contains antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. "With these combinations, an array of physical ailments and deficiencies are attacked," says the company. Along with alliin and allicin, this particular garlic contains certified marker compounds: total thiosulfinates, gamma glutamyl cysteines and total sulfur, which ensures its quality and effectiveness. These herbs are generally thought to be safe to take with other nutrients, but, nonetheless, be sure to check with a health professional to be on the safe side when starting any new health program.

Because your body will be at war, it is very important to get extra nutrients to keep your immune system strong. So be sure to take a multivitamin and mineral formula. Meantime, psyllium and flax help your body eliminate toxins and often make the "die-off" symptoms less severe. A probiotic formula ought to be used to replenish the body's beneficial bacterial populations. Probiotic-CSP Blend, from BioActive Nutrients, uses L. acidophilus, B. bifidum, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, L. reuteri, L. casei, and L. fermentum. These are strains known to have specific gut-healing properties, which can help to improve the balance of beneficial communities in the body.

BioActive Nutrients' Antifungal Kit would be a good choice for consumers who seek shopping ease and savings. Fungal expert Doug Kaufmann, the national television talk show host of Know the Cause, endorses the Antifungal Kit approach. The company has consistently paid attention to the use of quality ingredients and its product is receiving truly rave feedback.

Candida Information: http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/candidiasis_gi.html