PLEXUS
You might be wondering, "What on Earth is Candida?" Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast, a very small amount of which lives in your mouth and intestines. Its job is to aid with digestion and nutrient absorption, but when it is overproduced it breaks down the wall of the intestine and penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic byproducts into your body and causing leaky gut. This can lead to many different health problems ranging from digestive issues to depression.
HOW DO YOU GET CANDIDA OVERGROWTH?
The healthy or 'good' bacteria in your gut typically keeps your Candida levels in check. However, the Candida population can get out of hand if a round of antibiotics kill too many of those friendly bacteria, you have a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar (which feed the yeast), high alcohol intake, are taking oral contraceptives or any number of other factors including a high-stress lifestyle. Even a diet high in beneficial fermented foods like Kombucha, sauerkraut and pickles, can feed Candida causing an overgrowth.
How do you test for Candida overgrowth?
IgG, IgA, and IgM Candida Anti-bodies. These can be checked through most any lab. High levels of these antibodies indicate that an overgrowth of Candida is present. Your primary care physician can order this testing for you.
This will check for Candida in your colon or lower intestines. However, you need to make sure that your doctor orders a comprehensive stool test rather than the standard stool test. With the stool test, your stool is directly analyzed for levels of yeast. The lab can usually determine the species of yeast as well as which treatment will be effective.
This test detects D-Arabinitol a waste product of Candida yeast overgrowth. An elevated test means an overgrowth of Candida. This test will determine if there is Candida in your upper gut or small intestines.
How do you treat Candida overgrowth?
Effectively treating Candida involves stopping the yeast overgrowth, restoring the friendly bacteria that usually keep them in check, and healing your gut so that Candida can no longer enter your bloodstream.
Getting rid of the Candida overgrowth primarily requires a change in diet to a low carbohydrate diet. Sugar is what feeds yeast, so eliminating sugar in all of its simple forms like candy, desserts, alcohol and flours. Reducing to only a few cups a day of the more complex carbohydrates such as grains, beans, fruit, bread, pasta, and potatoes will prevent the Candida from growing and eventually cause it to die. I would recommend eliminating all fermented foods as well, until the Candida is under control.
Using diet alone could take three to six months before the Candida is back under control. Because of this I use Plexus Triplex (Plexus Slim, ProBio5, and Bio Cleanse) whose supplements contain plant-based enzymes that basically 'poke holes' in the yeast cell wall causing it to die.
Benefits of the ProBio5 may include:
- Proper beneficial bacterial balance in the intestinal tract
- Immune system support
- Increased nutrient absorption
Benefits of the Bio Cleanse may include:
- Aid in reducing symptoms of Candida cleansing (headaches, flu-like symptoms, rash, loose stools, etc. which are temporary reactions known as "die off," when the Candida fungus is being broken down and eliminated from the body).
- Aid in cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract and arteries
- Increased energy
- Weight loss
- Supported collagen production
- Relief of occasional acute constipation
Benefits of the Plexus Slim may include:
- Safe and effective weight control
- Maintenance of healthy blood sugar levels
- Maintenance of healthy blood pressure
- Maintenance of healthy cholesterol and blood lipid levels
Please CONTACT ME for a consultation to make sure Plexus products are right for you!