The Beast Within
Do you have a sinus infection that just won’t quit? A weird rash somewhere on your body you have just learned to live with? Do you ever wonder where your eczema comes from?
These symptoms as well as others are so common in our society that many people accept them as an unpleasant yet ‘normal’ part of their existence.
By now, you know that here at Free Range Health we like to get to the bottom of things. Healthy is a person’s natural state and anything aside from that is a sign - something is out of whack somewhere down the line. So if toenail fungus, chronic sinus infections, rashes or other seemingly random symptoms are a part of your world, don’t accept this as your ‘normal’. Let’s get to the bottom of it!
Candida Albicans is a common fungus that is actually part of a healthy gut microbiome. It is kept in check by the beneficial bacteria that also reside there. Life is good until something throws a wrench into the works, causing an imbalance in the ratio of good to bad bacteria. This wrench could be lowered immunity, antibiotic use, oral contraceptives, a high carb - high sugar diet, chronic stress or a combination of such things. In fact, a candida infection (candidiasis) can even be passed from mother to baby during birth, setting up a state of dis-ease for the baby from the start! This is how candida can begin to overtake your system and become a trouble maker.
These yeast feed off of sugar and carbohydrates, they can actually be behind all those sugar/carb cravings you may have...they are wanting to be fed! The waste product they produce, acetaldehyde, is a poisonous toxin that is converted to ethanol by your liver. Some people have reported feeling drunk or hungover due to the large amounts of toxic waste being produced by the candida albican overgrowth in their body! Acetaldehyde also promotes free radical damage to cells throughout the body and this is something you definitely want to avoid.
How do I know if this yeast is the cause of my problems?
Doctors commonly diagnose yeast infections such as thrush (yeast overgrowth in the mouth), vaginal yeast infections, or toenail fungus. However, neither you nor your doctor may attribute symptoms such as sinus infections, eczema, digestive issues or depression to yeast overgrowth.
Candida albicans can be problematic for any system in the body. Here are some of the issues it can cause when left unchecked .
Mental State - brain fog, fatigue, difficulty focusing, anger, irritability, depression, cravings for sweets or alcohol, insomnia
Digestive System - Acid reflux, gastroenteritis, bloating, constipation, nausea, diarrhea
Respiratory System - Chronic cough, sinus congestion, mucous in throat, chronic post nasal drip, chronic hay fever symptoms, asthma
Skin - Rashes, hives, acne, eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections on nails, athlete’s foot, body odor
These are just some of the ways an overgrowth of bad bacteria can affect your health. The important takeaway is don’t consider these issues as normal unpleasantries of life.
Connect the dots, do you have several of these symptoms or even more? The worse the overgrowth gets the worse you will feel and the more areas of your life will be affected.
Next post we will look at natural ways to combat yeast, AKA The Beast Within, so stay tuned! Until then -