Research from Rice University shows that 70% of all people are affected by candida, a systemic fungal infection. According to the molecular biologists at Rice University, candida is common in humans and is often found in colonies in their intestines, mouths or on their skin.
A Harvard University fellow in infectious disease, Julia Koehler, found that candida is the predominant fungal infection behind human disease. According to Koehler, candida was responsible for 60% of the fungal infections acquired in hospitals, killing 1 in 3 people with a bloodstream infection.
What Is Candida?
A fungus is a microscopic organism that typically lives harmlessly in people. However, if your inner ecosystem is out of balance and your immunity is weakened, you are at risk for a fungal infection, like candida (also known as a yeast infection).
A single-cell organism, candida reproduces asexually and thrives on some of the body’s by-products: dead tissue and sugars from food. Unless its environment is altered and its source of food is eliminated, it quickly monopolizes entire body systems, such as the digestive tract, and causes moderate to severe symptoms.
In patients with weakened immune systems, like those with AIDS or cancer, candida in the bloodstream can (and often does) become the actual cause of death.
Symptoms of Candida
When someone has candida they often appear to look very healthy on the outside. Therefore, most people (and even their health care professionals) are totally unaware that a serious infection lies deep within. The symptoms of candida often mimic other illnesses, so it can be difficult to diagnose without testing. In fact, here at Body Ecology we often hear people tell us: “I’m the healthiest-looking sick person I know.” In other words, people actually feel much worse than they look.
Below I’ve listed some of the most common symptoms of candida. Please note these symptoms are also in many other disorders as well – making diagnosing this problem even more difficult.
- Fatigue and chronic fatigue
- Muscle aches, weakness or paralysis
- Insomnia
- Pain and/or swelling in joints
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Bloating, belching, intestinal gas and/or abdominal pain
- Poor memory, foggy thinking or feeling “spacey”
- Troublesome vaginal itching, burning or discharge
- Prostatitis
- Loss of sexual desire or feeling
- Endometriosis or infertility
- Impotence
- Bad breath
- Frequent mood swings
Use this candida questionnaire. Your results can be discussed with your doctor but be mindful: most physicians are not aware of systemic fungal infections. The ones who are believe an anti-fungal drug will solve the problem. Bring this article along with you as you consider treatment options!
Why Fungal Infections are Becoming More Common
Why are so many people affected by fungal infections like candida?
Some of the more common causes are listed below. Please note that all of these are related to 1) weakened immunity, 2) weakened adrenals and 3) low levels of minerals needed to maintain a slightly alkaline blood environment:
- We are living longer – As we age, our bodies are more susceptible to pathogens due to weakened immune systems.
- For people of all ages -prebirth to death – our lives are much more stressful – Stress weakens our immune systems, depletes our minerals and creates an acidic blood environment
- Widespread use of antibiotics and other drugs – Drugs create an acidic environment in our blood, which weakens our immunity.
- Success in treating diseases like AIDS/HIV – Created a subgroup of people susceptible to fungal infections due to lowered immunity.
- Our diets are poor – the Standard American Diet is not only full of sugar and processed foods, it also lacks minerals. This sets the stage for an unhealthy inner ecosystem and lowered immunity.
If you have a strong immune system, you could still unknowingly have a fungal/yeast infection. It most likely is low-grade and chronic. You might notice that your fungal infection seems to at time “flare up” even becoming “acute” any time your immune system is suppressed for any reason: stress, upset, pregnancy or illness.
It’s clear that keeping our immunity strong is imperative and this is one of the main benefits of Body Ecology’s program. Building a strong inner ecosystem is key to this goal (read on for keys to building a healthy inner ecosystem).
Yeast Infections – More Serious Than You Think
A woman who has vaginal yeast infections is led to believe (from popular television commercials) that the problem is only in her birth canal or is an unsightly infection on her toenails. In fact, these are merely “symptoms” of an infection that is actually in her bloodstream. If she should become pregnant her unborn baby is also at risk.
Some women who never have vaginal infections believe they are free of the problem when indeed they will have differing symptoms manifesting in other ways.
At Body Ecology we are seriously concerned that an entire generation of young women of child-bearing age are being kept in the dark about the causes of candida and of it’s potential impact on their children. We know that fungal infections are in all children with autism and also their mothers. We know autism begins in the womb when the fetus is exposed to the fungus. In fact, an entire generation of children are at risk for being on the autism spectrum because the truth is not being told about candida.
Read more about the risks to mother and baby in the following articles:
Fungal infections like candida can affect anyone at any age – prebirth to elderly. Many of us were actually infected at birth. This sets the stage for an entire lifetime of weaken immune systems and poor health. With the widespread overuse of antibiotics and other drugs coupled with a processed, high-carb diet, fungal/yeast infections are currently affecting the well-being of at least four generations living today.
More Medical Training Needed
Even doctors themselves are not trained to understand how serious and prevalent fungal infections are.
In medical school, physicians are taught that fungal infections can take lives if they become acute. They are taught to prescribe the “safest and most effective” drugs for a condition or set of symptoms and for fungal infections they will certainly prescribe ‘the drug of choice” in a billion dollar spectrum of anti-fungal drugs.
Unfortunately, these drugs have side effects and create an acidic condition in your body. To learn more, read: How This All Too Common Habit is Making Your Blood Dangerously Acidic.
Typical anti-fungals prescribed for candida and their side effects are:
Nystatin – side effects: itching, irritation, burning, diarrhea, upset stomach, stomach pain, skin rash.
Diflucan (fluconazole) – side effects: liver damage, an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, closing of throat, swelling lips, tongue or face, hives), yellowing of skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, dark urine, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, itching.
Nizoral (ketoconazole) – side effects: headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, impotence, rash, itching, nausea and/or vomiting and blood count abnormalities. A reaction resulting in serious lowering of the blood pressure and shock (anaphylaxis), depression and hair loss are reported as rare side effects.
After reading about these side effects, how do you feel about taking drugs?
The search for stronger and stronger anti-fungals continues because the fungi have the ability to mutate. Current anti-fungals are becoming ineffective. While modern medicine is beginning to see that fungi/yeast are truly serious opponents and that all drugs have side effects therefore not popular options for many of us, they still do not understand the power of diet to control these infections. Modern medicine is still not taking into account the need to reestablish our connection with Great Nature and harmonize with Her to truly heal.
Body Ecology – For Natural Solutions, Look to Nature
The Body Ecology System of Health and Healing has a humble reverence for Natur. By observing how Nature renews Herself and lives on eternally, we have found answers for creating balance. Native Americans and practitioners of other systems of health and healing such as Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine also sought answers from our Great Mother, the Earth. I realized that just as the earth has ecosystems, which regulate survival and balance, our bodies also have an “inner ecosystem” with the amazingly similar ways.
A healthy human intestinal ecosystem (inner ecosystem) is made up of the friendly microorganisms (microflora) that reside in our intestines and keep us healthy and strong. These microflora work to protect us by digesting our foods, strengthening our immune systems, and guarding us from fungal and viral infections. Instead of just helping us survive, the microflora help us thrive.
Anyone who chooses to will benefit from Body Ecology’s healing foods and principles. We have the only anti-fungal diet that understands the importance of fermented foods and liquids that repopulate and help maintain your inner ecosystem with an abundance of healthing microflora.
It is clear to me that doctors simply haven’t been properly introduced to the idea that the food a person is eating and digesting throughout the day is the single most important factor in overcoming these fungal infections. They are never trained to understand the meaning of the words: FOOD IS MEDICINE
Body Ecology – Nature’s Prescription
The Body Ecology Way has evolved over the past 20 years. While we may appear to be a new arrival on the scene, our system of health and healing has actually been refined and perfected over many years. Today, thankfully, many people (including physicians) are beginning to look at our programs for various disorders. We continue to research to find natural solutions for health and vitality for the generations to come. The Body Ecology’s Way is the most complete, comprehensive and successful system for treating fungal infections. Since 70% of Americans have candida, we can almost assume that world-wide numbers are staggering. Many people of all ages need knowledge of our Way.
How Long Does It Take to Overcome A Fungal Infection?
8 out of 10 Americans would benefit greatly from our first-stage (more limited) versioin of the Body Ecology program, until their fungal infection is well under control and the candida has been brought under control. If you are very strict with yourself this will take approximately 3 months). After that, we encourage you to widen out into a less strict version of our program adding in foods that are still very healthy but that do not feed a yeast infection. This way you can maintain health, energy and youthful vitality throughout the rest of your life.
Additionally, children with autism would benefit from the Body Ecology program, since candida sets the stage for autism. I believe autism is caused by the fungal infection entering the baby’s brain while he/she is in the womb or shortly after birth. You can read more about our theory on how this happens in my article: The Myths and Truths of the Mecury/Autism Connection.
In fact, Body Ecology has a growing number of medical practitioners who are tuning into our work. They too see the benefits of our principles and foods especially in the autism community, They are beginning to realize that fungal infections are very serious infections. As a result, Body Ecology is currently enjoying tremendous support from the medical community. When you, the consumer, want change and our more open-minded physicians want it as well, in a few generations we can create a world where everyone enjoys perfect health. But we must always look to Great Nature for our answers.
Nourishment as Healing
More and more adults with candida are giving birth to more and more children with candida. An entire generation predisposed to candida will be craving sugar in some form to feed the yeast. Just as you feel terrible when you have a viral infection, you understand what it’s like to have a fungal infection. Imagine starting out your life with a fungal infection. How is it possible to lead a happy, fulfilling life in pursuit of your dreams?
The goal of Body Ecology’s program is to create entire generations of people who are healthy and have the energy to fulfill their missions. The Body Ecology foods are a wonderful way to nourish yourself and future generations to health.
For healing fungal infections, like candida, it’s critical to go on an anti-fungal diet. Body Ecology the only anti-fungal program and it:
- Is totally sugar-free, gluten-free, casein free and won’t feed the candida.
- Includes fermented foods and drinks to build your inner ecosystem.
- Is an antidote to harmful effects of antibiotics.
- Provides minerals, which candida robs from your body.
- Heals digestion – poor digestion further feeds the yeast.
Original article at http://bodyecology.com