If you’re suffering with candida overgrowth, you likely struggle with symptoms that have a negative impact on your daily life. From IBS (bloating, diarrhoea and constipation), fatigue and brain fog, to skin rashes, depression and joint pain, an imbalance of candida really can and does affect the whole body and mind. It’s time to take action.
We’ll take a look at how it can do this, but first…
What is Candida?
Candida, or candida albicans to give it its full name, is a fungus which resides in the human gut. When in balance, we experience whats called a symbiotic relationship with this fungus. Meaning that it enjoys a place to live and feed and in return it aids in the assimilation of the nutrients from food into our body. It is also protective against Mercury and does a very good job of mopping up any found in the gut. So whilst this isn’t something we want to eradicate completely, as with everything, balance is key.
What causes an overgrowth?
Unfortunately for many, candida doesn’t remain in balance in the body and begins to outnumber and overpower the other non-pathogenic (and equally beneficial) bacteria and fungus found in the gut. Factors such as stress, pollutants and pesticides, too many processed and refined foods, overuse of antibiotics and mercury exposure (think silver fillings in your teeth) all contribute to imbalance and damage in the gut.
What are the symptoms of a Candida overgrowth?
There are the obvious symptoms, such as thrush and fungal nail infections, but candida overgrowth really can affect the whole body, with many symptoms seemingly unrelated. If you have any or a number of these, Candida could be part of the underlying cause.
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- White coating on tongue
- Weakened immune system
- Joint pain
- Skin rashes
- Food and product allergies
- Depression
- Bad breath
- Hormone imbalance
- Decreased libido
- Chronic sinus issues
- UTIs
- Digestive issues
How Mountain Blood can balance Candida
The introduction of anti-fungals can have a significant improvement in balancing candida, and this is where Mountain Blood comes in.
Mountain Blood, (also known as Shilajit) is an ancient Ayurvedic health food sourced in the Himalayan and Altai mountains. Packed with over 85 bioavailable vitamins and minerals, it has been used safely for centuries to boost health and balance the body.
Unique to shilajit is its naturally high levels of Fulvic Acid, which are essential for the efficient uptake of nutrients into our cells. This powerful compound is also highly anti fungal and anti-microbial.
As with many things, there isn’t a quick fix or magic bullet. Balancing candida and healing the gut is a multi pronged approach that can take time and persistence. Ensuring your diet is balanced and nutrient dense is key, as is the removal of allergens and mercury (amalgams, if removed, must always be done by a trained, holistic dentist who will take the necessary precautions). As a nutritional therapist, I personally do not encourage the complete omission of all sugars as this can cause the candida to go systemic in search of sugar. And, if it needs to, it can also feed off a more protein rich/ketogenic diet.
As part of the healing protocol, the introduction of Mountain Blood can be highly effective. Not only does it lower levels of candida through its anti-fungal action, the mineral and vitamin content nourishes your body, bringing balance and supporting your thyroid function, your immune system and enables you to better manage stress levels through its adaptogenic properties. So rather than just addressing the symptom (the candida overgrowth), you address the root causes.
When we treat the body as a whole, we can regain the balance essential for optimum health.
