Inexpensive Candida Cures

Candida (candida albicans) is a natural yeast found throughout the human body and particularly in the digestive system. A member of a family of microbes known as the gut flora, candida exists in almost all mammals. Candida overgrowth, or candidiasis, leads to a number of fungal infections in human beings, including thrush, jock itch, athlete's foot and vaginal yeast infections.

Causes of Candida Overgrowth

• Candida overgrowth or infection is generally caused by the destruction in the body of natural defensive bacteria that function to keep the candida population under control. This destruction can be caused by illness, environmental factors such as heat in a particular area of the body, or use of antibiotics that kill off beneficial bacteria as well as harmful bacteria.
  Candida overgrowth is not generally considered a serious illness in otherwise normal, healthy people. However, candida-based infections can become a serious health risk to people whose immune symptoms are already compromised.

Curing Candida Overgrowth

• In patients with minor candida-based infections, curing the infection can be quick, easy and inexpensive. The easiest way to cure a candida overgrowth is to replace the natural bacteria that normally keep candida under control in the body by consuming foods high in probiotics. An example is eating yogurt that contains active cultures. Most yogurts on the grocery store shelves contain these cultures and they are available in a variety of flavors. For minor candida infections, two cups of yogurt per day will help restore the body's natural balance and end the infection.
  Some natural health practitioners also recommend using diluted plain yogurt as a douche for vaginal yeast infections and as a topical treatment for athlete's foot, jock itch and yeast-based diaper rash in babies. Babies with thrush can also benefit from eating yogurt, but parents should check with their child's pediatrician to make sure she is old enough to begin eating it.
  The main active culture in yogurt, acidophilus, is also available in probiotic nutritional supplements. Acidophilus acts in the body to help control the levels of candida, and also may help with digestive problems such as lactose intolerance and irregularity. Acidophilus supplements are available at most drug and health food stores.