Coconut Oil for Candida Cure

As many as 40 million Americans suffer from overgrowth of a fungus called candida. Most fight the problem with ineffective pharmaceuticals -- and that's only if they're lucky enough to realize it's candida that's causing their misery. Coconut oil, however, is a natural weapon against the fungus -- so potent that it's been proven more effective than over-the-counter drugs (specifically, Diflucan). Better yet, it's inexpensive, delicious and possesses of a wide range of other benefits.

Significance

• Candida is a fungus that's natural to the body, however, it can sometimes grow unchecked. The symptoms of candida overgrowth are so wide-ranging that the problem is often misdiagnosed. Candida has been shown to be the culprit in issues of fatigue, forgetfulness, mood swings, persistent coughing, recurrent sinus infections, chronic fungal infection, blurry vision, impaired respiratory function, abdominal pain and cramping. Many sufferers, not knowing the root cause, address the multiple symptoms individually while the candida continues to grow inside them. In countries where coconuts are consumed daily, candida occurrences are notably low -- even when the conditions in which they live are known to promote candida overgrowth.

Features

• The anti-fungal active ingredients in coconut oil are caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acid. All three of these are medium-chain, saturated fatty acids that work together to break down the cell walls of microbes such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Caprylic acid has been used by doctors and naturopaths for quite some time in fighting candida yeast infections. (It's especially effective on patients who have adverse reactions to anti-fungal pharmaceuticals.) Capric acid is the fastest and most effective killer of all three strains of candida, as it goes directly to the plasma membrane of the target cell, disintegrating it almost instantly. Lauric acid is even more unique: unlike other saturated fats, it's not made in the liver. There are only two significant dietary sources for lauric acid: breast milk and coconut oil.

Benefits

• As well as its notable population-reducing effects on candida, coconut oil has quite a few other benefits to consider. Research has shown that the oil's medium-chain fatty acids are powerful metabolism boosters, raising core body temperature and giving the body a strong, clean-burning energy source. The end result? Weight loss. The oil also supports the immune system, protecting against cancer and other degenerative diseases. Coconut oil also helps to head off osteoporosis by promoting efficient calcium absorption. Applied topically, it's a potent moisturizer rich in wrinkle-fighting antioxidants.

Prevention/Solution

• It's best to fight candida infection with coconut oil using a two-pronged approach: internal and external application. First, add about three daily tablespoons of coconut oil to your diet. High-quality, extra-virgin coconut oil is readily available, edible by the spoonful if you choose to, and a perfectly seamless substitute for other cooking oils. Secondly, if the candida symptom you're experiencing is on the surface of the skin (for instance, athlete's foot, jock itch or a yeast infection), apply coconut oil topically to the affected area. Just tap a small amount of the oil on the area three to four times daily.

Warning

• Before the benefits of coconut oil were better understood, it had received a bad rap in the press because of its saturated fat content. This makes coconut oil sound unhealthy, but it's far from that. The natural, unrefined fats in the oil are all medium-chain saturated fats (the type of fat that is most easily converted into energy instead of being stored on one's waistline.) However, it's important to never buy hydrogenated coconut oil. The process of hydrogenation destroys the beneficial attributes of coconut oil as well as creates dangerous trans-fatty acids in the oil. When shopping, look for organic virgin coconut oil; since it's closest to the oil's natural state, it is most effective against candida.