Candida Yeast Overgrowth
The Doctors and Staff at Vitalia Health Care would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of our amazing patients that voted us as a finalist in the category for Best Naturopathic Clinic in Vancouver Courier’s Stars of Vancouver 2015!
Spring Cleaning Your Body
The pink blossoms on the trees can only mean one thing. Its Spring in beautiful Vancouver! This month, our feature is on detoxification. Spring cleaning for your body.
Many of us don’t realize just how toxic we are. Here are some shocking facts!
95% of cancer is caused by diet and lifestyle including toxins (Columbia University School of Public Health)
Studies show most of us have between 400 and 800 chemicals stored in our body. (EPA)
Umbilical cord blood from babies contain an average of 287 chemicals such as mercury, fire retardants and pesticides.
Are we toxic?? Yes. Should we be detoxifying our body to stay healthy? Yes. Especially as we get older. Your liver is one of the main organs of detox. It is your body’s cleaning filter. To keep your body clean, you need good liver support. Spring is a great time to detoxify your liver.
I recommend a 2 week liver detox program using a product called Mediclear. This medical food powder contains the right vitamins and herbs to gently detoxify and support the Phase I and II detox pathways in your body.
In addition, eating clean organic food, avoiding alcohol and processed sugars for two weeks will reduce the toxic load on your liver and allow the detox nutrients to do their job…clean up your liver!
I have also provided a 7 day sample detox on our website. Click HERE to read.
Call us today to book your appointment with one of our Naturopathic Doctors to start your spring cleaning treatment plan!
Yours in health,
Dr. Tasreen Alibhai, ND
Candida/Yeast Overgrowth
Candida is one of the most common digestive conditions seen by Naturopathic physicians. This is also called yeast overgrowth or dysbiosis. The overgrowth of candida occurs in the digestive tract, however the toxins produced by this fungus may have effects throughout the body.
Candida is a type of fungus or Fungi. It is the species that that can cause infections in humans. The most common species that cause infections in humans is Candida albicans. Candida is normally found in the human body, especially in the mouth, throat, and intestines, and is part of the body’s natural flora. However, when there is a disruption in the balance between beneficial bacteria and candida, the Candida may grow in levels that the body’s immune system cannot handle. This is when Candida can cause infections such as thrush, yeast infections, and systemic candidiasis. Candida infections can occur in both men and women and can be treated with antifungal medications.
The digestive tract is made up of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes. The majority of these microorganisms are bacteria, which are beneficial to the body and help to break down food, produce essential vitamins (such as B12) , short chain fatty acids and nutrients. The specific composition of the microbiome can vary from person to person. Factors such as diet, age, genetics, and environmental exposure all play a role in the composition of a person’s microbiome.
When the balance between the beneficial (or good ) bacteria, bad bacteria and yeast is disrupted, this can lead to digestive symptoms. These symptoms include gas, bloating, loose stools, constipation, and reflux. Other symptoms a person may experience due to candida overgrowth include brain fog, fatigue, eczema, hair thinning, skin and toe nail fungal infections, always feeling cold, anxiety, dizziness, frequent urinary tract infections, and more.
Candida overgrowth can be treated using a variety of antifungals. Your health care professional can determine the right treatment approach based on testing and symptoms.
There are several methods used at Vitalia Health Care to assess for candida. The first is a comprehensive initial assessment where your Naturopathic Physician will review your health history, diet history and symptoms. A BLOOD test or STOOL test may then be recommended to look for either candida in the stool or antibodies your body may be producing to candida albicans. If you are experiencing systemic symptoms such as hives, eczema or itchy skin, a blood test may be beneficial to look for Candida antibodies.
Please visit HERE to learn more about Candida including treatment options.
Contact us today to learn more about candida and if your health symptoms may be due to candida overgrowth.
Dr Tasreen Alibhai ND
