Scary fact: an overwhelming seventy-five percent of women experience an overgrowth of Candida Albicans, known as a yeast infection. So, you’re not alone in your symptoms.
Having Candida overgrowth can be embarrassing. Not only is it noticeable, but the affected areas usually burn and itch.
To reclaim your health and feel comfortable in your skin again, you’ll need the strongest Candida killers for your circumstances. Here are some suggestions.
Candida Cleanse Diet
The Candida cleanse diet involves restructuring your meal plan, mainly eliminating sugar, certain dairy products, and yeasts — which are Candida’s best friends. The cleanse tends to last for a few weeks.
But that’s not all; there’s a second step: replenishment. This involves replacing the problematic elements in your diet with nutritionally dense, Candida-killing foods.
Think of leafy vegetables like spinach and kale. They’re full of nutrients and fiber but low in sugar, perfect for your anti-Candida mission.
Pick lean meats like chicken, turkey, and fish. All of them pack a punch of essential nutrients without feeding Candida.
Next on the list are fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir. Brimming with probiotics, these foods help populate our gut with friendly bacteria, leaving less room for Candida to grow.
Hydration also plays a crucial role in your Candida cleanse. Always keep a water bottle on hand. Not only does water flush out toxins, but it helps keep everything functioning in our bodies.
Natural Remedies
Allicin is an excellent starting point for treating Candida overgrowth. It’s found in garlic, an herb known for its potent antifungal properties. Incorporating raw garlic into your diet or taking allicin supplements can help keep it in check.
Coconut Oil
Rich in caprylic acid, coconut oil boasts strong antifungal features that can help reduce Candida overgrowth. Caprylic acid works by penetrating the cell walls of the Candida yeast, causing them to rupture and eventually destroying them.
Include coconut oil in your cooking or use it as a supplement to help combat Candida overgrowth.
Apple Cider Vinegar
While the evidence supporting ACV’s effects on Candida overgrowth is limited, it has many properties that lend to recovery.
ACV has substances like acetic acid and other organic acids that may have antifungal effects against it.
It also has an acidity that can help balance the pH levels in the body. A balanced pH may create an environment that is unfavorable for the overgrowth of Candida, preventing it from thriving.
Drinking ACV will also boost your immune system. This can speed up recovery.
Oregano Oil
This oil contains carvacrol, an essential oil with potent antifungal properties that can help reduce Candida overgrowth. Mix one drop of oregano oil with water and drink it every day to keep your immune system strong and ward off yeast infections.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) comes from the pulp, seeds, and membranes of grapefruits.
While the exact mechanism of how GSE combats Candida isn’t understood, it likely involves the interaction of its compounds with the fungal cell membrane. It possibly destabilizes it.
Some evidence suggests that GSE has strong antifungal properties too. As such, it may cause symptoms linked to this to go away.
In conjunction with a suitable diet and other lifestyle changes, GSE can aid in balancing the body’s natural flora and controlling Candida overgrowth.
Over-the-Counter Drugs
For those looking for non-prescription medication, there’s always Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Canesten). Often used to treat athlete’s foot and yeast infections, Clotrimazole is an antifungal agent you can apply several times a day. Results are noticeable after a few weeks.
Clotrimazole is another choice. It’s an antifungal cream that destroys the fungal cell membranes.
Diflucan, available as generic Fluconazole, is an oral antifungal that stops the growth of certain types of fungus. It’s particularly useful for solving oral thrush.
A less common treatment is Vagistat-1. Though it primarily treats yeast infections in women, it controls the growth of yeast on other parts of the skin as well.
It’s worth noting that while these treatments are effective, they can sometimes cause side effects. Swelling, itching, and irritation are common. Always seek a healthcare professional’s advice if you notice any of these symptoms or if your Candida infection doesn’t improve.
Clinically-Proven Candida Medication
In some cases, stronger antifungal medication may be prescribed by a doctor. These medications are for those not responding to antifungal food or OTC treatments.
You can find affordable prescriptions on websites like GoodRx and PRescriptionHope. Alternatively, you can use your Medicare Part D plan to help cover the cost of your prescription.
Nystatin
Nystatin is a broad-spectrum polyene antifungal medication. It has fungicidal and fungistatic activity against yeasts and fungi, most notably Candida species. It’s among the most potent antifungal agents synthesized by Streptomyces noursei, a bacteria.
Nystatin functions by disrupting the membrane of fungal cells. It forms pores in the structure. This disrupts the balance of intracellular contents, eventually leading to the death of the fungal cells.
Common side effects of Nystatin, especially when taken orally, can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Amphotericin B
Reserved for severe cases, amphotericin B is a potent antifungal medication that requires close monitoring under a healthcare professional’s guidance. You can receive it intravenously or as a topical treatment. Notably, getting it injected into your body works faster.
Key side effects of Amphotericin B include a reaction involving fever, chills, and headaches soon after administering the medication. It’s also known to impact kidney function, potentially leading to kidney problems.
Allergic symptoms, including anaphylaxis, may occur in some cases. Other serious side effects can encompass conditions such as low blood potassium and inflammation of the heart.
Supplementing the Strongest Candida Killers and Other Medicines
Some of the strongest Candida killers are natural antifungals like coconut oil and prescription medicines like Nystatin. Apple cider vinegar also has some potential benefits for Candida management. Remember, these remedies should be used under the guidance of a healthcare provider for safety and effectiveness.
Now that you’ve learned about Candida, explore our other blogs. We have plenty of friendly, easy-to-understand advice on dealing with various health issues.