Is Fungus Making You Sick?

Is fungus making you sick? Do you suffer from digestive disorders such as bloating and cramps? Unstable moods? Allergies? Low energy levels? Thrush? Altered bowel function – ie constipation or diarrhoea? Do you have frequent urinary tract infections? Ladies, do you have menstrual problems? If you can answer yes to many of these questions, it might be worth considering if you have a problem with internal fungal infections.

The most common internal fungus in the human body is candida, which causes the symptoms of thrush. Babies tend to get it in their mouths, and women get vaginal thrush. Obese people can also suffer from it, particularly in hot and humid weather, when it gets under skin folds and causes infections. Other forms of fungal infection are less common, but still cause problems. In most cases, however, the basic underlying cause is due to one thing: the body’s mechanism for controlling fungus is out of balance. The microbiome is not in good health and is therefore not doing its job the way it should be.

The Microbiome

When the microbiome is in good health, it consists mostly of beneficial microorganisms that help to keep pathogens (the bad bugs) under control. In every microbiome, there are some harmful bugs such as viruses, fungi, and harmful bacteria, but in a healthy microbiome, these are not a problem.

To improve the health of your microbiome, and help your body fight its own battles, consider these helpful tips:

• Eat plenty of fibre-rich raw foods, such as green leafy vegetables and other raw fruits and veggies. The fiber in these foods gives the good bugs in your body something to live on, and it’s one of the most important things you can do to help your microbiome stay healthy. Include these foods regularly in your diet to help the good little critters continue to thrive.
• Include fermented foods in your diet – these contain populations of the good bugs and will help to replenish depleted populations in your gut. Fermented foods include fermented vegetables, yoghurt, kefir, miso, pickles and sauerkraut, and fermented soy products such as tempeh.
• Avoid things that harm your microbiome. These include processed foods, sugar, and antibiotics.
• Relax! Stress is another microbiome – killer, so help your good bugs by chilling out. Find ways of slowing down your life, calming down, and relaxing on a regular basis. Getting some exercise outdoors is a great way of clearing your mind and relaxing.

Testing For Fungus

Conducting a definitive test for fungal infections is not easy, and there needs to be more research in this field. Our knowledge is limited, so one of the best ways to determine if you might have fungus is to examine your diet and lifestyle, looking at some of the factors which are known to contribute to the problem.

• Antibiotic use. This is one of the most common causes of a microbiome that is out of balance. If you have regularly used antibiotics in the past, there is a very good chance that it has contributed to a fungus problem.
• Steroids and hormones can also lead to an imbalance in your system.
• Is your diet high in sugar and processed carbohydrates? Low in fibre?
• Is your immunity good? Or do you catch every bug that comes your way?

Symptoms Of Fungus Infection

These symptoms are not an exhaustive list and are known to occur with other conditions. However, they are also known to occur with fungus infections, although you may not experience all of them.

• Bloating, gas and intestinal cramps

  

• Thrush, vaginal or oral
• Loss of energy
• Decreased libido
• Chronic fatigue
• Frequent bladder infection, and irritable bladder (interstitial cystitis)
• Menstrual irregularities
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Depression
• Lack of focus
• Allergies
• Poor immune function
• Chemical sensitivities
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Toenail fungus
• Cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods

Diet Matters

When it comes to microorganisms, there are really only two dietary options: either you feed the good bugs, or you feed the bad ones. It sounds simplistic, but the reality is, every bite of food you put in your mouth is tipping the balance one way or the other. So what foods are best if you want to clear up a fungus infection? Which ones should you avoid?

Foods And Chemicals To Avoid

• Sugary foods. These include lollies or candy (obvious culprits!), jams, cakes and pies, and rich condiments and sauces.
• Avoid highly processed foods. These include processed meats, baked goods, and anything with white flour in it.
• Try to stay away from yeasty foods. These include bread, spreads, cakes and anything else made with yeasts or raising agents.
• Avoid the use of antibiotics, hormones, and steroids if at all possible.
• Try not to eat members of the fungi family such as mushrooms.
• Don’t eat mouldy foods such as certain types of cheese.

Foods To Eat

• Whole foods – foods that are as unprocessed and unaltered as possible.
• Fruit in moderation, as it contains fructose, which in large amounts could feed a fungus infection.
• Fermented foods (see above)
• Always wash fresh foods well to remove any chemical contamination or any fungus spores that might be present.
• Eat organic foods if possible.

Try A Challenge

You can try a challenge diet. Eliminate all foods that you should avoid for five days. Note how you are feeling when you are not eating those foods. Are you feeling better? Has there been a change in your symptoms?

Next, on day six, eat the foods that you have been avoiding. What happens? Do you feel worse? Have more symptoms? If so, this is a good indication that you might benefit from an antifungal diet for a few months or more.

Additional Help

Although changing your diet might help, you could still find that it’s not enough. You might need extra help from antifungals, in the form of herbal remedies, or a pharmacy drug such as Nystatin. Just be aware – if you have great success in killing off the excess fungus in your body, it could cause symptoms of “die off” – a reaction to toxins released by the fungus as it dies. This can make you feel quite awful for a while. It’s best to start the antifungal diet a week or so before you try anything else, to give your body a head start on dealing with the problem by itself.

Herbal Antifungals

• Wild oregano oil. This is a potent antifungal but should be used with care because it is so strong.
• Garlic is good for your immune system and is a powerful antifungal
• Citrus Seed Extract – the power is in the phytochemicals, which have been found to have strong antifungal properties
• Berberine
• The tannins found in bark and tea leaves are useful for their antimicrobial properties

Take A Probiotic

One of the best ways to help your microbiome get back on track is to take a good quality probiotic. While the jury is still out as to whether these microorganisms actually repopulate a depleted microbiome, it has been established that they are beneficial to the bugs already there, although more research needs to be conducted as to how this actually works. Choose a probiotic that has a high microorganism count (the higher the better), and one with a variety of strains.

Fungus Be Gone!

While the symptoms of a fungus infection can make you miserable, you don’t have to live with it for the rest of your life. Take charge, evict the intruders, and you will soon find that you are feeling much better.

Further reading:

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/fungal-infections-skin