Candida albicans is a fungus, which is yeast like and grows in the throat and mouth. Its population is in balance with the flora of intestinal and genital tract, but sometimes it explodes and disturbs the fauna. It happens because of various factors like improper diet, extreme stress conditions and poor sleep, oral contraceptives and unhealthy lifestyle. These conditions compromise with the natural immunity of the body and lead to candida growth. There are some of the Ayurvedic treatments for such conditions which are described in this article.
The out of bound population of this fungi leads to some unrelated symptoms such as abdominal bloating, coated tongue, gas, fatigue, genital area infections, frequent UTI, nausea, respiratory system imbalance, skin problems and emotional imbalance. If these symptoms are ignored, they will lead to a favorable environment for yeast fungus growth. According to Ayurveda, changes in diet, lifestyle and exercise correct these disturbances in the body. Some do’s and don’ts for restoring the body’s balance are discussed in this article.
Do’s and Don’ts for Diet in Ayurveda
Following things are followed in Ayurvedic treatment of candida:
- Sweets and cold foods should be avoided as sugars lead to yeast bacteria growth. Cold, sweet and heavy foods make the digestive system weak and produce toxins.
- Fruit juices and extremely sweet fruits like grapes should be avoided.
- Leftover foods should be prohibited, even if kept in refrigerator. Molds and bacteria can grow in the refrigerated foods, which are difficult to digest than fresh foods.
- Beverages like tea, coffee and carbonated drinks should be avoided.
- Junk and processed foods should be avoided.
- White rice should not be consumed.
- Refined flours, breads, pastas peanuts, mushrooms and cheese should be avoided.
- Fermented foods such as vinegar should be avoided.
- Eat plenty of green vegetables and fruits.
- Take a cup of hot water and mix lemon and drink it first thing in the morning. The antibacterial properties and acidic nature of lemon will discourage the fungus growth.
- Spices should be used in the food as they help fight toxins. Turmeric, dried ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, cumin and fenugreek should be used.
- Drink plenty of warm water to remove toxins from the body.
The above are a few suggestions to help fight candida problem. Deep breathing should be followed, sleep patterns should be watched and regular moderate exercise are enough to maintain the body balance.
