Women on birth control pills are more likely to get Candida yeast infections according to published studies.

The continuous use of oral contraceptives may significantly increase the chance of developing a yeast infection – a condition that’s caused by an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans in the intestines – which results in many seemingly unrelated symptoms like chronic fatigue, migraines, vaginal infections, sugar cravings or digestive disorders.

A Link Between Birth Control Pills and Candida Yeast Infection

We now know that hormonal issues affect many different areas of women’s health. Because birth control pills keep estrogen levels high without being regulated, a hormonal imbalance is created.

“We conclude that oral contraceptives may influence the recurrence of symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis”

Several published studies have demonstrated that there’s a close connection between elevated estrogen levels and yeast infection. A case study comparing 153 individuals with recurrent vulvovaginal yeast infection documented that patients with recurrent Candida vaginitis were more likely to use oral contraception (!), antibiotics and to have a higher number of a lifetime sex partners. “We conclude that oral contraceptives may influence the recurrence of symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis”, concludes the study.

Conclusion and Alternative Options

If you are suffering from candida symptoms while taking oral contraceptives, asking your doctor to switch to a different brand of pill could ease this problem quickly. If, however, your problems persist, you may want to consider a different form of contraception altogether:

• condoms (both male and female)
• diaphragms
• spermicides
• cervical cap

Aside from birth control pills, there is a number of other risk factors that might be contributing to your yeast infection. It may necessary to address them for a long-term improvement in your health.

Sources:

• ‘Cellular and Molecular Biology of Candida albicans Estrogen Response‘
• ‘Candida albicans morphogenesis is influenced by estrogen‘
• ‘The impact of oral contraception on vulvovaginal candidiasis‘

Image by Ramzi Hashisho

It’s a myth that Candida affects only women. This article outlines the symptoms and treatment of a male yeast infection.

Yeast infection – also known as thrush – can occur when there’s an overgrowth of a yeast called Candida albicans in your body or on your skin.

Candida albicans naturally lives in your body and provided it’s kept under control by friendly bacteria and the immune system, it causes no harm. However, when conditions are favorable for candida, it proliferates and may invade certain organs of your body and cause many seemingly unrelated symptoms.

Symptoms of Male Yeast Infection

Aside from common Candida related problems, men often experience different symptoms than women usually do:

• redness, soreness & itching of the foreskin and the head of the penis
• dry, cracking skin on the sexual organs
• penile discharge – usually white
• sexual dysfunction

The above symptoms can be due to a number of causes, which means that aside from the candida yeast infection, other conditions like sexually transmitted diseases can cause similar or identical symptoms. Do not assume that all of your health problems are linked to Candida.

Who’s at Risk?

While it’s possible to get yeast infections from sex, most experts say this isn’t usually the case. You don’t catch Candida – the yeast is naturally present in everyone, even the healthiest of people. Rather, this condition is primarily a consequence of other favorable conditions like prolonged antibiotic use, poor immune system, extreme stress, or unbalanced diet high in sugar.

Additionally, men with a foreskin are more susceptible to candida yeast infections because the moisture and warmth underneath create the perfect environment for Candida albicans to grow.

Treatment Options for Male Yeast Infection

If you’re experiencing these symptoms for the first time, you need to visit your doctor to find out for sure if you have a yeast infection and not another more serious condition.

Two treatment options are available:

• Topical treatments – you can buy creams that contain anti-yeast substances such as clotrimazole at the drug store or grocery store without a prescription.
• Tablets like Fluconazole (trade name is Diflucan) are more convenient but prescription is usually needed to obtain them.

Regardless of what your treatment choice is, you should always read the product label for full information.

What If the Treatment Does Not Work?

You should begin to see improvement within the first week of treatment. However, if the rash doesn’t go away, or if the problems recur frequently, see your doctor. You may be suffering from a chronic Candida infection.

If that’s the case, you’ll most likely need to address the root causes of the infection. Read the candida treatment page

Deciding which probiotic to buy? This guide aims to provide you with all the advice and information to make the right choices when buying a probiotic supplement.

In order to cure candida overgrowth you might need to take significant doses of probiotics to replenish what would naturally exist in a healthy body.

Over the past few years the probiotic market has experienced a rapid growth. Probiotic products have emerged in sectors such as breakfast cereals, milk, functional drinks, cheese, and cookies.

While some of these health ‘packages’ are interesting, the danger is that they will simply confuse the consumer. The purpose of this article is to help you choose the right probiotic supplement to effectively cure your yeast infection.

Which Probiotic is Right for You?

One lesson I learned as a former yeast infection sufferer is that not all probiotics are created equal.

Some are useless, some are better, but only few of them stand out from the rest.

Here are 5 tips to consider when choosing a probiotic supplement:

1. Buy Products with Clinically Proven Results

Some products contain numerous strains that have no safe-use history in human nutrition. Using such products can lead to further health problems.

This is why your probiotic supplement should contain only cultures tested in clinical trials. Some of them are listed below:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
  
• Bacillus coagulans
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
  
• Bifidobacterium longum
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactobacillus Plantarum

2. Take a Sufficient Amount

Probiotics must be taken in high enough populations to have a profound impact on health. However, more CFU (colony forming units) doesn’t necessarily mean better – CFU amount should be the same as that shown to be effective in clinical studies.

• 2-10 billion CFU daily is usually protective and preventive
• 10-30 billion CFU should be sufficient if you’ve been on antibiotics or are recovering from illness

Remember that for a major health problem you need to be guided by your personal health professional.

Tip: Look for supplements that clearly state each dose’s CFU. Avoid those that list ingredients only by weight.

3. Look for an Effective Probiotic

Signs of an effective probiotic:

• able to survive the journey through the stomach acid
• able to attach itself to the intestinal wall
• able to colonise and grow in the human gastrointestinal tract
• able to reduce the growth of pathogenic bacteria

How to determine the quality of your probiotic? One of the best and easiest ways is to read customer reviews…

4. Read Online Reviews

Genuine and unbiased opinions of real people who have tried the product before you can help you make an informed decision about what is best for you.

• Has the product actually helped others?
• Does it sound too good to be true?
• Are there any side effects I should be aware of?

These are questions you should ask yourself before purchasing any supplement.

5. The Brands Matter…

Here is a list of the most popular probiotic supplements:

• ThreeLac – 65 consumer reviews on Amazon, additional review
• Garden of Life – 21 consumer reviews on Amazon
• Acidophilus Pearls – 69 consumer reviews on Amazon

Digestive tract comprises approximately 70 percent of the body’s immune system. By keeping the gut healthy and immune system strong you will be well on your way to cure your yeast infection.

This article will walk you through, step-by-step, on how to change your eating habits in order to help you overcome candida infection – in a safe way.

The candida diet is recommended to many people with yeast infection. However, there are many misconceptions about what you can or can not eat during a candida cleanse.

Remember: Individuals with a chronic health condition like candidiasis should always consult with a health care provider to determine what dietary pattern is appropriate for them.

This unique eating plan outlines 3 steps to change your eating habits in order to help you with regulating levels of candida colonies in the digestive tract.

1. Eat Healthier

Smart eating habits are important for your overall health. The official ‘Dietary Guidelines for Americans‘ document recommends us to:

• Limit the intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, salt, and alcohol
• Consume a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables
• Consume 3 or more ounce-equivalents of whole-grain products per day
• Choose fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains often
• Consume high-quality milk products
• Drink alcoholic beverages sensibly and in moderation – one drink per day for women and up to two drinks for men
• This goes without saying, but foods you are sensitive to shouldn’t be consumed at all.

Increased intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products are likely to have important health benefits for most Americans.

The recommendations from the ‘Dietary Guidelines‘ should be your starting point for any variation of the candida control diet. We highly recommend you to download and read this document in its entirety because it is backed by scientific evidence – unlike other resources of information on yeast infection.

2. Introduce Additional Steps (optional)

In addition to the step #1, you may want to also stop feeding the candida. Sugar is the main source of nourishment for the candida fungus.

This step is optional – depending on the severity of your candida infection. Keep in mind that it is difficult to find validation of the candida diet in respected medical journals. While there’s a lack of scientific evidence, many alternative practitioners recommend additional steps as a part of the candida diet.

For example, many people believe that candida sufferers need to consume less simple carbohydrates and other food products containing high levels of yeast.

Foods to Avoid:

• Refined sugars and sugary foods – use Xylitol and Stevia to sweeten foods
• Limit the intake of glutenous foods – wheat, rye, oats, barley
• Avoid foods containing any type of yeast – bread, beer
• Avoid alcohol consumption and smoking – it lowers your immunity
• Additives & Preservatives

Foods to Eat

• Lots of raw vegetables and fruits
• Grains – buckwheat, millet, rice, …
• Organic meat, fish and eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Kefir & Yogurt – no sugar added
• Sweeteners – Xylitol and Stevia

If you do any reading on the Internet, you will probably find plenty of conflicting advice. What works for one, may not work for another. Use your own judgment and listen to your body. If a food causes a bad reaction for you, don’t eat it.

3-5 months of following the correct candida diet should be enough. Once there is sufficient improvement in symptoms, it is suggested to slowly reintroduce foods from the restricted list above back into the diet.

3. Make It Balanced

In reality, as restrictive as the candida diet is, your nutritional plan should be balanced and healthy. This is where many people on the candida diet make a lot of mistakes. Learn more about possible harmful side effects of the candida diet.

• Eat enough calories (but not too many)
• Eat a wide variety of foods – this may help prevent new food allergies from developing
• Drink plenty of pure water
• Balance your body pH levels – many health problems result from general over-acidity
• Bring back a healthy intestinal flora – probiotics

Complete Treatment for Systemic Yeast Infection

Dietary changes like these can bring relief almost immediately. However,  it is the combination with a complete program of holistic treatment for yeast infection that will resolve the candida problems much more effectively.

Related Articles:

• Antifungals – Learn what anti-fungals are used to cure yeast infection
• Probiotics – The connection between probiotics and candida overgrowth
• Candida and Lifestyle – 5 tips on how to finally overcome yeast infection

The candida diet can be counterproductive. A wrong approach may result in undesirable side effects on the body:

• weight loss
• reduced muscle and tissue mass
• decreased mobility and stamina
• slower immune response
• poor libido

A glass of wine a day may be beneficial even when on the diet

Too often the people on the candida diet don’t look healthy at all. They are pale, physically weak and – even after years on the candida diet – with next to no energy.

While they feel a little bit better the strict dietary guidelines keep them constantly under stress. It’s often a vicious circle.

A Warning To Candida Dieters

Candida infection is still generally overlooked by many doctors. This leaves candida sufferers dependent on various Internet sources. This is where the problems start.

Not every Internet source is reliable. You can find various non-professional candida diet guidelines that recommend to avoid many food groups like grains, potatoes, rice, fruits, dairy and much more. For most people this usually make the diet plans into an absolute stressful and impossible feat. Stress is – by the way – believed to be one of the major factors that promote candida overgrowth

Is fruit really that bad for you?

But the main reason why this approach is dangerous is that when you eliminate all these kinds of food you also exclude the nutrients they offer. It is the lack of these nutrients that renders the body weak and susceptible to candida or any other infection.

This is perhaps the most important reason why the candida diet doesn’t work for so many people. Whether you avoid fruits, dairy products, grains, or something else – remember that you need to find appropriate substitutes and consult your dietary changes with your doctor. Even the candida diet has to balanced.

Your body should get all the nutrients it deserves. The problem is, if you attempt to follow every diet rule out there, the combined restrictions would probably prevent you from eating anything.

5 Steps to Minimize the Risks Related to Candida Diet:

When it comes to your nutritional needs there is no place for an improper approach:

1. Choose a trusted resource of information on the candida diet
2. Starving is not the way to overcome candida infection
3. Stay relaxed. The candida diet is here to deprive the yeast – not you.
4. Stay on the candida diet for only as long as necessary.
5. Consult with a health care provider to determine what dietary pattern is appropriate for you.

The candida diet is a two-edged sword. If you use it properly, it can help make you well. But, make no mistake. If you use it improperly, it can help make you sick or keep you that way.

Health Tip: Consult with a licensed medical professional prior to making drastic changes to your diet

What is the candida diet? Why is a balanced diet necessary for an effective treatment of candida infection? Let’s take a look at these questions in detail.

The candida diet is a key part of the whole treatment of candidiasis. Why?

Goals of the Candida Diet

If you suffer from candida infection then you’ll probably know that behind your health deterioration is a yeast-like organism called candida albicans.

The candida colonies – in order to survive and proliferate – have to feed on something. The primary source of food for the yeast is sugar. Candida is favored by high-sugar environments. In short, the goal of the candida diet is to limit the intake of foods that nourish the yeast to a sustainable level and get rid of bad eating habits.

The goal of the candida diet is to limit the intake of foods that nourish the yeast to a sustainable level and get rid of bad eating habits.

Most Americans consume food that is over processed, low in fiber, and high in refined sugar. This kind of diet makes an excellent environment for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria such as candida albicans. Bad eating habits are also believed to result in fewer beneficial bacteria in the intestines.

Under these conditions the delicate balance between the ‘good’ an the ‘bad’ intestinal bacteria can be disrupted and this can lead to a candida overgrowth.

Candida Diet – Sobering Truth

There is one unfortunate fact about the candida diet – people make a lot of mistakes when following it. In many cases, the candida diet can do more harm than good because there are many unqualified ‘experts’ with their diet plans ‘for everyone’ that suggest to avoid nearly half of the food that we normally eat.

However, the reasons to avoid these foods are unfortunately unscientific and vague. It is difficult to find validation of the candida diet in respected medical journals. To reflect this reality, this guide is largely based on the official Dietary Guidelines for Americans document in the hope of providing you with the safest solution possible. Our dietary recommendations are therefore also less strict.

Always consult your dietary changes with someone who is a well-regarded expert within the nutrition field. Chances are that the candida diet isn’t appropriate for you at all.

Conclusion

Since everyone is so different, the diet needs to be customized to your own individual needs. The dietary recommendations on this web site are only a starting point. Eat healthy, for the first few months follow the candida diet, choose the right anti-candida product and you’re on the best way to reclaim your health. Good Luck!

Does ThreeLac sound too good to be true? Is it worth the money (around $50)? Make an informed decision about what’s best for you in this review.

ThreeLac is made in Japan

I’m often asked when I mention that I’m candida symptom free what products I recommend, if any. The truth is that I was a longtime user of ThreeLac, had spent hundreds of dollars on it and was pretty pleased with the results ThreeLac had delivered.

Tip:To know what others think of ThreeLac, click here to read more consumer reviews on Amazon(there are more than 55 genuine reviews – just scroll down the page)

When I first started a serious treatment of my yeast infection two years ago, I ordered Threelac – partly because it was already a bestseller and partly because they offered (and still do offer) a 60-day money back guarantee.

My Experience with ThreeLac

Back then I had no idea what to do, especially since there wasn’t much information available about the whole candida problem. Even without following the candida diet – just by using ThreeLac alone – I was making a great progress. Especially the first day after taking the first 2 sachets (it’s a pack of 60), I felt an immediate relief.

However, ThreeLac alone – unless your symptoms are mild – won’t cure your yeast infection. Following a balanced and healthy diet is still recommended.

I experienced a major boost of energy. I used to constantly feel tired, and it was because the candida led to brain fog. For me that was the first time when something actually worked.

ThreeLac Is a Probiotic

Definition of probiotics:

“Live micro-organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.”

- World Health Organisation

Probiotics (learn more about probiotics) may play an essential part in maintaining intestinal health by reducing occasional yeast and fungal overgrowths. In short, the good bacteria aid digestion and keep our bodies healthy and strong.

However, the problem with most probiotics is that by the time they reach your digestive system, they are destroyed by the acidic environment.

ThreeLac is formulated in a way that it enables strains to pass through your system unharmed, so that it reaches your intestines intact. The micro-encapsulation process allows high survivability of these organisms through the stomach acids. Other probiotics simply die before they reach our colon, which makes them useless.

ThreeLac is packaged in individual sachets with a lemon taste. Each packet contains over 1.5 billion live bacteria. ThreeLac doesn’t have to be refrigerated; it is stable at room temperature or slightly above. It is suggested to start with 1-2 packets per day for a day or so, and increase packet by packet every few days until you begin to see improvement.

ThreeLac Ingredients

Supplement Facts

Threelac contains the following probiotic organisms:

• Bacillus coagulans: May help control occasional digestion and stomach problems, and help normalize cholesterol levels. It also may enhance the immune response.
• Bacillus subtilis: May combat harmful microorganisms in the intestines.
• Enterococcus faecalis: The Enterococci constitute a major genus within the lactic acid bacteria group, and exists naturally in the human digestive tract. This effective probiotic bacteria is the result of formulation under strict laboratory conditions.

You may also find a product that is called FiveLac – more less the same product but the Fivelac has 2 extra friendly bacteria:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Bifidobacterium longum.

Is ThreeLac Worth It?

If you’re looking for a solid probiotic product to make your treatment of candida infection more effective, I’d say that ThreeLac is something you may want to consider.

Be careful who you order from. There are some unauthorized dealers on the internet who provide no instructions, or worse, bad instructions on how best to begin and achieve success with ThreeLac. I always recommend a trusted brand like Amazon.

Yeast Infection No More - a Linda Allen's eBook

Regular readers of eCandida know that I’m not a big fan of all of those “cure yeast infection in days” programs.

When I came across Linda Allen’s new book called Yeast Infection No More where she claims to eliminate your candida symptoms in as little as 12 hours, I was very skeptical.

To my surprise this book has already become the best selling Candida e-book in Internet history, with thousands of users in 127 countries worldwide.

This got my attention so I decided to buy and read this publication – all 150 pages – and see for myself if it’s worth the price ($39.97). Bellow you can find the main pros and cons of Linda Allen’s new book.

Why Is the Yeast Infection No More a Bestseller?

The main reason why the Yeast Infection No More book is so successful among candida sufferers regardless of their age or gender could be the fact that it simply works. There is no miracle inside – the information you’ll find there is solid and useful and I agree with most of what the author says there.

On the other hand, the main problem with this book is that you can obtain the same or similar information from various other sources for FREE.

Don’t let their website fool you; there’s no breakthrough happening. You can do tons of research on your own on the Internet and probably find the same information that may be in the book. I myself would call this book an all-in-one package (that can save a lot of your time) rather than a piece of unique advice.

Nevertheless, if you find yourself overwhelmed with the whole candida problem, if you don’t know where to start, if everything else you tried had failed, even if you just want to make your treatment easier, Linda Allen’s e-book may be worth considering.

The really good thing about the product is that they do offer a money back guarantee and I know for a fact that they stand behind that guarantee because the payment is processed by Clickbank – one of the safest ways of online shopping. And it works flawlessly – after I had placed the order, I got almost immediate access to download the e-book and all the bonuses.

Quick and Easy?

Here’s what Linda Allen says about her book:

“Anyone who is not willing to put some effort, anyone looking for a quick fix solution to candida, anyone who wants ‘overnight’ results is just not ready for a program like Yeast Infection No More yet.

On the other hand, if you’re sick of the B.S. and gimmicks in the yeast infection industry, if you’re willing to make a lifestyle change to regain your natural inner balance and overcome candida for good, then you have definitely found the honest and effective yeast infection solution you’ve been searching for.”

Because the program is not a quick fix ‘fairy tale’ cure but a complete holistic solution aimed at eliminating the root cause of yeast infection and ensure your will permanently be candida-free, it does take work and persistence to complete.

To help you with your efforts, Linda also gives a detailed overview of each step in the book, and then dives into the specifics in a chronological order. There are also charts and checklists which make it very easy to know where you are at in the program and follow it.

Another thing that you may find helpful is that you also get one on one email counselling with Linda Allen. And as with many other digital products, the book is downloadable in PDF format which all viewers can open using Adobe Acrobat.

Don’t buy yet – Read the reviews and see if it’s any good

I myself – being candida symptom free – cannot tell you whether this program worked for me or not. However, there are people who have found this book useful; you can read their success stories in the right column of the Yeast Infection No More website.

If you’re looking for a solid guidebook to make your candida treatment easier, Yeast Infection No More is a book you’ll want to consider.