Does your body need a little spring cleaning?

Happy Easter! Hello friends,  Happy Easter!  It is March and spring (although hard to believe in most parts of the country!) is creeping up on us!  I don't know about you but March is a busy month for me.  Lots of birthdays, new babies on the way and fun activities planned.  Very exciting!! So this month I have decided to write about something that I have been battling with for years and have finally figured out what and why!  CANDIDA or as I like to call it, "the monster"!  For years I have had digestive problems and strange body pains that kept me up at night and an all over "somethings not right" feeling.  I have finally given the monster a name.  Come to find out many of my friends have been suffering with candida issues as well.  Because Doctors will tell you your crazy and nothing is wrong with you, it is difficult to pinpoint what "IT" is.  I know my body best and for a doctor to tell me nothing is wrong was very frustrating.  So I am by no means an expert on the subject nor do I have the answers to treatment but I wanted to shed some light on the subject, with the hopes of helping someone else from suffering for as long as I did with no answers.  I hope you enjoy this information and pass it along! Candida Candida Albicans, Candidiasis, or Yeast over growth, as it is commonly called, is a hidden epidemic in North America.  It is becoming a major disease and an underlying factor in many other diseases.  Candida may be what is bothering you when others say your health problems are "all in your head". Candida is a type of fungus, a microorganism that is not beneficial for the body.  Candida exists in everyone and it doesn't become a problem unless it  "overgrows" and then interferes with the balance of friendly bacteria in the body.  The main habitat  is the digestive tract.  Outer physical forms of candida are: dandruff, white flaky skin, vaginal discharge, jock itch, athletes foot, and colic and thrush in children.  Those most susceptible to candida are those with allergies, poor digestion, viral infections, chronic fatigue or those with history of taking antibiotics, birth control pills or other drugs.  Health concerns, diseases, and stress weaken the immune system and throw the body off balance, making it more susceptible to yeast overgrowth. Whether we like it or not, these little organisms can be found in land, water, and air.  They are present in our cleanest waters, soils, foods, and hospitals.  There is no avoiding them!  Whether it becomes a problem in your body is determined by  your immune system. As many as 90% of Americans may be suffering the effects of these microscopic critters considered a parasite.  Side effects include: anxiety, allergies, asthma, acne, bloating, chemical sensitivities, coughs, cramps, constipation, chronic fatigue, depression, diarrhea, emotional problems, eczema, food cravings, gas, intestinal pain, hives, hypoglycemia, heart burn, muscle pain, sore throat, yeast infections, and weight gain just to name a few. The most troublesome aspect of this syndrome is the diagnosis.  Doctors are skeptical of candida and there are no objective tests to verify its existence. There are many tests out there but none are very reliable. There is one promising new test that can be done testing the blood from the prick of a finger.  You would need to have a microscope technician look at the blood for parasites or bacteria.  In my opinion the best way to test is trial therapy based on signs and symptoms.  Certain foods can cause more sever reactions to help determine that there is a problem.  A Naturopathic Doctor or Homeopath would be your best option if seeking professional help.  My main goal in bringing awareness to this issue is that people understand that Candida can be the root of  many other very serious health concerns and diseases.  A few unsuspected fungal connections could be:  fibromyalgia, endometriosis, heart disease, gout, arthritis, and even cancer.  Diet can play a huge role in recovery.  Currently I am exploring many different treatment options and will update you on which path I choose and my results.  The above information compiled from the Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook by Jeanne Marie Martin If you suspect you have Candida and have questions, feel free to contact me and if I cannot answer your questions I have many resources that can.  There are several books that I would like to recommend you read if you are concerned about candida:  "The Body Ecology Diet" by Donna Gates,  (excellent book whether you have candida or not),  I also recommend "Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook" by Jeanne Marie Martin and  "Healthy Healing" 12th edition by Linda Page Recipes Please visit www.NutritiousFamily.com for the following recipes: Sticking with the candida theme I am going to share some candida friendly recipes that are healthy and delicious for everyone! Herb Home-fries Stuffed trout with sundried tomatoes One pot vegetable and brown rice Baked apples and pears Ending Notes I realize that some of this information can be overwhelming so please dont hesitate to contact me for further information or if you have questions.  If you have been suffering with an over all feeling that something is not right in your body there is a good chance you could have candida.  Dont wait to find out, the more the monster grows the more problems you could  have. Thank you as always to all of my loyal readers.  I have had quite a few new subscibers recently and that is thanks to all of you for passing my newsletters on to your family and friends so please continue to do so.  This is free information that I believe everyone should know about. Stay tuned to hear about my road to health and the stories of others recovering from candida. Big Hugs, Staci Staci Smith StaciSmith7@yahoo.com www.NutritiousFamily.com