Why Mineral Balance is Essential for Curing Chronic Candida Overgrowth
By Rebecca Steiner, Peptide Program Manager and Certified Health Coach
Many of my clients have suffered for years with symptoms of candida overgrowth. Symptom type and severity ranges greatly, and can severely impact quality of life. Making matters worse, because the symptoms of candida overgrowth aren’t always straight forward, it can take a long time to obtain an accurate diagnosis. By this point candida is running rampant, and is even more difficult to treat.
Just some of the symptoms of candida overgrowth include:
- Stomach pain, diarrhea, gas, constipation, distention, nausea, leaky gut
- Food allergies
- Histamine intolerance
- Allergic Reactions
- Difficulty losing weight and weight gain
- Chronic Fatigue
- Sluggishness
- Lack of Vitality
- Mood Disturbance, Depression and Anxiety
- Hair Loss
- Skin or Nail Issues
- Recurring Vaginal or Urinary Tract Infections
- Sinus Infections
- Brain Fog
- Hormonal Imbalance
- PMS
- Sleep Disturbance
- Adrenal Insufficiency
- Chronic Pain
I can’t tell you how many people I speak to who have done everything to cure candida, but cannot free themselves of this persistent fungus! They religiously follow the diet, take tons of medications and supplements, adhere to every piece of advice from their doctor, and while they may experience improvement, one false move and the symptoms return. It is extremely frustrating.
Enter minerals. Underlying mineral imbalance is common in cases of persistent candida infection. And, it is just as commonly missed. Especially in women, it is not unusual to uncover an underlying mineral imbalance that is preventing the resolution of chronic candida infection. Often, these women are also plagued by hormonal imbalances, like estrogen dominance, and experience extreme chronic fatigue and brain fog. This is because they are lacking certain minerals that are required by the body, in the right amounts, in order for the immune system, hormones, adrenal glands and mitochondria to function properly.
Arguably, the most important mineral in the fight against candida is copper. Copper is a natural fungicide and is essential in the formation of immune cells that target and kill candida, and prevent it from taking root in the first place. You can take all the medications to rid yourself of candida, but without enough copper, your immune system cannot prevent its return. There are also other essential minerals that promote adequate stomach acid, protein synthesis and food break down, and keep the gut lining healthy and in-tact. Without these minerals the microbiome is compromised, setting the stage for bad entities to flourish.
Sadly, over the years copper imbalance, and other mineral deficiencies have become more prevalent. This is due to modern agricultural practices that are stripping our soils of nutrients, and the use of pesticides that chelate minerals. We are left with foods that have greatly declined in nutrient composition.
Unfortunately, the solution is not as easy as simply supplementing with minerals. Obtaining ideal mineral balance, or mineral ratio, is just as important. Taking minerals blindly (even if you are using products that claim to be in optimal balance) will only make mineral imbalances worse. For instance, some people lack the protein needed to mobilize copper, so even if they take a copper supplement, the body cannot utilize it. This leads to the depletion of other important minerals, further proliferation of candida, and adverse symptom reactions.
The first step in ridding yourself of chronic candida is to determine your current mineral status through hair testing analysis and blood work. Secondly, you must work with a practitioner who understands how to interperate these results and will work with you to optimize your mineral status in the right way.
Mineral balancing could be the missing link in your full and total recovery from candida.
If you are interested in determining your mineral status, please contact Rebecca.
Rebecca@bewellnaturalmedicine.net
