guitar. I remember raiding the fridge and cupboards. The quick stir fry. Delicious saucy Singapore noodles, with loads of oozy goodness. All the right mixes of salt, sweet and spice. The bitter bite of garlic, the heat of chilli. The cool relief of lime and mint, the touch of coriander. It had been a hit. And I’d eaten a second


big bowl and then dessert... Once again, a victim of my own


impulsive appetite and weakened will. But it had been a great night, and I’d


had loads of fun. So get over it and stop beating yourself up. It was worth it. I get up, letting a little groan escape, as


I walk into the kitchen and pour myself a glass of water from the filter. But before I drink it, I get the apple cider vinegar out of the cupboard and give it a gentle swirl, watching how the mother of the vinegar clouds upwards. A splash into my glass, a stir, and drink. Sound familiar?


contributing factor, rather than a cause, the implications are still huge. Can you imagine what this would mean to our healthcare system?


What is it? Candida albicans is a harmless yeast


that lives as one of the many naturally occurring microorganisms in our gut. It is part of our normal, varied and healthy intestinal flora. What we call ‘candidiasis’ is simply an imbalance of the candida yeast, when the other gut flora – which usually keep candida in check – are compromised. When the scales tip the yeast into imbalance, it can quickly affect our entire system and its well-being.


How do we get it? In my former Oriental therapist practice,


I spent a good deal of time helping people address issues resulting from various stages of what traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) calls ‘dampness’. It is a prevalent and stubborn affliction amongst we Westerners. One common symptom resulting from dampness – especially when combined with blocked energy/stagnated chi – was simply referred to as ‘candida’. When candida ‘blooms’, it begins to


grow beyond a healthy proportion. This happens especially after antibiotics and/ or extended periods of stress, lack of movement, suppressed emotions, etc. These triggers often go hand in hand with:


1. poor nutrition – such as refined, processed, fast or packaged foods, sugary, greasy or fried, and non-organic foods


Do you ever suffer from bloating,


burping or gas? Do you distract easily? Or do you have joint pain or stiffness and/ or tiredness? Skin conditions? Occasional or chronic constipation? Bad breath? Or a lack of clarity (‘foggy head’) and general lack of well-being? Most of us do, to varying degrees, at some point or other. Especially after late night feasting ; ) But candida isn’t just linked to these.


There is reputable evidence that candidiasis is at least a contributor, and at worst a cause, of IBS, LGS, psoriasis, eczema, asthma, allergies, chronic fatigue, depression, autism, ADHD, arthritis, breast cancer, prostate cancer and even AIDS. Wow – right? Even if it were only a


2. poor eating habits – such as under- chewing, over-eating, late eating, distracted eating and rushed eating, and/or consumption of cold foods from fridge or freezer, or excessively rich foods. An individual who cultivates any


of the above habits is more likely to require pharmaceutical drugs, partake in stimulants such as coffee and energy drinks, consume alcohol in excess, smoke, and/or indulge in drugs. All these factors contribute to potential candida imbalances. A healthy body and mind ensures that our


immune system can manage the situation and return us from a yeast imbalance to


The difference between yeast and


fungus is significant. The former occurs naturally in our body, the latter is a killer parasite with the sole intention of survival, and no allegiance or sympathy for its host. Whereas yeast can be managed, a fungus has much stronger defences, including a chitin shell – which works like an exoskeleton or outer shield – to protect the fungus from attack. Then the fungi’s presence easily


becomes chronic; causing discomforts, blockages, dysfunction, symptoms and serious illness. Luckily, most of us practise enough


self-awareness and self-care to take action before it’s too late. However,


APRIL 2015 13


a healthy balance. When we recognise symptoms as feedback from our body’s natural intelligence, we can allow these symptoms to direct and guide us back to healthy habits. The earlier we acknowledge symptoms and act on them, the easier and shorter the return to full health. However, if we ignore the natural


feedback of our bodies, feelings and minds, and we maintain our destructive habits, then the immune system may eventually weaken, due to exhaustion from the extended effort of trying to mop up the toxins released by the yeasts. In such cases, candida can transform from supporting us as a servant, to terrorising us as a tyrant.


From friend to foe If the yeast has bloomed severely or rapidly,


it may break out through the gut walls into the body. As it does, it seizes its opportunity, morphing from yeast to fungus.


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