Struggling with Memory Loss or Mental Health? You may have a Candida problem.

When you think of mental health issues, you may think "chemical imbalance in the brain." And with memory issues, you may think it's a brain disorder or simply aging. Research out there increasingly indicates there's more at play than brain chemistry and aging.

So your diet can make a difference, and Candida could very well be why. In fact, research shows that Candida may impact mental health, memory, digestion, and a variety of other issues.

Furthermore, in the Journal of Evolutionary Medicine in 2015, researchers noted some fascinating case studies of “psychiatric disorders (including anxiety disorders, affective disorders, and autistic spectrum disorders) co-occuring with the autoimmune disease...,” further stating that our bodies’ microbiomes have lost biodiversity over time, promoting inflammation in the body and contributing to disease, particularly in Western countries.³ Once again, it’s all in your gut!

 

SO, WHAT IS CANDIDA?

Let's take a look.

The pesky yeast Candida albicans is native to the gut, and has a knack for taking over its environment. This can happen locally (where Candida lives) or systemically (throughout the whole body).

Candida infection has been found in the:

• Mouth⁶
• Throat ⁶
• Gut⁷
• Reproductive tract ⁶
• Genitalia, much more commonly in women ⁶
• Blood ⁸
• Bones ⁶
• Brain ⁴

CANDIDA IMPACTS: IS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AT RISK?

Researchers studying Candida at the Hematology-Oncology department at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles concluded that although it is unknown exactly how Candida invades the central nervous system, it must be able to cross the human blood-brain barrier as live pathogens, contributing to disease such as meningitis.⁴

An additional study out of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine shows that other systems in the body -- including your gut and your immune system -- link up with the brain, influencing things like memory.¹

In addition to the above, Johns Hopkins researchers found that women with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and a history of Candida overgrowth were more likely to score lower on memory tests than those women without a history of infection.¹

While too soon to draw conclusions, it is certain that more research must be done, especially when coupled with the revelation that people with mental health disorders themselves were at least partially responsible for recommending this particular study.

In a nutshell, Candida infection may impact memory — especially when there’s also a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It may also contribute to mental health disorders. This also tells us that there’s an important link between your gut, your immune system, and your brain.

WHEN YOU NOURISH YOUR GUT, YOU NOURISH YOUR BRAIN

The competition between friendly bacteria and small amounts of Candida yeast is necessary to keep Candida in check. Dysbiosis -- an unhealthy balance of microbes in the digestive or reproductive tract --- can give Candida the upper hand. Once this happens, your immune system targets Candida with antibodies that search and destroy.

Recent research is so revolutionary that it has launched a completely new cutting-edge area of study -- “psychobiotics.” Recent research into the connection between the gut microbiome and mental health examines the differences in our between our gut health and those of our ancestors.⁵

While it’s too soon for scientists to draw concrete conclusions between specific probiotics, one thing is clear: doctors and scientists are now saying what Donna Gates has been saying for decades --

We are on the verge of an exciting revolution in health and medicine.

HOW TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST CANDIDA

Candida overgrowth isn’t just hard on your gut — it can have a lasting impact on memory and mental health. To keep your memory and mental health strong, take a close look at your diet and also make sure you’re not taking antibiotics when you don’t need them. Keeping yeast in check is about understanding how Candida works and what it doesn’t like.

Here are a few basic tips to get you started:

• Reduce Sugar: Candida feeds on sugar. In fact, it wiggles its way into your cravings control center and demands. One of the best ways to fight yeast overgrowth and curb the desire for sweets is to limit or completely remove added sugars from your diet.
• Introduce Anti-Yeast Herbs: Pau D'Arco, Olive Leaf Extract, Garlic, Black Walnut, Tea Tree, Cloves, Goldenseal.
• Rebuild Your Inner Ecosystem: Whether it’s from years of a processed diet or a couple rounds of antibiotic drugs, dysbiosis affects everyone in a similar way — it allows Candida yeast to flourish. While anti-yeast herbs put Candida in check, probiotics like Bifidobacteria maintain a watchful eye on Candida over the long-term.
• Nourish Your Cells: A robust inner ecosystem that’s teeming with friendly microbes requires healthy mucosal tissue — in other words, the lining of the gut needs to be strong. You can directly nourish intestinal cells with L-glutamine, an amino acid that rebuilds and repairs cellular damage.

Soil -- Is It Destroying Your Health?

Did you know that we have to eat significantly more food today to get the same nutrients our parents did in the past? Over-farming, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and the stripping of nutrients to make processed foods have damaged the nutritional quality of our foods -- even fruits and vegetables. Is soil destroying your health?

It probably comes as no surprise that humans today, especially Americans, are overfed and undernourished. When your body needs more food to get necessary nutrients, it is, in effect, starving, even on higher quantities of food. And if you eat processed foods -- which are stripped of most of their already low nutrient content -- it’s no wonder obesity and fatigue are rampant these days.

How minerals supercharge your health

Minerals are the backbone of virtually every mechanism within your body. But there is a full spectrum of minerals that your body requires. Here's a quick list of some important minerals and what they do in your body:

• Magnesium helps convert blood sugar to energy, and is the 'anti-stress' mineral.
• Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body; it initiates DNA synthesis, maintains bone health and strong teeth.
• Potassium maintains acid/alkaline balance in your blood.
• Zinc promotes proper nerve, immune and digestive health and boosts immunity.
• Phosphorous helps maintain heart regularity, provides energy and aids in metabolism of fats and starches.
• Minerals can even help you sleep better at night!

Fortunately, the earth naturally stores key minerals inside the food that you eat. Unfortunately, over-farmed soil yields weak and sickly crops. While inorganic fertilizers and pesticides will make vegetables grow, it’s the soil that plants depend on. And it’s the soil that impacts your health.

Is the soil destroying your health?

Missing micronutrients in soil — like iron or zinc — can ultimately create mineral deficiencies within your body, or "hidden hunger."1 Low levels of iodine, iron, and zinc are some of the most common nutrient deficiencies. As Kul C. Gautam, former deputy executive director of UNICEF explains,

Here are some symptoms mineral deficiency may cause:⁸

• Acidic blood
• Constipation and cramps
• Low blood sugar
• Cravings
• Anxiety or hyperactivity
• Low energy
• Low libido
• Weight gain
• Aging
• Diarrhea, Vomiting
• Compromised immune system

How minerals impact your energy

Everywhere you look, you can see evidence that Americans are losing energy. From coffee to energy drinks, even kids and teens are looking for a quick energy boost to get through the day.

Our diet is simply deficient in minerals. Even a healthy diet may lack the necessary minerals to boost your energy, detoxify your body, and keep you feeling your best. In fact, your adrenals, your body’s chief energy producer (along with your thyroid), need a constant supply of minerals.

Your body is made up of 37.2 trillion cells that need constant mineral nutrients to support the energy level for a healthy, vigorous life.⁹ A single red blood cell is 7 microns, while plant-derived minerals are about 0.01 micron, or “1/7000th the size of a red blood cell.”¹⁰ Given this information, it’s easy to see how difficult it might be to nourish all of your cells, especially with our nutrient-deprived soil.

FULVIC ACID: THE GREAT REJUVENATOR

Fortunately, there is something you can do, and it, too, comes from the earth — ancient earth to be exact. Fulvic acid is the key. Fulvic acid comes from ancient humic substances within the soil — rich, dark soil elements that are filled with microorganisms and generations of vegetation that have slowly decayed over time.

The Ayurvedic remedy known as shilajit is a mineral resin that shows up around mountain ranges, like the Himalayas. Ranging from a flowing liquid to a brittle solid, purified shilajit contains 50–60 percent fulvic acid.³

While shilajit has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, recent studies show that the active components of shilajit — notably those found in fulvic acid — are responsible for a wide scope of health benefits.^4,5

These include:

• A radical boost in physical energy and muscular endurance
• A noticeable reduction in “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides
• Enhanced virility in men and healthier sperm
• An increase in antioxidants
• A decrease in signs of painful inflammation
• Protection against stomach ulcers

Fulvic acid contains strings of mineral ions — electrolytes — that have a low molecular weight. This makes them quick to absorb and easy to use.

In addition to its restorative benefits, fulvic acid also fights infection. Recent research on gingivitis and oral health has revealed that a mouthwash containing fulvic acid can limit the growth of disease-causing bacteria.⁶

Fulvic and humic minerals (fulvic acid and humic acid) are compounds that act as mineral carriers and detoxifiers. The only way the human body can benefit from mineral nutrients is if they are available to be absorbed. Ancient Earth Minerals enhance this absorption process by enabling minerals to pass through cell membranes.

Fulvic Acid Minerals and Heavy Metals

As humans, we ingest heavy metals throughout our lifetimes. They get into the tissues throughout the body, slowing the efficiency of nutrient absorption and disturbing proper elimination. Speculation abounds about the sources from which these metals enter our bodies — with everything from fish, to vaccinations, air, water, and even personal care products bodies. No matter the source, fulvic/humic acid minerals bond the ions to the amino acids, effectively removing heavy metals from the body, thus reducing these burdens on the digestive system.

HOW TO GET THE MINERALS YOUR BODY NEEDS TO THRIVE

For decades, Body Ecology's founder, Donna Gates, has been teaching about the importance of minerals to feed your adrenals and help your body heal. To this end, she created Ancient Earth Minerals -- the highest quality blend of humic, fulvic, micro and macro minerals, and amino acids.

The fulvic acid in Ancient Earth Minerals is the transporter to the body's cells and humic acid is the carrier of minerals, trace elements and amino acids. Research results suggest that humic and fulvic acid complexes enhance mineral and trace element uptake, supporting the maintenance of mineral and trace element balances without harmful buildup in the body's cells.

Whether you're fighting Candida overgrowth or rebuilding your health, the minerals in Body Ecology’s Ancient Earth Minerals can help heal your body.

"I think the Body Ecology Lifestyle works so well because the food makes you feel good on the inside, which shows on the outside. As you go through different stages, everything just keeps looking better (skin, hair, nails)." - Hear what people are saying about The Body Ecology Diet.

For you, this might mean better sleep, increased energy, or relief from anxiety. But deeper within the body, Body Ecology’s Ancient Earth Liquid Minerals is busy assisting in cellular repair and stopping the growth of harmful microorganisms.

How ancient Earth Minerals impact your body

• Nourish your thyroid and adrenals
• Detoxify
• Reduce the signs of aging
• Build immunity
• Chelate heavy metals
• Your Most Bio-Available and Detoxifying Source of Minerals

Sugar — Is it Aging Your Skin?

Sugar in your diet can put stress on your body and dramatically age your skin! Your anti-wrinkle solution may not be found in the latest over-the-counter face cream, but in your diet itself!

The Gray Hair Myth Busted: 4 Natural Ways to Turn Back Time

Yes, there's a natural way to reverse gray hair -- in fact, there are four. Start by addressing mineral deficiency and finish by nourishing your gut.

Try Our Yummy, Healthy, and Stress-Free Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Change can seem overwhelming at first, but please keep things simple by following the Body Ecology Principle of Step-by-Step. Begin by making this hearty and healthy (and simple) spaghetti squash recipe for your family, using the Instant Pot instead of the nutrient-depleting microwave oven.

Instant-Pot Chicken Piccata Recipe (Warning: It’s Healthy and Addicting!)

Chicken, like the healthy chicken piccata in this recipe, should be cooked at a very low temperature until it's just done and then taken immediately off the heat before you eat it.

You’re Not Keto If You’re Not Digesting Your Fat

Eating more fats and vegetables requires specific enzymes in large amounts to help your digestive system break down these nutrients.

Healthy Fats to Control Chronic Inflammation: Is It the Real Deal?

Inflammation is at the root of diseases like Alzheimer’s, arthritis, heart disease, and cancer. In a 2017 American Journal of Pathology study, researchers discovered that chronic inflammation of the liver has been linked to a Western diet.

5 Easy Clues That Can Help You Decide How Much Fat You Need to Eat

Is saturated fat good or bad for you? The type of fat you eat and how much depends on five important factors -- and your unique body.