"Yeast thrives in moist, warm environments and can affect men, women, pregnant women, and infants. An overgrowth of yeast can lead to a yeast infection, which can cause a number of symptoms including itching, burning, and soreness. I can provide a safe, effective, and permanent way to treat your yeast infection based on the individual needs of your body."*
-Juliana Mazzeo, MS, CDN, Director
Nutrition Wellness Center of Nassau County
What is a Yeast Infection?
Yeast, also known as Candida, are healthy fungal organisms that reside diversely throughout the body, most commonly on the skin, in the mouth, in the intestinal tract, and in the vagina. These beneficial organisms are potentially harmless to the body; however, under certain conditions, they can spur out of control and cause an overgrowth, or yeast infection.
Yeast growths develop from the side of the mother cell. Given the right conditions, most commonly moist, warm environments, a single yeast cell can bud every two to three hours, up to 13 to 15 times, causing a yeast overgrowth. There are two types of yeast infections: superficial infection and systematic infection. Superficial infection occurs as a result of a yeast overgrowth in the mucous membrane or the skin. Some examples of a superficial yeast infection include:
A systematic infection occurs when yeast gets into the bloodstream. Unlike a superficial yeast infection, which only affects the mucous membrane and the skin, a systematic yeast infection attacks and weakens the immune system.
A yeast infection can cause various symptoms depending upon the area of overgrowth.
Common Causes of Yeast Infections
The most common cause of yeast infection is poor dietary choices. Yeast thrives on sugar! Excess refined sugar, simple carbohydrates such as pasta, bread, and crackers, fruits, fruit juices, and processed foods increase the blood sugar, which deposits glucose throughout the body and fuels yeast overgrowth. Prescription medications, most commonly antibiotics, can also spur yeast growth. Antibiotics destroy harmful bacteria, but they also kill beneficial bacteria in the process, which creates a welcoming environment for yeast to multiply. Steroid-based medications, such as Cortisone, are also known to fuel yeast growth. Birth control can also increase the risk of developing a yeast infection.
Stress, as well as environmental factors, can also encourage yeast growth because they can weaken the body's defense mechanisms that balance and control the number of yeast in the body. People who suffer from underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, and HIV, are also at greater risk of developing a yeast infection because of their weakened immune system.
Wearing undergarments made of material other than 100 percent cotton, douching and perfumed soaps and sprays can also lead to a yeast infection. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing a yeast infection because the increase of hormones in the body cause the yeast fungi to grow more rapid than usual.
Natural Yeast Infection Treatments
Yeast infection remedies that are commonly prescribed include creams, lotions and over the counter medications, which contain harsh ingredients that can irritate your delicate skin and are not recommended for pregnant women.
Nutrition Response Testing provides a safe, gentle solution for those seeking a more natural approach to curing their yeast infection. Through the use of muscle testing, gradual diet planning, and whole food supplements, I can design a customized healing program that supports your body's own natural ability to heal itself and restore your system back to health.
If you are experiencing a yeast infection, it means that your body is out of balance; therefore, it is important to restore balance in the body to enjoy optimum health. Left untreated, a yeast infection can lead to systematic Candidal disease, a rare but potentially fatal condition, which occurs when the infection spreads throughout the body via the bloodstream.
Living with a yeast infection can be irritating. If you believe that you are suffering from a yeast infection and would like holistic treatment, please contact the Nutrition Wellness Center, with Director Juliana Mazzeo, for a proper diagnosis and natural relief today.
Please contact us today for a free consultation.