Foods That Kill Candida Foods like apple cider vinegar can help kill harmful candida.

Candida albicans, more commonly known as candida, is a type of yeast tha t naturally occurs in the body -- but it can be harmful and cause bacterial buil dup and infection if it is present in large amounts. The yeast is responsible fo r conditions like thrush and yeast infections, and there are certain foods that can help kill excess amounts of candida in the body and restore health. Garlic Garlic, especially when eaten raw, fights off bacteria and fungi, accord ing to research conducted by J. A. Shuford, J. M. Steckelberg, and R. Patel. Gar lic cloves are high in allicin, an antifungal and antimicrobial agent, and can b e crushed and mixed with juice or water to make consumption easier, although som e people eat the clove whole. Allowing the garlic to sit for a few minutes befor e adding it to a beverage helps release the allicin. Garlic is also available in supplement form, but if you're using the supplements to treat candida, check to see that the daily allicin content is at least 11 mg so that you can effectivel y get rid of excess amounts of candida in your body. Garlic is also very useful for maintaining cardiovascular health and keeping LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, fro m being oxidized in the body. Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar, in its pure and unpasteurized form, helps kill harm ful candida, which makes it useful for relieving yeast infections. Women can use apple cider vinegar and purified water as a douche, or drink 2 or 3 tsp. of the vinegar to flush toxins from the body. Apple cider vinegar can also be added to bathwater to treat symptoms of excess candida like itchy skin. The vinegar also has a number of beneficial enzymes that aid in digestion -- so taking it intern ally can help the body eliminate waste faster. Individuals who don't prefer the taste of apple cider vinegar by itself can create a refreshing drink using fresh ginger root which also helps to fight candida and lower blood sugar, water and a natural sweetener. The drink should be consumed before a meal to kill the cand ida already present in the intestines. Coconut Caprylic acid, a substance that is found in coconuts, has been proven to be effective in removing unwanted yeast from the body. According to Dr. William Cook, M.D., author of "The Yeast Connection," many patients with a yeast infect ion who don't respond well to antifungal medications can be treated with capryli c acid. Coconut oil also contains lauric acid, which is a medium-chain fatty aci d that can kill internal fungi and bacteria. Eating fresh coconut that has not b een processed or prepared with sugar is beneficial for treating candida, but vir gin coconut oil is more potent and isn't processed in a way that would add unnec essary fat to the product. Taking 2 or 3 tbsp. of the oil every day can kill can dida and boost metabolism, which could lead to weight loss for some individuals.

Yeast Killing Herbs By Lila Roe, eHow Contributor

updated March 24, 2011 The yeast-like fungus candida resides in various areas of the body and normally does not raise any cause for concern. When it grows unchecked, however, it can r esult in infections of the vagina, mouth and intestinal tract. Out-of-control ca ndida growth throughout the body has been fingered as a trigger for a wide range of conditions but scientific evidence does not support this notion. If you have a tendency to develop infections related to yeast, many herbal treatments have demonstrated antifungal properties and taking them, along with other measures, m ight reduce your risk of and treat yeast-related infections. Herbs Containing Berberine Herbs containing berberine have a long history of use in Chinese medicin e for treating bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Naturopathic physician an d author Stephen C. Byrnes, recommends using berberine-containing herbs like gol denseal, barberry and Oregon grape root to kill candida fungus. He notes that th ese herbs also stimulate the immune system, which will help protect the body aga inst fungal infections. Goldenseal can irritate the liver if taken in excess, an d, thus, he recommends discontinuing the supplement for seven days every two wee ks. Thyme A study in the June 2010 issue of "Planta Medica" looked at the effects of thyme on a variety of isolated bacteria and fungus including candida. It foun d found the essential oils present in this herb disrupted the plasma cell membra ne of this fungus, leading to cell death. Researchers concluded thyme might have value as a medicinal treatment for fungal infections. Garlic Garlic has demonstrated antifungal properties reports the University of Maryland Medical Center, which lists it as a suggested herbal treatment for cand ida infections. You can take it in supplement form or eat one or two cloves dail y. If taking supplements, Byrnes recommends enteric-coated capsules, which ensur e the garlic will not get released until it reaches the intestines, where much o f the candida resides. Hopseed The South African plant Dodonaea viscose, also known as hopseed, has dem onstrated strong action against candida fungus. A study published in the June 20 08 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" looked at the effects of hopseed on candida strains from HIV patients, who commonly suffer oral yeast infections, non-HIV patients and a strain commonly used in controls. Researchers also teste d the actions of common antimicrobial agents triclosan and chlorhexidine glucona te included in mouthwashes to treat oral yeast infections. The results showed ho pseed more effectively killed candida than these commonly used substances. Other Recommended Herbs Other herbs that have demonstrated antifungal properties includes cinnam on, pau d'arco and echinacea juice. If treating an oral yeast infection, the Uni versity of Maryland Medical Center also suggests tea tree oil and pomegranate as they have demonstrated effectiveness against yeast in studies. References Chet Day's Health and Beyond Online; Conquering Candidiasis Naturally; Steph en C. Byrnes, N.D., R.N.C.P. University of Maryland Medical Center: Candidiasis

"Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Antifungal activity of the plant Dodonaea vi scosa var. angustifolia on Candida albicans from HIV-infected patients;Patel M, Coogan MM.; June 2008 "Planta Medica"; Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Thymus x vicios oi against Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species.;Vale-Sil va LA; June 2010