Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner advises readers on how to remedy common health issues as well as improve their overall health.


If you suffer with chronic yeast infections, you are probably all too familiar with the frustration and distress they cause. Yeast infections are normally not life-threatening, but they are definitely life-affecting! A yeast infection can ruin your sex life and it can be an indication of a more serious health condition, like diabetes.

According to Monistat, at least three out of four women experience a yeast infection at some point in their lives. A staggering number of women experience chronic or recurring yeast infections for months to years at a time. But yeast infections are not limited to women -- millions of men also experience the uncomfortable symptoms or are asymptomatic carriers.

What Causes a Yeast Infection?

Candida albicans is a naturally occurring yeast that is found in everybody. In a balanced state, yeast population is controlled by our friendly bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus. Candidiasis is a yeast infection that typically begins in the digestive or genital system but may spread to other parts of the body such as the sinuses or skin. It is often a result of taking antibiotics, or of hormonal or pH changes. Antibiotics disrupt our healthy bacterial balance by killing off both our good bacteria as well as the bad infection-causing bacteria. A disruption of the bacterial balance leaves yeast to grow and flourish, ultimately resulting in a yeast infection like thrush (an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth) or a genital yeast infection.

Yeast infections may also be caused by the birth control pill, immune compromise (which allows opportunistic infections like candidiasis to occur), immune-suppressing steroid medications, parasitic infections, diabetes and consuming excess carbohydrates, sugar or alcohol.

What are the Symptoms?: Women with a vaginal yeast infection usually experience genital itching or burning, with or without vaginal discharge that is often compared to cottage cheese. Males with genital candidiasis may experience an itchy rash on the penis. Thrush is characterized by a sore mouth and throat with a white layer on the surface.

Less obvious symptoms that may be associated with yeast infections are abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, belching, indigestion, heartburn, nasal congestion, sinus problems, bad breath, skin rashes, allergies, chemical sensitivities, rectal itching, muscle aches, cold hands and feet, fatigue, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating, headaches and dizziness.

Effective Treatment Options: Make sure you have a yeast infection before using any treatment for candidiasis. Misdiagnosis is common, and studies have shown that as many as two-thirds of all over-the-counter drugs sold for yeast infections were used by women without the condition. Using these drugs when they are not needed may lead to a resistant infection which is difficult to treat. Opting for OTC or prescription treatments for yeast infections, when indicated, may provide symptomatic relief but many are ineffective for chronic or recurring infections. Use the following tips to work toward a cure.

Remove the causal factor(s): If have been experiencing yeast infections since you started taking the pill, you may want to consider another mode of birth control because the pill does alter vaginal pH and hormonal levels. Avoid wearing wet bathing suits or tight underwear that is not cotton. Be sure to take antibiotics only when deemed necessary. Diabetics should attempt to control their blood glucose level as recommended by their doctors. If you are using inhaled steroids for asthma be sure to always rinse your mouth afterward. Finally, women with recurrent vaginal infections should encourage their partner to use treatments at the same time, as the infection may affect him without symptoms, and cause re-infection. Another option is to use condoms.

Change your diet: Yeast feed on sugar, vinegar, fungus and fermented foods. If you remove the food source, the yeast will die. Therefore, avoiding processed foods like white flour, white rice and anything that contains sugar (except possibly low GI fruits) or yeast is very beneficial. Mushrooms should also be avoided and limit your intake of vinegars. Alcohol, too, must be avoided. Remember, being more strict with your dietary changes will reduce the time you have to follow the diet before you get favourable results, and cheating will allow the yeast to grow again!

Take acidophilus. Acidophilus is the friendly bacteria which lives in our digestive tract. Replenishing levels of this will help to counteract an overgrowth of candida. Be sure to follow any series of antibiotics with acidophilus supplements for twice the amount of time you took the prescription of antibiotics. For maximum results acidophilus should be taken on an empty stomach, such as when you awaken and before bed. My favourite product is called Ultra Flora Plus from Metagenics.

Take a product to kill yeast (antifungal agents). There are different strains of yeast which means that not all cases of candidiasis will respond to the same treatment. Begin using one or two products and switch to another if you do not see improvement. Continue treatment for four weeks to six months, depending on the severity of your symptoms. If all else fails, Nystatin®, which has very few side effects, is available through your doctor. Other products to choose from are:

• Garlic is a great natural antifungal. It can be taken orally or used as a vaginal suppository. It is usually taken at 4,000 to 6,000 micrograms of allicin (the active ingredient in garlic) one to two times per day.
• Capryllic acid is an antifungal agent that kills candida. This should be taken as directed on label. It is available in both capsule and liquid form. I use one called Caprlex from Douglas labs.
• Olive leaf extract is an antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal product useful for yeast infections. Typical dosage is 500 mg three times per day.
• Grapefruit seed extract, also called Citricidal, is another effective antifungal agent. Typical dose is 1 pill 3 times a day.