Copyright (c) 2008 Hailey Harris

While doctors may not agree on the best treatment for Candida, most acknowledge that something must be done to restore the immune system. An overgrowth of yeast may seem like a harmless condition, but it can lead to other serious health conditions because your system's level of disease-preventing bacteria are in such low stores.

Treating Candida is not an easy process. In fact, many doctors believe that once you have a yeast infection, you will probably always suffer with them. There is actually a way to attempt to eliminate/treat the presence of Candida in your system. The following four steps can help you treat and hopefully cure Candida overgrowth

Step 1: Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet

Candida becomes a harmful organism when an imbalance occurs in your body. There are several types of medicines that can alter your hormonal balance and cause an overgrowth of yeast. Antibiotics are prescribed to kill bacteria causing infection. The problem is that "good" bacteria are usually also killed in the process. Steriods, cortisone, and birth control prescriptions can also cause a system imbalance that can result in an overgrowth of yeast. While it is recommended that you avoid these medications, you should not do so without your doctor's approval.

Step 2: Follow an Anti-Yeast Diet

Perform any search on the Internet and you will quickly discover that the best way to treat a yeast overgrowth is by "starving" the organism. As with all living things, Candida require nourishment to live. Their nutrients of choice include sugar, yeast, and mold. By denying the organism access to foods that contain these items, you basically starve it to death. For mild cases of yeast overgrowth, remaining in this stage until your symptoms subside may prove sufficient for completely eliminating the infection. If you suffer from recurrent yeast infections, you should continue to step 3.

Step 3: Restock Your Medication Your Cabinet

In these times of instant access to information, self-diagnosis and self-meditating are becoming more common. Self-medicating is not recommended for any serious health condition. Candida overgrowth alone is not usually life threatening, but it can lead to more serious health problems.

It is recommended that you visit a health professional who can evaluate your condition. Depending on the prognosis, your doctor will probably want to prescribe medication to treat your condition. Antifungal medications, such as Diflucan and Nystatin are the most common treatment option for yeast infections.

If you prefer a natural remedy, Candex is a homeopathic medication that is also considered a beneficial treatment for a yeast infection. You doctor will assess your condition and prescribe the most suitable form of treatment medication.

Step 4: Rebuild Your Immune System

By the time you reach this stage of the process to treat Candida overgrowth, you should feel and see a significant improvement in your health well-being. This is not a time to quit. Depending on the length of time you have been suffering with yeast infection, an abundance of yeast in your body can lower your immune system and make you susceptible to infections including recurrent yeast infections.

The last step of the process is to attempt to restore your immune system to a healthy state. You accomplish this by continuing to feed your body healthy foods and by taking daily vitamin and mineral supplements. The most important vitamins to strengthen your immunity include A, C, E. Daily doses of the mineral Zinc is recommended to prevent infections.