If you are a woman and are struggling with digestive issues and yeast infections, there is a chance you might be suffering from a fungal infection in your body known as Candida. This type of fungus is commonly found in the body; however, it can lead to infections and even death when there is too much of it. Here are three things to understand about Candida and your health.

How Do You Get Candida?

Candida is a fungal infection that anyone can get; however, it is more common with people that have weak immune systems. It can occur when your body's system is out of balance, and it lives on sugars and other byproducts. At first, you might not realize you have this problem, but the symptoms can go from mild to severe over time. If you do not catch this problem in time, it can lead to death.

In most cases, people are actually born with Candida. Over time, people with this issue will have a variety of health problems, and many will involve the digestive system. For women, suffering from chronic yeast infections is another sign of an overgrowth of Candida.

How Is This Diagnosed?

Unfortunately, Candida is not something most doctors typically look for right away, and this is primarily because it is a newer discovery in the medical field. There are tests your doctor can run to find out if your body contains too much Candida, and you may need to ask your doctor about these tests.

The first test is a blood test. Your doctor can test your blood to examine the levels of Candida antibodies present. If the tests reveal that your levels are higher than normal, your doctor may suggest treating you for this problem. In addition, your doctor can also test your urine and stools for this.

How Is This Treated?

If your doctor finds that your Candida levels are higher than they should be, he or she might treat you with an antifungal medication. This helps kill the fungus in your body, but this may not be enough to treat the entire problem. You may need to also begin following the Candida diet.

This diet will not hurt you if you do not have issues with an overgrowth of Candida fungus, but it can help a lot if you do. It primarily consists of eliminating sugar from your diet. Candida feeds on sugar and eliminating it will help control the growth of Candida. You may also need to eliminate starches, fruits, and alcohol. Slowly, you may be able to add some of these foods back into your diet, but this can only happen after your system is regulated and normal.

If you suspect you may have this problem, you could start following the Candida diet today. You may not see results instantly, but you will over time. To learn more, talk to your doctor about this.