All posts by Eric Bakker ND

Eric Bakker ND has completed almost ten years of study and has almost almost 25 years of clinical experience in natural and integrative forms of medicine, and has pursued continuous post-graduate study in Australia, America, India as well as in New Zealand. Eric is the past Vice President of the NZ Natural Medicine Association and is currently on their editorial advisory board.
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Is Baby Powder Good For Yeast Infection?

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Baby powder is a synthetic powder mainly used as a deodorant for preventing diaper rashes and for other cosmetic uses. Diaper rash is a harmless rash that’s usually noticed on a baby’s scalp and on his bottom. It causes painful, waxy, red and scaly patches that without treatment could spread to other parts of your baby’s body. It is caused by yeast, bacterial infection or leaving a wet, dirty diaper for too long without cleaning or changing it. Baby powder helps baby’s skin feel fresh, smooth, dry and clean. It has anti-allergy agents and swiftly absorbs excess moisture.

Composition of baby powder

The major constituents of baby powder are talc (commonly called talcum powder) or cornstarch. Talc is a mineral formed of hydrated magnesium silicate which is considered the softest mineral as such you can easily scratch it by a fingernail.

On the other hand, cornstarch or cornflour is the starch derived from maize grains. Cornstarch is widely used as a food ingredient for making sugars and for thickening sauces or soups.

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Baby powder and yeast infection

Talcum powder helps treat a yeast infection. It works by drying out the area of the body infected, hence stopping the spread of the yeast to other areas. When used in small quantities, it is safe, but do not use much of it as the excessive use of talc has been linked to cancer. Be careful to not use cornstarch or any powder that contains cornstarch as the infection could increase when cornstarch used. In cases of severe conditions, do consult your health provider before applying any powder.

Other benefits of baby powder

Baby powder has some amazing uses and here are some:

  • Keeping your feet and shoes clean

Lightly spread some baby powder inside your shoes and rub it softly into your feet every morning before embarking to work or any daily activity. This simple tip works magnificently as the powder absorbs any sweat during the day – stopping any potential slippery, bad smell and keeping your feet fresh.

  • Refresh your sheets

What is worse than sweating during sleeping!! Most people sweat while they are sleeping and usually in summer nights. And with the consistent need to wash your sheets, this could cost you. However, you could simultaneously keep costs down and clean the sheets by using baby powder. Dust some powder between your bed sheets before and after going to bed. The powder works by absorbing up any moisture and will refresh your sheets.

  • Use powder today to keep ants away

The presence if ants in in your home could represent a major problem. To stop ants from spreading, sprinkle baby powder into the area where they exist. Ants cannot withstand the scent of baby powder and will move away from it. Using baby powder as an ants-repellent is an excellent alternative to using harmful and mostly expensive other products especially when around your children.

  • Preventing irritation before and after daily treatments

Dust the breast area and inside your skin folds with cornstarch-based baby powder only and Do Not use talc-based powders. The cornstarch will absorb moisture, keep you smelling fresh and reduce friction. Apply the powder with a clean makeup brush and gently rub the area.

The side-effects of baby powder

Talcum dusting powder is widely used to prevent diaper rashes and mitigating the effects of irritation in babies and infants. However, this practice is very dangerous as the inhalation of significant quantities of powder could potentially cause acute or chronic lung irritation, known as talcosis.

Talc powder when inhaled can dry out mucous membranes of an infant lings, seriously affecting the baby’s ability to breathe. Furthermore, it could cause serious lung damage. Studies have revealed that talc can also lead to the incidence of pneumonia, respiratory failure and obstruction of the airways.

However, this risk could be minimally reduced by using cornstarch (also not ideal) powder as it is a bit safe and reliable alternative. Cornstarch’s particles are larger than talc’s and are not easily inhaled. In both cases, be careful to not use either of these powders around children with asthma.

Link between using baby powder and ovary cancer

The first warning about the dangerous effects of talc has surged in 1971 report. The warning was based on the identification of talc particles in ovarian cancers, in a research done by by Dr. G.Y. Hildick-Smith who was Johnson & Johnson’s medical director. Subsequent studies published in the International journal of cancer and Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey journal have confirmed the link between ovarian cancer and talc powder. And according to a recent study reported in 2008, conducted by scientists from Harvard Medical School, more convincing data about that link was revealed. As after analyzing 3,000 cases of women who were using talcum powder once per day in the body genital section, these women had a 40 % increased chance of ovarian cancer. Furthermore, in women who used talcum powder once per week, the risk plummeted to 38 percent.

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Lastly, as protection is better than cure and based on the diversified reports that warn us about the dangers of talc powers, we should reduce our use of talc and try to find more appropriate and safe alternatives.

Diet And Yeast Infection

Can Caprylic Acid Get Rid of Candida?

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Update 10 Feb 2015: Caprylic acid alone is not good enough to eliminate candida infection. You need variety of other good ingredients in a sustained formula to eliminate and get rid of candida faster. Check out canxida remove at canxida.com their supplement contains 11 of the most potent antifungals that I recommend.

Caprylic acid is widely used in the manufacture of fungicides, perfumes and dyes. Apart from this, the Health Sciences Institute mentioned that this liquid fatty acid can offer various health benefits to humans. More and more people are using this particular acid due to the benefits it can provide. Ingesting caprylic acid can treat yeast infections such as candida. Read on and find out interesting facts you need to know about it.

Caprylic Acid – What is it?

Caprylic acid is known for its antifungal properties. It is a particular type of fatty acid that can be found in breast milk, palm oil and coconut. Also known as octanoic acid, this saturated fatty acid is as healthy and beneficial as the other fatty acids like lauric acid and capric acid.

How Can Caprylic Acid Help Against Candida Overgrowth?

There are a lot of nutritionally-oriented health professionals who recommend taking caprylic acid because it has been found to treat Candida overgrowth syndrome.

Candida is known as a yeast that is naturally found within the gastrointestinal tract together with different bacteria. However, when a person uses antibiotics, it may lead to certain problems specifically when there is an imbalance between the presence of candida and the bacteria. When such imbalance occurs, it leads to a certain condition known as candida overgrowth syndrome.

This condition may result to several symptoms such as headache, depression, fatigue, diarrhea, bloating, vaginal yeast infections and gas. With the help of caprylic acid, it encourages the growth of beneficial microflora within the digestive tract. Since this fatty acid can restore the balance of microorganism in the intestine and the body, it can help get rid of excess candida. The best thing about caprylic acid is the fact that the intestines can quickly absorb and deliver it into the bloodstream.

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How To Take Caprylic Acid?

Caprylic acid can be purchased in tablet and capsule forms. There are caprylic acid supplements that are available in 500mg and 600mg gel capsules. According to health experts, it is best to opt for caprylic acid in capsules because they are more effective compared to the liquid form. The capsules slowly release the fatty acid in order to take effect in the intestinal tract.

Medical experts also advised the ingestion of caprylic acid together with other antifungals such as black walnut and oregano oil. It can be taken together at once or you may allot 3 to 4 hours before taking another type of antifungal.

Who Should Take Caprylic Acid?

Aside from candida overgrowth syndrome, those who are suffering from fungal or yeast skin infections should take this healthy fatty acid.

On the other hand, it should be noted that caprylic acid is not for everyone. According to health professionals, it is not recommended for breastfeeding or pregnant women. Since this fatty acid may cause stomach upsets, it is not suitable for children and adults who have a sensitive stomach.

What Dosage To Take?

The recommended dosage for caprylic acid for 18 years and older is 1,000 to 2,000 mg per day. It can be taken three times a day about 30 minutes before every meal. For first time users, they are advised to begin with a smaller dosage. Taking 500mg of capsule once or twice a day is recommended. After a few days, it is advisable to increase the dosage. Taking caprylic acid for about three to four months is the usual treatment course. Slowly increasing the dosage can prevent yeast die-off effect, a certain phenomenon that occurs when you take antifungals and the body is overwhelmed with toxins the moment the yeast is killed off.

On the other hand, children 18 years and younger are not advised to take caprylic acid supplements. If there is a need to, it is best to consult a doctor first.

Benefits Of Caprylic Acid

There are many benefits and below I will list few:

1. Fights the overgrowth of yeast fungus and promotes healthy body

Fighting candida is one of the best benefits of caprylic acid. With this, it also promotes healthy body because it lessens the problems associated with candida such as chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, abdominal bloating, etc.

With its antifungal properties, this fatty acid can dissolve the cell membrane of the candida cells. When this happens, the cells die off.

2. It is best for epilepsy and Alzheimer’s

Based on studies, caprylic acid can help in treating children with epilepsy. Experiments were able to prove that it can control seizures suffered by the patients. On the other hand, there has been a series of studies proving the ability of caprylic acid to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in adults. However, additional studies need to be done in order to fully confirm it.

3. Treats skin yeast infections

Aside from treating candida, it is also effective for external yeast infections such as ringworm, jock itch in men and vaginitis in women. With the help of caprylic acid, the cell walls of the bacteria that cause the infections are dissolved. Some people also use this healthy product to treat toenail fungus. Moreover, there are those who use it to get rid of thrush, a certain type of yeast infection in the mouth.

The Different Side-effects Of Caprylic Acid

In rare cases, patients taking caprylic acid may experience certain side effects, such as headaches, mild stomach upset, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain. Such side effects may range from mild to severe, depending on the dosage. Taking a high dosage of this fatty acid may result to indigestion and heartburn. Health professionals advise the need to take caprylic acid with meals in order to avoid these reactions.

Caprylic Acid And Probiotics – How can they work together

There are people who follow a candida treatment plan that includes taking probiotics and antifungals along with a low sugar diet. However, there are patients who are curious if they can take caprylic acid and probiotics at the same. Experts say that it is advisable to take both caprylic acid and probiotics. The combination of these two can strengthen the immune system, regulate the acidity in the gut and minimize the amount of nutrients available to the candida colonies.

In other words, caprylic acid and probiotics can work together to promote a healthy body.

Caprylic Acid And Die Off Effect

As what has been mentioned earlier in this article, when the body is overwhelmed with toxins, this leads to the occurrence of a phenomenon known as die off. This certain effect may lead to flu-like symptoms. Most commonly, such symptoms include headache, muscle or joint pain, body itch, low grade fever, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and/or bloating. These symptoms may range from mild to severe.

Experts say that a little die off is a good indication that the treatment is working and effective. However, if it is too severe, it may lead to system toxic overload. When this happens, the body will find it hard to cope up with the extreme amount of toxins being released. In order to handle the situation, it is best to cut back on caprylic acid until the symptoms lessen. If you feel that the symptoms are getting worse, it is best to talk to your doctor about it.

It should be noted, however, that yeast die off effect can be prevented when caprylic acid is properly undertaken.

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Foods That Are A Great Sources Of Caprylic Acid

Getting your dose of caprylic acid can be done by eating foods that contain it. Foods that are a natural sources of caprylic acid include palm kernel oil, butter fat and coconut oil. This fatty acid can also be found in breast milk.

Indeed, caprylic acid can provide great health benefits. With its antifungal properties, people can rely on it to treat fungal infections. To discover more of its health benefits, researches and studies are being done by various laboratories.

Can Candida Build Resistance To Caprylic Acid?