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- Top 5 Probiotic Supplements of 2018
Candida overgrowth is fast becoming a health concern across the world, and for good reason. Research shows that 70 percent of the world is affected by candida, and it can cause some serious health problems when left untreated.
But what exactly is candida, and how dangerous is it? Most importantly, what can we do to prevent, or even stop, an overgrowth before it's too late?
We want to make sure our Smarter Shoppers are educated on this serious public health issue, so we’ve compiled years of research about candida and its effect on our wellbeing. This quick guide will help you discover everything you need to know to make the most informed decision about your candida supplement needs.
What is candida, and why Is It so dangerous?
Put simply, candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast, that flourishes in your mouth and your intestines. Don't worry, it's supposed to be there in small amounts. It's actually beneficial – it helps you digest your food and absorb the nutrients you need.
Problems arise when candida begins overproducing. It can break down intestinal walls and penetrate your bloodstream, resulting in leaky gut and candidiasis (candida infection).
This sounds bad on its own, but it gets worse: Candida was responsible for 60 percent of the fungal infections acquired in hospitals, killing one in three people with a bloodstream infection.
Top signs that you have a candida overgrowth
Unfortunately, most of us don't even realize that our candida are overproducing. Some of the top symptoms include:
- Digestive Issues. These include gas, bloating, nausea and cramps.
- Sugar Cravings. You find yourself wanting more sweets than usual.
- Moodiness. Anxiety, depression, and mood swings are common.
- Fatigue. Afternoon sleepiness, or feeling like you didn't get a good night's sleep.
- Seasonal allergies. Pollen may not be the only cause of allergies.
- Fungal Overgrowth. Especially if topical treatments aren't effective.
- Vaginal Discomfort. This is a major sign of candida overgrowth.
- Skin Issues. Including itchy rashes in the folds of your skin.
If any of these apply to you, it may be time to look for a high quality candida supplement. Unfortunately, sometimes it's difficult to know where to start, and many of our Smarter Shoppers reported regretting their first candida purchase. With this in mind, we included a section to help you skip their mistakes:
What Not to do when buying a Candida Supplement
Forget the Research
Many shoppers believe that it doesn't matter which candida supplement they choose. This is not the case. Many of them contain ineffective and potentially harmful additives, such as artificial fillers and colors. Binders, including magnesium stearate, chromium, gelatin, and silicon dioxide, or other infamous additives to avoid.
Rely on Amazon Reviews
Millions of Americans look to Amazon reviews before purchasing their products, but most don’t realize that up to 60% have been paid for. Some disreputable, fly-by-night companies compensate individuals for positive reviews, regardless of whether they've tried the product or not. Risking your health with reviews that are likely false is too dangerous a game to play when you’re choosing an ingestible supplement.
Prioritize Price Over Quality
We found that many lower-priced and generic candida supplements don't contain the right combination of ingredients to fight candida overgrowth. Our Smarter Shoppers had to buy multiple low-priced candida products just to get all the ingredients that they needed to effectively control overgrowth. They effectively paid more for the generic brands than ven if that means they cost a little more than your local grocery store's generic brand.
What You Should Look for in a Candida Supplement
Based on our research and feedback from our Smarter Shoppers, these are the things to look for in an exceptional candida supplement:
Formulated by A doctor
It takes specific expertise to create an effective formulation. The right mixture of ingredients and probiotic strains determines the product's quality. Look for real doctors specializing in gut health backing the product.
Clinically Proven Ingredients proven to support fungal & yeast balance
The right candida supplement will include potent, all-natural ingredients that have been clinically proven to control overgrowth. The best include: Oregano oil, caprylic acid, coconut oil, and aloe vera.
Probiotic Strains
Supplementing your microbiome with probiotics is key to maintaining the right amount of candida. The bacterial strain clinically proven to support this balance is lactobacillus acidophilus. Make sure your candida supplement contains this powerful and effective strain.
diGestive Enzymes
Unfortunately, most of the candida supplements we tested didn't contain the right combination of the antifungal ingredients above and digestive enzymes, which help break down yeast cells into waste that our bodies can easily eliminate. Look for ingredients like protease and cellulase, both of which are highly effective yeast-killing enzymes.
Our specialized ranking system
At Smarter Reviews, we employ a comprehensive evaluation system to analyze and measure the full value of products, by looking at the ingredients, clinical studies, safety, projected effectiveness, return policies, and overall customer satisfaction. This method is known as the Smarter Reviews Ranking System.
Top 5 Candida cleansing Supplements of 2018
We've compiled a list of what we've found to be the top five products in
this category, on the market today.