Here we are again, pulling into the final stretch of another year, and soon the holiday season will be upon us. During the holidays, we come together with family and friends to celebrate all the good fortune (large and small) in our lives. These celebrations are locked in traditions that have been in existence for centuries, so they are hard to change. Breaking an old tradition is like breaking an old habit—it's very difficult. One of the most obvious repercussions of celebrations centering around feasting is weight gain. We simply eat and drink too much of the wrong stuff. One major ingredient that makes most of this stuff the wrong stuff is sugar. During the holidays, we dramatically increase our consumption of desserts, sweets, soft drinks, and alcohol, all of which have copious amounts of sugar. We know sugar is just "empty" calories, completely devoid of any nutritional value. What makes it worse is that unless the label reads "100% cane sugar," that sugar probably is derived from beets, and 90 percent of beets are now GMO crops. So we are doubly whacked. Now, we are basically eating synthetically produced empty food. So why do intelligent people intentionally put terrible stuff into their bodies? Candida Loves to Party Candida albicans is a naturally occurring yeast-like fungus that lives in the human gastrointestinal tract. When we lead a balanced life, Candida stays balanced and in proportion with all of the other microorganisms living in our gut. However, when we take antibiotics or eat commercially raised meats that have been pumped with antibiotics, those antibiotics kill the good bacterial microorganisms and Candida proliferates. What do you think Candida's favorite food is? Sugar. So feeding sugar to Candida is like pouring gasoline on afire—it grows. Candida may control your life more than you think. Do you crave sweets? During the upcoming holidays, when the temptation is greater than normal to have that extra piece of homemade pumpkin pie or that one extra drink, ask yourself, "Is this sugar craving from me, or is it really the Candida inside asking for its holiday feast?" To conquer Candida, you have to stop feeding it. It will be a lot easier to pull the plug on Candida after you read on. Candida, Heavy Metals, and Health Strangely enough, Candida also loves heavy metals. Industrial and environmental pollution of our planet has caused widespread absorption and consumption of heavy metals, whether we know it or not. Heavy metals are in the air, water, soil, food (especially seafood), and many medications. Another dangerous source is the mercury in silver-colored dental fillings. Candida loves mercury as much as it loves sugar. Candida overgrowth can burrow into the gut, compromising the strength of our intestinal walls. Leaky gut can then occur, which allows larger substances into the bloodstream than normal. This can lead to chronic inflammation and allergic reactions. We used to think that the integrity and vitality of our gut's microflora were influenced by our immune system. Now we understand that microflora influences the integrity and vitality of our immune system, as well as our moods and emotional health. Symptoms of Candida overgrowth can masquerade as many different health problems, such as fatigue, feeling "foggy," PMS, mood swings, allergies, chemical sensitivities, vaginal yeast infections, nail fungus, white-coated tongue, digestive irregularities, bloating, difficulty focusing, irritability, and skin diseases, such as eczema, psoriasis, hives, and rashes. If the imbalance isn't corrected, it may lead to more serious complications, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, scleroderma, or multiple sclerosis.1 A New Year's Resolution You Can Live With If we really, really want to get real with our health, let's make this upcoming New Year's the turning point of our lives, starting right now. Let's resolve to eat healthy and support life, even throughout the holidays. The foundation is whole food to nourish the whole person. Here are some tips to help: Eat organically grown, GMO-free, real foods, and hydrate with plenty of pure water. Before going to parties, eat a well-balanced meal with a proper ratio of proteins, carbo hydrates, fiber, and healthy fats. Your blood sugar will be stable, and you'll be less likely to overindulge in empty calories. Use whole food-based supplements and homeopathic remedies to help your body detoxify and clear heavy metals and Candida. Stay physically active. During my 40 years as a chiropractor practicing natural health care, I have found that making small changes in all eight essential areas of whole-person health puts your entire life in balance. To help everyone discover his or her highest health potential, I offer a free "Whole Person Health Appraisal" on my KingBio.com website. It's all part of what I call The Healing Revolution. Start now, and when it comes to those holiday celebrations, you'll have no desire whatsoever to consume unhealthy foods with empty calories. You deserve an abundant life, so why wait? Nothing but the good stuff for you now. References: 1. Dr. Amy Meyers, The Autoimmune Solution. http://www. mindbodygreen.com/0-8376/10-signs-you-have-ca ndida-overgrowth-what-to-do-about-it.html Dr. Frank King is a nationally recognized researcher, lecturer, and author of The Healing Revolution: Eight Essentials to Awaken Abundant Life, Naturally! He is also the founder and president of King Bio, an FDA-registered homeopathic manufacturing company. Dr. King is dedicated to completing chiropractic destiny with homeopathy. You can easily incorporate contemporary homeopathy (using any brand) into your practice by downloading your free Physician's Reference Manual at www.safecarerx.com. You may also call 866-298-27-10 or send an e-mail [email protected].
