Magnesium

Candida is a fungus that naturally lives in your mouth in tiny amounts and is usually controlled by your immune system. However, if your immune system is compromised, then a disease called thrush can develop. At the time of publication, there is no evidence that this is related to a magnesium deficiency, although that also can be bad for your health.

Magnesium is one of the most important minerals for your body. It carries out a wide variety of functions, from the metabolism of energy from food, to building strong bones and to supporting healthy nerve and muscle functions. While a magnesium deficiency tends to be rare, when it occurs, it can cause gastrointestinal problems such as appetite loss, nausea and vomiting. It also can cause neurological problems, such as numbness and tingling in your limbs, muscle cramps, seizures, heart arrhythmias and personality changes.

How should you take Magnesium for candida?

A lack of Magnesium can worsen your Candida symptoms for one simple reason: Magnesium is needed to break down the toxic metabolites of Candida Albicans. Without enough Magnesium, your body is simply unable to do the job of removing these substances from your body.

The byproducts of Candida Albicans include ethanol, uric acid and ammonia, but the most important is acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a neurotoxin that affects your brain, nervous system and many other internal organs, as well as damaging your red blood cells and reducing the capacity of your blood to carry oxygen around your body. If your body is unable to effectively process and remove it, this toxic substance can affect numerous different systems and cause a variety of symptoms. Acetaldehyde is also produced when you drink alcohol, and it is thought to be the primary cause of the next morning’s hangover!

Although Magnesium is not the only nutrient needed to break down acetaldehyde, it plays a major role. There is one particular enzyme that your body needs to turn toxic acetaldehyde into harmless acetate. This enzyme is named Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, and it requires Magnesium to function properly. Without enough Magnesium, your body is unable to activate the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, which is therefore unable to break down acetaldehyde, which in turn can lead to symptoms like headaches and fatigue.

How does Magnesium for Candida work?

The content of our diets is different now too. We eat more refined grains, fewer vegetables, fewer nuts and seeds. In other words, we eat more of the foods that contain little Magnesium, and much less of the foods that are rich in it. This has become such a problem that many in developed countries get a large part of their Magnesium from foods like French fries and beer — simply because those are the foods that they consume the most!

Lastly, the epidemics of diabetes and obesity that are sweeping the world might be playing a role too. There is a close relationship between low Magnesium levels and high blood sugar. Just as a high sugar diet can contribute to a Magnesium deficiency, so a lack of Magnesium seems to disrupt blood sugar regulation.