The common perception of Candida is that it is an invader kept in check by our immune system, but the truth is that it is actually a symbient. No, it's not quite like the ones that live inside the stomachs of the Trills in Star Trek. What it really means is that Candida provides us with a service and we give it a place to live in exchange.

Candida is a simple yeast that lives in the digestive tract and in the bloodstream. It has a very short lifespan, which can be measured in hours or days at the most, as long as you do not keep feeding it.

Its major function is to act as a third line of defence to keep the body's blood sugar levels down. The body usually achieves this through stimulating the production of insulin in the pancreas and androgens from the adrenal glands. However, the failure of these defences triggers the Candida population to proliferate and soak up any excess glucose.

Because blood sugar levels that are too high can lead to diabetes, blindness or, even, death, it is vitally important to keep them under control.

Diabetes 2 begins as insulin resistance, where the body has plenty of insulin but cannot use it efficiently because the receptors that normally respond to it fail to be stimulated. The body reacts to this failure by producing more insulin until over-production exhausts the pancreas. As the condition of the pancreas deteriorates, type 1 diabetes can develop.

If, however, the Candida has performed its function and consumed any excess, the blood sugar will revert to its usual level. If there are insufficient nutrients to sustain it, the Candida cells are forced to die off.

Long term proliferation of Candida is only possible when sugary food is regularly available, as can occur when blood sugar levels are always raised due to insulin resistance - usually because too much fat has been consumed.

Any Anti-Candida diet should resist the urge to avoid carbohydrates on the basis that these are broken down into sugar because, with insulin receptors that are working properly, glucose is transported into the cells too quickly for the Candida to be able to feed on it.

Diets which are low carb tend, consequentially, to be high in fat, a factor which restricts the function of the insulin receptors. This in turn causes the Candida to spring into action.

The best method of avoiding insulin resistance and so controlling any Candida overgrowth is to follow a high carbohydrate diet which is low in fat and precludes any moulds, fungi or yeast.