Candida overgrowth has nearly become an epidemic, affecting an estimated 40 million people. Unfortunately, this is a condition which can cause debilitating symptoms, yet it is often overlooked by many healthcare professionals. The array of symptoms, whether constant, fleeting, or intermittently changing; is all too vast. They are all encompassing and often so incapacitating they may ultimately become quality-of-life rendering. Some people who suffer from severe symptoms caused by Candida are not even able to hold down a job. It is a sad scenario that seems invisible to others not suffering from similar symptoms, and it can be equally frustrating to seek answers and be dismissed. Here is a closer look at Candida.

 

Candida is a genus of yeast, which is present in every human body. The most significant species of Candida is called Candida Albicans, and it has the potential to cause many diseases and trigger a plethora of unwanted symptoms, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Many people live an entire life, uncomfortably dealing with one negative symptom after the next, without ever being diagnosed with Candida overgrowth. Although it is difficult to cure, it is absolutely doable; which makes a proper detection of this problem all the more essential. Blood tests, live blood cell tests, and stool sample tests are amongst the most common ways a traditional physician may determine whether Candida overgrowth is an underlying culprit; however, these are not as evident as the severity of accumulated symptoms that are associated with this problem. For starters, many people suffering from Candida overgrowth experience chronic fatigue, headaches, inability to concentrate or cognitive fogginess, vaginal yeast infections, thrush, depression, sinusitis plus possible ear and mouth infections, and toe or fingernail fungus. There are endless other symptoms that are directly associated to Candida overgrowth. Often the body aches with a flu-like pain. Joint pain, muscle pain, extreme tightness in the shoulders and neck, and sometimes even numbness/tingling in the limbs are all caused by Candida. Dark circles under the eyes can occur, jumping when being touched, and sometimes even a tingling or “crawling” sensation of the skin. Brown colored mucous in the back of the throat is a common symptom; along with low grade fever or a low body temperature, plus a sensitivity to heat and/or cold. Other symptoms include: shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, chills and night sweats, alcohol intolerance, dizziness and/or balance problems, and even projectile vomiting, hyper-acidity/acid reflux, blisters in the mouth/tongue/throat, sore throat, white coated tongue, chronic headaches or migraines, and, notably, chronic dental problems. Candida overgrowth can also cause serious psychological symptoms. Aside from depression, irritability and anxiety; it may also be the root problem of obsessive recurring thoughts, paranoia, panic attacks, and overall personality changes. Crying for no reason, sudden rage, fear of talking to people, fear of confrontation, and isolation are all amongst such symptomatic personality changes that are often linked to Candida overgrowth.

 

Aside from all of the horrible symptoms associated with Candida that silently nudge the body into recognizing it has a problem, there is a standardized spit test that will easily indicate if Candida overgrowth is present. It should be done first thing in the morning before you have put anything into your mouth. (This can be done later in the day, but the test will provide the most accurate results in the morning because Candida accumulates in the mouth overnight.) Fill a clear glass (so you can see through it) with filtered or purified water, not tap water. Gather all the spit you can in your mouth, using your tongue to muster all available saliva. Spit into the glass of water. There are three tell tale results that will indicate the heavy presence of yeast colonies. The first is if your saliva starts to “grow legs”, sinking in strands, resembling jellyfish legs or spider legs. The second possible result is if your spit sinks to the bottom and appears cloudy. The third is the presence of suspended cloudy little specs. If your saliva separates into small specs and sinks just halfway in the water, this is also a clear indicator. Any of the above, or a combination of these results, indicates an overgrowth of Candida, and should require attention. The faster these changes occur, the more yeast you have in your body. It can take up to a half an hour, but if these changes occur within the first three minutes or so, there is a definite overgrowth in your body that is most likely causing some very undesirable symptoms.

 

 

There are many products on the market touting the alleviation or even cure of Candida. Many of these have not been proven. Where they may work for some, chances are they will not work for everyone. Consulting a physician about Candida is a good idea, but many times traditional practitioners are not open to the idea that Candida is as large a problem as it is. Most often, you will find more awareness, knowledge, and even simple validation by seeking the assistance of a naturopathic, homeopathic, or alternative medicine doctor. Many cleanses are geared toward regulating many organs in the stomach, such as the colon, liver, kidney, and intestines. A well balanced digestive tract will aid in keeping Candida at bay. Essentially a Candida diet is the most common answer to rid the body of unwanted Candida. Candida feeds on sugar and empty carbohydrates, and it will actually cause severe cravings for such foods in order for the yeast colonies to thrive off the “food” they need to survive. Eliminating (completely, for a while) sugar and carbs from your diet will eventually starve out the Candida. It is difficult, but it will make an immensely important difference. Incorporating coconut oil will also aid in combating the unwanted yeast. After the initial “die off” symptoms of severe headaches, nausea, fatigue, lack of concentration, and irritability; your body will begin to naturally balance itself, and you may very well begin to, finally, feel amazing!