Though candida is a microscopic organism located in your gut, when this fungus develops in your body at unnatural levels, symptoms can appear anywhere. This is why doctors sometimes have such a hard time diagnosing a candida overgrowth. One of the common symptoms of this yeast infection is a skin disorder. If you suffer from a skin problem of any kind, it could have candida overgrowth as its base contributor.
It is simple for even a very well-trained doctor to misdiagnose a skin condition. Your doctor, with nothing but your health and well-being at heart, recommends treatment of your skin problem. She fully believes that her treatment protocol will work. And, it may very well give you a break from the skin condition you have developed. However, this is like putting a Band-Aid on a cut that never goes away.
Since the underlying problem is not being treated, and only the symptom of the problem is, symptoms may clear up. However, since the nasty candida fungus working behind the scenes to create your skin condition has not been treated, you may be battling the problem for some time.
This is just one example of how an untreated or improperly treated candida overgrowth condition can lead to other problems. At first, your symptoms are minor. You may notice a white coating on your tongue or the roof of your mouth, a sign of oral thrush, one of many other candida-related symptoms. Fail to treat the yeast which is causing this condition, and serious disorders can develop.
Candida-Related Diseases and Disorders
Candida overgrowth is nothing more than an imbalance in your system. A person that eats too many processed foods filled with sugar develops an unhealthy nutritional imbalance. At first this may simply lead to adding a couple of pounds and feeling sluggish. If the diet is not addressed, simple symptoms can turn into huge health problems, such as diabetes, heart conditions and cancer.
Similarly, symptoms which at first seem merely bothersome are a sign that you need to get your candida overgrowth under control. If not, you could develop the following disorders, diseases and unfortunate health conditions.
* Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
* Celiac disease
* Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
* Chronic sinus problems
* Atropic dermatitis, eczema and other skin conditions
* Leaky gut syndrome
* Ulcerative colitis
* Crohn’s disease
* Autism
* Adrenal fatigue
* Manic-depression
* ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)
* Schizophrenia
* Any number of autoimmune disorders
Look at the incredibly diverse number of conditions that can develop from an overabundance of a simple yeast. The chameleon-like ability of candida to disguise itself as other problems often leads to misdiagnosis, as mentioned earlier.
This in turn can create a situation where the improper treatment for candida purging is employed. Symptoms are continually treated, the cause of those symptoms, a yeast infection, is not treated, and both doctor and patient are frustrated and concerned as more serious disorders like those just mentioned begin to develop.
This occurs because as many as 70% of all human beings in modern societies are affected by candida. That eyebrow-raising finding was reported by researchers at Rice University in Texas in the United States. Ask any random 10 individuals if they have some type of health problem, and odds are at least 7 of them will respond that they do.
In many cases their conditions, whether mild or extreme, can be linked back to a candida overgrowth.
Keeping your immune system strong is the key to foiling the candida fungus. This means steering clear of fast foods and processed foods, eating more natural foods, like fruits, vegetables, nuts and berries, and drinking lots of water. You also want to have a physical checkup every year, just to make sure that all your important health metrics are in line, and you are not contributing to a candida overgrowth.
Resources:
The candida Cure: Yeast, Fungus & Your Health – The 90-Day Program to Beat candida & Restore Vibrant Health available at https://www.amazon.com/candida-Cure-Program-Restore-Vibrant/dp/0977344614/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483024199&sr=1-1&keywords=candida
https://www.candidasupport.org/resources/candida-related-diseases/
The Effects of Candida On Mental Health by William Crook, M.D.
A candida overgrowth in your body can easily go overlooked. First, by the time you develop noticeable symptoms from a yeast infection, your body’s internal systems have been compromised for several days, weeks and in some cases, months. Secondly, Candida overgrowth very sneakily displays itself in symptoms that are related to a multitude of other health problems.
Because of both of those reasons, candida can lead to very serious health conditions. By the time it is noticed, or properly diagnosed, it has had a chance to do serious harm to your body in a number of ways. This is why it is so important that you diagnose a yeast infection early. How can you tell if you have candida, or some other condition? There are several candida testing processes to choose from.
The Spit Test
The spittle test should be employed immediately if you believe you have developed some type of yeast infection. It is extremely simple, you can perform it at home, and no medical professionals need to be involved. The candida spit test can tell you in an instant if there is the possibility you have developed a candida overgrowth. If you test positive, contact a physician and move on to the treatment phase.
The problem is that the spit test is very unreliable. Even so, you should perform this simple procedure at home if you believe you have experienced a candida outbreak. It only takes a few seconds, can be performed privately and discreetly, and is a good way to catch a yeast infection in its early stages.
Here is what you do.
As you can imagine from the name, you are going to observe your saliva. The first thing in the morning when you rise, spit into a glass full of clear, clean water, preferably at room temperature. You want to do this before you eat breakfast, drink your motivating “cuppa Joe”, or brush your teeth.
The idea is to get a picture of your saliva. Look at your saliva in the glass of water. Check every 20 minutes for the next hour for the following signs of candida.
* Legs or strings hanging down from your saliva.
* A collection of your spit at the bottom of the glass, with a heavy looking consistency.
* Specks and particles, cloudy and suspended somewhere in the middle of the water.
* Debris sinking to the bottom of the glass.
These could be signs that you have a candida overgrowth problem. However, further testing is required to support or refute this diagnosis.
Organic Acid Test
Problems with candida can be detected through an analysis of your urine. Specific waste products are created by the candida albicans fungus. The presence of these in your urine means there’s a good chance a candida overgrowth has occurred. You can perform this type of candida urine test at home, or consult your doctor.
Comprehensive Stool Analysis
Your stool can tell your doctor a lot about the level of health and well-being you enjoy. In some cases you can do this yourself at home, sending off stool samples to a testing company who will analyze them in the lab. In most cases, you will work with your doctor to provide him or her a stool sample which will then be checked.
This is a very reliable testing process, which identifies if you are deficient of any “good bacteria”, and if there are any inflammation markers or an overabundance of the candida albicans fungus, or other potentially problematic pathogenic microorganisms.
Candida Antibodies Test
Your immune system will attack a candida infestation one of three ways. Three different antibodies, IgG, IgA, and IgM, are produced to combat candida overgrowth and the yeast infections that result from that condition. A blood sample is taken, and though this is a quick and simple process, it is not quite as reliable as a stool analysis. However, this can provide a much more reliable diagnosis than the simple spit test.
Resources:
https://owndoc.com/candida-albicans/spit-test-candida-diagnosis-unreliable/
https://www.thecandidadiet.com/testingforcandida.htm
https://www.thecandidadiet.com/testingforcandida.htm#Lab
Many fungal, bacterial and gastrointestinal experts believe that candida is at the root of most health disorders, infections and diseases. This is because when candida flourishes to the point of causing symptoms that is a sign that your natural defense systems are down. Your immune system is no longer properly functioning, and health problems crop up.
The candida yeast infection is sometimes tough to diagnose.
A lot of the symptoms this yeast overgrowth produces look like signs of other illnesses or infections. The doctors that fully understand how pervasive yeast infections are in the human population will be the first to tell you that most physicians and health care providers are not “up to speed” when it comes to diagnosing candida as the underlying cause of so many health problems.
When you look at many of the symptoms listed below, you can see why the candida fungus is often overlooked as the cause of those symptoms. Belching and bloating might be occurring because you just ate a very gassy meal. Persistent heartburn might because by a reaction to a certain food, and frequent headaches can develop from a number of health conditions.
Bearing that in mind, check out the lengthy list of candida symptoms below. If you only display 1 or 2 of the following signs, you may have nothing to worry about. If several of these candida signs are present, however, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately to perform blood and stool tests to see exactly how pervasive candida overgrowth is in your body.
Candida Symptoms Related to Digestion in Your Gut
* Acid Reflux
* Belching, bloating and flatulence
* Colitis
* Constipation
* Crohn’s Disease
* Diarrhea
* Difficulty digesting foods
* Food allergies and food cravings
* Indigestion
* Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
* Leaky Gut Syndrome
* Nausea
* Heartburn most of the time
* Stomach pain and discomfort
* Sugar and junk food Cravings
* Ulcers
Candida Symptoms That Affect Your Brain
* ADD and ADHD
* Autism
* Behavioral disorders
* Confusion, memory loss and “brain fog”
* Depression
* Hyperactivity
* Irritability
* Learning problems
* Memory loss
* Migraine headaches
* Mood swings
* Panic
* Poor concentration and an inability to reason
* chronic stress and anxiety
* Unexplained anger
Signs of Candida in the Mouth (Oral Thrush)
* Bad breath
* Burning tongue
* Canker sores
* Dry throat
* Mouth blisters
* Sore or bleeding gums
* Sore throat
* White coating on your tongue, or the roof or sides of your mouth
Respiratory Signs of Candida
* Asthma
* Bronchitis
* Chronic cough
* Chronic sinus problems
* Congestion
* Excessive mucous
* Nasal itching and allergies
* Pneumonia
* Rhinitis
* Sneezing and wheezing frequently
Skin Symptoms
* Acne
* Athlete’s foot
* Diaper rash
* Eczema
* General itchiness
* Itchy, purple or red patches on the skin
* Psoriasis
* Scaly or itchy skin
* Sores and rashes on the skin
Urinary Candida Signs
* Bed wetting
* Bladder and kidney infections
* Burning urination
* Dribbling, or lack of urinary pressure
* “Having to go” frequently, urgently
Reproductive, Sex-Related Symptoms for Females
* Abnormal vaginal discharge
* Frequent periods
* Genital rashes
* Irregular menstruation
* Loss of interest in sex
* Menstrual cramping
* Pain during sex
* Pain or burning when urinating
* Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
* Sexual Dysfunction
* Too light or too heavy flow
* Vaginal yeast infections, the most common symptom of candida
* Vaginal burning, itching and discharge
Reproductive, Sex-Related Symptoms for Males
* Candida Balanitis, inflammation of the end of the penis
* Chronic prostate problems
* Genital rashes
* Impotence
* Loss of interest in sex
* Pain during intercourse
* Pain or burning when passing urine
* Premature ejaculation
* Sexual dysfunction
Other Candida Symptoms
* Arthritis
* Celiac disease
* Chronic allergies
* Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
* Diabetes
* Fibromyalgia
* Frequent ear infections
* Heart palpitations
* Hypoglycemia
* Hypothyroidism
* Immune dysfunction
* Irregular heartbeat
* Joint pain
* Lupus
* Multiple Sclerosis
* Muscle pain, generally in the lower back and neck
* Discolored, thick and flaky nails
* Problems sleeping
* Problems gaining or losing weight
* Vision problems
Resources:
https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2015-12-23/5-signs-youre-suffering-from-candida-overgrowth-and-what-you-can-do-about-it
https://www.candida-albicans-cure.com/candida-albicans-symptoms.html
Some people seem to never get sick. Others are perennially complaining of health problems, from mild to serious. What makes one person more susceptible to illness than another? In many cases, the difference is nothing more than a problem with a person’s immune system.
Your immune system is the way your body fights to keep you healthy. When you eat right, drink plenty of water, get a lot of rest and exercise regularly, your immune system has the best chance at doing its job properly. It fights off infection and disease, your body and mind stay healthy and strong, and you are very seldom if ever sick or ailing.
When that same healthy immune system gets sick, or becomes weak for any reason, your natural defense barriers are lowered. Viruses, pathogens and fungal infections storm the gates of your defenses and in this weakened condition, your body’s defenders against illness, infection and disease can be defeated.
This provides us with a very good picture of exactly who is most susceptible to developing a candida overgrowth infection.
Candida Is Naturally Present in Everyone
People sometimes think that the candida microorganism is a bad thing. Actually, it naturally occurs in every man woman and child. It operates with the flora in your gut and trillions of other microorganisms to keep your body healthy and strong. That is, this is the situation when your good bacteria ensures that candida yeast does not grow unchecked.
As mentioned above, sometimes a person’s immune system becomes weak. When this happens candida takes advantage. It begins to reproduce and spread. Once it escapes your intestinal tract and enters the bloodstream, it can move throughout the body, presenting symptoms from head to toe, internally and externally.
Understanding that the presence of candida overgrowth is a sign of a compromised immune system tells us exactly who most at risk for developing yeast infections is. The following people are more at risk than average for developing some type of candida infection.
* HIV/AIDS patients
* Anyone that is hospitalized, or is on antibiotics
* Newborns and toddlers
* Someone undergoing an organ transplant
* Cancer patients
* Anyone taking medications that put the immune system at risk
* Stem cell transplant patients
* The elderly
* A person using pharmaceutical birth-control products
* People with high levels of heavy metals in their body, such as lead, arsenic and cadmium
* Anyone who uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), especially long-term
* Those who suffer from social anxiety disorders which lead to frequent stress
* Children who grow up in an environment which lacks love and nurturing
* Individuals exposed to poor air/water quality
* people who receive insufficient exposure to sunlight, which leads to a vitamin D deficiency
* People with autoimmune disorders
* Those who practice unprotected sex
* Men, women and children who eat a lot of processed and fast foods
* People that don’t drink enough water
* Those that consume too much alcohol, and abuse recreational drugs
* Sedentary individuals that do not enjoy physical activity or exercise regularly
* men, women or children with high levels of stress and anxiety
As you can see from the wide range of risks for candida overgrowth development, the underlying problem is always the same – a compromised immune system.
Candida is often seen in the very young and the very old. This is because those natural states of human development are usually accompanied by a less than optimal immune system. Poor lifestyle habits, such as over-consumption of alcohol, poor sleep patterns or diet, can raise the risk that you will develop candida overgrowth as well.
Some people are genetically predisposed to having a weak immune system. Others exercise infrequently or never, and get little strenuous physical activity, and this also raises candida risk. High levels of stress and even long-term relationship problems mean that candida overgrowth symptoms are possible.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/infections/index.html
https://www.modernherbalist.com/influences.html
If you are experiencing candida, you are not enjoying the operetta composed by Leonard Bernstein, and based on the novel of the same name by French writer, philosopher and historian Voltaire. One of the arias in Candide, the operatic piece of music, not the yeast infection known as candida, is entitled “Glitter and Be Gay”.
You probably won’t be feeling gay and happy if the candida albicans fungal infection grows out of control in your body. Before you can attend the opera and enjoy the musical masterpiece that is Voltaire’s Candide, you have to buy tickets and dress up. You may even read the original novella or the adaptation by screenwriter and playwright Hugh Wheeler, just so you know what is going on at the opera.
The same is true with a candida outbreak. There are certain things that you do, intentionally or not, before the yeast infections that are a sign of candida overgrowth are experienced. Put very simply, when your natural defense system is weakened, you are more susceptible to contracting any disease or illness. This is true in the case of candida, a naturally occurring microorganism in your body.
Candida – The Problematic Yeast
There are things growing inside your body right now that, when you are healthy, pose no health concern. There are literally trillions of microorganisms in your gut alone. When your body is happy and healthy, all of these interrelated, microscopic components lead to proper mental and physical health.
A problem can occur when candida albicans, usually a harmless yeast, is allowed to grow out of control. Living in every human body, men, women, children and the elderly alike, when overgrowth occurs, candida becomes “an opportunistic pathogen”. It takes advantage of any disability or weakness in your body, and can present itself in a multitude of symptoms.
By definition, candida is a type of fungus. It exists in your gastrointestinal tract. However, as with most other human illness and disease, even though it lives in your gut, it can produce symptoms and health problems throughout your body. In your mouth, throat, digestive system and genitals, candida overgrowth can become problematic and symptomatic.
This commensal organism (one that can benefit from another, separate organism without causing positive or negative changes to that organism) creates byproducts called mycotoxins. When a candida overgrowth has occurred, these mycotoxins begin to attack specific systems, processes or organs in your body.
Until this overabundance of candida yeast is treated, the relentless mycotoxin attack occurs 24 hours a day, every minute and every second. This single-celled organism can even change forms, becoming a pathogenic fungus that confuses doctors because of the myriad of symptoms it creates.
How Does Candida Move from Your Gut into Other Parts of the Body?
You may be wondering how a microorganism in your gastrointestinal system can affect multiple parts of your body. This is because the candida fungus takes root in your intestinal lining. In the case of candida overgrowth, this creates a leaky gut, often called leaky gut syndrome, which is recognized by porous openings in the lining of your gut. This allows the candida overgrowth and mycotoxin byproducts to enter your bloodstream. From there, it is a short trip to any part of your body.
How common is candida, even though many people have never heard the word? More problematic in women than men, candida albicans “… is the most common human fungal pathogen, causing both mucosal and systemic infections, particularly in immunocompromised people.” That medical jargon from the journal “Science” simply means that if your immune system is weakened or compromised, candida overgrowth can occur, displaying itself in a multitude of symptoms.
References:
https://www.amymyersmd.com/2015/11/10-signs-you-have-candida-overgrowth-and-what-to-do-about-it/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2486/