The definition of candida (according to Merriam-Webster):
"any of a genus (Candida) of parasitic fungi that resemble yeasts, occur especially in the mouth, vagina, and intestinal tract where they are usually benign but can become pathogenic, and have been grouped with the imperfect fungi but are now often placed with the ascomycetes; especially : one (C. albicans) causing thrush."
And from About Health (http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets/a/candidadiet.htm):
"Candida albicans is a yeast that normally resides in the body in the digestive tract and vagina. Candida levels are kept in check by the immune system and beneficial probiotic bacteria in the body. If probiotic bacteria are killed by antibiotics or if the immune system becomes weakened, Candida yeast may grow unchecked."
My family, including extended, has candida overgrowth issues. All of my babies have gotten thrush while I breastfed. I have experienced depression off and on for the last 7 years. And recently, in the past 1-2 years, I have been experiencing more intense symptoms. They include:
-hair loss
-acne
-yeast infections
-sugar cravings
-brain fog
-weight gain/inability to lose weight
-rashes on my hands
-anxiety
-forgetfulness
-floaters in my vision/eye spots
-mood swings
-headaches
-allergies
-fatigue
-depression
I went to a doctor about a year ago and had labs done for my thyroid, because we thought that was the problem, but the test showed normal thyroid function. She tested multiple things and everything came back as "normal". I was told I am "perfectly healthy". The list above screams "perfectly healthy", right?!
Things got really out of control when I got Bronchitis a couple months ago. After seeing a doctor, I was given steroids (to help me breathe, not the kind for building muscle) and an antibiotic. After taking the two medications my candida symptoms got more intense.
One thing I would like to point out before going on, The yeast, candida albicans, is not evil. It serves a purpose in the body. Otherwise, it wouldn't be there to begin with. It is when given the chance to overgrow that it starts to cause imbalances in the body. Like when you take antibiotics. It is opportunistic, as are most things in nature.
(Tangent coming) For example, have you ever watched a documentary about the rain forest? There is a battle for space and light there. Say a large tree falls. What are the other plants going to do? They are going to grow as fast, and large, as they can to get the most sunlight possible. The same idea applies to our gut and the things living there. You take an antibiotic. It kills off all the bacteria, good and bad. What are the yeast and other organisms going to do? They fill the space. If we don't replace the good bacteria it will lose it's place in our gut.
Some ways to test for candida overgrowth are a blood test, stool analysis, urine tartaric acid test and a spit test.
The spit test you can do at home. First thing in the morning, before you eat, brush your teeth or drink anything get a glass of room temperature water and spit into the glass. Then every ten to twenty minutes for an hour check on it. If it floats at the top of the water then you probably don't have a candida problem.* If the spit starts to "grow legs", hang in the middle with cloudy specks or sink to the bottom of the glass, you most likely have an overgrowth issue. See the picture below. Do this test several days in a row for accuracy.
(photo provided by http://www.holistichelp.net/candida.html)
*Again, it is best to seek the care of a health care professional if you have concerns about your health.
Since this post has gone on for days already, I'm going to stop here. I will discuss the protocol I am using to restore balance to my system at a later time.
On the sidebar I will add websites that have been helpful for me, if you want to read more about this topic.
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