Is It the Dreaded Candida?

The condition of the Candida albicans yeast overgrowth is difficult to diagnose and, like a mockingbird, can closely mimic many other disease conditions. Possible indications of Candida are chronic, lingering symptoms, sugar cravings, and a variety of health vagaries that have not resolved despite prolonged treatment attempts. If you are experiencing nagging health complaints, the following questionnaire can help you determine if Candida may be involved:

• Do you use or have you used birth control pills?
• Do you rely or have you relied upon antibiotic treatments to deal with infections, acne, or other long-term conditions?
• Do you rely or have you relied upon steroids such as cortisone to treat pain and/or skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or rashes?
• Do you suffer from repeated incidents of athlete’s foot, “jock itch,” vaginal infections and/or ringworm?
• Do headaches, bloating, depression, fatigue, memory problems, impotence, lack of libido, or muscle ache frequently bother you for reasons you can’t identify?
• Do you crave sweets and treats, pastries or cookies, alcohol, and/or simple carbohydrates such as white bread, bagels or pasta?
• Do you experience any of the following: bad breath, dry mouth, drowsiness, heartburn, mood swings, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, skin rashes, and/or a frequent need to urinate?
• Is your tongue coated with whitish film, possibly thrush?
• If you are a woman, do you experience severe symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and/or do you experience vaginal discharge or repeated yeast infections?

The more yes answers you have to the questions above, the more likely it is that you have some degree of Candida. If so, we highly recommend testing for Candida, and if appropriate, reading through the Candida Cleanse, a diet and supplement plan that requires a six-week to six-month commitment, depending on the severity of the condition.

Testing for Candida: Conventional physicians typically screen for Candida using traditional laboratory tests such as blood tests, which look for antibodies to Candida albicans. While such tests can sometimes be helpful, they can also give false positive readings, since everyone has some degree of Candida albicans in their bodies, and therefore also have antibodies for it. If a large amount of antibodies are found to be present in the blood, however, that is a strong indication that Candida is present. Although holistic practitioners may employ traditional lab tests, they do not rely on them exclusively. To learn about some of the new technology used for diagnosing dis-ease, check in to the Candida section of the Natural Cures website.

So put on your truth cap and answer the test questions honestly. To further investigate, get thee to an alternative healthcare provider.