Candida tests

[Pailani]

Those online tests aren't accurate, are they? Questions like, "Do you crave bread?" "Do you have brain fog?" "Are you tired all the time?" I mean, everybody has those problems, don't they? Every women I know craves bread and is tired all the time. They just want to make you believe you have it so you'll buy whatever product they're selling . . . right?

Since starting raw, I'm itching all over. I remember a friend had candida and that was what happened to her, she got a rash that itched all over. So I took a couple of online questionnaire/tests and they're saying I have a pretty good case. Are those tests accurate? Does anyone know of a reliable test?

And, if I actually have it, what do I do about it?? I should stop eating yeast, which is pretty easy since I'm on a raw bread-free diet. But should I stop eating fruit? Won't that be hard on a raw diet?

[flutterfly]

The test sounds good to me. It seems to asking the right questions. No, not everyone has these problems.

[askcassyfirst]

Your question is a commonly asked one. I would suggest that you look for an extensive questionairre, there are some that ask quite detailed questions. My company provides them to our clients, I can send you one, but you can probably find one online or in books too. However, I agree with Flutterfly, not everyone has the symtoms, not all of them that is. And, there is also the thought that perhaps MOST people eating the SAD diet, who are suffering from impaired digestion, taking antacids, eating lots of sugary foods, having heavy metal toxcity, etc, just might all have candida overgrowth! :) (Personally, I wouldn't be surprised.)

I do however, think it is better that we qualify this idea of "having candida." Reality is, we DO ALL HAVE it. That is the difficulty with "diagnosing" candida thru medical tests. Candida albicans is one of many yeasts that inhabit the human digestive tract. (Here I go with spouting my trivia...but I learned this thru my life's work:) ) IN a healthy bowel, the candida albicans is found in ratios of one candida organism per one million bacteria. (It happens to be a large bugger.) When the system has become compromised, for many different reasons, the candida populations grow out of proportion. THAT is really what is going one when a person says they "suffer from candida."

As the candida becomes chronically overgrown, it grows "roots" or rhizoids, which pierce the bowel wall causing "leaky gut" and allowing the bacteria and candida yeast (amoung other stuff) to gain access to the blood stream. Candida then is considered SYSTEMIC. Systemic candida infections can cause the worst symtoms. Thrush in the mouth, skin infections and rashes such as tinea, jock itch, etc. The brain fog you mentioned is due to the alcoholic byproduct of the candida fermentation of sugars...you can be drunk without even drinking...The craving of sugars is actually the candida BEGGING for more food. (It can trick your system.) These are prounounced symtoms, not just a mental addiction. That is why taking a well composed candida symptomology questionairre is important.

Just to clarify, there are some stool tests that can be done to determine the presence of candida, but they are often costly, and since the candida is naturally in our stool anyway....well, you see the point. Usually medical doctors will prescribe nystatin or diflucan for yeast infections. So, yes, there are processes for medical diagnosis of this condition. Most times, however, since many of Candida symtoms respond so well to dietary, lifestyle and herbal treatments, people will try those first before commiting to expensive lab tests.

JUst my thoughts.

Cassy. :)

[Pailani]

I've never had a yeast infection, and I've never had thrush even though I've nursed four babies for an extended period of time (and I'm currently nursing). That's why it never even occurred to me that I might be a candidate. Aren't those blatant manifestations of yeast imbalance the classic symptoms for candida? Can a person have candida and not have yeast infections?

[flutterfly]

Candida is yeast infection.

[askcassyfirst]

Candida is a yeast, so a yeast infection, is when candida is 'infectious'. It can be locally, say in a vaginal yeast infection. (That is another place where candida albicans normally occur.) When the Ph is off, the candida multiply, as they do when your body ecology is "off". A local infection can happen in the stomach if your HCl is low, and then they migrate up into the mouth thru the esophagus casusing oral thrush

A systemic infection can cause the local infection if the candida "migrate". You can get a candida infection in your sinus, on your skin, under your toe nails, in your ears, on your scalp, etc. So when you ask can you have candida, and not have a "yeast infection," perhaps you are not understanding the ramifications of a candida infestation...Remember, we all have candida albicans in us & on us. We can have it in our bowels, even growing out of proportion to what it should be, and not "see" an external manifestation. But it is still there.

There is an awesome book called "THe Body Ecology Diet." Written by Donna Gates. I highly recommend it if you are concerned about candida and yeast. She has a great website too. You could probably find it at the library. The idea she expresses is that our body has its own eco system. And we should take care to make sure it is in balance. When yeast becomes an issue, it means our ecology is off kilter.

Hope that helps.

Cassy :)

[Pailani]

OK, it's starting to make sense. I'll try less sweet fuits (no more apple/banana smoothies!) and try veggie juice in the morning instead.

A couple days ago I posted about not having the great results that I've seen others have. Maybe when I get my body ecology back in balance I'll start seeing more results. Who would ever have thought that a healthy raw diet would bring out this kind of thing that may have been hidden for years?

Thanks to both of you!

[sweetgoddess]

Last night at Victoria Boutenko's talk she spoke about candida. (none of this is a direct quote by the way)
She talked about how everything inside you fro your organs to your cells etc become coated with oil from too much fat in the diet. The oil also coats the sugar molecules preventing them from breaking down and the candida feast on them. She said try a fat fast, not a fruit fast for candida.
I know nothing about candida, just wanted to share this line of reasoning and see what you thought?

[chilove]

Doug Graham also blames candida on too much fat. It seems like it would be way easier to give up overt fats than fruit!

[EmmaBlue]

Leslie,

The same thing happened to me. I never experienced all the amazing things promised by the raw diet and I developed candida symptoms after being raw for a year, and my acupuncturist said it was all the fruit sugar. Then I read Dr. Gabriel Cousens book "Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine" book (he has been a raw foodist for over 25 years) and he recommends a raw diet of minimal fruit. He says in the book that sugar is the worst thing for your body, including high gylemic fruit. I have had raw foodists argue with me that fruit is "the perfect food of man" and you can never eat too much, and I suffered from that lousy advice! I think you will love Dr. Cousens' book, so check it out if you can.

much love,
Emma

[Punky]

Cassy did such an awesome job at explaining this!
I think the "drunk" analogy was pretty right on. My son starts acting
really silly when his yeast is to high. Starts laughing for no apparent
reason at all. Uncontrollable.
The behaviour specialist that use to work with him
noticed this right off and said a lot of kids she works with this happens
from the yeast. She can see it in their eyes too. A lot of kids like him
have compramised immune systems and they are trying to figure out
why they have yeast overgrowths. The top running theory
is from toxins in the environment (esp. the mercury that use to be in
vaccines).
Sounds like I need to hook up with Cassy :D she is a wealth of knowledge
that I could benefit from!
I think candida overgrowths in adults have different presentations and syptoms. Also my son never showed any signs of the yeast before we found out. So one doesn't have to have a vaginal yeast infection or thrush to
have an overabundance in their bodies. I personally think everyone should
be taking probiotics in our society today. Just my humble opinion.

[Punky]

Then I read Dr. Gabriel Cousens book "Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine" book (he has been a raw foodist for over 25 years) and he recommends a raw diet of minimal fruit. much love,
Emma

I've been wanting to get that book for some time. I will definately have to get that now after your recommendation! Thanks Emma

[Pailani]

Thank you, Punky and Emma.

So, if I was to get just one book, should it be Gabriel Cousens Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine, or Donna Gates Body Ecology Diet? I ordered The Yeast Connection last night as soon as I realized this was probably my issue; it should be here within a week.

I've read on different sites that diet alone can't work, you have to follow a strict diet in conjunction with anti-fungals and probiotics. This site http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/4966/ recommends Formula SF-722, and if I have to take something, this at least looks affordable. But I'd prefer to just control it with diet.

The lady at this page http://www.shazzie.com/raw/transformation/christy.shtml says this: "I went 100% all raw foods: fruits, nuts, seeds and veggies; and I havent turned back since. I had one week of candida symptoms but stuck with it and have had nothing since (after months of trying to get rid of it before!)."

So maybe what I'm experiencing is just temporary symptoms that will go away as I continue raw? Still, I think I'd better watch the fruit.

More, this is from this FAQ:
http://www.rawfamily.com/faq.html
"Many people mistakenly think that Candida is caused by sugary foods, or fermented foods. It has been discovered by an English professor, Rosalyn Gruben, that the real cause is fat. Some people are very sensitive to any fats, even fats coming from nuts, avocados or the best quality oils. For this reason, she recommends to go for one or two days per week without any oil, avocados, seeds, nuts, crackers or anything that has fat. That is very effective way of dealing with Candida. I know many people who completely got rid of their symptoms."

So, in addition to nixing fruit, I could do a day or two each week with no nuts, at least temporarily. Hopefully this won't effect my nursing toddler.