Candida Syndrome
The Misunderstood and Misdiagnosed Problem of Candida
Conquer Your Candida Once and For All!
Candida Syndrome - Yeast Overgrowth - Ever Heard It?
Every day people come into my clinic with unexplained complex chronic symptoms that are destroying their lives: fibromyalgia, chronic pain and fatigue, IBS and depression. Many times, I will find that one of the underlying causes of their complex health problems is a pathological yeast known as Candida albicans. Even though Candida and yeast overgrowth are quite common many people are unaware that they have it, and their conventional doctor tends to ignore it.
The symptoms of Candida syndrome and yeast overgrowth are as diverse as they are destructive. The variety of symptoms caused by this troublesome yeast range from debilitating digestive problems to chronic pain and fatigue, brain fog, depression, anxiety and multiple skin conditions.Compounding the problem of its complex and diverse symptoms is the fact that it often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed by the conventional doctor. This allows it to continue to grow and form destructive colonies that overwhelm your body’s natural defense system.
What is Candida?
Candida albicans is a microscopic fungus that typically lives in small numbers in the body harmlessly; that is until it gets out of hand. Candida can be found in the mouth, intestinal tract and the vagina. If your immune system is functioning optimally this yeast infection is rarely serious nor does it spread. However, if your beneficial bacteria and/or your immune system are out of balance, Candida infection and its toxins can overwhelm the area and even migrate to other areas the body causing multiple complex symptoms.
How Candida Overgrowth Happens
This yeast overgrowth can be triggered by many things. Primary among these are diets containing sugar and high carbs;these tend to fuel the growth of the yeast in the G.I. tract. Candida loves carbs and sugars and is one of the primary causes of sugar craving. A rundown immune system, often related to nutritional deficiencies, can also make you vulnerable to Candida overgrowth. Taking long term or multiple antibiotics can disrupt your microbiome by destroying the beneficial bacteria leaving you open to an overgrowth of the Candida. Other medications can increase your chances of Candida overgrowth such as birth control pills, estrogen, and steroids like prednisone. Of course, stress can also play its role in affecting your immune system leaving you vulnerable to Candida overgrowth.
Major Signs You Have Candida Overgrowth
A few of the primary signs of Candida syndrome are digestive issues with bloating, reflux, constipation or diarrhea, feeling tired and rundown, chronic pain, brain fog, mood swings, depression, autoimmune disorders, vaginally and rectal itching, strong sugar and carb craving. Most individuals suffer for years without knowing the cause of their health problem or how to overcome them.
How Candida Syndrome Is Properly Diagnosed
There is a lot of misinformation on the Internet especially on how to diagnose Candida syndrome. In nearly 30 years of working with individuals, I have found only a few scientific ways to establish if there is truly Candida overgrowth. The best laboratory tests are: 1) a comprehensive digestive stool analysis with a culture and a microscopic examination for yeast, 2) an organic acid profile looking for the waste products from Candida in the urineor 3) a Candida antibody blood test.
Why is it so important to be diagnostically correct? When you’re chronically sick and suffering you do not want to waste your time and effort drastically changing your diet and taking antimicrobials to kill off something that is not really there causing you problems.
Once Diagnosed How Is It Treated?
As with many health issues the answer lies in the gut. A healthy gastrointestinal tract contains over 5000 different bacterial species, most of them “good” and some of them not so good. With Candida overgrowth, the delicate balance of microorganisms has been disturbed. This allows yeast to invade and colonize your digestive system. This yeast overgrowth can damage your G.I. lining causing your gut to become leaky, leading to chronic inflammation and perhaps even an autoimmune disease. However, utilizing aneffective dietary regime with targeted supplements, you canget rid of the yeast and restore your gut's healthy microbiome.
An individualized personal lifestyle medicine approach is vital in real healing for Candida syndrome. Want to know more now, join me Dr. Greg Fors at one of my FREE “Conquer Your Candida Problems Once and For All” Health workshops on Wednesday, September 27th 7:00 PM or Monday, October 2nd 7:00 PM at the Pain and Brain Healing Center. For directions and to reserve your space call my clinic at 763-862-7100, you can also schedule a free consultation with me.
About Dr. Greg Fors
Dr. Greg Fors, D.C. is a Board-certified Neurologist (IBCN), certified in Applied Herbal Sciences (NWHSU) and acupuncture. As the clinic director of the Pain and Brain Healing Center in Blaine Minnesota he specializes in a functional medicine approach to fibromyalgia, fatigue, brain fog, digestive disorders, depression and anxiety. He is a sought after international lecturer for various post-graduate departments and state associations. Dr. Fors is the author of the highly acclaimed book, “Why We Hurt” available through booksellers everywhere.