These days, candida albicans is quickly becoming a well-known, recognized medical syndrome. Unfortunately, even though it is a common occurrence, it is especially tricky to pin down because it manifests in so many different systems of the body - nervous, immune, genitourinary, endocrine, gastrointestinal - you name it.
Normally, candida is not a problem as it lives harmoniously in the digestive and vaginal tract of women. However, when there is
an OVERGROWTH of this yeast
a WEAKENED immune system, or
a DAMAGED intestinal tract,
the body will start to absorb the toxins of the yeast and disrupt normal body processes. This is what we want to avoid!
Sometimes people will feel “generally sick” - they feel symptoms such as fatigue, allergies, immune system malfunctions, depression, digestive disturbances and more.
Diagnosis of Candida
There are a few tests such as the “spit test”, “stool test”, “muscle testing” or “live blood cell analysis”, but the most useful method to determine whether you have candida is to go by symptoms. The tests are not always accurate, but the symptoms lead you in the right direction. If you have candida, you will not necessarily have symptoms from all the categories.
General Symptoms:
Chronic fatigue
Decreased libido
General feeling of being unwell
Lack of energy
Gastrointestinal symptoms:
Thrush
Bloating
Gas
Intestinal cramps
Rectal itching
Altered bowel function
Genitourinary system symptoms:
Vaginal yeast infection
Frequent bladder infections
Endocrine system symptoms:
Menstrual complaints
Nervous system symptoms:
Depression
Irritability
Inability to concentrate
Immune system symptoms:
Allergies
Chemical sensitivities
Low immune function
Other symptoms:
Cravings for high carb foods
Stay posted for our next blog post next week to discuss the causes of candida.
If you are interested in seeing what the diet for a candida cleanse looks like, you can take a look here for a list of foods to add. avoid and how to heal digestion. This ebook is a great one for anyone who struggles with bloat, skin flare ups, IBS or blood sugar imbalances.
If you are ready to work with a nutritionist, you can book with me at the end fo the month! We’ll work together through the cleanse to ensure you are doing it safely and correctly. If you don’t have candida but do struggle with severe bloat, I would love to work with you as well!
-Jass and Grace (follow Grace on instagram at @gracetien.ca , she posts delicious recipes and is incredibly knowledgable in this field!).