Everything You Need to Know About Intestinal Candida
Chronic Candida syndrome is defined as several symptoms that do not appear to be related but are actually caused by having too much intestinal Candida. Dr. William G. Crook publicized the syndrome with his two books on the topic, although whether the disease even exists is a topic of much debate among medical doctors. Candida is a type of yeast that occurs in the body naturally, although it appears to cause problems if there is too much of it in the body. Sugar can also increase the production of Candida because yeast actually grows on sugar. Antibiotics have also been known to cause yeast infections of all kinds, from the vaginal yeast infection we usually think of with the term, to other forms like an intestinal Candida infection.
Some doctors believe intestinal Candida can penetrate the wall of the intestines if there is too much of it. They believe the yeast is then absorbed into the rest of the body, activating the immune system and causing fatigue, headaches, mood swings, memory loss, problems concentrating, and sugar cravings. An overgrowth of intestinal Candida has been linked to fibromyalgia, another condition that some doctors don’t believe actually exists.
Dr. Crook recommends starting with a complete patient history. He says patients who exhibit a number of severe allergies may actually be exhibiting symptoms from having too much intestinal Candida. He says patients with severe allergies are the most likely to recover through an antifungal diet. Other ways to diagnose high levels of intestinal Candida include urine tests, blood tests, and stool tests. Doctors can also look for a white coating on the patient’s tongue and run tests on a swab of the white coating.
Most doctors only look for an excess of intestinal Candida in patients whose immune systems are compromised because of AIDS or other diseases. However, the problem with this line of thinking is that if the immune system is weakened by an unknown factor or even by the intestinal Candida itself, then it can be difficult to diagnose.
The goal of treatment for an overgrowth of intestinal Candida is destroying the excess yeast and indentifying the factors that created all the extra yeast in the first place. The first step in treating intestinal Candida is antifungal drugs like Lamisil or Diflucan. It’s also important for patients not to take any kind of antibiotics, hormones, antacids, or anti-ulcer medications, as these can help intestinal Candida proliferate. Patients should also avoid all steroid medications, including topical ointments. Doctors may also prescribe a diet that eliminates complex sugars. Sugars can overpower antifungal medications and allow intestinal Candida to continue spreading. Patients on this special diet will need to increase their dietary proteins and cut back on carbohydrates. Some doctors may even recommend a diet of only protein.
One natural way to help your body fight off an excess of intestinal Candida is to take a probiotic supplement. Probiotics are healthy bacteria, and having the proper balance of them in the intestines is vital for good health. Taking a supplement can help restore that balance.