Signs, symptoms & indicators of Yeast / Candida Infection: Symptoms - Allergy   (High) intolerance of sugars Counter-indicators:   (High) tolerance of sugars Symptoms - Bowel Movements   Bowel movement changes   Mucus in stools Symptoms - Environment   (High) cigarette smoke sensitivity   (High) chemical sensitivity Symptoms - Food - Preferences   Sugar/sweet craving   Craving and/craving but not eating wheat Symptoms - Gas-Int - General   Meal-related bloating   General flatulence   Difficulty swallowing   If you have fungal overgrowth in your esophagus, symptoms may include pain and difficulty in swallowing.   Pain with swallowing   If you have fungal overgrowth in your esophagus, symptoms may include pain and difficulty in swallowing.   (Regular/frequent) unexplained nausea   Anal itching at night or anal itching Counter-indicators:   Absence of meal-related bloating Symptoms - General   Having a CFS diagnosis or history of CFS diagnosis Symptoms - Head - Mouth/Oral   Coughing up yellowish/coughing up/coughing up whitish curds   If you have fungal overgrowth in your esophagus, symptoms may include pain and difficulty in swallowing. It is also possible that you may be able to cough up white curds which are probably part of these patches located in your esophagus.   Coated tongue   A white, coated tongue is a sign and symptom of what doctors call Oral Thrush. Candidiasis of the mouth and throat, also known as a "thrush" or oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), is a fungal infection that occurs when there is overgrowth of fungus called Candida. Candida is normally found on skin or mucous membranes. However, if the environment inside the mouth or throat becomes imbalanced, Candida can multiply. People with white tongues may have painless, white patches in their mouths and throats. Symptoms - Head - Nose   Allergic rhinitis Symptoms - Metabolic   Low energy/stamina Symptoms - Mind - General   Spacey/unreal feelings Symptoms - Nails   Deformed toenails Symptoms - Reproductive - General   Vaginal itching   Genital sores Symptoms - Respiratory   Discomfort caused by mold/mustiness Symptoms - Sleep   Drowsiness after meals

More About Candida: Thanks to www.diagnose-me.com

Candida albicans is an opportunistic yeast that normally inhabits the mouth, throat, intestines and genitourinary tract of most humans and is usually considered to be a normal part of the bowel flora (the organisms that coexist with us in our lower digestive tract). However, it may become pathogenic when there is a disturbance in the balance of flora, or a debilitation of the host from other causes. The job of Candida albicans is to recognize and destroy harmful bacteria: Without it, we would be defenseless against many pathogenic bacteria. In a healthy person, Candida albicans numbers in the millions and is controlled by a properly-functioning immune system and "friendly" bacteria. However, if the number of friendly bacteria is decreased, the immune system is weakened, or other conditions for yeast proliferation occur (diet high in sugar, improper pH in the digestive system) Candida albicans will shift from yeast form to mycelial fungal form and start to invade the body.

In the yeast state, Candida is a non-invasive, sugar-fermenting organism, while in fungal state it is invasive and can produce rhizoids, very long root-like structures. Rhizoids can penetrate mucosa or intestinal walls, leaving microscopic holes and allowing toxins, undigested food particles and bacteria and yeast to enter the bloodstream. This condition is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome and that is an explanation for many food and environmental allergies.

If left untreated, Candida can cause other diseases that may even be lethal, for example by entering the brain or bloodstream. Persons with severely compromised immune system can die from blood poisoning known as Candida Septicemia.

Systemic Candida Overgrowth is a condition that occurs when Candida breaks the intestinal lining and enters the bloodstream. From there, it can travel to various parts of your body and multiply. The symptoms include: muscle aches, sore/stiff joints, fatigue, problems with particular organs, recurrent urinary tract infections, serious illnesses (Asthma, ADHD, Diabetes, MS, Arthritis, CFS, Fibromyalgia).

Candida can be a difficult condition to diagnose, some treatments are less than effective, and recovery can be prolonged. However, when candida is a problem (whether lab testing confirms it or not) and treatment is effective, there can be great health gains. Attempts at diagnosis are made through questionnaires, analyzing a history of causative factors, blood tests, and stool tests. Some doctors use a questionnaire only because of lab test confusion.

Transmission
Candida fungi can not become airborne and therefore Candida can not be transmitted by air. Sexual intercourse, deep kissing and oral sex can transmit Candida to/from the genitals or mouth from one person to another. If the other person is healthy, his immune system will destroy Candida cells and prevent infection. However, if his immune system is impaired or he/she eat lots of sugar and carbohydrates then Candida can proliferate.

Treatment
To cure Candida albicans it is essential to find what caused the Candida overgrowth. If the cause is not found and treated, it is possible that treatment will not be effective and/or that Candida will recur. The most common causes of Candida albicans overgrowth are:

A comprehensive approach to presumed or documented candida should include:

• Eliminate the chronic use of antibiotics, steroids, immune-suppressing drugs, and birth control pills (unless there is absolute medical necessity).
• Follow the candida control diet suggestions given below.
• Enhance digestion. Check for hypochlorhydria and pancreatic adequacy.
• Enhance immune function. Consider thymus-containing products.
• Enhance liver function.
• Use nutritional and herbal supplements that help control yeast overgrowth and promote a healthy bacterial flora. Many combination preparations are available, and rotating products gives you the opportunity to see which are the most effective and reduces the likelihood of the yeast becoming resistant. Therapy may need to continue for 6 months or longer. Acidophilus supplementation has been shown to be ineffective in candidal infections when used by itself, but can be helpful if a deficiency exists or could be helpful when used in combination with other agents.

Suggested diets are a variation on these basics:

• Avoid sugars. Some doctors strongly recommend you cannot have ANY sugar or grains at all on a program and should also eliminate all fruit until the symptoms resolve. Others are less strict and suggest avoiding foods high in simple carbohydrates such as refined sugars (sucrose, fructose, corn syrup), fruit juices, honey, and maple syrup. Limit intake of high carbohydrate vegetables such as potatoes, corn, yams, and parsnips. How strict you need to be will have to be discovered.
• Avoid foods with a high content of yeast or mold including alcoholic beverages, cheeses, dried fruits, melons, and peanuts.
• Avoid milk and milk products with a high content of lactose.
• Avoid all known or suspected allergic foods.

Foods that can be eaten freely include all vegetables, protein sources (legumes, fish, poultry, and meat), and whole grains. Two to three one-cup servings of the following fruit can be eaten per day as well: apples, blueberries, cherries, other berries, and pears.

The most severe cases seem to be associated with the presence of mercury amalgam fillings.

Documenting and diagnosing candidal overgrowth can be very confusing as different doctors interpret lab tests differently. Despite this confusion, many people treated properly for a suspected infection improve significantly over time. Reading a book such as Dr. Crook's The Yeast Connection can be helpful in understanding the condition.