Guest post – What is Candida? Do I Have It?

Guest Post from Paula of Whole Intentions

Have you ever wondered if you were totally crazy. Not like, “I feel a little crazy today”, but more like, “Am I totally going off the deep end?!” It’s easy to feel like that when you’ve gone to the doctor over and over for health symptoms that don’t seem to make any sense. Every prescription, cream, and over the counter solution they give you just takes more money from your pocket without giving you more than a short-term fix.

They begin to suggest it’s all in your head. . . and you begin to wonder if you really are a crazy. . .Well, I’m here to tell you that you aren’t crazy.

As far as I know anyway. 😉

Do you suffer from one or more of these symptoms:

• acne
• anxiety
• arthritis
• asthma
• athletes’ foot
• brain fog
• cold hands or feet
• colds
• colic
• constipation
• cradle cap
• cravings for sweets
• cysts
• diabetes
• diaper rash
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• eczema
• fatigue
• food sensitivities or reactions
• hay fever
• headaches
• heart burn
• heart palpitations
• hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• hypothyroidism
• insomnia
• irritability
• joint pain
• lack of appetite
• migraines
• mood swings
• muscle aches and pain
• panic attacks
• poor memory and concentration
• pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
• psoriasis
• rashes and dry red or white patches
• respiratory problems
• sinus congestion
• thrush (white coating in mouth or vagina)

I’m not a doctor, and I don’t play one on T.V. . .but if you’ve answered yes to more than one of these, I’d ask if you might have candida.

What is Candida

Candida is a toxic, yeast-like organism that 90% of people have in their digestive system. Most of the time it’s not an issue because it’s generally kept in check by good bacteria. The trouble starts when candida begins to grow out of control and can quickly start a myriad of problems. Kinda sounds like a fuzzy little green creature in a bad sci-fi movie from the 70’s, doesn’t it? I don’t want you to think candida is the cause of every illness known to man. It’s not. But, it’s enough of a menace to deserve a substantial amount of consideration.

How do you know if you have candida?

Some of the common causes for candida overgrowth is:

• antacids
• antibiotics
• anti-inflammatory drugs
• anti-ulcer medications
• carbohydrates
• environmental toxins
• foods with starch
• foods with yeast
• hormone replacement therapy
• oral contraceptives
• over-the-counter medicines
• prescription drugs
• radiation
• smoking
• steroids
• sugar in all forms

An easy way to check for candida is by taking the Yeast Infection Evaluation Test which can be specialized for men, women, or children. This simple questionnaire was put together by Dr. Bakker ND, author of Candida Crusher. Another option is this simple home test kit that tests your blood and gives you a reading within minutes.

What if I Do Have Candida?

If your tests are positive, you’re next step is to take your health back and run up and down the street yelling that you aren’t crazy after all!

Um. Scratch that idea. I don’t think that will help.

Instead, start by treating your candida with natural remedies and quality probiotics rather than creams, drugs, and prescriptions. In fact, those only encourage candida to grow.

The next step, and even more important, is to change your diet. Yeah. I said the word diet. What you eat is one of THE most important changes you can make. Candida thrives off unhealthy foods like sugar and starchy carbohydrates. Those foods make it rub its little green hands together and create chaos in its wake.

The Sweeter Side of Candida

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Need recipes that will help you stay healthy, lose weight, and fight candida?

We’d like to invite you to our Facebook Party on November 1st, 2013 at 9pm EST – 6 pm PAC

We’re giving away:

• 1 copy of Healing Candida with Food

• 1 copy of The Sweeter Side of Candida

Plus over $1,000+ in prizes!

Join us on Nov. 1st and bring a friend! This cookbook is *not* only for those who suffer from candida. It’s for anyone who wants to lose weight and/or stay healthy too!

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