Yeast Infection (Candidiasis)

About Yeast Infection

Candidiasis is the overgrowth of the yeast Candida Albicans.  Normally this yeast/fungus lives in healthy balance with other bacteria and yeasts in the body; however, certain conditions can cause it to multiply, weakening the immune system and causing problems throughout the body.  

 

Symptoms include constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, headaches, rectal itching, poor memory and poor concentration, mood swings and irritability, PMS, fatigue and drowsiness, joint and muscle pain, food and chemical sensitivities, depression and anxiety, and sugar and alcohol cravings.  This is not an exhaustive list. 

 

It’s almost always advisable to consult a nutrition consultant so that an individual treatment programme can be devised.  If that’s not possible, buy a good cookery book or two on Candida and follow the following diet and supplement programme.  Do not be surprised if you sometimes feel worse before you feel better once you are on a programme– this can be a sign of candida ‘die-off’, and can often be avoided by working closely with an experienced nutrition consultant.

 

The following Candida questionnaire was designed by Dr William G Crook and was first published in The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough.  This book is available from this site.  It lists factors in your medical history that promote the growth of Candida Albicans (Section A), and symptoms commonly found in individuals with yeast-connected illnesses (Sections B and C).

 

Click the appropriate box.  Your total score will appear in the box at the end of the questionnaire. 

HISTORY  

 

1.Have you taken antibiotics for acne for

1 month or longer?------------------------- 

 

2.Have you, at any time in your life,

taken other antibiotics for respiratory,

urinary or other infections

for 2 months or longer, or in shorter

courses,4 or more times in a 1 year

period------------------------------------- 

 

3.Have you taken antibiotics -

even a single course----------------------- 

 

4.Have you, at any time in your life,

been bothered by persistent thrush or

prostatitis(men), or by other problems

affecting your reproductive organs?-------- 

 

5.Have you been pregnant:

                        

(Tick one only)

twice or more times------------------------ 

one time only------------------------------ 

 

6.Have you taken birth control pills for:

                                                  

(Tick one only)
more than 2 years-------------------------- 

for only 6 months to 2 years--------------- 

 

7.Have you taken cortisone steroid type drugs:                                        

                                              

(Tick one only)

for more than 2 weeks?--------------------- 

for less than 2 weeks---------------------- 

 

8.Does exposure to perfumes or other chemicals provoke:                    

                                           

(Tick one only)

moderate to severe symptoms---------------- 

mild symptoms------------------------------

 

9.Are those symptoms worse on damp, muggy 

days or in mouldy places?------------------    

 

10. Have you had athlete's foot, ringworm,

"jock itch",or other chronic fungal infections

of the skin or nails?

                                           

(Tick one only)

Have such infections been severe or

persistent?-------------------------------- 

or mild or moderate?----------------------- 

 

11.Do you crave sugar?--------------------- 

12.Do you crave breads?-------------------- 

13.Do you crave alcoholic beverages?------- 

14.Does tobacco smoke really bother you?---

 

Section B - Major Symptoms

 

Click the appropriate box below, in respect of each symptom,

which describes the severity of the symptom:

 

Fatique & lethargy                     

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Feeling of being "drained"           

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Poor memory                          

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Feeling "spacey" or unreal           

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Inability to make decisions          

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

requent and/or moderately severe-----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Numbness, burning or tingling        

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Insomnia                             

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

ional or mild------------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Muscle aches                        

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Muscle weakness or paralysis        

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Pain and/or swelling in joints      

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Abdominal pain                          

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

 

Constipation                           

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Diarrhoea                               

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Bloating, belching or intestinal gas   

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Troublesome vaginal burning, itching or discharge                 

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Prostatitis (men)                      

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Impotence                              

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Loss of sexual desire or feeling       

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Endometriosis (women) or infertility   

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Cramps and/or other menstrual irregularities                       

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Premenstrual syndrome                  

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Attacks of anxiety or crying           

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Cold hands or feet and/or chilliness   

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

 

Shaking or irritable when hungry       

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

     

Section C - Other Symptoms

 

Drowsiness                              

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling-------------------- 

     

Irritability and jitteriness           

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Unco-ordination                       

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Inability to concentrate                

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Frequent mood swings                    

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Headache                                

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Dizziness/loss of balance               

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Pressure above ears (feeling of head swelling)            

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Tendency to bruise easily               

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Chronic rashes or itching               

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Numbness, tingling                      

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Indigestion or heartburn                

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Food sensitivity or intolerance         

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Mucus in stools                         

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Rectal itching                          

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Dry mouth or throat                     

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Rash or blisters in mouth               

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Bad breath                            

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Foot hair or body odour not relieved by washing

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Nasal congestion or post-nasal drip     

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Nasal itching                           

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Sore throat                             

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Laryngitis, loss of voice               

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Cough or recurrent bronchitis           

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

evere and/or disabling---------------------

 

Pain or tightness in chest              

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Wheezing or shortness of breath         

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Urinary urgency or frequency            

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Burning on urination                    

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Spots in front of eyes or erratic vision                        

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Burning or tearing of eyes              

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Recurrent infections or fluid in ears 

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

Ear pain or deafness                    

(Tick one only)

 

hardly ever--------------------------------

occasional or mild-------------------------

frequent and/or moderately severe----------

severe and/or disabling--------------------

 

                    Your total is:

Interpreting your score:
 
The Grand Total Score will help you and your Doctor or nutrition consultant decide if your health problems are yeast-connected. Scores in women will run higher as 7 items in the questionnaire apply exclusively to women, while only 2 apply exclusively to men.
Yeast-connected health problems are almost certainly present in women with scores over 180 and in men with scores over 140.
 

Yeast-connected health problems are probably present in women with scores over 120 and in men with scores over 90.
 

Yeast-connected health problems are possibly present in women with scores over 60 and in men with scores over 40.
 

With scores of less than 60 in women and 40 in men, yeasts are less apt to cause health problems.  

Diet and other advice

  • If possible, consult a nutrition consultant. 

  • Buy a Candida Cookbook or two.  (See below)

  • Eat vegetables, fish, brown rice, beans, lentils, seeds, millet, buckwheat and some oats.

  • Eat skinless and preferably organic chicken and turkey.

  • Eat plain live goats or sheeps yoghurt. 

  • Eat linseeds (flaxseed) every day, with water. 

  • Drink at least 1½ litres of spring or filtered water per day. 

  • Avoid yeast, sugar and alcohol.  These all feed the yeast. 

  • Avoid cheeses, fermented foods, wheat, pickles, vinegar and mushrooms. 

  • Avoid oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes for at least one month.  Avoid oranges and orange juice until Candida is totally under control. 

  • Avoid mould in damp rooms and kitchens and bathrooms.  Get someone else to clean damp mould in the bathroom or wear a mask. 

  • Avoid antibiotics and steroid hormones if possible, under your Doctor’s advice. 

  • It’s best not to plan pregnancy until Candida is under control.

  • Consider mercury poisoning, food sensitivities, hypoglycaemia, adrenal stress, leaky gut, parasites.

 

Often, a combination of supplements may help in alleviating this condition. You may wish to consult a nutritional therapist for personal advice. Supplements that may be helpful in alleviating symptoms are shown below: (please also read this important notice concerning supplement medical claims)

 

 

After a month or so on the above programme, choose from and alternate between the following for a few months.  With Candidiasis it’s often best to alternate between different preparations to avoid becoming sensitive to them. Follow instructions on labels.

 

After a month or two, take Butyric Acid (from BioCare).

 

 

The supplements are very important to the successful control of candida overgrowth.  Many people choose only to follow the diet, which is a mistake.  The existing candida needs to be killed off and its place taken by good bacteria.  The immune system needs regulating and the gut needs repairing.  

 

Parasites need to be dealt with.  Candida thrives on sugars and if it can’t find them where it is used to finding them, it will go in search deeper in the tissues of the body.  Imagine if your local town has run out of food – wouldn’t you go to the next town to find some?  So it is with Candida, so make sure you take the supplements to kill it off.  And also make sure you do everything to heal the gut, otherwise the Candida can easily get a hold again.  We can’t stress highly enough the value of consulting with a nutritionist to help you through this.

 

Recommended Books

 

health book - Beat Candida Through Diet
health book - Yeast Connection Handbook

 

 

 
 
 
 

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