Diagnosis Candidiasis

Frequent stomach aches, diarrhea, gas -- another case of irritable bowel syndrome right? Maybe not. Many people with these symptoms are given the too-general diagnosis of IBS. Their doctors suggest cutting the fried foods, the dairy, the wheat, or the spices, but nothing seems to work. Blood tests reveal no indication of food allergies. Medicines may be prescribed to relax the muscles, making the cramping less painful, but the diarrhea persists. Certainly stress is frequently the culprit behind a series of stomach aches, but these symptoms seem to occur even during the most peaceful of times. That is, they would be peaceful without the embarrassingly frequent trips to the bathroom. What's going on here?

The problem may be candidiasis, the overgrowth of candida. Candida is a yeast that is normally found in the digestive tract and genitals in moderate proportions. Our bodies' "good" bacteria maintain the balance of this yeast, but sometimes the balance is thrown off by antibiotics, or an abundance of sugar or moisture. This condition in commonly known as a yeast infection, which most people associate with the genitals. But an overgrowth of candida can affect the mouth, skin (as in jock itch and diaper rash), or digestive tract. Candida in the digestive tract can cause fatigue, an itchy rectum, and carb/sugar cravings as well as the above-mentioned symptoms that are often attributed to IBS. If you have any of these symptoms and have not found the cause, ask your doctor about sending a stool sample to the laboratory. The result may suggest a candida overgrowth.

If you learn that you do have candidiasis, there are steps you can take towards getting rid of it. Yeast thrives on sugar, so cutting your intake of sugar is the first step. This is a tough one, but the most important. Consider how much sugar is in your soda and snacks. The really sneaky sugar is in your fruit juices and condiments, such as barbeque sauce and dressing. Try not to consume more than 90 grams of sugar per day.

The next step is taking a probiotic formula, such as Fungal Defense, manufactured by Garden of Life. Probiotics can be found in most vitamin and supplement stores. They serve to boost the "good" bacteria that keep yeast in balance. Use a probiotic containing L. acidophilus, the best-known bacteria for fighting yeast. Acidophilus can also be found in yogurt, which is often recommended to patients on antibiotics. If you plan to eat yogurt to fight yeast, first check to make sure the sugar content isn't through the roof.

Finally, if symptoms persist, see a nutritionist. It may come as a surprise to you that your doctor does not know much about nutrition. His or her med school classes hardly covered it. It makes sense that a certified dietician or nutritionist is the best person to see when it comes to matters of nutrition. See one before running to the gastro-intestinal specialist to get all kinds of uncomfortable tests done. With his or her help, you are likely to find the problem and take the guesswork out of eating.