Studies are beginning to indicate that candida may be an underlying cause of many chronic illnesses, related to many seemingly unrelated symptoms and syndromes many of which are extremely hard to diagnose when viewed separately. Candida may be passed between people, so diagnosis and treatment should be considered for the whole family.

Candidiasis or candida overgrowth can effect personality and social interactions, causing depression and anxiety, sleeplessness, or forgetfulness and confusion by upsetting the balance between bacteria and yeasts in the digestive tract. Changes in the immune system caused by candida overgrowth can interfere with memory and learning as with ADD and ADHD. Candida may in part have a relation to autism. Bacteria and yeast/fungi normally balance each other with neither allowing the other to over populate the bowel.

Candida also may well contribute to leaky gut syndrome, a condition that allows partially digested proteins to reach the blood stream. This relates to gluten intolerance or Celiac Sprue, Casein Intolerance and food allergies. Casein Intolerance is a condition caused by the allergy to milk proteins as opposed to lactose intolerance.

Specifically, introduction of gluten or casein proteins to the blood stream can be a result of leaky gut syndrome and contribute to food allergies. Occasionally, the candida yeast/fungus itself may invade the blood-stream, reproducing in parts of the body using spores. There is also a danger of life-threatening fungemia.

The candida population of your bowel may increase after antibiotic treatment, chemotherapy, or heavy alcohol use. This can decrease normal levels of bacteria in the mouth and digestive tract leading to an imbalance.

Symptoms

Some of the more common symptoms related to candida overgrowth are cystitis and fungal infections of the skin or nails, thrush or yeast infections.

Candida can also effect the endocrine system. Some symptoms of this pathology may be PMS, weight gain or weight loss, asthma, hay fever, muscle fatigue, chronic tiredness, joint pains or menstrual irregularities.

Candidiasis or Candida overgrowth may exhibit an astounding variety of symptoms which can vary greatly from person to person, even within the same household. Some have their own labels, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, insomnia, dyslexia to name a few.

Continuous fatigue, often more intense after eating, and low levels of energy even though sufficient sleep and rest are maintained can be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is often considered in conjunction with Fibromyalgia, another mystifying collection of symptoms which is hard to diagnose.

Food Allergies

During an allergic reaction of any kind you may become allergic to unrelated compounds ingested or absorbed during the allergic reaction thereby increasing your sensitivities to everyday substances. Allergies to food products containing or manufactured with additives made from corn, wheat, rice or other normal everyday nutrients can trigger allergies to many foods in general. It is hard to find modern processed foods that do not use additives made from corn and wheat.

Allergies to normal foods and additives made from food such as corn and wheat additives can trigger a starvation mode in which the body doesn't recognize the foods you eat as nutrients causing it to store fat because it believes you are 'starving'. This can cause 'unexplained weight gain'.

Allergies to airborne chemicals can be unpredictable and again may cause reactions to chemicals that were not allergens previously. Even exposure to perfumes in public areas has been known to elicit reactions. After a few of these domino style reactions it may seem that you've become 'allergic to everything', a 'universal reactor'. Studies show no significant difference in these situations between people with normal immune systems and those with compromised or damaged immune systems.

In recent years 'colonics', alternately known as colon hydrotherapy, colonic irrigation or colon irrigation have been becoming more evident as an alternative approach to health maintenance. While this may be beneficial, moderation is the key. If someone has more colonics than is prudent without replacing friendly bacteria that lives in the colon, candida colonies may grow enough to overpower the colonies of friendly bacteria.

Practitioners of Alternative or Homeopathic medicine may be able to diagnosis these symptoms effectively as related to the state of the digestive tract or organ groups and body systems. Acidosis may be an indication.

A candida overgrowth which overpowers the offsetting bacterial colonies may result in chronic fatigue, chronic yeast infections, or IBS along with excessive gas and bloating.

Some probiotics or friendly gut bacteria which help balance intestinal flora are lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium. The following probiotics can even help stabilize the balance by helping to bring candida under control, Bacillus Subtillis - A Spore Forming Bacteria (Bacillus Subtilis), Bacillus Coagulans - A Spore Forming Lactic Acid Bacteria (Bacillus Coagulans) and Enterococcus Faecalis - A Lactic Acid Bacteria (Group D [non-toxic] Enterococcus Faecalis).

Working on your health from an inner understanding of the relationships between your body, mind and the world around you will tune you up for a long healthy enjoyable life. Paying attention to your overall health, physical, mental and spiritual instead of concentrating on isolated symptoms will lead to a healthier body and lifestyle.