DIY Candida Test

The At Home Candida Test

Posted by Daphne Ohttp://my-food-coach.com/candida-spit-test/

If you have heard of candida you know that it can wreak havoc on the body. If you haven’t heard of it, here’s what you should know. Candida albicans (it’s official name) is a common fungus that originates in the intestines. When “in check” it plays well with the others, however it is an opportunistic little guy. It has the ability to morph into different structures and will take advantage of its host. If there is any sign of impaired intestinal mucosal barrier and depressed immunity this fungus will colonize and penetrate the intestines. Once this happens it makes itself at home and will continue to grow-in fact, it can spread to many other tissues and internal organs and can become systemic.

How do you get candida?

Candida is normal to have in the gut in appropriate amounts. The major things that cause overgrowth of candida are impaired mucosal barrier, depressed immune system, and overconsumption of processed carbohydrates and sugar. The impaired mucosal barrier can occur by way of antibiotics use and/or oral contraceptives. These decrease and imbalance the microbes in the gut allowing for less beneficial bacteria to keep candida at bay. A depressed immune system can occur for a plethora of reasons. Some of these can be born defects that decrease the immune response, poor nutrition where certain vitamins and minerals (vitamins A and C along with zinc, copper, selenium) that suppress areas of the defenses against disease are lacking, and stress (another reason why balancing stress is crucial).  Lastly, regular consumption of carbohydrates, and more with processed carbohydrates, and sugar in any form can feed candida, leading it to overpopulate the gut. In our society today, you can see how candida overgrowth is very common.

Why is candida undesirable?

While it is normal to have some candida in the gut an overgrowth of candida is problematic. Like everything else, candida creates a byproduct. In this case, the byproduct of candida is toxic to the body. The more candida you have, the more toxicity it produces. It has been lead to several common issues such as:

• ·        Food allergies
• ·        Bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation
• ·        Sugar cravings
• ·        Alcohol intolerance
• ·        Recurrent yeast infections (vaginal or bladder)
• ·        Fatigue, headaches, irritability
• ·        Anxiety, depression, brain fog

If you are experiencing any of these, it may be time to do the At Home Candida Spit Test.

Candida Spit Test

This is an easy way to test for yeast overgrowth in your gut. When you wake up in the morning (before you eat or drink anything or brush your teeth) fill a glass with room temperature water. Then work up at least a dime-size amount of saliva in your mouth and spit it into the glass of water. You will be watching what happens over the next 30-45 minutes, looking for where the saliva goes.

1. If it stays on top it indicates that there is not excessive mucous in your mouth harboring candida.
2. If it grows tentacles that hang down toward the bottom you have some candida in your gut that likely needs to be addressed.
3. If it sinks to the bottom you likely have significant candida overgrowth in your gut and you need to take action.

 How to Take Action

The removal of candida can be a lengthy process. It starts with altering the diet. You want to remove anything from the diet that will help feed candida albicans. This includes all forms of sugar (white sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc), gluten (wheat, barley, rye, spelt, oatmeal), packaged or processed foods (including meats), condiments (ketchup, BBQ sauce, pickles, mustard, soy sauce), dried or candied fruit, fermented foods, and alcohol. Vegetables that are high in carbs (potatoes, peas, corn, winter squash), non-gluten grains, nuts, and fruits should be limited. These are the basis of the diet.

In addition supplements can be helpful. You will want to take natural anti-fungal supplements in rotation. These can include oregano oil, grapefruit seed extract, and clove oil can start to clear the way. Because of the tricky nature of candida it is best to rotate these supplements every 4-5 days. In addition to this, taking food grade diatomaceous earth can assist in killing the candida and allowing it to be removed from the system.

This information is not meant to replace any medical advice.

For more information about candida removal, feel free to contact me. I will be happy to work with you on to get you feeling healthy and happy again.