I read an interesting article recently about Candida overgrowth. Candida is a yeast that lives in our digestive tracts and we do just fine with it there because it is kept in check by other bacteria that also live there. Sometimes it can get out of control when we take antibiotics, which kill the good bacteria that keep the candida in check, and/or eat too much sugar, which causes it to grow out of control. This is “candida overgrowth”. When out of balance, the candida will cause you to crave sugar and will sap your energy so that you always feel tired among other things.
The article suggested a test to determine if you have candida overgrowth. First thing in the morning before you brush your teeth or have anything to eat or drink, fill a clear glass with water. Gather the saliva in your mouth and drop it into the water. After about 20 minutes or so check to see if your saliva has started to stream down into the water in strands (kind of like jellyfish tentacles). If so, you may have an overgrowth. Kinda gross, I know.
To get rid of it, the article says you need to cut all sugars from your diet for a month or two to starve the candida out. That removes just about everything from your diet except for vegetables and protein. Then start taking a probiotic supplement to help rebuild the good bacteria in your body to get the candida under control again.
There you have it. Now for the disclaimer. I’m not a doctor and neither is the author of the article that this information came from (which is the first article in the May 2009 issue of The Magnetic Sponsoring Innercircle Magazine). Always check with your doctor before you radically change your diet.
Wayne Woodworth
Looking forward to that salad.
