I estimate  that we detect this on the tests of about 80% of the families with whom I work.

Common Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth:

• Fatigue
• Mood Disorders (depression, anxiety, irritability)
• Brain Fog or Inability ToConcentrate
• Ear & Throat Infections
• Gas, Bloating, Abdominal Pain
• Diarrhea or Constipation
• Thrush (mouth/throat)
• Nausea
• Fungal Infections of the Nails/Skin
• (Athlete’s Foot)
• White Coating on the Tongue
• Nasal Congestion or Postnasal Drip
• Vaginal Itching or Burning
• Headaches or Migraines
• Skin Conditions (itching, rashes, eczema, psoriasis)
• Food/Chemical Sensitivities
• Food Cravings (sugar/ carbohydrates)
• Joint Pain or Muscle Aches
• Asthma or Hay Fever
• Sinusitis or Chronic Sinus Infections
• Weight Gain/Loss

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be candida.

Candida is a normal organism present in the digestive tract. It is a type of yeast that is part of the commensal flora and is typically kept in check by the immune system and the rest of the microflora. 

However, Candida is opportunistic, and given the chance, it will overgrow and cause numerous symptoms. 

What Causes Candida/Yeast Overgrowth?

When Candida overgrows, it is a sign that something else is going on in the body. Because Candida is opportunistic, it will grow out of balance if your health has been weakened. 

Anything that disrupts the immune system can create the opportunity Candida needs to overgrow, including:  

• Antibiotic Use: Antibiotics wipe out the beneficial microflora in the GI tract, which help keep Candida levels under control. 
• Infection: Candida is often secondary to other infections in the GI tract (such as parasites), which must be addressed first in order to bring the Candida under control.
• High Sugar Diet: Sugar feeds Candida.
• Heavy Metal Toxicity: The body sometimes uses Candida as a protective mechanism against the harmful effects of mercury toxicity. 
• Birth Control Pills: Oral contraceptives imbalance gut flora.
• Stress & Lifestyle Factors: Anything that weakens the immune system—too much stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, alcohol–will give Candida an opportunity to overgrow.
• EMF Exposure: Electromagnetic Frequencies (EMF’s) are known to trigger Candida. This would include cell phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters, etc. 

How to Identify Candida: 

There are a couple of simple things you can do at home to identify if candida may be at play.

The first one is the candida spit test. 

1. Fill a clear glass with water and place it by your bed at night. When you wake first thing in the morning, work up a bit of saliva and spit into the glass of water. Do not use throat clearings. It is important that nothing enters your mouth or touches your lips before you do this. Do not drink any water, eat any food, brush your teeth, or kiss your partner prior to expressing saliva into the glass.  
2. Immediately make note of how the saliva looks. Check it again every few minutes, and observe any changes that occur within a 15 minute time frame. 
3. Healthy saliva will be clear, will float on top, and will slowly dissolve into the water without any cloudiness and without sinking. There are normally some bubbles or foam present.
4. Candida saliva will have one or more characteristics that may be a clue for Candida Albicans overgrowth: 

• Strings traveling down toward the bottom of the glass 
• Cloudy saliva that sinks to the bottom of the glass 
• Cloudy specks suspended in the water

Another option is to take the Candida self-assessment.

This Candida Albicans Self-Screening questionnaire was designed by William G. Crook, M.D, to be used for children to identify any predisposition to Candida albicans yeast overgrowth. 

It is not intended as a means for diagnosis, but rather an additional method for gathering information. 

The results should be used in conjunction with a “Candida Spit Test” and should help you and your holistic health practitioner evaluate the role Candida albicans contributes to your child’s health problems.

If you suspect that candida may be at play for your child, you can then speak to your holistic health practitioner to investigate and conduct  further functional lab tests and then develop a personalized health plan for your child.

Functional Lab Tests to Identify Candida Overgrowth: 

The functional lab tests used to investigate candida (and other important markers) are the GI-MAP and the ORGANIC Acid Test. 

GI-MAP Stool Test

The first test we encourage clients to do is a GI MAP stool sample test that basically looks at the state of the gut. It looks for things like candida, parasites, bacteria, worms, etc. There are also some amazing intestinal health markers that look at inflammation, immune system responses, leaky gut, reactivity to gluten, digestive enzymes, and are you digesting fat well. 

Organic Acid Test

The next test is the Organic Acid Test (or OATS test).It identifies candida, along with the host of other markers.

It is such a great test because it looks at over 70 different important markers in the whole body and how it is functioning. 

It can show the need for specific nutrients, such as b vitamins, which are really important for our compromised kids, diet modification things like Salicylates and Oxalates which are chemical compounds found in some healthy foods, detoxification pathways, neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, mold toxicity, and other important markers. 

How to Combat Candida:

Firstly, the ANTI-YEAST DIET should be followed for a minimum of 6-8 weeks. 

You can see on the left the foods to include and on the right the foods to avoid or limit. A big thing that yeast feeds on is sugar.

Secondly, there are a range of supplements focused to target the yeast. Some of my favorites are Probiotics and Saccharomyces Boulardii, as well as Molybdenum and milk thistle and Biociden. 

If all else fails, you can seek a doctor’s help, and they may prescribe a pharmaceutical medical antifungal, but you must seek a doctor’s advice for these.

If you suspect candida might be at play for your child and contributing to their symptoms and are looking for answers for your child’s ADHD and are ready to take that leap and start fighting their symptoms naturally, please check out my free masterclass and to learn more! 

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And as always, I am not a medical doctor and the above post is based on my experience. No information on this site should be relied upon to make a medical diagnosis, treat, prevent or cure any disease or medical condition.