CANDIDA QUESTIONNAIRE
Candida
Candidiasis is a state of inner imbalance, not a disease. It is a stress
related condition marked by a seriously compromised immune
response and it’s extremely hard to overcome today.
Candida albicans yeast itself is common, normally living harmlessly
in the gastrointestinal tract and genito-urinary areas. But when
immune response is reduced from repeated rounds of antibiotics,
birth control pills or steroid drugs, a high sugar or refined
carbohydrate rich diet, and a lifestyle short on rest, the body loses it’s
intestinal balance and candida yeasts multiply too rapidly, voraciously
feeding on excess carbohydrates in the digestive tract.
Causes of Candida:
• Poor Diet – especially excessive intake of sugar, starchy foods, yeasted
breads and chemicalized foods.
• Repeated use of antibiotics – long term use of antibiotics kill protective
bacteria that keep candida under control, as well as harmful
bacteria
• Hormone medications like corticosteroid drugs and birth control pills
• A high stress life, too much alcohol, little rest
Do you have Candida Overgrowth?
Take this quiz:
Score each symptom between 0-10 depending on the degree to
which it applies to you.
If the symptom is frequent or moderately severe...score 5 or 6 points
If the symptom if severe...score 9 or 10 points.
If the symptom does not apply...score 0.
How did I do?
Note: A mild or moderate score is not a definite diagnosis of Candida
overgrowth, as other conditions can produce similar symptoms; for
example - menopause irregularities, endocrine imbalances,
autoimmune conditions, viruses etc. Although many of these
conditions are frequently associated with accompanying yeast
infestations, treating the yeast overgrowth will lighten the load on your
immune system, regardless of the source of your symptoms.
MILD – 35 TO 55
MODERATE – 55 – 85
SEVERE – 85 and higher
Symptoms of Candida
Aching Muscles
Alcohol Cravings
Anxiety
Bread/Starch Cravings
Bronchitis/Cough
Chest Pain or tightness
Constipation
Co-ordination Problems
Depression, Lethargy
Disorientation/Confusion
Dizziness
Ear Infections - frequent
Emotionally over-sensitive
Erectile Difficulties
Eye tearing or burning
Forgetfulness
Foul smelling body odor
Foul smelling breath
Frequent colds and flues
Frequent bladder or prostate infections
Headaches
Heartburn
Hives
Hunger causes shakes or irritability
(low blood sugar)
Indecision
Infertility or Endometriosis
Intestinal Discomfort/pain
Intolerant to mold
Irritability/Jumpiness
Itching in Rectum
Itchy Ears/Nose
Joint Pain
Loose Stools
Menstrual Irregularities
Mucus in stools
Multiple Food Intolerances
Nasal or Sinus congestion
Numb/Tingling or Burning Sensations
Oral Thrush
Panic Attacks
Perfume/Chemical Sensitivity
Poor Balance
Poor Concentration
Post nasal drip
Pre-Menstrual Stress
Prostatitis
Psoriasis/ Eczema/Skin Rash
Radical Mood Shifts
Reactions to yeast
Reduced Libido
Sleep Disturbances
Sore Throat (chronic)
Spacey Feeling
Spots in Front of Eyes
Sugar Cravings
Digestive problems, severe bloating or flatulence?
Rectal itching or chronic constipation?
Tearfulness
Tire Easily/ Chronic Fatigue
Tobacco Smoke Intolerance
Tongue has white coating (thrush
Vaginal Yeast Infections
Weakness/Trembling
Score 5 points for each question below that applies to you:
More than one pregnancy or use of birth control pills for more than six
months?
Antibiotics for longer than three weeks or more than four short
treatments over a two year period in last ten years?
Use of Steroid, Immunosuppressant or Anti-Viral Drugs for a total of 4
weeks or more in the last five years?
Do you feel sick yet the cause cannot be found?
Do your symptoms worsen on muggy days?
Has your memory been noticeably poor?
Do you have a spacey feeling and find it hard to focus your thoughts?
If you are a woman, do you have serious PMS, Menstrual Problems
or Endometriosis?
Chronic vaginal yeast infections, or frequent bladder infections?
If you are a man, do you have abdominal pains, prostatitas, or loss of
sexual interest?
Chronic fungal infections like ring worm, jock itch, nail fungus or
athletes foot?
Hives, psoriasis, eczema or chronic dermatitis?
Erratic vision or spots before the eyes?
Oversensitive to chemicals, tobacco, perfume or insecticides?
Have you recently taken repeated rounds for one month or longer of
antibiotics or steroid drugs like Symycin, Panmycin, Decadron or
Prednisone or acne drugs?
Symptoms of Candida Abicans Overgrowth Occur in fairly defined
stages:
1st Symptom: Heartburn, Chronic Indigestion with gas and bloating,
recurring cystitis or vaginitis: chronic fungal dermatitis, skin rashes
like exema or acne and nail infection.
2nd Symptom: Allergy reactions, chronic bronchitis, hives, hay fever,
chronic headaches or migraines, muscle pain, sensitivity to odors, ear
infections especially in children are a sign that Candida is out of
control
3rd Symptom: Nervous System reactions, extreme irritability,
confusion, a spacey feeling; panic attacks, memory lapses and
trouble concentrating, fatigue and lethargy, often followed by acute
depression.
4th Symptom: Gland and organ dysfunctions, hypothyroidism,
adrenal fatigue and hypoglycemia, ovarian problems, frigidity and
infertility, male impotence, low sex drive.
Protocol for overcoming candida:
Stage 1: Kill the yeasts through diet change and enzyme supplement
therapy. Avoid antibiotics, steroid drugs and birth control pills, unless
there is absolute medical need.
Stage 2: Cleanse the dead yeasts and waste cells from the body with
a soluble fiber cleanser or bentonite. Colonic irrigation and herbal
implants are effective here.
Stage 3: Strengthen your digestive system by enhancing its nutrient
assimilation. Fortify afflicted organs and glands, especially the liver.
Restore normal metabolism and promote friendly bacteria in the G.I>
tract.
Stage 4: Rebuild immune response, rebuild the gut and stimulate
immune well-being throughout the healing process.
Candida Cleansing Diet for the First Two Months of Healing
Diet therapy is the best way to rebuild strength and immunity from
candida overgrowth. Your initial cleansing diet should focus on
releasing dead and diseased yeast cells from the body. This is a
phase that may require 2-3 months for complete cleansing. Also use
this diet as the basis for a “rotation,,” diet, in which you slowly add
back individual foods during healing that cause an allergic reaction to
candida. As you start to see improvement, and symptoms decrease
(usually after two months), start to add back some whole grains,
fruits, juices, raw cheese, nuts and beans. Go slowly, add gradually.
Test for food sensitivity all along the way until it is gone. Don’t forget
that sugars and refined foods will allow candida to grow again.
I find that a too rigid diet does not work over the long term. The
sufferer cannot stick to it (except in a restricted, isolated
environment), and the body becomes imbalanced in other ways.
Food Recommendations for the initial diet:
This is a long, restrictive list and for the first critical weeks when
energy-sapping yeasts must be deprived of nutrients and killed off, it
is the only way. Candida yeasts grow on sugars, carbohydrates,
preserved, over-processed foods, molds and gluten breads.
Don’t eat the following foods for 4 to 6 weeks:
Sugar or sweeteners of any kind (use stevia instead: gymnema
sylvestre extract helps handle sugar cravings)
Gluten Bread or yeasted baked goods
Fried Foods
Dairy Products (except plain keifer or keifer cheese yogurt or yogurt
cheese)
Smoked, dried, pickled or cured meats
Sweet potatoes or any potato except red potatoes
Mushrooms
No nuts or nut butters except for soaked almonds
Most fruits and fruit juices
Dried or candied fruits
Coffee, black tea, carbonated drinks (phosphoric acid binds up
calcium and magnesium)
Alcohol
Vinegar (except for Apple Cider Vinegar)
Avoid antibiotics, steroid drugs, birth control pills and tobacco
Foods to eat:
Fresh steamed veggies (especially onions, garlic, ginger, cabbage
and broccoli)
Vegetable Juices
Raw cultured sauerkraut
Poultry
Seafoods and sea greens
Olive or coconut oil
Ghee
Eggs
Brown rice
Quinoa
Amaranth
Millet
Buckwheat
Miso soup
Dark berries and sour apples
White Tea
Pau d’arco tea
Have a green drink, green tea and miso soup every day
Recommendations:
Use Probiotics and Sauerkraut
Try Pau d Arco tea to kill the yeast – 4 cups daily
Take digestive enzymes to speed up recovery time
Take Bromelain for bloat and swelling 1500mg daily