There has been a lot of research and interest in the micobiome lately. How these microorganisms support function and digestion in the body is still much of a mystery. One thing we do know is that there is a very delicate balance and the foods we consume can either support the flora in the digestive tract or hinder it and cause a overgrowth of harmful unwanted organisms.
Candida albicans is a normal inhabitant of our bodies and generally compromises 10% of the microorganism profile of the intestinal tract. Candida becomes a problem only when it starts to
over-reproduce and overpower the good bacteria. Some of the things that encourage an over-growth of Candida (yeast) in the body are: sugar, refined carbohydrates (which is why most obese people also suffer from candidiasis,) antibiotics, mercury dental fillings, and birth control pills. Now you can see why Candida is becoming an epidemic in today’s society. Who doesn’t fall into at least one of the above categories?
Candida can cause numerous ailments in our bodies and has unpredictable effects on our metabolism. When the metabolism becomes unstable, people unfortunately tend to gain weight rather than lose it. Candida can also cause tremendous cravings for sugar and refined carbohydrates, the very things it feeds on. If a candida problem is suspected, then a candida cleanse should be completed before attempting other weight loss measures. If you feel you have an overgrowth of candida please try the following candida home test.
Home Candida Test
First thing in the morning, before you brush your teeth or put ANYTHING in your mouth, get a clear glass and fill it with water. Work up a bit of saliva, and then spit it into the glass of water. Check the water within 2-3 minutes, then every 15 minutes for one hour.
If there is a candida yeast infection, you will see:
- Strings like jellyfish traveling down from the saliva floating on top
- Particles or cloudy specks suspended in the water
- Cloudy saliva sinking to the bottom of the glass
The more strings and cloudiness and the faster it develops, the greater the infection. If there is not an overgrowth of candida the saliva will disappear in the water. If there are no strings and the water is as clear as it was before you spit in the glass and the saliva is still floating after at least one hour, you most likely have a low amount of candida yeast within the body.
