Candida is a species of yeast that is part of our natural microbiome but causes problems when it grows too much, usually because antibiotics have wiped out the majority of bacteria that keeps it in check.
Problems stem not only from the yeast itself, but from the toxic compounds it produces as metabolites namely ammonia, gliotoxin and acetyl aldehyde. An excessive amount of any of these will cause symptoms in your child e.g. acetyl aldehyde is the byproduct of alcohol and what makes us 'drunk' when there is too much in our blood. Does your child seem to be spacey, unfocussed, or cries or giggles for no apparent reason? They could literally be 'drunk' because of candida overgrowth.
Signs and symptoms
If you wonder if your child has candida overgrowth, one tell-tale sign is a thick white fuzzy coating on their tongue. Other symptoms include:
- Mood swings
- ADHD
- Poor focus and brain fog
- Clumsy/ poor balance
- Spaced out
- Carb addiction
- Bloated abdomen and excessive gas
- Constipation
- Prone to autoimmune conditions such as PANDAS and PANS
- Fatigue (not always in young children)
- Dandruff
- Skin infections like eczema
- Repeated urinary tract infections
- Seasonal allergies that don’t improve with anti-histamines
- Athletes foot
Testing for candida overgrowth
We use both stool tests and urine tests to determine whether the body is overburdened with candida. Stool tests aren't as reliable at picking up candida as there needs to be live organisms at the time of sampling, but a stool sample can give us a good picture of levels of good bacteria is in the gut. Crowding out candida with probiotics is one of the tools we use and it's important to know which ones need the most support.
Urine tests are more accurate as they show the metabolites produced by candida. We like using one that also shows if there are oxalate issues as candida and oxalate issues often happen together and it's important to address both.
The best tools to combat candida
Unfortunately many believe you can cut out all sugar from your diet and 'starve' the candida, but this is not the case. We use a lot of targeted nutritional supplements to help kill off the yeast, mop up the toxins, and open the drainage pathways to clear the body of both the yeast and its byproducts.
These include but are not limited to:
- natural anti-fungal compounds
- beneficial yeasts
- liver-supporting herbs
- binders
- probiotics
- targeted nutrients including selenium, vitamin C and certain amino acids
- a diet low in sugar and refined carbohydrates
The missing piece
Even when using all the tools above, there is one major piece of the puzzle that is crucial to support: glutathione. Glutathione is our body's 'master antioxidant', is made in the liver and is crucial for detoxification. A liver that is overburdened with detoxing candida metabolites often can't keep up with production and the body can't quite cope, keeping the gut in an unhealthy state where candida can continue to thrive.
We always support children with a glutathione supplement to help give them the extra support they need. Without this crucial piece of the puzzle, we often see kids stuck in a cycle of improving and then flaring.
For a full explanation of the above, read more in the blog or book in a call with one of our practitioners.
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