Candidiasis seems to be a widespread disease, but little understood. It may be that it lies at the basis of many other diseases, including fatal ones, such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity, ...

There is talk of Candidiasis when there is an overgrowth of a Candida fungus in our intestine. When the numbers of Candida bacteria in your gut grow too high, they convert into a yeast. 

Since the 1970s, chronic candidiasis has been known and looked at, but studies in the field of nutrition are still in their infancy due to the rapid changes in our diet / environment lately. 

 If you suffer from some discomfort such as migraine, anxiety, gas, abnormal vaginal discharge, itchy skin ... and there is no direct cause that can be easily observed, it would be worthwhile to find out if you suffer from Candidiasis.

Candida Spit Test

The first thing you can do at home is take the Candida Spit Test. 

Candida begins in the intestinal tract, where it sets up its ongoing production. As time goes by, and the fungus converts into yeast, the yeast migrates along the mucous membranes of the digestive tract into the stomach, then up the esophagus and finally into the mouth. Often, depending on how thick the yeast becomes, it can be seen in the mouth and on the tongue as a white film called oral thrush. The fungal yeast mixes into the saliva and has certain properties (heavier than water) when put into water.

Before you go to bed one night, put a glass of water next to your bed. When you awake in the morning, before you put anything into your mouth, work up some saliva and spit it into the clear (!) glass of water. Leave the glass to stand for about 30 minutes and then look in the glass. If there are strings coming down from your saliva, or if the water turned cloudy, or if your saliva sank to the bottom, you  may have a candida concern. Healthy saliva will simply float on the top.

Clinical Tests

To be more certain, you can have blood work done or a stool test taken. The stool tests are the more conclusive ones. 

If you are in the UK you could look at this link for finding out about where to go and have a stool test taken. 

A possible indicator in the blood work is if your homocistein numbers are high (and clinical limits are not correct, they should be lowered, as well as the cholesterol limits can be upped, but there is too much money behind the industry of pills). This indicates that your liver cannot recycle the histamine fast enough (candida produce histamine in your gut). 

Of course we have to keep in mind the Permaculture answer: "It Depends"! We are very complex beings and these numbers are only indicators, plus need to be interpreted by professionals (that know about Candida!). 

How do you cure yourself from Candidiasis?

Candidiasis is very difficult to eradicate. You need tremendous discipline to follow a strict diet in combination with a natural supplement therapy. The best thing is to avoid it in the first place! 

If you are certain or suspect you suffer from Candidiasis after taking the above mentioned tests, you will have to start working on getting those Candida numbers back down asap! 

You will find loads of  books, videos on YouTube, websites ... but also a lot of contradictory information! 

Besides, remember the preferred Permaculture response? It depends

You are unique, and your healing will be too. 

A good guide to start with an anti-candida diet (temporary, 80-20 after that) can be the following: 

- eliminate sugars (also natural ones such as sweet fresh fruit, high starch vegetables such as potatoes or dried fruits for a period) 
- eliminate dairy products 
- eliminate gluten 
- eliminate refined products of any kind 
- eliminate soy products 
- eliminate fermented products 
- avoid foods with high histamine rate 

Of course you will have to add other foods, it can't all be eliminating! A first list of foods to add could read like this: 
- add healthy fats (olive oil, fat fish, almonds, avocado...)
- add resistant starch (green bananas as in not ripe, potatoes or rice that have been boiled and then cooled for at least 24 hours)
- drink sea water (25% seawater - 75% normal water) for minerals and molybdenum

A diet alone will not have the power to eliminate Candidiasis because the candida can "hide" for a long time. It even makes long filaments / tentacles with which it goes "looking for food" throughout your body and on its way it perforates the intestine and starts to feed on your organs. That is why it is important that you take antifungal / anthelmintic supplements, combined with enzymes, multi-vitamins, some or other further supplement depending on your physical activity, your environment, your weight, your age, your state of advancement of the disease etc. Hopefully you will find a naturopath or integral health practicioner near you to help you design the right treatment and diet for you. 

If you are going it alone, you'll have to do a lot of observing and interact with the correct tweaks when your feedback loop gives you indications!