Celiac Disease and Candida

Symptoms of celiac disease and Candida

When it comes to diagnosing Candida infections there are many challenges.

In addition to feeling perhaps embarrassed by chronic Candida infections, many people may be misdiagnosed.

One fairly common misdiagnosis for Candida sufferers is celiac disease. This is because the symptoms so strongly mirror each other.

Symptoms of Celiac disease

Celiac disease is essentially the body’s inability to process gluten. It’s an autoimmune disorder. It’s triggered by consuming gluten. Gluten is a protein found in bread, pasta, most baked goods and even a number of sauces.

People with celiac disease who consume gluten have an immune reaction that actually damages their small intestine and prevents absorption of nutrients.

You can imagine how you’d feel if your body was unable to absorb nutrients.

You’d experience:

* Digestive distress including gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating

* You’d feel fatigue, depression, headaches, and even irritability

* You’d also experience joint pain, cramps, skin rashes or sores, weight loss, bad breath, anemia and osteoporosisBecause people don’t know what causes celiac disease, though it can be inherited, and because it can emerge out of the blue, it is often confused with other health problems, including Candida overgrowth.

Symptoms of Candida overgrowth

Candida is a bacteria that feeds on sugar in our bodies. It is naturally present, however it can become overgrown. When this happens, symptoms present themselves. Diagnosis and elimination of the Candida overgrowth can be a frustrating process. Symptoms of Candida overgrowth include:

* Diarrhea

* Abdominal pain

* Bloating

* Gas

* Depression

* Fatigue

* Headaches

* Skin rashes

* Weight gain

* Vaginal infections

* Bad breath

* Weakened immune system (Chronic colds)

As you can see, the symptoms are almost identical. With both celiac disease and candida you may likely experience some or even all of the listed symptoms.

Unfortunately, the treatments are different. The treatment for celiac disease is to eliminate gluten from a person’s diet. The treatment for Candida is a bit more complicated.

It does involve reducing and sometimes eliminating baked goods from a person’s diet but only because they need to eliminate sugar to starve the bacterial.

A well balanced high fiber diet that is low in sugar will help balance a person who suffers from chronic Candida overgrowth. Sometimes a cleanse helps clear the system.

The important thing to know is that Candida overgrowth can be cured and controlled.

An accurate diagnosis is required. If you suspect Candida is the cause of your symptoms, ask your doctor to perform one or more of the following tests:

The physician can test for Candida overgrowth with the following procedures:

* Candida Immune Complex Assay Test. This tests for the antibodies which combat yeast infections. A large presence of these antibodies would indicate a Candida overgrowth.

* Stool Test to examine and detect Candida in your waste.

* A Candida culture may also be taken if you have oral thrush.

Although celiac disease and candida may mimick each other, it's very important to get a professional diagnosis. Once you have an accurate diagnosis, the healing and treatment can begin. It’s important to not treat the symptoms. Make sure that you treat the underlying cause of the Candida overgrowth.

Change your diet to include plenty of fiber and reduce or eliminate the sugar in your diet. A Candida diet and other natural remedies can take care of the symptoms and the underlying cause.

Further Reading - Candida Related Conditions:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Yeast Overgrowth

Depression and Candida

Weight Gain and Constiptation

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