How to Test for Candida Overgrowth

You now have an understanding of what Candida is. The underlying causes of Candida are many, but make sense when you consider your personal lifestyle. Now you have to confirm whether or not your problem is actually caused by Candida albicans. There are several different methods of testing for you to choose from.

The Candida Spit Test

The spit test is one of the most common tests out there, but is also considered relatively unreliable. Still, it’s worth consideration if you don’t have the means for other forms of testing.

You’ll need to conduct this test first thing in the morning, as soon as you get up. Take a glass of bottled water that has been sitting at room temperature and spit (gently) into it. You must do this before eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth. Check the glass every 20 minutes to see what your saliva looks like. If it is cloudy and has suck to the bottom, has split into floating specks, or is hanging at the top with spittle strings dangling from it, you might have Candida.

Might? Right. This test isn’t exactly scientific because everyone’s mucous could be thicker or thinner for different reasons, including illness, allergies, or simple dehydration. This means you might end up with a false positive.

Formal Lab Testing

Formal lab testing is great, if you can find a doctor willing to order it. Your doctor will be looking to test your body’s reaction to Candida by testing for IgG, IgA, and IgM – the Candida antibodies. They can test for these via a stool sample (least reliable), via a urine sample, or via bloodwork (most reliable).

Testing for Itchiness

Everyone itches from time to time – it’s a part of life. But people with a Candida overgrowth tend to itch all the time. Their skin, eyes, groin, and even scalp tend to itch regularly and consistently. The itch test is very simple.

You’re going to spend several days keeping a log of every single time you itch. Write down when and where you scratched. This will make you a lot more mindful and aware, especially if you have any hot spots that itch frequently.

The Elimination Test

For this type of test you’re actually going to test for cravings. It is very important to understand and keep track of what foods you eat regularly, but in the case of Candida it is even more important to keep track of what foods you actually like to eat – the foods you crave.

A lot of people truly believe they do not eat a lot of sugar but in reality eat quite a bit of sweetened food. A lot of people with Candida eat sweets rather unknowingly, or unconsciously, because their body is craving the sugar thanks to the signals sent by the Candida toxins in the bloodstream.

So this test is also simple – stop eating sweets. Avoid them for three full days and take note of how you feel. Sadly, the worse this test makes you feel, the more likely it is you have a rather severe Candida overgrowth to address.

There are a few other tests you can try to determine if you have a Candida overgrowth. Some people pay special attention to and log their body odors, as those with Candida tend to have a distinct problem with body odor because of the “fermentation” of sugar in the body. Some people test their tongues, looking for consistent white patches, especially I the back (though a lot of people simply have dental problems).

While home testing is great, it’s important to find a doctor or naturopath who is familiar with Candida to guide you through the process or to help you with medical testing. The sooner you have a formal diagnosis, the sooner you can start treatment with diet and supplementation.

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