Is intestinal candida a thing?

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I've read some scientific-looking studies on intestinal candida and some articles claiming the whole thing is a fraud.

Can someone point me to some reliable research on this issue? Furthermore, what would be the appropriate medical tests for this?

I have terrible depression and anxiety and lack of concentration that gets much worse due to sugar consumption. I also came up as intolerant to baker's yeast on the IgC test awhile ago. So I am confused and don't know how to proceed. What would be the point of getting on lithium or something if candida is causing these issues? How do I rule it out?

Here's a useful link:

"The pathogenetic significance of intestinal Candida colonization--a systematic review from an interdisciplinary and environmental medical point of view."

It's from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health - both are reliable sources.

Certainly more reliable than any "holistic" source.

I've had Candida before. People with Celiac Disease are prone to it (there's a loose connection between Autism and CD, FYI). While I had it, I couldn't eat any nut, legume, seed or even corn products. I would eat food and sometimes it would come out the other end untouched. I got tested for it, but was never treated. So I had to treat myself. I got rid of it, or rather subdued it, by taking Apple Cider Vinegar. 1 or 2 tablespoons with honey and warm water. Once or twice a day, depending on what I was eating that day. It tastes horrendous (even Braggs to me), so you pinch the nose, take it down quickly and then brush your teeth. I know it worked because I went from 0 tolerance to popcorn to being able to pig myself out on it. It was awesome, because I love popcorn.

My neighbor went through it. Two years of white rice and tofu. He did lose over 100 pounds, but what an awful way to lose it!

Reliable research? I'm unsure how to vouch for anything found on the internet.

If you have a kindle I think there are books written in depth about the topic. That would be one way to satisfy curiosity without adding undue anxiety to the situation (worrying needlessly.)

I've heard drinking coconut water can help. I'm not sure to what extent.

For a topical (skin) infection such as athlete's foot or candida on the foot, a DROP of tea tree oil in a basin of water, then soak your feet in it, is supposed to help. Do not ingest tea tree oil and do not use it in an open wound. (It is a powerful, natural anti bacterial, anti fungal and anti viral from what I gather.)

I'm not an expert on any of this...I've just been to natural doctor types (and doctors in Chinese herbal medicine) in the past.

Sugar can cause inflammation, candida overgrowth, and (according to the Dr of Chinese medicine I saw) depression.

Yeast can also help candida to over grow but it usually begins with over use of antibiotics or other things that upset the natural intestinal flora.

Hope there was something helpful in that - basically, yes, it's a thing. But we all have some of it...main thing is the balance in the body.

ETA: as to how to 'rule it out' - most people you would pay to answer that question would tell you this: Safely get rid of it and then see if you feel better. Unfortunately that's the way.

I do think there is a pill that can kill candida but, it has very strong potential side effects and I honestly can't remember the name of it now. (Difluorcan maybe?) A doctor would have to tell you and prescribe it anyway, so you could ask one, if you see someone for this. A friend went on two courses of that pill. It took that to really get rid of it - but he said he still drinks a soda can a day to sort of keep what's left on maintenance level (when you first kill off a large batch of candida inside you, you'll feel sick, but then it gets better, according to him.)

Personally I went on a no sugar, flour, or yeast diet, even omitting milk and fruit sugars, I took some nasty herbs the Chinese doctor gave me (not a Chinese man but, had a degree in that type of medicine) which was like swallowing chalk (it can be in capsule form but he was a hard nose jerk in some ways Lol), and took herbal steam baths at his office and that did help. I also did acupuncture with moxibustion. I think the diet and herbs helped most, strangers told me how my skin was glowing etc. (in a good way.)

If you do diet and herbs please do it under professional supervision.

It's what I thought. There are apparently no reliable medical tests for it. To what extent is what people self-diagnose as "candida" actually something else?

Like, the doctor I went to before rant tests and noted intolerance to yeast and glucose. So glucose intolerance vs. candida. Maybe it's just the glucose.

Don't know how scientific it is but, this is an old 'home test' - costs nothing, easy to do.

http://www.candidasupport.org/test_saliva.html

Sounds like cutting out foods with sugar and yeast in them could help you either way, though.