I’m a woman who likes to explore alternative therapies. Some work, some don’t. Some are simply the victim of time. We live in a fast-paced world where everyone expects a quick solution. While I often try to stick to the most natural cures and remedies possible, even I will opt for a quick fix once in a while. A wife and mother simply has to function.

That said, over the years I’ve had dozens of conversations with other women about yeast. We all agree that the vaginal yeast infection is awful and some of us have found ways to minimize their occurrences. What most women don’t realize, however, is that the vaginal infection is just one type of yeast infection. It’s caused by the Candida albicans organism and can actually manifest in a wide variety of different ways, including toe or fingernail fungus, oral thrush, skin irritations, ringworm, and even jock itch. Some people develop systemic infections that mimic more concerning diseases ranging from depression to simple urinary tract infections. Some people even develop the dangerous leaky gut syndrome.

Are Candida Scams Common?

As we started to research more, we found that while yeast infections are relatively common, information regarding tried and true treatments is really hard to come by. There are several people who don’t even believe the Candida albicans organism, which exists naturally within your body the same way you’d find bacteria, is even real. I spent a while giggling at a blog post I found about a year ago in which a woman outright denies the existence of the organism. Perhaps she’s the single lucky woman on the planet who has never had a vaginal infection or bout with toenail fungus. I often find that the people who are screaming the loudest about Candida not being real are the ones who are trying to sell over the counter or chemical treatments for the symptoms we often associate with the chronic yeast condition.

And that’s the problem right there. These people are herding you away from the root cause so that they can convince you to spend money to cure not your root cause, by the underlying symptoms. That’s the type of vicious cycle that could never end.

Take, for example, some of these common (and not so common) signs that you might have a chronic yeast problem:

You show signs of food allergies; You are bloated or have frequent gas; You have indigestion, constipation, or diarrhea; You are tired, fatigued, depressed, or anxious; You feel foggy or have trouble concentrating; Your vision blurs or you feel like you’re seeing spots in your vision; You’re irritable, moody, nervous, or confused; You have a wide variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, including heartburn, hemorrhoids, peri-anal itching, mouth sores, or stomach problems; You have frequent kidney, bladder, or urinary tract infections; Your skin is itchy, dry, or red; You have a strong smelling odor from your skin, feet, or hair that deodorant doesn’t help; You have muscle aches and pains; or You bruise easily.

These are, sadly, just a handful of the symptoms you may experience that can be caused by a systemic Candida infection. The problem is that the moment you walk into a traditional doctor’s office and describe, for example, the distinct symptoms of a bladder infection, you’re likely to walk out the door with a script for antibiotics. Antibiotics will, unfortunately, give the yeast organism something to thrive off of, allowing more fungus to form in your body.

The Good News about Candida Crusher

My friends and I all purchased copies of the Candida Crusher book by Dr. Eric Bakker at the same time and you can get the book here if you’re interested in seeing it. We each had different symptoms but we all led similar lifestyles. Three of us tried the spit test and one reluctant friend decided to browbeat her doctor into doing the bloodwork to test for Candida. We all showed signs of infection.

The bad news? Following a strict Candida diet like the one outlined in the Candida Crusher book isn’t really easy. You’ll have cravings for foods you shouldn’t have and you’ll feel like your diet is really restricted. The good news is that the book lays everything out simply and makes it easy to follow. That, combined with the support of my friends, allowed me to follow the program for a good 4 months.

We all had our doubts when we started researching Candida. We even had our initial doubts about Candida Crusher. I, for one, am glad that’s the resource we chose to stick with. I’ve never felt better and my family is glad to have a more energized and enlightened wife and mother in the house. In this case, I can assure you, the quick-fix would have been the scam. Stay true to yourself and don’t try to rush the process. This plan works and if you follow it you’ll feel better before you know it!