Do you experience gas and bloating, brain fog, muscle aches and pains, and fatigue? Did you know these symptoms might be caused by a very common yeast organism found in the human body called Candida albicans? Candida overgrowth is a condition that can lead to any number of symptoms and ailments. Although many Americans suffer from this widespread condition, it is often overlooked due to the refusal of mainstream medicine to fully acknowledge candida overgrowth as a cause of more serious health issues.

The Candida Self-Test

Print this page to answer each question below. If you score 3 or higher, there is a chance that you are suffering from candida overgrowth, or Candidiasis.

1. Do you experience regular fatigue and/or muscle aches and pains?

YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

2. Do you have food sensitivities or food allergies?

YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

3. Have you experienced nail fungus, athlete’s foot or jock itch?

YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

4. Do you have recurrent vaginal yeast overgrowth?

YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

5. Have you taken broad-spectrum antibiotics, even once in your life?

YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

6. Do you crave sugar?

YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

7. Do you commonly have gas and bloating?

YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

8. Do you crave bread, pasta, etc. (and similar foods made with refined white flour)?

YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

9. Have you taken birth control pills for 6 months or longer?
     
YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

10. Do you experience brain fog?

YES (   )  NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

Total Score  ____

STEPS TO ADDRESS CANDIDIASIS

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Every person who eats food produces intestinal gas. In some individuals, gas can be excessive and embarrassing, causing abdominal bloating, frequent and excessive flatulence, or sharp, jabbing pains in the abdomen. Although it is caused by a variety of factors, it is ultimately the result of poor digestion. When one doesn’t have enough naturally occurring digestive enzymes, or eats foods that are difficult to digest, food is left in the colon in an undigested form. This undigested food is broken down by bad bacteria through a process of fermentation that then creates gas as a by-product.

Take the Gas & Bloating Self-Test

Print this page and answer each question below to see if you could be suffering from excessive gas & bloating. A score of 3 or higher indicates there is a strong possibility that you have excess gas and bloating and could benefit benefit from nutritional supplementation to help address the problem. 

1. Do you burp or belch uncontrollably after eating?

2. Do you eat quickly and swallow your food without much chewing?

YES ___  NO ___ (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

3. Do you drink carbonated beverages?

YES ___  NO ___ (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

4. Do you experience excessive flatulence within 1 to 1½ hours after eating?

YES ___  NO ___ (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

5. Do some vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, garlic, onions, etc.) give you excessive flatulence?

YES ___  NO ___ (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

6. Does eating beans give you excessive gas?

YES ___  NO ___ (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

7. Do you take psyllium fiber as a supplemental fiber?

YES ___  NO ___ (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

8. Do you drink cold liquids with your meals?

YES ___  NO ___ (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

9. Do you commonly eat refined wheat products (pasta, crackers, bread, etc.) or dairy products?

YES ___  NO ___ (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

10. Have you had problems with Candida overgrowth (thrush, vaginal yeast infections, nail fungus, etc.)?

YES ___  NO ___ (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

TOTAL SCORE _______

(A score of 3 or higher indicates you may be suffering from Gas & Bloating.)

Simple Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Gas & Bloating

• Do not eat late at night. Stop eating between 6-7 p.m.
• Exercise to help stimulate the passage of gas through the GI tract.
• Eliminate artificial sweeteners like Nutrasweet and Equal.
• Avoid eating protein and starch at the same meal.
• Eat fruit alone or thirty minutes before a meal.

A parasite is an organism that lives by feeding upon another organism. Parasites living in the human body feed on our cells, our energy, our blood, the food we eat and even the supplements we take. There are several types of parasites: protozoa are single-celled organisms that are only visible under a microscope, while worms come in all sizes from threadworms, that measure less than one centimeter, to tapeworms that grow up to 12 meters in length.

 • Diarrhea or Constipation
 • Gas, Bloating, Cramps
 • Irritability / Nervousness
 • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
 • Persistent Skin Problems
 • Fatigue
 • Insomnia/ Disturbed Sleep
 • Anemia
 • Muscle Cramps
 • Teeth Grinding
 • Post Nasal Drip
 • Sugar Cravings
 • Allergies
 • Rectal Itching
 • Brain Fog
 • Pain in the Umbilicus
 • Bed-wetting

Take the Parasites Self-Test

Print this page and answer each question below. If you score 3 or higher, then a parasite cleanse may be helpful to you.

1. Do you experience regular fatigue and/or muscle aches and pains?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

2. Do you experience normal bowel movements with bouts of intermittent diarrhea or constipation?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

3. Do you have unexplained weight loss and/or fever?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

4. Do you have a distended belly?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

5. Do you grind your teeth while you sleep?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

6. Do you have dark circles under your eyes and/or acne?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

7. Do you have insomnia or disturbed sleep?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

8. Have you traveled outside of the United States?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

9. Do you regularly eat unpeeled raw fruit and/or vegetables?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

10. Do you have pets that sleep in bed with you or do you eat after contact with your pets?

YES (   ) NO (   )  (YES = 1 NO = 0)  _____

Total Score ____

A score of 3 or higher indicates you may be suffering from Parasites.

How do I Promote the Detoxification of Parasites from the Body?

1. Internal parasite and Candida cleanse.
2. Strict diet excluding carbohydrates.
3. Maintain good intestinal bacteria using probiotics.
4. Supplement with a fiber supplement to absorb toxins from cleansing.
5. Supplement with enzymes and hydrochloric acid to digest food and deter parasites in the stomach.

After following more than a thousand South Florida beachgoers for a year, experts at the University of Miami discovered an alarming trend among people who frequently swam in the ocean. Compared to non-swimmers, those who spent time in the water experienced more gastrointestinal illness, more respiratory problems, and a significantly higher rate of skin disorders, even though beach areas were clean and the water unpolluted.

The culprit? Microscopic bacteria that thrive in the sub-tropical water temperatures. Such bacteria can enter the body through ingestion or skin contact and could potentially upset the healthy balance of bacteria in the digestive tract, which is essential for optimal digestion and immune function.

Experts warn that the harmful bacteria may pose a particular threat for children as well as older adults who may be lacking in healthy gut bacteria, and recommend taking the following precautions if planning a day at the beach:

• Avoid swallowing ocean water.
• Do not swim if you are ill, have diarrhea or open wounds.
• Shower and wash your hands before and after swimming.
• Take children on frequent bathroom breaks/diaper changes.

Research also shows that taking a daily high-potency probiotic supplement can help boost the numbers of good bacteria in the gut and help ward off potential harmful invaders. As a general rule, adults should look for supplement with at least 15 billion active cultures per once-daily serving.

In 2008 a gastroenterologist in Minnesota discovered that he was able to cure one of his patients of a destructive Clostridium difficile infection by transplanting healthy bacteria from her husband’s gut into hers. Clostridium difficile, more commonly known as C. diff, is a bacterial infection that can cause severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon, but within hours after the beneficial bacteria was transplanted into her colon, the woman’s C. diff infection disappeared—along with her symptoms.

No, it’s not science fiction, just an emerging field of real science that continues to amaze doctors, scientists, and just about everyone in the health care community. And at the heart of it all is something that can’t even be seen with the naked eye—the trillions of microscopic bacteria that have been living in your gut since the day you were born.

The human digestive tract is where more than 70 percent of the body’s natural immune defenses are found. That means it plays a vital role in preserving overall health, and study after study has shown that the good bacteria (called probiotics) can help prevent everything from digestive problems such as irritable bowel and constipation to inflammation-related conditions such as asthma and allergies. Not only that, but the variations between one person’s gut environment and the next can make a big difference when it comes to whether or not they are more prone to certain diseases or conditions throughout life.

While this comes as no surprise to natural health experts—who have been touting the benefits of probiotics and a balanced gut for years—their hope is that it will increase awareness about the benefits of taking a daily probiotic supplement at every age in order to promote lifelong health.

The gift of vibrant health is one that everyone deserves, and ReNew Life founder Brenda Watson believes in helping people worldwide get the tools they need to live healthier every day. Recently Brenda donated several cases of Ultimate Flora probiotics to a friend, who delivered them to more than a hundred kids in need at Danita’s Children orphanage in Haiti. The effort was part of a mission organized in conjunction with All Children’s Hospital in Tampa to set up a medical clinic for residents of Haiti and the surrounding area. Below are some photos from the trip.

Founded in 1999 by Danita Estrella, Danita’s Children Hope for Haiti Children’s Center provides for “the development of a child’s whole being—physically, spiritually, emotionally and academically”. What began as a single building with just over a dozen kids now includes a school that educates nearly 550 children, a church with a congregation of more than 500 members, and a meal program that provides more than 18,000 meals each month to those in need.

Research has shown that the foundation for optimal well being begins in the gut with a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria, but certain lifestyle factors can have a significant impact on that healthy balance—resulting in poor digestive function and a breakdown in overall health. Daily probiotics can help replenish good bacteria in the digestive tract and restore needed balance to the body.

Visit Danita’s Children online today to learn more or to find out how you can get involved.

Over the weekend digestive care expert Brenda Watson was hard at work filming her newest PBS special, The Road to Perfect Health, scheduled to air this November on PBS. It focuses on the benefits of probiotics—the friendly bacteria in your digestive tract that Brenda likes to call your Gut Protection System, or GPS! That’s because all those good bacteria make up a large portion of your body’s natural immune defenses, so keeping your gut in balance has a lot to do with how you feel every day. Here’s a sneak peek at Brenda’s time in the studio, and be sure to watch the show this winter on PBS!

It’s no secret that America has a weight problem. The latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell us that roughly 28 percent of American adults are obese, and our children are quickly following suit. But sometimes help can come from the most unlikely places, which is what researchers in Japan discovered recently.

Published in this month’s European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, results from a 12-week study revealed that probiotics may play a significant role in the battle against obesity. More than 80 participants were chosen based on high body mass index (BMI) and abdominal fat and asked to drink 200g daily of a fermented milk beverage, either with or without a probiotic strain called Lactobacillus gasseri. The outcome was a more than 4% decrease in abdominal and subcutaneous fat in those who received the probiotic, as well as a significant decrease in body weight and waistline.

While more research needs to be done to determine exactly how probiotics support healthy weight management, scientists believe it has something to do with how they affect our metabolism. Of course, we already know these beneficial bacteria play a significant role in better digestion, regularity, immune function and overall health, so don’t forget your probiotics!

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Florida revealed that the microscopic organisms living in your gut may provide an early warning system for colon cancer—one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control.

After testing more than 90 individuals, scientists found that certain types of bacteria were common in patients who developed polyps in the colon, which can develop into cancer. Doctors hope that such “bacterial signatures” could be used to pinpoint patients who may be at higher risk for developing colon cancer, and that non-invasive screening techniques can be developed that would look at the types and number of intestinal bacteria in the gut.

Did You Know…?

Your digestive tract is home to literally trillions of individual bacteria (more than 1,000 different species), including Bifidobacteria—the most prevalent good bacteria (or probiotics) in the large intestine—and Lactobacilli, which are the most prevalent good bacteria in the small intestine.

Altogether, the beneficial microorganisms make up nearly 70 percent of your body’s immune system, so maintaining a healthy bacterial balance in the intestines is crucial to your overall health. Because everyday factors such as stress, illness, antibiotic use or even a change in routine can upset a balanced digestive environment, natural health experts recommend taking a daily high-potency probiotic for optimal digestive and immune health.