By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com
May 24, 2006
Can a yeast called candida cause everything from headaches to depression?
A number of authors -- so-called experts -- and even patients think so. They believe that each person has candida in his or her body and that the wrong diet or medication can allow the yeast to grow, attack the immune system and cause all kinds of trouble.
Eat the right diet, take the right medications and things will straighten out, they say.
As they American Academy of Allergists and many other reputable medical organizations have pointed out, candida can cause an occasional infection or allergy. But no one has shown it causes depression, mood swings or headaches.
Also, no one has shown that yeast- and sugar-free diets relieve these symptoms.
It has been shown, however, that the medicines used to treat candidate can cause side effects. So, if you don't feel well, don't attribute it to your difficulties with yeast or candida, in most cases. Doing so can lead to misdiagnosis and false hopes.
