Yeast Overgrowth and Bacteria

For many children with autism, yeast overgrowth is a big problem. When my son was tested for yeast, his levels were so high that I almost thought it was a typo on the lab report! Yeast in children with autism can cause many problems, such as hyperactivity and inability to focus. Once I started treating my son's yeast, he became less hyperactive and was able to concentrate more on tasks.

Here are some of the signs and symptoms of yeast overgrowth in autistic children.

Signs and Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth:

On Candida Overgrowth Dr. Kenneth Bock writes:

Bloating in the belly, particularly after eating a yeast promoting food.
Thrush, a thick white coating on the tongue, or white patches in the mouth.
Itching or redness in any of the mucosal membranes, or in any external body tissue that is in a warm, moist area.
Recurrent vaginal infections, or "jock itch" irritation in males.
Recurrent fungal infections of the toenails and fingernails, or recurrent athlete's foot.
Swelling throughout the body, particularly in the hands, face and feet; or a tendency to suffer from chronic water retention.
Fatigue, for no apparent reason.
Depression, for no apparent reason.
Poor memory, poor cognitive function, and brain fog.
Chronic nasal congestion from mucus or swelling of the nasal membranes.
Insomnia, restlessness.
Joint pain, with or without swelling.
Muscle aches, or headaches.
Weight gain, or difficulty losing weight.
Cravings for sweets and other refined carbohydrates, including bread and pasta.
A history of steroid use.
A history of frequent antibiotic use.

Even with just this list, you can see how yeast overgrowth can negatively impact a child's mental state and ability to learn.

There are many treatments for yeast, many that I have tried and alot that I haven't but have heard good things from other parents, such as herbal antifungal treatments like grapefruit seed extract or oil of oregano. But I believe one of the most important things to combat yeast is probiotics. There are many different strains to choose from. I find that a probiotic with a wide range of probiotic cultures is the best kind. Probiotics help to keep the immune system in good working condition and also help to control yeast and bad bacteria in the body.

Right now I am using a product called Vitality Greens by Body Ecology.

https://shop.bodyecology.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BE005

It is rather expensive, but well worth it! It contains fermented vegetables which contain many different probiotic cultures. It also contains enzymes, which help with digestive issues that many autistic children have, and antioxidants, which help repair damage caused by free radicals.

This is actually part of the body ecology diet, which I will talk about more in a later post.

I hope this has been helpful!