Candida in the Body?

by Jill
(Missouri)

Inability to concentrate, but not ADHD

Question: My son is 10 years old and has had difficulty in school and home with "lollygagging" and not paying attention/ focusing/ listening. Starting in kindergarten, his teacher suggested that he be placed in a gifted program or school.


We moved him to a laboratory school but the same problems have continued. His first grade teacher insisted he had ADHD. We had him tested, he did not, but we tried two different ADHD medicines to see if it would help. They did not.

As a last resort I had him tested in 2009 for a learning disability and the results were that he is very bright and above average in all areas and a high average in math.

His teachers and I are concerned that with middle school next year, this problem will be compounded and he may make bad choices. On top of all of this, this past year I myself became disabled and unable to work, lost my business and our home, had to file bankruptcy, and my husband left my son and I.

I know that in itself plays a huge part. I do not know where to turn for help...the schools and counselors are just leading me on a goose chase it seems.

I stumbled across your website and am very glad I did. Do you have any advice on what would be the best direction to look next?

Answer: I am so sorry for your losses over the past year. I hope 2011 will be much better for you! As for your son, there are a few things that can often mimic ADHD symptoms in children. The first may be a sensory processing disorder. You can review the symptoms of this by clicking on the link to see if your son has any additional signs.

However, with his main symptoms being inability to concentrate and more of a spaciness/brain fog, I would definitely investigate the possibility of either an overgrowth of candidain the body and/or a gluten/casein sensitivity.

Over time, as a result of antibiotics and a diet with lots of processed foods, simple carbohydrates and high amounts of sugar, the body gets an imbalance of bad and good bacteria in the gut. When there is yeast overgrowth in the intestines it will start to damage the intestines leading to what is referred to as leaky gut syndrome.

Because of the leaky gut, when gluten and casein are consumed, extra-large opium-like molecules are leaked into the blood stream and travel to the brain producing a drug induced “high.” This has also been known to cause autism symptoms referred to as ‘The Opiate Theory.’ More about this can be read by clicking on the link. Regardless of sensitivities to gluten or casein, a symptom of yeast overgrowth in general is an inability to concentrate and focus likely due to not properly absorbing nutrients needed for daily functioning.

An easy way to test for symptoms of candida overgrowth is by doing a candida saliva test first thing in the morning when he wakes up.

There may also be other things compromising your son’s digestive system and causing the opiate effect making a gluten free casein free diet still beneficial in eliminating symptoms of brain fog. Personally, my son and I both have/had problems with yeast overgrowth and I have noticed a huge difference in my son as well as myself in the brain fog department since taking steps to treat it.

I hope these ideas help; I know how frustrating it can be to have a child that has a difficult time concentrating. Thank you!

Rachel

Return to Behavioral Questions page


Return to Home page