1. My baby has red patches on his neck. What can help with it?

Neck rashes are common in babies, especially in babies who have neck folds. A rash on the neck looks red, is flat or raised. Because the skin folds rub against each other, it causes skin irritation. The rashes start disappearing and decreasing once babies learn to move their head without any support. A skin rash that looks raised in nature could be yeast infection. This happens due to excess moisture and perspiration in the area. This gives candida the best environment to grow.

Babies with a neck rash will experience pain and itching of the affected area. These symptoms can lead babies to nurse less frequently as they are usually used to. You can help baby by dressing them up in light and breathable clothing. Wash your baby’s clothes baby friendly detergent as the usual detergent can be too harsh on baby’s skin. Coconut oil on the affected area can help with the infection as well due to its anti-fungal properties. Make sure baby’s neck area is always dry.

If baby’s rash is accompanied with fever, you may contact his pediatrician to consult further on the nature of the rash. The rash usually disappears on its own after a few days. However, if it doesn’t, once again, consult with baby’s pediatrician to see what other treatments are available. In the meantime, keep baby’s neck area clean and dry to prevent the rash from getting worst, which can cause baby discomfort.

2. I have recurring sinus infection despite leading an active lifestyle. Please help!

Chronic sinus infections can be quite alarming. They occur quite often and when they do occur, they last for weeks. With a sinus infection, your face will be in pain, there will nasal discharge and heavy congestion. A fungal sinus infection caused by a candida overgrowth in the body display similar symptoms as a bacterial sinus infection. Sufferers experience fever, coughing, nasal discharge, loss of smell etc. However, what differentiates the two is the length of how long you’ve had the infection for. A chronic fungal sinus infection is long term and more severe.

A fungal infection can start off as a bacterial sinus infection. If you treated the bacterial infection with antibiotics, it helped treat your sinus infection. However, it will flare up the underlying yeast infection you may have. The antibiotic just killed most of the bacteria present in your gut and gave candida the opportunity to overgrow in numbers. This can cause further sinus infection with blockage and inflammation and fungal growth in the sinuses.

Treating a fungal sinus infection with antibiotics, just as you do with a bacterial infection, is not recommended. Since it’s fungal, candida may be the cause. A sinus caused by a fungal infection may occur if fungal organisms are inhaled. These organisms make home in the nasal passageways causing inflammation. In most cases, surgery is required to get rid of the fungal infection. In some cases, chronic sinus infection can also be treated with antifungals and nose sprays.  If you are further interested in this topic, this study published in pubmed goes into details on this very subject.

3. I never had seasonal allergies until recently. Can that happen later in life?

If you have never had seasonal allergies before but suddenly started getting them in recent years, they could be due to your gut health, inflammation and stress levels. Research and studies are showing more and more how important gut health is and how important the role of digestion is in keeping things in balance. Seasonal allergies show up as runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion, and lots of sneezing. It can last for a month or more.

Candida overgrowth can implicate a weakened and compromised gut health and a probable leaky gut. A compromised gut can lead to sensitive immune system. When the immune system is weak, our bodies can develop seasonal allergies and allergic reactions. When there is chronic inflammation, your immune system becomes overactive and hypersensitive to allergens. This is huge because between 70% to 80% of our immune system is in the gut.

To help get rid of candida and restore gut health, include probiotics and fermented food into your diet. Eat a candida friendly diet. Gluten, carb and sugar can compromise the gut health by helping the growth of candida. Get enough rest and sleep, manage your stress effectively and exercise often. Avoid antibiotics if you can. Antibiotics can kill off the good bacteria in our bodies.

4. Why do I keep getting asthma attacks when I feel anxious?

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of lungs. The airways become narrow and swell producing extra mucus. Symptoms of asthma include chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, etc. While some have mild cases of asthma, others may have serious cases leading to life threatening attacks. It is commonly triggered by cold, air pollutants and irritants, stress, extraneous physical activities, pollen, dust, etc. You are at risk if you are overweight, a smoker, have other inflammatory disease, exposed to fumes or other pollutants.

There is now strong evidence that fungal sensitization is related to patients with asthma. This can be diagnosed by doing skin testing with antigens derived from the fungi. There is also a link between fungal sensitization and the severity of asthma. In one study conducted in Germany, researchers found a link between asthmatic patients and fungus. Mild asthma can be controlled with the use of anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator therapy.

Following a healthy diet, doing exercises that are tailored to your needs and living a stress free life can help with the prevention of asthma attacks. However, you can further protect yourself from getting an asthma attack by staying away from smoking and those who smoke, follow your doctor’s advice regarding exercising with asthma and avoiding other triggers. Taking care of your body will also ensure that you do not catch colds easily as colds are one of the ways that can worsen your asthma.

References:

• https://www.nycfacemd.com/fungal-sinus-infection/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3605797
• https://academic.oup.com/mmy/article/49/Supplement_1/S150/980140
• https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/27/3/615

1. I have constant sore throat even though there are no signs of a cold. What else could it be?

If you don’t have a cold or have no other symptoms of a cold besides a sore throat, you could be dealing with a throat infection called Streptococcus pyogenes, also commonly known as strep throat. One of the main and most common symptoms of strep throat is a sore throat. Other symptoms could include difficulties swallowing, headache, fever. When diagnosing, your doctor will examine your throat to see if it is red, or if the tonsils are enlarged. The other thing that they look for which gives away if it’s a strep throat or not is the presence of pus.

Having strep throat does not always mean having a candida overgrowth or thrush. Thrush of the throat can also cause a sore throat. Thrush of the throat can happen to any one of us, regardless of age or sex. If you have recently been on antibiotics or have a weakened immune system, you could be at risk. When you have sore throat as a result of yeast infection, you may not think of yeast as the culprit from the get go. In such events, you will be look for a white coating on your tongue. The coating looks like raised cheese and upon scraping of the area, it can lead to bleeding. There would also be loss of taste.

If you are concerned that your sore throat is a result of yeast infection and not a bacterial infection, consult with your doctor so they can diagnose it medically. The sore throat caused by a yeast infection usually goes away once the candida overgrowth is managed.

2. Why am I having a hard and painful time swallowing my food or water?

If you do not have signs of a cold or any other conditions that can make swallowing hard, you may have oesophagitis candida. Oesophagitis candida is fungal in nature and caused by the same candida family that causes other thrushes (yeast infection, oral thrush), candida albican. As with other types of thrush, oesophagitis is caused in those with a suppressed immune system, who have taken antibiotics in the past. Symptoms include painful swallowing.

Patients with oesophageal candidiasis have the infection in their throat starting from the passage of the mouth leading down to the stomach. It can also cause oral thrush (or perhaps you got the throat yeast infection as a result of the oral thrush), vaginal thrush, diaper rash in babies. We all have a safe amount of candida in our body. When it overgrows in numbers is when it can cause infections in different parts of the body. Watch this video by Eric Bakker to learn more about candida and throat infections.

Painful swallowing is commonly seen in those suffering from this fungal infection. Other symptoms include weight loss, nausea, oral thrush, etc. It can be easily diagnosed and confirmed by doing an endoscopy, a throat swab or a barium swallow. It can be treated by anti-fungal medications, changes in diet, and supplements. It is important that you are on top of this infection as it can cause holes in the oesophagus or spread itself to other parts of the body. If you have a recurrent fungal infection, you may want to discuss with your doctor about getting a stool test. A stool test can show whether there is a candida overgrowth in the gut which may be causing the recurring throat infection.

3. I keep getting recurrent urinary tract infection and I am tired of taking antibiotics each time. How can I prevent them?

Recurrent urinary tract infection can be super annoying and uncomfortable. It is most common in women. Usually, a UTI is the infection of the bladder, the urinary system and urethra. If left untreated, a UTI can spread and cause a kidney infection. Bacteria that normally live on the vagina or genital areas, if enter the urethra and travel to the bladder can cause the infection. It can happen during a sexual activity. UTIs can also be caused if you have chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc. The following risk factors are most likely to cause UTIs: if you have had one before, if you are obese, if you have diabetes, or kidney stones.

You know when you have a UTI! The symptoms are hard to miss. There is burning when you pee. The pee smells bad and has a cloudy look to it. People also complain about the pressure or cramps felt in the lower belly. If along with these symptoms, you also feel chills, nausea, vomiting, you may be dealing with a kidney infection. In that case, please seek out medical treatment. Recurrent UTIs are when the person has them more than once a year. If such is the case, an urologist can do a urine culture test to dig deeper. Based on the cause, appropriate treatment plan can be created.

Note that in most cases, a UTI is often treated with a round of antibiotics. Use of antibiotics can lead to an overgrowth of candida in the body, which can cause more harm than not. If you must take the antibiotics, ensure to replenish the body with good gut bacteria in order to avoid the overgrowth. To prevent the recurring UTI, drink lots of water to flush out the bacteria. Urinate as often as you can, especially if the urge is there. Wipe from front to back and not back to front to avoid bacteria from bowel movements touching the vagina.

4. My son is battling with severe depression and his medications don’t seem to work. What else can we try to help him with?

Although not life-threatening, not treating a candida overgrowth can lead to depression. It has been shown that candida can cause depression in people with a weakened immune system and gut health. Candida can produce up to 180 toxins which it can leak to the bloodstream. These toxins travel up to the brain causing all sorts of emotional distress in the host.

Serotonin, responsible for regulating mood in our brains, is primarily produced in our gut. A healthy gut which is suppressed can halt production of the neurotransmitter which can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mood irritabilities. If your son has ever been exposed to the use of antibiotics, has a diet high in sugar and carbs, then he may be dealing with this unfortunate takeover without realizing it.

Gut health and flora can be improved by following a candida cleanse, reduction of sugar and carb in diet, supplements and probiotics. Long time sufferers of candida who also have complained about depression have seen mood changes once they took control of their bodies by following a healthy diet and lifestyle. To find out if your son is dealing with a yeast infection, you can ask him to begin taking the following test. In addition, ask his doctor to do a stool test to determine and confirm the diagnosis. Once it has been confirmed, a candida overgrowth can be eliminated by following the steps listed above.

References:

• https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/thrush/index.html
• https://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0915/p638.html
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408390/

1. I have a low resting heartrate. Should I be alarmed?

For adults, a normal resting heart rate should be between 60 to 100 beats per minute. Heart rate can be influenced by age, how active one is, emotions at the moment, medications, room temperature, etc. If your heartrate is always too high or too low, that can pose a problem for you. Tachycardia is when your resting heart rate is always above 100 beats a minute compared to bradycardia which is when your heart rate is below 60 beats a minute. If you are an athlete or someone who is very active, you may find that your heart rate is always lower than 60 beats a minute. This is normal and not considered a health problem.

Damage to heart tissue, heart tissue infection, underactive thyroid gland, and inflammatory diseases can be some of the causes of bradycardia. Bradycardia can be a problem if your heart doesn’t pump enough oxygen for the body. When the body does not get enough oxygen, it can cause the following: fainting, fatigue, chest pains, tiredness, shortness of breath. If you are feeling any of the symptoms listed, consult your doctor. Bradycardia can be treated with a pace maker. If not treated appropriately, it can lead to sudden cardiac arrest, frequent fainting, heart failure.

You can prevent heart disease by following a healthy diet, exercising frequently, maintaining a healthy weight, drinking in moderation, staying away from cigarettes and drugs, managing stress. In very rare cases, bradycardia, when unexplained, can also be an early sign of systemic candidiasis. If it hadn’t occurred to you before, you may want to ask your doctor to do a stool test to confirm the presence of candida overgrowth in your body. A candida overgrowth can be successfully eliminated with a candida cleanse, supplements and healthy lifestyle.

2. I have bad and low semen quality. What could be causing it?

Low semen quality can be determined by the quantity of sperms in your semen, the mobility of your sperm, and the structure of the sperm (egg-shaped heads with long tails). Age, previous medical conditions or problems, environment, current health conditions, lifestyle can impact the quality of sperm. If you suspect having low quality semen, you can help restore its quality by exercising, managing your stress effectively, quitting cigarettes, eating well, etc. For those who are dealing with this, it can be quite frustrating as it can impede in a couple’s ability to conceive.

You can further investigate to see if you have a candida overgrowth which can also effect the quality of one’s semen. Semen candidiasis is a sexually transmitted fungal infection. Studies have shown that candida can affect male fertility, sperm function, and fertilizing ability. One study demonstrated that a sperm infected with a candida overgrowth did not result in the fertilization of that sperm. If you suspect that candida may be the cause of your semen’s poor quality, you can get tested to see if you have a candida overgrowth. A candida overgrowth occurs when the good gut bacteria has been reduced in great numbers. This happens after a round of antibiotics, stress, unhealthy lifestyle.

3. Why do I keep getting easily out of breath?

Many reasons can cause shortness of breathe. It could be pollen or allergen inhalation. It could be due to a cold or blood pressure issues. Pneumonia or COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder can also cause shortness of breath. You could also be dealing with asthma or anemia or pulmonary embolism. It can also be triggered due to age, smoking, if you are exposed to chemicals or fumes on a daily basis.

Stress and anxiety can cause people to feel out of breath. People dealing with adrenal fatigue can also be prone to having difficulties with breathing. Ask yourself as to how often do you have trouble with your breathing. Does it happen after a certain activity or event? Or do you have laboured breathing all the time? Pneumonia can also cause breathing problems especially because it is a fungal infection of the lungs and the throat.

If you seem concerned about the shortness of your breath, consult your doctor to rule out any dangerous medical conditions. In the meantime, you can try eating healthy foods, exercising often, managing your stress appropriately. Eric Bakker explains some of the reasons as to why one would be dealing with shortness of breath in this video.

4. My husband craves and eats foods with high sugar all the time. How can I help him?

If your husband eats sugar all the time and cannot help himself, he may be dealing with a candida overgrowth. For some people, symptoms are not visible, but systemic. A very big sign of a candida infection is the constant craving and eating of sugar. Candida lives off sugar in the body. Does he feel constantly tired, has a white coating on his tongue, feels itchy all over his body, has brain fog? These are some of the many signs of a candida overtake in the body. Candida uses the sugar to hold its occupancy in the body.

To properly assess if he is dealing with candida, your doctor may request for a stool test. In the mean time, you can ask him to take the following test to see if he does and at what levels. Once it has been determined and confirmed, your husband can begin his journey to cleansing his body off candida. A candida cleanse will help with cleaning the body from the infection. Probiotics will be his friend. They help establish good gut flora which in turn keeps a check on candida and prevents it from overgrowing. Also, remind him that its good in general to limit sugar intake for other various reason.

References:

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294660823_Bradycardia_as_an_early_sign_of_systemic_candidiasis
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5960052/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19400990

1. I urinate very frequently. What could be the cause of it?

Frequent urination can be a sign of a bunch of things. Urinary tract infection, kidney infection, bladder infection are some of the causes of frequent urination. It could be also due to drinking too much fluid in a day. If you are urinating often, and have fever, with some pain in the abdomen, you are most likely dealing with a UTI. Diabetes can cause frequent urination too. Most women pee often during the first trimester of their pregnancy as the uterus gets bigger and starts putting more pressure on the bladder.

Another cause of your frequent need to use the washroom could be candiduria. It is a nosocomial infection of the urinary tract. Some of the risk factors include urinary indwelling catheters, antibiotics, old age, and diabetes mellitus. Because candiduria is asymptomatic, it may not be associated with candidemia. Asymptomatic candiduria is usually harmless. It does not require local or systemic antifungal treatment. Your doctor can diagnose it by doing a second sterile urine sample. It can cause mortality in those who are debilitated or have a weakened immune system.  No matter the cause of your frequent urination, it can be quite uncomfortable.

2. How do I know I have Raynaud’s and what can I do about it?

When you have Raynaud’s disease, parts of your body (such as fingers, toes, nipples) can feel numb and cold as a response to cold temperatures or stress. The arteries that are responsible for pumping blood to the skin get narrowed, therefore restricting blood circulation to the affected areas. Raynaud’s affects women in greater number than men. Breastfeeding mothers deal with it as well. It’s very common with people living in colder climates. Symptoms of Raynaud’s are feeling cold in the fingers, toes or nipples, changes in color of the skin when the person is cold or stressed. There is also a numb and prickly feeling as the affected areas starts warming up. The person will notice blanching of the areas, and after warming, the normal blood flow is back.

Many times, women who are breastfeeding and who are dealing with Raynaud’s are misdiagnosed with candidiasis (thrush of the nipple). They are asked to follow the treatment protocol for thrush and when that doesn’t work, doctors will look into other possibilities. Prevention of Raynaud’s can ensure easily avoidable situations for women who are breastfeeding. Avoiding stress, coffee, smoking, and alcohol can help in reducing the effects of Raynaud’s. Additionally, those suffering from Raynaud’s should dress warm and keep room temperature warm to avoid painful episodes. Because the symptoms of Raynaud’s can be mistaken for thrush, you have to ensure you rule thrush out as the cause of discomfort.

3. Why do I see blood in my stool?

At any stage of life, you may pass some blood in your stool. It could be either big or small in amounts. Most times, you may not even notice the blood in your stool if you are not used to inspecting your stool after a bowel movement. Some are a result of a hemorrhoid, some a result of intestinal parasite or infection. If it is happening from time to time, there is likely no reason to be worried. Some people also notice their stool with hints of red after they eat foods that are red (beets often do that!). However, if you’re noticing blood regularly, it definitely warrants further investigation by a doctor. They can get a blood test done to find out what the cause of regular blood presence in your stool is. If accompanied by fatigue, tiredness, poor immune function, rectal itching, brain fog, then you may be looking at a candida overgrowth.

While the most common cause can be hemorrhoid, you want to ensure it is not something more dangerous like a stricture or a problem with the colon or bowel cancer. Many people have bowel cancer where it’s never diagnosed. A good diet can help prevent diseases like bowel cancer.  Avoid heavy alcohol use and eating too much red meat. Bowel cancer can be caused by obesity or high stress. Getting a complete blood count down can also shed light on your iron counts and red blood cells. Low red blood cells can cause low ferritin, which is an iron storage protein. Low ferritin can cause bleeding. Eric Bakker talks in detail about this issue in this video.

4. My stool has a white and stringy material in it. What is it?

If you see a white and stringy material in your stool, it is most likely candida. The material will look like a string of cheese. It can also look frothy, resembling yeast in bread when it’s rising. Candida in stool shows up as a result of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, use of antibiotics, or dead if you are going through a candida treatment.

Many also notice their stool with such white stringy materials especially during a candida treatment. What to look for? Stringy threads that are whitish, yellowish or light brown in color. Sometimes, it may have the frothy look to it and sometimes it doesn’t. The treatment kills the overgrowth of candida which then is flushed out during normal bowel movements. Please note that candida may not look the same from one person’s stool to another. The foods you eat along with many other factors can make it look different.

Definitely see your doctor if you have candida in your stool for more than 2 weeks, if you have difficulty in going about your regular day activities, experience anxiety as a result. Sometimes candida is passed through the stool without any treatment being done by the person. This is your body’s way of ridding itself from candida overgrowth and detoxing. Treatment for candida overgrowth usually can be done through a candida diet, supplements to help keep candida checked and lifestyle changes.

5. Why is my urine always foamy, has an odour and is yellow?

Cloudy urine is not usually something bad. A urine culture can show you whether there is a bacterial or a fungal infection going on. Its common to have discolored or cloudy urine from time to time. In some cases, it can signify a urinary tract infection, especially in women. Some females get recurring UTIs, or bladder infections. Cloudy urine accompanied with pain is a sign that you should not ignore. Pain in the lower back can signify kidney pain. Additionally, if you see blood or pink urine, that can be cause for concern as well.

If you get a consistent pattern of cloudy urine with blood or pain, you need urgent attention. A urine culture can show sings of infection such as e-coli. Eric Bakker explains what cloudy urine signifies in detail in this video.

Normal urine is supposed to be clear. Sometimes, a cloudy urine can be attributed to mild hydration. This goes away after the afflicted person drinks enough liquids per day. Blood in urine can also contribute to it looking cloudy and foamy. Cloudy urine that is consistently happening for days can also indicate kidney stone problems. In some cases, STD or vaginitis can also cause urine to look cloudy. If you are drinking enough per day and have a good diet but still have urine that is cloudy and different in color for days, please see your doctor who can do a urine test to rule out any conditions or diseases.

References:

• https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/41/Supplement_6/S371/314153
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18445893
• https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/professional/genitourinary-disorders/urinary-tract-infections-utis/fungal-urinary-tract-infections-utis
• https://www2.sahlgrenska.se/upload/Primarvarden/8%20Raynaud%E2%80%99s%20Phenomenon,%20Candidiasis,%20and%20Nipple%20Pain.pdf

1. Why is my stool inconsistent in shape and color all the time?

Inconsistency in stool shows the health of the person’s digestive tract. A normal bowel motion is brown in color. If your stool is brown tan in color, about 12 to 18 inches in length, cigar shaped, low in odor, easy to pass, you have good bowel function. This is also a sign of good gut bacteria. People with good bowel movement have a diet high in fiber, a good autonomic nervous system, and are not too much under stress. A healthy person will ideally pass stool twice a day, once in the morning and in the afternoon. To have a good bowel function is a sign of healthy gut health.

Before you start freaking out about that green bowel movement you had earlier today, stop right there! Bowel motion and its color can definitely be affected by what you eat. For example, if you had something green earlier in the day (think spinach!), don’t be alarmed if your poo looks green. Green means leafy green, and it’s your body’s way of processing the food. Medication can also have an effect on what color your poop will look like.

However, if you have observed your stool to be different than tan brown every time for a number of days, no matter what you eat, please raise this issue with your doctor. You will have to do a stool test to determine what is causing the stool to look that way.

2. I am constantly suffering from aching muscles. What is the cause of it?

Systemic candida can cause muscle ache.  When thinking of a yeast infection, most people think about the skin or external body conditions that it causes (vaginal, skin rashes, itchy jock, etc). However, a systemic candida infection wreaks havoc in the inside, starting at the digestive tract. In worst case scenarios, a candida overgrowth can invade the bloodstream and make its way to other parts of the body. A systemic candida condition can cause pain in the form of muscle aches, joint pain, mental illnesses. Many experts don’t link a candida overgrowth with such conditions and may contribute it to other illnesses as a misdiagnosis.

Did you recently take a round of antibiotics? Do you consume a diet high in sugar, refined carbs? Do you also experience brain fogginess, anxiety and depression along with muscle ache? All this can direct us to candida. Muscle ache caused by candida occurs due to a heightened toxic state in the body. During a candida overgrowth, there is high levels of stress hormones and acetaldehyde, waste product of yeast, circulating in the body. The presence of high acetaldehyde can cause fatigue and muscle ache. Patients who go on a candida cleanse and who start taking supplements to help get rid of a candida overgrowth notice a great deal of improvement in muscle health.

3. I am constantly feeling anxious. What can I do to avoid taking medication?

Research is showing study after study the power of gut health and its effect on our bodies. Much recently, it was also discovered that gut health affects our brain’s health and can regulate our moods. Crazy? Here is how it works: on a regular day, candida’s presence ensures digestion and nutrient absorption. The good bacteria in the gut prevents candida from overgrowing. Most of our hormones are either partially or fully made in the gut.  With the disruption in the balance of good gut bacteria, candida overtakes and multiplies. As the yeast starts coating the lining of the intestinal tract, the gut’s ability to produce or secrete serotonin is also suppressed. And as we know, a serotonin deficiency causes mood imbalances.

Candida can break through the lining of the stomach into the bloodstream to travel across different parts of the body. The toxins it spills affects other organs in our body, including the brain. This is also known as the leaky gut syndrome. Those who suffer from LGS complain about mood imbalances, including anxiety. All this occurs due to the imbalance of yeast vs bacteria in our gut. If you want to avoid medications and suspect a candida overgrowth in your body, you can get a stool test done. A comprehensive stool test can shed light on your overall gut health. If candida is the problem, you can overcome it by following a strict diet, starting probiotics and avoiding stress as much as you can.

4. Help! I am a woman and I am shedding a lot of hair!

The three hormones that play an important role when it comes to the health and maintenance of hair are estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. Any imbalance to one of these hormones can cause hair loss, especially in women. Another hormone that plays a vital role in maintaining healthy hair is the thyroid. An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause a lot of hair loss.

Before you start attributing your hair loss to a myriad of external reasons, consider getting your hormone levels checked. You can try doing the DUTCH test, dried urine test comprehensive hormones. The DUTCH test is done on women who are on their period or women who are going through perimenopause or menopause or post menopause. Many times, an imbalance in any of these hormones may also cause anxiety, irritability, memory loss, aging, vaginal dryness, etc along with hair loss. Once the tests confirm an imbalance, you can begin appropriate treatment. To get your thyroid tested, you can check with your doctor to do a blood test. At home, you can check your body basal temperature. If you’re basal temperature is consistently below 36C for many days in a row away after your period, you may be dealing with hypothyroidism. To learn more, watch the following video in which Eric Bakker goes over this topic.

To help with hair loss while you seek the root of it, you can start with making lifestyle changes which include clean eating, exercising, stressing less. If there is an underlying medical condition behind your hair loss, you and your doctor can come up with a treatment plan to deal with the root cause which will then help with the hair loss. For hair loss related to fungal infection, you can read our response to a FAQ here. In this video, Eric goes over many other reasons for why you may be experiencing hair loss.

References:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23784606
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/
• https://adc.bmj.com/content/84/4/328