Category Archives: Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers

Should I Take CanXida Instead of the Anti-Fungal Recommended By My Doctor?

Some of my clients get very frustrated with their medical doctors. One client was told by his doctor that he would be “cured” by taking anti-fungal medication for ten days. That statement didn’t give the client much confidence in the doctor’s competence. I agree the doctor was off the mark in thinking that a pharmaceutical medication would “cure” the client and do it within ten days. Even so, I do believe that doctors do their best in most cases. I know a lot of doctors because my life’s work is really in the medical field. I don’t know any intentionally bad doctors. I do know some doctors who make decisions based on only small amounts of information. But most doctors are good, honest people that want the best for their patients.

As for the anti-fungal medication, I recommend that you not take this drug. I’ve never seen satisfactory long-term outcomes from these medications. In most all cases, the patient will stay on these drugs for years on end to control the symptoms. The underlying problem isn’t being addressed, just the symptoms.

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Before you start a course of treatment for your gut, you need to know what is happening in your digestive system. I strongly suggest having a comprehensive stool analysis (CSA) using three samples. The CSA will reveal whether the problem is Candida, parasites, harmful bacteria, a lack of beneficial bacteria, or a combination.

Once you have identified the problem in your gut, you can opt for the most appropriate treatment. Generally, instead of pharmaceuticals, I suggest a combination of a healthy diet, restorative lifestyle, and supplements. If you chose to use CanXida supplements, you should notice a measurable difference in your symptoms after a month of treatment. We have consistently received fantastic feedback about our CanXida line of products.

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Questions & Answers

Next Steps: What To Do If Candida Treatment Isn’t Working

When I see a client who has been following the Candida diet, taking supplements like probiotics, and still isn’t getting better, I have a few questions. Firstly, is there a history of taking antibiotics? If so, beneficial bacteria have probably been wiped out to some degree. Candida may also be there, but that needs to be confirmed by laboratory testing.

Before I can sort out why treatment hasn’t had the intended response, I need to know that the diagnosis is correct. That’s why I recommend a comprehensive, three sample, stool analysis for all clients with poor treatment response. The test will cost about 400 dollars, but it’s money very well spent. The results of the test will reveal what you’re dealing with in your gastrointestinal system. I recommend that you do the testing through Doctor’s Data Laboratories or Genova Diagnostics.

I always recommend doing the stool test first and then deciding on treatment. I hate to see people spending time and money and getting nowhere because they are treating the wrong condition.

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Eating a healthy diet is very important to gut recovery. It’s also vital to make sure you are taking the right combination of supplements. I’ve seen clients taking more than 30 supplements a day, but the type and amount aren’t necessarily what their gut needs. I would suggest starting with a broad-spectrum supplement like CanXida Remove. Take one tablet twice per day, and if you get a bit of a response within the first week, you know you’re probably on the right track. If a lack of beneficial bacteria is the problem, you likely need to build those levels up in order to truly benefit from a healthy diet. CanXida Restore can help restore your beneficial bacteria levels.

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Questions & Answers

A Review Of The Comprehensive Stool Analysis Offered By Genova Diagnostics

Genova Diagnostics is one of the labs I’ve used to do comprehensive stool analyses for my clients. I’ve been asked how Genova Diagnostics compares to Doctor’s Data Laboratories, the other facility that I’ve used for stool testing. I’m not one to say one’s better or worse than the other. I would say that they would both be on par.

Like Doctor’s Data, Genova Diagnostics is an excellent lab just like Doctor’s Data. A lot of it comes down to personal preference. Some argue that Genova Diagnostics has much better reports and better training systems. Genova Diagnostics also offers interpretive guides you can download off the internet, although I think you can do the same with Doctor’s Data. The interpretative guide allows you to do a stool test and review the results yourself. You can also work with a doctor who can interpret the results.

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Both Genova Diagnostics and Doctor’s Data use identical techniques for their analysis. PCR technology is used for anaerobic bacteria, and a laser ionization is used to identify yeast or parasites. Thousands of different types of bacteria and yeast can be identified now quite accurately with this brand-new DNA laser technique.

My personal preference is to use Doctor’s Data in Chicago, but other clinicians may very well prefer Genova Diagnostics. I can work with reports from either laboratory because both provide valuable information. The Genova stool test is quite species-specific. Their report includes a couple of pages identifying what species of bacteria they found and what amounts. I don’t need to know this information. Instead, I much prefer to work with a very basic report that I get back from Doctor’s Data with the beneficial column, the imbalance column, and the dysbiotic column. I find this is all the information I generally need. If I need to know more than that, I’ll often request a SIBO breath test to identify the type and amounts of bacteria in the small intestine.

You can’t go wrong using Genova Diagnostics for stool testing. The price is generally higher for testing done through Genova Diagnostics compared to Doctor’s Data, but the reports from each are very helpful in treating gut problems.

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Questions & Answers

Comprehensive Stool Analysis Is A Valuable Tool In Your Recovery

I’ve been asked on many occasions whether it’s worth it to spend $400 US on a comprehensive stool analysis. I can honestly say, after decades working in this field, that a comprehensive stool analysis (CSA) is worth the price.

A stool test isn’t something you’re going to get in a conventional medical office. It’s not really in the ballpark of most family doctors. Even gastroenterologists are not usually going to order a CSA.

The problem with limiting yourself to standard tests from your doctor’s office, is that often these tests come negative – but it turns out to be a false negative. When nothing is found on the standard tests, people are told that they have irritable bowel syndrome. Sometimes they are even told that they have a psychiatric problem – somatization – and need an antidepressant. I’ve heard those kinds of stories again and again and again. The theory goes, if you can’t find something in a test, it must be in the patient’s head. It problem must be psychiatric rather than digestive.

Comprehensive stool analysis is an essential test for naturopaths and functional medicine doctors. These are professionals that are primarily interested in the function of the body and in correcting problems before a full-blown disease state develops.

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A CSA can be used both as a preventative measure and for diagnosis. On more than two occasions, I’ve had the patient come back saying, “I was wrongly diagnosed, Mr. Bakker. You were correct. I had ulcerative colitis, but the doctor missed it.” That’s how good these stool tests are. They can pick up diseases that have been missed by the GI specialist.

I highly recommend having a comprehensive stool analysis if you have been unwell for a long time or if you’ve been on pharmaceutical medication for many years. A CSA is a great starting point for many people. I’m surprised how many people have never had a comprehensive stool test despite never being well since undertaking a course of antibiotics.

Doctor’s Data Labs in Chicago provides excellent stool analyses. For $400, the test will show you what is going on in your gut. You need that information in order to select the right treatment

for your health condition. Stool testing also provides a baseline that you can use to measure the success of your treatment over time. You may need to re-check your stool several times to make sure you’re on the right track. Yes, there is a cost but stool testing also saves you the time, energy, and money you could be spending getting the wrong treatment. Stool testing expedites treatment and recovery, and that’s why I recommend it for many of my clients.

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Questions & Answers

Introduction To Stool Analysis: Which Test Should You Do?

When it comes to stool testing, I tend to work with Doctor’s Data Laboratories out of Chicago, Illinois. Genova Diagnostics is another lab I have used. It is vital that you work with a lab that is known for doing good work. The test is only as valuable as the accuracy of the results, so select your laboratory carefully.

The best stool analysis test is referred to as “times three” because it uses three stool samples, taken on three separate days. It doesn’t have to be consecutive days, just as long as it is different days reasonably close together. The samples undergo a comprehensive stool analysis (CSA), the test I recommend to many of my clients. This test is particularly helpful if you’ve been chronically unwell and aren’t responding to multiple treatments. I also strongly recommend the test to clients who have a history of extensive antibiotic use.

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Using three samples is considered the gold standard in stool testing. By using multiple samples, something that gets missed in the first specimen is likely to get picked up in the other specimens. Multiple samples mean a better rate of detection.

If you do several subsequent stool tests to monitor the results of your treatment, you may only need a single sample, but the very first test should include three. The initial analysis should be comprehensive and always include Candida, bacteria, and parasites. Stool testing can also comment on inflammatory markers. You want to cast a wide net with your first stool test to ensure that you don’t miss anything. You can be more selective on subsequent tests, but initially, you don’t want to miss any findings that could influence your treatment plan. Effective treatment follows from accurate diagnosis, and the CSA is often a vital step in arriving at a correct diagnosis.

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