You’re someone who eats right, does regular exercise, keeps stress in check, watches your weight and gets lots of rest but still are constantly sick with allergies, sinus or other infections. Doctors shrug their shoulders and start to write another prescription for antibiotics or antihistamines when you ask what could be the underlying cause. If this sounds like you, then you may be one of the millions of Americans who are unknowingly suffering from too much yeast.

I am one of the people I just described. Taking care of my health has always been a top priority for me but yet I am constantly sick. I had pretty much lost all hope after suffering through chronic sinus infections for three months and numerous rounds of failed antibiotics treatment when a holistic health care practitioner suggested to me that Yeast Syndrome might be contributing to my health problems.

Yeast Syndrome is basically an overgrowth of a normally beneficial yeast-like fungus, called Candida which inhabits our digestive tracts. An overgrowth can weaken the immune system and be an underlying cause of chronic, difficult to diagnose health problems. Normally, Candida is kept under control by good bacteria that also make their home in the digestive tract but the balance can be upset by repeated rounds of antibiotics and/or steroids that kill off too many of the “good guys.” Other causes are chronic stress, diets high in simple sugars, alcohol, oral conceptive use, hypothyroidism, diabetes and a weakened immune system.

More than half of individuals with chronic sinusitis who have taken many courses of antibiotic treatments are likely to have some degree of yeast syndrome, according to Dr. Robert Ivker in his book, “The Sinus Survival Guide.” A study by the Mayo Clinic backs Ivker up by finding that most cases of chronic sinusitis are caused by fungus rather than bacterial infection.

You can access whether you may have yeast syndrome by completing a Candida questionnaire at Candidiasis Self-Assessment Testing.Print off your score sheet and take it to your doctor.

Be warned. The treatment for Candida is rigorous. First, you will be given a diet to follow that is high in protein and veggies with little carbs in order to starve the yeast of its main fuel—sugar. You may need to be on this diet for a minimum of two weeks but probably longer. Second, you will be asked to take lots of probiotics to give your gut an infusion of good bacteria. Finally, anti-fungal medication will be prescribed to basically kill the yeast. The treatment is tough but the results could tip the balance in favor of good health.