Candida – what you need to know

Have you ever experienced exhaustion, cravings for sweets, brain fog, joint pain or bad breath ?

If you have said yes to more than two, you could have a fungal infection, known as candida.

Read below to find out what causes candida, symptoms and treatment.

There are many different types of Candida yeast. While some are very rare and life-threatening such as Candida Auris, most can be easily treated if identified early. The most common infection is Candida albicans and is usually found in the mouth, intestinal tract and vagina. In some cases, this yeast can affect the skin and other mucous membranes. 

Why all Candida isn’t bad

When in normal, healthy amounts, Candida aids in nutrient absorption and digestion. However, an overgrowth in this fungus can cause disturbances in physiology. In the digestive tract, candida can break down the walls of the intestinal lining and penetrate into the bloodstream. Subsequently, this releases byproduct toxins and other toxins from your system, causing conditions like leaky gut syndrome. An out of balance body pH can also result in its uncontrollable growth. 

What makes you sick?

When Candida yeast change to its virulent fungal form, it grows long branches (hyphae) that can extend into your soft tissue. These can break through the membrane that surrounds your intestinal tract and release those waste products. As a result, an immune response is triggered that causes allergies and other health conditions, including autoimmune illnesses. The toxic byproducts that are released include acetaldehyde, ammonia, and uric acid. In a person with a Candida overgrowth, on the other hand, the liver becomes overworked as it struggles to process larger amounts of acetaldehyde. This build-up of acetaldehyde, ethanol, and other toxins can slow down various processes in your body, energy storage for example.

Consequently, these byproducts begin to cause symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, mood disorders, recurring vaginal and urinary tract infections, sinus infections, digestive problems (flatulence, burping, bloating, food intolerances, constipation or diarrhoea, and stomach cramps), and headaches.

What are some of the causes of too much Candida?

A high-sugar diet and antibiotics are the two of the common causes of Candida. Other risk factors of candida include chronic stress, long-term use of the contraceptive pill, oral corticosteroids, chemical exposure, diabetes, weakened immune system and heavy metal toxicity.

A high-sugar diet, full of inflammatory, low-nutrient foods, is exactly what Candida albicans needs to grow. Consequently, diet is the most common cause of an intestinal infection. However, with a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet, you can reduce inflammation in your gut. Therefore, some basic principles of the Candida diet include avoiding added sugars, eating non-starchy vegetables, low-sugar fruits, healthy proteins and lots of fermented foods. Probiotics help to maintain acidity in the gut and reduce yeast by competing with it for resources. Natural antifungals like oregano oil and caprylic acid help to break down the biofilms. When used in combination with probiotics and a low-sugar diet, they work alongside your immune system to restrict and reverse the growth of Candida albicans.

Treating Candida

Methods of testing yeast overgrowth include stool testing, serum testing, DNA test, stool PCR testing and microbial organic acids testing. 

Your symptoms determine what treatment is most suitable. 

Killing off candida in your body creates a metabolic reaction that releases different toxins into your body. Symptoms that show the cleanse or diet are working include impaired brain function, headaches, fatigue, nausea, in short, hangover/flu-like symptoms. Die-off symptoms are a good sign showing the yeast is leaving your body.

A Nutritionist or Functional Medicine Practitioner can help you restore a healthy digestive system.

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