What is Candida Overgowth?

Candida is a type of yeast that normally takes up residence in various parts in the body such as the skin, mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina. Candida must have a host to survive. In order to eliminate candida, we must stop feeding the very things that it likes. While for most people, candida may not be a big deal, but for many others this is a different story.

There are numerous bacteria in our digestive tract that in exchange for being well fed, aid with nutrient metabolism, vitamin production, and waste processing. Candida is an exception when it comes to providing advantages: It does nothing that we know of to support or improve our overall health and well-being.

Candida belongs to the kingdom of organisms known as fungi, which also includes mushrooms, mold, mildew, and more. Everyone has some degree of candida in there gut. If you’re a healthy individual, other microorganisms that make up your body’s unique flora (the total sum of which is called your microbiome), such as bacterial constituents Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, work synergistically to maintain a balance with one another so that one or more don’t become problematic to your health.

You may already be familiar with the more common types of candida overgrowth like oral thrush (often seen in babies and older adults) or vaginal yeast infections. Generally, a candida infection isn’t life-threatening, though it may make you feel lousy.

So what are the symptoms of Candida overgrowth?

The symptoms of a candida infection can range from mild to severe, and they can vary with each individual. Candida overgrowth symptoms include any number of the following:

  • Oral thrush (characterized by creamy white bumps on the inner cheeks and tongue)

  • Recurring vaginal yeast infections

  • Chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs)

  • Unrelenting fatigue or CFS (chronic fatigue)

  • Bowel disorders such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

  • Gastric ulcers

  • Digestive issues (gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea)

  • Abdominal pain and cramping

  • Sugar and carbohydrate cravings

  • Joint pain and muscle aches

  • Anxiety and depression

  • Mood swings and irritability

  • Recurring sinus infections

  • Chronic inflammation

  • Brain fog

  • Poor sleep

If you’re thinking that these symptoms sound a lot like some other dieseases, you are correct. What’s more, candida infections rarely exist by themselves. Most likely, if you have a overgrowth of yeast, you most likely have a excess of other microbes in your gut and it can be difficult to differentiate between them.

What are the causes?

Impaired immune function(Lyme, CFS, chronic stress)

Gut dysfunction(leaky gut, IBS, gluten intolerance)

Antiobiotic use

Carb loaded diet

Environmental toxins(BPA, Formaldehyde, Radon, Chlorine)

How can I overcome this?

Herbal Interventions

Restore healthy immune function(candida and gut protocol)

Balance microbiome

Remove excess sugar, refined carbs and starch( stay away from sweets, fruits, alcohol, processed foods, grains, potatoes, peas, corn) stop feeding the candida

Restore lymphatic flow to eliminate toxins

ANF therapy

If this sounds like you, come in for a functional nutrition consultation. If you have changed your diet and are still feeling off, this may be the missing link.

Becky Coots-Kimbley