What is Candida?
Candida is a type of yeast colony that lives in our large intestine. When it is in its correct place, and is of the right size, it is beneficial to us. It aids with nutrient absorption and digestion. In women, it also exists naturally in the vagina. It is opportunistic though and will swell in numbers, causing problems if it's environment allows it to. It is usually kept under control by the beneficial bacteria we have. A healthy microbiome should prevent candida getting out of control.
What happens in candida overgrowth?
When your body’s natural pH balance is upset, the candida yeasts can grow out of control. Candida overgrowth syndrome, or COS, is the term used when candida has grown out of control in your body. It can be found in the mouth, intestinal tract and vagina. It can also affect the skin and other mucosal membranes.
Candida is a type of yeast colony that lives in our large intestine. When it is in its correct place, and is of the right size, it is beneficial to us. It aids with nutrient absorption and digestion. In women, it also exists naturally in the vagina. It is opportunistic though and will swell in numbers, causing problems if it's environment allows it to. It is usually kept under control by the beneficial bacteria we have. A healthy microbiome should prevent candida getting out of control.
What happens in candida overgrowth?
When your body’s natural pH balance is upset, the candida yeasts can grow out of control. Candida overgrowth syndrome, or COS, is the term used when candida has grown out of control in your body. It can be found in the mouth, intestinal tract and vagina. It can also affect the skin and other mucosal membranes.
|
When candida overgrows, it can cause havoc. The yeast candida, has roots that attach themselves to membranes of the body.
These roots penetrate the membranes and perforate them. In the digestive tract it breaks down the walls of the intestinal lining, which if left unchecked can then penetrate into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. This is especially true if our immune systems aren't functioning as well as they should. |
|
Common candida overgrowth in the gut releases toxins. One of the toxins that it releases is acetaldehyde.
This is the same chemical found in excessive amounts of cheap wine. It is known to cause hangovers. People with candida overgrowth often feel like they are “hung over” or may react sensitively to the effects of alcohol.
As the candida roots penetrate the intestine lining, it perforates it and can cause leaky gut syndrome. Please read my other handout about leaky gut.
Individuals who this happens to can find that they develop new food sensitivities, allergies or intolerances. These foods often include dairy, eggs, wheat and gluten. They also suffer from some nasty symptoms
Candida infections can be very stubborn to leave. If the candida`s food source (glucose) is removed, it can cleverly hibernate until the food is reinstated. It can also swap its food source to protein. Candida can be hard to treat because it is also good at hiding. It can conceal itself under a biofilm that gives it protection from normal anti-fungal or antimicrobial foods. Because it can go into dormancy and hide so well, It can hang around the digestive tract for decades, often reappearing during times of stress and when there is more sugar or refined carbohydrates in the diet.
A colony of candida is very quick to grow and can swell in numbers in a matter of hours of receiving glucose through sugary food, drinks or refined carbohydrates (pastas, bread etc). If you are trying to control candida, a lifelong change of monitoring sugars and refined carbohydrates is needed.
This is the same chemical found in excessive amounts of cheap wine. It is known to cause hangovers. People with candida overgrowth often feel like they are “hung over” or may react sensitively to the effects of alcohol.
As the candida roots penetrate the intestine lining, it perforates it and can cause leaky gut syndrome. Please read my other handout about leaky gut.
Individuals who this happens to can find that they develop new food sensitivities, allergies or intolerances. These foods often include dairy, eggs, wheat and gluten. They also suffer from some nasty symptoms
Candida infections can be very stubborn to leave. If the candida`s food source (glucose) is removed, it can cleverly hibernate until the food is reinstated. It can also swap its food source to protein. Candida can be hard to treat because it is also good at hiding. It can conceal itself under a biofilm that gives it protection from normal anti-fungal or antimicrobial foods. Because it can go into dormancy and hide so well, It can hang around the digestive tract for decades, often reappearing during times of stress and when there is more sugar or refined carbohydrates in the diet.
A colony of candida is very quick to grow and can swell in numbers in a matter of hours of receiving glucose through sugary food, drinks or refined carbohydrates (pastas, bread etc). If you are trying to control candida, a lifelong change of monitoring sugars and refined carbohydrates is needed.
|
Common symptoms of Candida
• Headaches • Fatigue - often extreme • Brain fog • lethargy • Constipation/ diarrhoea or both • IBS • Bloating, especially after eating • Nausea • acid regurgitation • Sweet cravings - often intense • Skin eruptions / rashes • Vaginal thrush, itching and excessive discharge • athletes foot • Sensitivity to perfumes, chemicals and tobacco smoke • Feelings of irritability • Depression • anxiety • allergies • intolerances • Recurrent sore throats, ear and nasal infections • Nasal congestion • Joint pain, swelling and discomfort • Bad breath • White coating on the tongue • Hormonal imbalances • Loss of sex drive • Urinary tract infections •PMT |
A Candida Albicans overgrowth. You can clearly see their root system.
|
What causes Candida overgrowth?
There are many reasons that candida can get out of hand. Diets high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol set the perfect environment for the yeast to flourish. If you have ever brewed your own wine or beer, you will understand the reaction between yeast and sugar. It feeds the yeast, and this is what is happening inside of you.
Other reasons that can cause the overgrowth are:
More often than not, an individual has a combination of trigger factors that have allowed the candida to overgrow.
There are many reasons that candida can get out of hand. Diets high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol set the perfect environment for the yeast to flourish. If you have ever brewed your own wine or beer, you will understand the reaction between yeast and sugar. It feeds the yeast, and this is what is happening inside of you.
Other reasons that can cause the overgrowth are:
- Antibiotics - these are so good at killing bacteria that unfortunately, our beneficial bacteria (that keeps the bad bacteria in check) get wiped out along with the bad guys. This leaves your defenses down for pathogens that want to take hold of the area.
- Birth control pill - whilst this does not directly cause the yeast to overgrow, if it is coupled with sugar and refined carbs, it encourages the environment of the gut to change to one that is perfect for candida to flourish.
- Steroidal drugs - depress the immune system which would normally fight the overgrowth.
- Oral steroidal inhalers - this can change the environment of the mouth to allow oral candida.
- Immunosuppressants
- Weakened immune systems
- Cancer treatment
- Chronic stress - higher cortisol levels can encourage candida overgrowth
- Diabetes.
More often than not, an individual has a combination of trigger factors that have allowed the candida to overgrow.
|
What can you do about Candida? If you have candida, you need to change the way you are eating to create a better environment in your gut for your beneficial bacteria to thrive. Eating a candida diet will cut down the candida`s main source of food - glucose. Whilst glucose is essential for our functioning, most diets are too rich in it and can afford to be altered to a lower glycaemic index diet. The glycaemic index is a way of measuring the content of foods in terms of how they convert to glucose after digestion. You can read more about it here. To balance candida, you should fill your plate with vegetable fibre. Try to have a rainbow selection of antioxidant-rich, soluble fibre each day. For example; dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, peppers, purple cabbage, spinach etc. Aim for 60% of your meal being vegetable based at least twice per day. You should eat good quality, organic proteins with every meal and snack. You can eat eggs, all meats and fish, but avoid breadcrumbs and batter. All your grains should be wholemeal, so brown pasta, rice and bread. Whole grain carbohydrates are ok, but you should eat them in moderation. This is a diet that removes all yeasts, sugars, sweet fruits and refined carbohydrates. You should avoid milk and sweetened milk products whilst on this plan. Avoid all pastries, sugary treats, cakes, biscuits and all white flour products. Fruit juices, fizzy pop, wine and beer must all be avoided All natural sugars such as honey and maple syrup should also be removed. Yeast is also in marmite and stock cubes so this should be removed along with vinegars. Look out for hidden yeasts in other products. The candida diet should be coupled with a gut program to reinoculate your gut with the right bacteria, along with anti-fungal supplements (of natural origin) and immune system support to get the pathogenic candida back under control. |
Candida die off symptoms
When candida are killed off, they release toxins that can make you experience uncomfortable symptoms for a few days. Although these symptoms are not nice, it is a good sign that the candida is on its way out of your system.
Symptoms often include:
You can read more about this in my herxheimer reaction handout and how to minimise these reactions, these include drinking plenty of water - 1.5 - 2 litres of pure water each day and keeping your bowels open with plenty of soluble fibre.
Long term
Candida is stubborn and can come back. As I mentioned before, it can hibernate so prevention is key.
You should follow a low sugar and refined carbohydrate diet in the future and continue to supplement with probiotics and fermented foods to keep your gut in the best possible environment it can be.
When candida are killed off, they release toxins that can make you experience uncomfortable symptoms for a few days. Although these symptoms are not nice, it is a good sign that the candida is on its way out of your system.
Symptoms often include:
- Impaired brain function
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Intestinal distress including bloating, gas, constipation and nausea
- Sweating and fever
- Sinus infection
- Skin breakouts (not limited to face)
- Typical flu-like symptoms
You can read more about this in my herxheimer reaction handout and how to minimise these reactions, these include drinking plenty of water - 1.5 - 2 litres of pure water each day and keeping your bowels open with plenty of soluble fibre.
Long term
Candida is stubborn and can come back. As I mentioned before, it can hibernate so prevention is key.
You should follow a low sugar and refined carbohydrate diet in the future and continue to supplement with probiotics and fermented foods to keep your gut in the best possible environment it can be.
