What it is Candida overgrowth and do you have it?
What is Candida?
Image from Wikipedia
Candida Albicans is a bacteria we all have, and need. It lives in our mouth, throat, gut, vagina, and even on our skin. In the gut, it’s a necessary bacteria that helps us digest food and absorb nutrients. Ideally, candida lives in balance with all the other bacteria our bodies need, but far too often - especially in America (we’ll get to this), candida gets out of control and causes a whole host of symptoms. These symptoms often lead to drinking coffee and taking medications to eliminate symptoms that we can actually fix with a holistic, and natural approach. (For a list of foods to eat and avoid, click here)
Candida is something I’m super passionate about - I know, that’s kind of weird, but it’s because in 2014 I realized, through my own research, that I had an overgrowth that was causing all sorts of symptoms. I didn’t even eat poorly! I was so confused, and the more I researched it, the more fascinated I became. Also, the more frustrated I became.
It felt like our food system was setting us up for failure despite our best efforts. I began to do research, and have continued my learning on the subject for the last 7 years.
So, what are the symptoms of candida overgrowth?
Below are some of the most common signs that you may have an overgrowth of candida in your body.
Strong or recurring cravings for sugar, sweets, sodas, and carbs
Feeling sluggish
Brain fog and/or memory issues
Experiencing yeast infections, UTIs, or itching in your “nether regions” (goes for men and women)
Bloating, diarrhea, constipation
Depression, anxiety, mood swings, and irritability
Skin issues like eczema, rashes, psoriasis
Seasonal allergies or itchy ears
Autoimmune conditions
Slightly white (instead of pink) tongue coating
I am seeing more and more people figuring out that their exhaustion, weight gain, bloating, and digestive issues are so much better after addressing their candida overgrowth. I think it’s a much more prevalent issue than we have statistics for.
What causes it?
Food quality, farming practices, processed foods instead of whole foods, and chemical use in foods that deteriorate the gut lining and microbiome.
Alcohol consumption - Think about it: we use alcohol to kill bacteria. You’re drinking it (maybe even adding sugar to it) and it kills even the good bacteria. Drinking often doesn’t allow the good bacteria to repopulate after they’re wiped out.
External factors that kill good bacteria - Flouride in drinking water, Chlorine in pools and tap water used to boil, steam, etc.
Hidden sugar in things you wouldn’t expect. Take a look at those labels, and remember that women are supposed to eat fewer than 24g and men fewer that 36 grams. Note that a protein bar can have 20g in one serving!
Stress and/or anxiety that cause the gut to be tense and to become acidic and kill off beneficial microbes/bacteria.
Use of Antibiotics - the reason is in the root of the word anti (against/kill) bio (life) aka “destruction of microorganisms.”
Birth control pills - One of the first survey questions 23 & Me does in the gut health section is ask if you’ve taken oral contraceptive pills for more than a year! That should tell you something!
After removing excess Candida from the gut, you may notice:
Less reliance on caffeine for energy
Fewer to no sugar cravings
Stabilized and improved moods
Better energy and motivation
Weight loss from less inflammation in the digestive tract and a healthier metabolism
Here’s what one client had to say about her experience rebalancing Candida in her gut:
"Mia helped bring me back to life, that may sound cheesy, but it’s true. She suspected Candida overgrowth and we tackled it. I started off with little to no energy for days on end - spending most of the days on the couch working or doing very little. Everything seemed like such a huge effort. I was also bloated a lot, and my digestive system wasn't right. I was sluggish and tired. Now I have zero bloating, I feel good, my energy levels are amazing. There's life behind my eyes and my skin even looks better. I feel so much lighter and don’t default to sitting on the couch..." - Claire B., 2021
How to get rid of candida?
Well, you actually want to have some candida, it’s a part of the balance of good and “bad” bacteria. However, you do want to get it under control if it’s crowding the environment
A health coach who specializes in gut health can work with you to balance your gut microbiome and make it a less hospitable place for Candida to over grow. We do this through addressing diet, supplementing to support good bacteria growth while diminishing current candida levels, and discussing lifestyle factors that contributed to the overgrowth.
If you suspect you may have candida overgrowth based on the above symptoms, reach out so we can do a couple quick tests!
It’s likely you’ll have to adjust food habits at first, but can resume eating normally after the gut is in balance.
Adjusting your food intake looks like: eliminating starches and sugars in favor of foods that feed and strengthen the good bacteria, essentially crowding out the bad stuff. We also supplement with natural remedies for killing off Candida.
What to be cautious of:
When decreasing levels of Candida, it’s important to work with someone experienced in this area to guide you through and help you properly detox, otherwise, many experience “die-off” symptoms which like the flu-like body aches, mood swings, headaches, discomfort, and can cause unnecessary taxation on your body. If done right, these can be kept to a minimum.
DIY candida detox is not recommended, as the gut microbiome is a delicate ecosystem that needs to be carefully rebalanced.
I’ve seen some really amazing transformations in people (myself included!) after eliminating candida from my gut and repopulating the microbiome in a healthy way. Each person is different, though, so it’s like a nice surprise at the end!
If something you’ve read here resonates and you want to hear more about how health coaching can help, send me a message on the contact page!
Be well,