Candida and how to get rid of it

A candida overgrowth is a common gut infection commonly caused by antibiotic use, oral contraceptives, gut infections, poor immunity, high stress, diabetes, high alcohol intake, and a high sugar, or refined carbohydrate diet. Candida is a form of yeast/fungus that is present in everyone’s gastrointestinal tract and doesn’t generally cause problems – however when candida is given an opportunity to multiply out of control, that’s when health problems can start. 

Is this you?

• Sugar cravings

• Bloating & gas

• Fungal infections on the skin and nails

• Oral or vaginal thrush

• Sinus infections

• Skin rashes or acne

• Gut inflammation and pain

• Food sensitivities

• Skin Rashes

• Brain fog

• Headaches

• Irritability

• Chronic fatigue

• Poor immunity

• Joint pain, bone spurs and arthritis

• Low mood

A candida overgrowth can cause very unpleasant symptoms making you feel inflamed, fatigued, and awful. Candida can damage the intestinal wall causing inflammatory candida toxins to penetrate the damaged intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. That’s when you can start having systemic symptoms such as migraines, chronic fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, arthritis, fungal acne, yeast infections and more....

Candida LOVES to feed on sugar and grow with, so you’ll find your craving for sugary food and refined carbohydrates will increase. As candida digests sugar a chemical reaction occurs in your gut which can cause bloating and gas. It can be a nasty cycle, as a candida overgrowth can increase your cravings for sugar, which feeds candida, which then causes you to become even more exhausted, which increases your need for more sugar to give you energy. Candida is a clever little fungus!

So, how do you get rid of a candida overgrowth?

• Follow a short-term anti-candida diet that avoids sugar, carbohydrates, and food sources of yeast to starve off the Candida. Candida cannot survive without sugar or carbohydrates!

• Take specific herbal antimicrobials that kill off Candida.

• Support liver detoxification using liver herbs and nutrients to minimise the effects of Candida die-off (which can cause foggy brain, headaches, and fatigue – which you don’t need any more of).

• Heal the gut lining using demulcent herbs and nutrients such as licorice, glutamine & slippery elm.

• Boost the population of beneficial bacteria to outcompete candida by taking specific probiotics and prebiotic fiber.

• Reduce stress as cortisol causes the body to release glucose into the bloodstream which then feeds Candida.

Can you test for a candida overgrowth?

Yes, you can. However, often symptoms are sufficient for a Naturopath to recognise a candida infection and treat it accordingly. If you would like testing, there are several options available ranging from functional medicine testing through to hair testing. Please feel free to contact me for more information so I can help support and guide you with the appropriate treatment to help you feel better quicker.