What is Candida Overgrowth
Updated: May 31
You might be wondering, What on earth is candida? Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast, and a very small amount of it lives in your mouth and intestines. Its job is to aid with digestion and nutrient absorption but, when overproduced, candida breaks down the wall of the intestine and penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic byproducts into your body and causing leaky gut. This can lead to many different health problems, ranging from digestive issues to depression.
How do you get candida overgrowth?
The healthy bacteria in your gut typically keep your candida levels in check. However, several factors can cause the candida population to get out of hand:
Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar (which feed the yeast)
Consuming a lot of alcohol
Taking oral contraceptives
Living a high-stress lifestyle
Taking a round of antibiotics that killed too many of those friendly bacteria
The Candida produces very long root-like structures that penetrate intestinal walls leaving microscopic holes which allows toxins, undigested food particles, bacteria and yeast to enter the bloodstream. This condition is known as the “Leaky Gut Syndrome”, which causes food allergies and many health problems
All of these factors contribute to a weakened immune system.
Here are 10 common Candida Symptoms
Skin and nail fungal infections (such as athlete’s foot or toenail fungus)
Feeling tired and worn down or suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
Autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis
Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, lack of focus, ADD, ADHD and brain fog
Skin issues such as eczema, yeast rashes that appear to be “ringworm”, psoriasis, hives, and rashes
Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, or depression
Vaginal infections , urinary tract infections, rectal itching or vaginal itching
Severe seasonal allergies or itchy ears
Strong sugar and refined carbohydrate cravings
How to test for candida overgrowth.
When you awake in the morning, before you put anything into your mouth, work up some saliva and spit it into a clear glass of water. Within 2 minutes, look in the glass. If there are strings coming down from your saliva, or if the water turned cloudy, or if your saliva sank to the bottom, YOU MAY HAVE A CANDIDA CONCERN!
Healthy saliva will simply float on the top!
(You may want to put out a glass of water in the bathroom or on the nightstand the night before you wish to do the home Candida Saliva test, just to remind yourself not to brush your teeth prior to spitting into the glass.)
WHAT foods to avoid with Candida?
When you have candida or blood sugar issues you want to stay away from fruit that has higher sugar content especially during the first week. 12 grams or higher can aggravate and feed the candida.
Bananas, Mangoes, grapes, raisins AND honey, should be avoided the first two weeks of the Detox or eaten in very low moderation. Once your candida test is clear you can slowly begin to add in these foods one by one and watch your body’s reaction. Continue to test your saliva to see where you stand.
A replacement for bananas in the smoothies would be 1/2 avocado and use the monk fruit or stevia sweetener instead of agave or honey.
See the below chart.
How to kill Candida
Eliminate processed sugar and starches, yeasts, molds such as cheeses, and bread from the diet. This is fuel for candida.
Eat lots of coconut oil and coconut products. Coconut oil is another healthy saturated fat that contains many properties that are beneficial to Candida sufferers which are anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antifungal. It also kills off yeast overgrowth. Look for unrefined coconut oil, since most commercial coconut oils are refined, bleached, and deodorized.
Eat coconut milk or almond milk yogurt. Yogurt has a good amount of probiotics which are beneficial for the gut.
Fresh garlic is significantly more potent against Candida albicans than any other form, including tablets, oils and pills. Fresh garlic is also a suitable alternative to drugs for serious systemic yeast infections in patients with severe immune suppression. Adding fresh garlic to food (raw and crushed), or crushing and swallowing raw clove is a cheap and powerful anti-fungal treatment.
Garlic also stimulates the immune system, improves circulation, lowers high blood pressure, kills intestinal parasites, and is a powerful antioxidant and antibiotic, in addition to many other health benefits.
Raw apple cider vinegar - Raw apple cider vinegar and Candida do not get along. Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix it with a glass of water and drink before every meal. The apple cider vinegar helps to fight off the intestinal yeast overgrowth by actually killing the yeast, creating a die off reaction. Raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar creates an unfriendly environment for the yeast, while helping create a good environment for friendly gut flora.
The above are just some natural ways to help with removing the candida overgrowth from the digestive tract.
If you have a severe Candida issue, some supplements may be recommended. It is important to note that women and men can both get yeast overgrowth and it is passed from a nursing mother to her baby through her milk.
For more information or to schedule a personal consultation to address more serious issues, please click here for a 30-minute phone, zoom or face to face consultation with your Certified Natural Health Counselor, Doreen Germany.