7 Amazing and Eye-Opening Facts About Candida Overgrowth
Are you interested in learning more about candida overgrowth or candidiasis? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Candida albicans is a common yeast that can cause various infections, called candidiasis.
Today, we will explore symptoms, causes, risks, testing, treatment options, die-offs, and a new diagnosis questionnaire for candida albicans overgrowth.
Key Takeaways
The key symptoms of candida albicans overgrowth are bloating, fatigue, brain fog, mental fatigue and carbohydrate cravings.
Candida risk factors include prolonged antibiotics, steroids, birth control, antacid use, a high-carb diet, and prolonged stress. Prolonged antibiotic use can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria, leading to chronic infection and candida overgrowth, especially in patients with recurrent infections.
Candida affects 20-30% of the population.
The treatment of candida is tricky because of hyphae and biofilms.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a sign of candidiasis due to the nutrient deficiencies caused by the metabolism of acetaldehyde.
Candida’s by-products, such as Acetaldehyde, may harm the brain, contribute to biofilm formation, and weaken the small intestine’s lining, leading to a leaky gut.
The benefits of testing for candida seem to be limited.
Anti-microbials, diet, and probiotics are effective for treating candida albicans overgrowth.
Die-off symptoms are common with the treatment of candida and should be differentiated from adverse reactions to therapies.
- The key strategies for preventing candida include maintaining good hygiene, consuming a healthy whole-food diet, avoiding excessive carbs and sugary foods, managing stress, and limiting antibiotics.
The FDRQ 7 is an effective tool for diagnosing candidiasis.
Introduction
The more we understand about candida overgrowth and how to manage it, the healthier we will be, in less time. with fewer tests and better diagnoses, fewer supplements, and fewer restrictive diets.
In this regard, we will first discuss the critical indicator symptoms of candida albicans overgrowth.
Like most gut-related issues, candida overgrowth can present in various ways across multiple systems; however, there are specific vital symptoms to focus on.
One potential approach to managing candida albicans overgrowth is the candida diet, which some believe can help prevent yeast infections and improve overall health.
We will discuss the prevalence of candida, reasons for its treatment resistance, and strategies to reduce resistance.
We will also discuss how candidiasis affects brain fog and energy levels, testing and treatment options, and finally, some important warnings about die-off reactions, which appear to be very common.
Let us start by looking at the key indicators and symptoms of candidiasis.
Understanding Candida Overgrowth
Candida albicans overgrowth, or candidiasis occurs when the Candida fungus grows excessively in the body. This can happen in different parts of the body, such as the skin, mouth, vagina, and gastrointestinal tract.
When Candida grows out of control, it can cause various symptoms, ranging from mild discomfort to severe health issues. These symptoms can be difficult to diagnose because they often resemble other conditions.
Understanding Candida overgrowth is important for effectively identifying and managing this condition.
Let’s explore the relationship between candida albicans overgrowth and yeast infections.
The Connection Between Candida Overgrowth and Yeast Infections
Candida albicans overgrowth is often associated with yeast infections, particularly vaginal yeast infections, also known as vaginal candidiasis. A vaginal yeast infection occurs when the Candida fungus overgrows in the vagina, causing symptoms such as itching, burning, and abnormal discharge. While antifungal medications can treat the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis, addressing the underlying cause is essential to prevent recurrence.
Apart from vaginal yeast infections, other types include oral thrush and skin infections. In serious cases, candida albicans overgrowth can lead to invasive candidiasis, which is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention.
By understanding the connection between candida albicans overgrowth and yeast infections, you can take steps to manage and prevent these conditions effectively.
Let us look at the critical indicators of candida albicans’ overgrowth symptoms.
Critical Indicator Candida Overgrowth Symptoms
The following list of candida albicans overgrowth symptoms is based on the clinical findings of Functional medicine practitioner and gut expert Dr. Michael Ruscio rather than scientific evidence.
Seeing any of these symptoms in isolation is unlikely to indicate Candidiasis; the more we see, the more likely it is.
Bloating
Fatigue
Brain Fog
Mental Fatigue
Carbohydrate cravings
Brain fog makes it hard to think clearly, while mental fatigue makes it difficult to concentrate or makes the brain feel tired.
Carbohydrate cravings mean that one desires something sweet before feeling full after eating. Another example could be when you’re grocery shopping and succumbing to the temptation of grabbing a candy bar at the checkout counter. Sweet foods should not have that allure when one has a healthy metabolism.
Other notable key indicator symptoms of candidiasis include the following:
White tongue
Toenail fungus
Recurring vaginal yeast, jock itch and athlete’s foot
Cutaneous candidiasis is a skin infection caused by Candida, particularly thriving in warm, moist environments.
The more symptoms you have, the more likely candida albicans overgrowth is present.
Now, let’s consider some risk or predisposing factors for developing candidiasis.
Predisposing Factors and Causes of Candida Overgrowth
Candida infections can be triggered by several factors that disrupt the balance of healthy bacteria in the body, including the following:
Prolonged antibiotics*
Steroid use
Hormonal birth control
A high-carb diet
Prolonged stress
*Prolonged antibiotics mean taking consecutive rounds over several months.
Diabetes is another risk factor, as high blood sugar levels can promote yeast growth. Hormonal changes, such as those experienced during pregnancy or menopause, can also create an environment conducive to candida albicans overgrowth.
Considering that the overall risk should be the sum of all these predisposing factors rather than in isolation is crucial.
By understanding these causes, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing this condition.
Let’s now look at how common candida albicans overgrowth is.
How Common is Candida Albicans Overgrowth?
According to a 2022 review paper, 75% of women in their reproductive years will experience a vaginal yeast infection or vulvovaginal candidosis.
Candida infections, caused by an overgrowth of the Candida fungus, can affect various body parts and present symptoms such as itching, redness, and discharge. The importance of antifungal medications in managing these infections, especially for individuals with compromised immune systems, cannot be overstated.
A 2013 clinical trial revealed that out of 150 individuals with digestive symptoms, 20 percent had small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO), 20 percent had both SIFO and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and 20 percent had SIBO.
Candida infections can cause symptoms in the mouth, skin, and toenails, affecting approximately 10 percent of the population.
Dr. Ruscio estimates that candida affects 20-30% of the population based on research.
Let us look at what makes candidiasis hard to treat.
What Makes Candida Overgrowth Hard to Treat?
Candida is a normal part of a healthy commensal microbiome in various cavities of our body, such as the mouth, digestive tract, and vagina.
When the microbiome becomes imbalanced, candida’s role shifts from commensal to opportunistic.
As an opportunist, Candida takes advantage of imbalances and occupies less inhabited spaces. It entrenches itself into the cavity wall using filaments known as hyphae.
The hyphal connection in candida makes it harder to clear and increases inflammation.
The entrenchment of candida will also lead to the formation of biofilms, which serve as a protective barrier against bacteria, immune responses, and antifungals attempting to displace the candida.
If you have previously taken antifungal medication and experienced temporary relief from candida albicans overgrowth symptoms, biofilms are likely to blame.
Let’s explore the connection between candidiasis, fatigue, and other chronic conditions.
Candida, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Digestive and Mood Disorders
Various conditions are associated with fatigue, as well as candida albicans overgrowth. In a 2023 observational study of 800,000 people following an infection, those with a prior candida infection had a 39% higher chance of developing chronic fatigue syndrome.
An intriguing hypothesis proposed by Dr. Mona Morstein suggests that fatigue resulting from B1, B2, and iron deficiencies is linked to the metabolism of acetaldehyde produced by candida.
Some studies have found candidiasis in people with IBS, IBD, anxiety and depression.
Let’s explore the link between candida’s toxic by-product metabolism and fatigue and brain fog.
Candida Overgrowth, Toxins, Fatigue and Brain Fog
Candida produces toxic by-products, including acetaldehyde, which is also a by-product of alcohol consumption.
When you have high levels of this by-product in your blood due to candida albicans overgrowth, an alcohol breath test can indicate legal intoxication.
Acetaldehyde may harm the brain, contribute to biofilm formation, and weaken the small intestine lining, leading to a leaky gut.
Dr. Ruscio emphasizes that these by-products only pose a problem in excessive amounts.
Other toxic by-products of candida include propionic acid, ammonia, uric acid, oxalic acid and arabinose.
Evidence suggests that individuals with exercise intolerance may have high ammonia levels in their bodies. Ammonia is a byproduct of exercise physiology and fungus. Therefore, if your ammonia levels are already high due to candidiasis, exercising may cause you to experience fatigue, brain fog, and even joint pain afterwards.
According to a study highlighted by brain expert Dr. Perlmutter, excessive uric acid in the body can harm cognitive health.
Let’s examine the merits of different types of testing for candidiasis.
Testing and Candida Overgrowth
In theory, testing has merit because it removes the guesswork from determining the root of symptoms and identifies several possibilities. But is that practical?
Let’s examine the different types of lab testing for candidiasis, starting with stool testing.
Stool Testing
Comprehensive stool testing, used by most Functional medicine practitioners and Naturopathic doctors in Ontario, measures the digestive tract’s bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral load.
A study showed that brushing teeth affected the levels of candida in stool. This indicates that analyzing stool can provide insight into the health of the entire gastrointestinal tract. However, another study found that 82 percent of healthy individuals had high fungus levels in their stool. This suggests that stool testing may not provide conclusive answers about candidiasis in the intestinal tract.
Let’s consider the advantages of measuring candida antibodies in the blood.
Antibodies
When Candida antibodies are found in the blood, it suggests that candidiasis is developing into a more systemic issue. Dr. Ruscio has proposed an intriguing hypothesis: Candida antibodies may indicate small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIBO).
One challenge with antibodies is that they can remain in the blood even after symptoms have disappeared, making it difficult to determine if the infection is still present. Another challenge is that there are over 200 candida species, but we only test for a few. Additionally, we know little about another type of fungus called Geotrichum.
That said, it is clear that relying on antibody testing as a true indicator would be inadvisable.
Let us now look at the merits of using urine testing of d-arabinitol.
Urine Testing: D-Arabinitol
A positive urine test for D-Arabinitol indicates an acute systemic candida infection, but no evidence supports this for chronic candidiasis. This means that if you use this test, there is a possibility of false negatives and positives. If you get a false positive, then this could lead to months of invasive anti-fungal treatment and unnecessary dietary restrictions.
The benefits of testing for candida seem to be limited. So, how should we make a diagnosis?
According to Dr. Ruscio, the critical factors for diagnosing candidiasis or any gut-related infection are symptoms, medical history, and treatment response. He suggests that lab test results should be considered after considering these other factors.
Let’s look at the various treatment options for candida albicans overgrowth, starting with the dietary approach.
Treatment Options for Candida
Diet
In a 2018 pilot study, 120 people with candida in their stool and digestive symptoms were given either Nystatin (an antifungal medication) or Nystatin combined with a specific diet. The researchers discovered that 42 percent of the individuals who only took Nystatin had no candida in their stool and experienced no symptoms. Meanwhile, 82 percent of those who took the medication and followed the diet showed no candida in their stool and were symptom-free.
According to Dr. Ruscio, an anti-fungal diet should be as low-carb as possible, with no grains, starchy vegetables such as potatoes, and high-glycemic fruits like mangoes.
A potential drawback of a low-carb diet is that it may initially disrupt the sleep patterns of some individuals. This could be attributed to the body adapting to the dietary changes, the need to substitute the reduced carbohydrates with fats and proteins, or a deficiency in electrolytes. Consulting with a healthcare professional knowledgeable about candida can assist in managing sleep disturbances related to diet.
Another treatment option is probiotics. Let’s explore this further.
Probiotics
Can probiotics help with the clearance of candida albicans overgrowth? Let us see what the science says.
The authors of a 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces boulardii on oral candidiasis concluded that they were confident in declaring that probiotics can reduce oral candida.
A 2023 clinical trial comparing the effects of the anti-fungal medication fluconazole and lactobacillus acidophilus on vaginal candida found that they were equally effective.
Other in vitro studies have found probiotics effective in treating candida growth, hyphae and biofilms.
These research papers prove that probiotics should be part of a candida albicans overgrowth treatment regime.
Let us now look at the merits of using anti-microbials.
Antifungal Medications
Are anti-microbials a good option for treating candidiasis? Let us look at the evidence.
A 2015 clinical trial found that garlic tablets had a similar efficacy to fluconazole for vaginal candida.
A 2023 in vitro study of 44 essential oils found that oregano oil had anti-fungal and biofilm effects.
A 2011 prospective clinical trial found that the New Zealand shrub, Horobito, had a 66 percent success rate compared to itraconazole, with 34 percent in the treatment of recurrent vaginal candidiasis.
This evidence shows that anti-microbials, diet, and probiotics are solid options for treating candida albicans overgrowth.
Let’s now delve into the die-off and treatment for candida.
Die-off and Candida Overgrowth Treatment
Dr. Ruscio states die-off symptoms are more familiar with fungal than bacterial treatments. Symptoms of fungal die-off may include:
Fungal Die-off symptoms may include:
Headaches
Joint pain
Fatigue
Worsening digestive symptoms
Die-off symptoms usually last a few days, but sometimes, they may last for a few weeks, especially if treatment has a layered approach, e.g., probiotics for a week, garlic, and Horobito. With the introduction of each therapy, there may be die-off symptoms.
It’s important to differentiate between die-off symptoms and adverse reactions when undergoing candida treatment. Negative responses to therapies do not improve, while die-off symptoms tend to cease after three to five days.
Talk to a candida-informed healthcare professional if you are trying to treat candidiasis alone and are confused about your symptoms.
Next let us look how you can prevent candidiasis.
Preventing Candida Overgrowth
Preventing candida albicans overgrowth involves a combination of good hygiene, a balanced diet, and maintaining a strong immune system. Here are some practical tips to help you keep Candida in check:
Practice Good Hygiene: Wash your hands regularly and keep your genital area clean and dry. This helps prevent the spread of Candida and other infections.
Eat a Healthy Diet: Focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods support a healthy balance of bacteria in your body.
Avoid Sugary and Processed Foods: These foods can disrupt the balance of healthy bacteria and promote Candida growth.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins and supports overall health.
Manage Stress: Techniques like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can help reduce stress and support a healthy immune system.
Use Antibiotics Sparingly: Only use antibiotics when necessary, as they can disrupt the balance of healthy bacteria in your body.
By following these tips, you can help prevent candida albicans overgrowth and maintain a healthy balance of bacteria.
Finally, let us look at an exciting new questionnaire scientifically validated to diagnose candida accurately.
The FRD Questionaire (FRDQ7)
In a 2001 clinical trial, researchers found that the FRDQ7 predicted the outcome of patients with candidiasis symptoms treated with the antifungal drug Nystatin.
This questionnaire can accurately assess whether healthcare professionals’ clients have candida albicans overgrowth without the need to run expensive lab tests.
Conclusion
There are many effective treatment options for candidiasis. Based on the scientific evidence above, holistic treatments are better than reductionist medical medications. Response to treatment is the most important factor when diagnosing candida. Die-off may occur at the beginning of treatment.
Now It’s Over To You
Do you have any of the Candida symptoms?
Let me know in the comments below.
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Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. Please do not apply this information without first speaking with your doctor.