The Low-Down on Candida
This is an important post for me to share as this was something I struggled with. Back in 2010 when I was at my lowest point experiencing digestive issues, this was something I had to address.
What is Candida?
Candida albicans is a yeast/fungus which is always present in the intestinal and genital tracts and can affect both men and women. Candidiasis is essentially the overgrowth of Candida Albicans.(2)
Once the fungus is well established it burrows into the gut lining and gets into the bloodstream and can become systemic and potentially invade every organ system in the body. The immune system will respond by giving out histamines and subsequently food intolerances can develop.(2) Candida can even be passed from mother to baby through breast feeding. Candida can increase chemical sensitivity as some of the toxins secreted by candida fungus are alcohol, acetylaldehyde and carbon monoxide.(2)
Yeasts including candida thrive on undigested sugars and carbohydrates and will signal the body to crave both. If the body’s pH becomes unbalanced, the friendly bacteria normally present in the body can’t metabolize sugars properly so the candida albicans can take over.(1)
Potential Causes of Candida:
Antibiotics (including acne medications)
Birth Control
Corticosteroids
Diets high in processed foods and sugar and low fibre
Possible Effects/Symptoms of Candidiasis:
Sugar Cravings
Indigestion after eating fruits
Bloating
Gas
Abdominal Cramps
Diarrhea
Constipation
Frequent bladder infections
Intolerance to alcohol
Chemical sensitivities (fragrances, chemical odours, petroleum products)
Allergies/sensitivities to airborne moulds, or mouldy or fermented foods
Rectal itching
Low libido
Bad breath
Canker sores
Memory loss
Mood swings
Night sweats
Congestion
Acne
What spots on the tongue
Extreme fatigue
Kidney and bladder infections
PMS
Muscle and joint pain
Arthritis
Depression
Adrenal issues
Vaginitis
Hyperactivity
This isn’t an exhaustive list but gives you an idea of how much it can affect you, in the most surprising ways. I’m going to guess most of you reading this have found a number of symptoms you may be experiencing. It’s important to note that these symptoms can also be related to a number of other issues and diseases so it’s important to get confirmation on it first.
How to find out if you have Candida?
There are 3 common ways to test for Candida:
Blood test- This can be ordered through a Naturopathic doctor
Live blood cell analysis- Done by a Live Blood Cell practitioner
Symptomatology (questions to identify based on symptoms)- A Holistic Nutritionist will generally rely on this.
Addressing Candida
Candidiasis is typically addressed by following an anti-candida diet along with supplementation, which a holistic nutritionist can recommend. Depending on how prevalent the candida is, it can typically take anywhere from 6 weeks, up to a year to address it. It’s not an easy program to follow per se, mostly due to heightened cravings for sugars and candida die-off symptoms but it is worth it!
Possible Die-Off Symptoms During a Candida Detox:
Brain fog
Fatigue
Dizziness
Headaches
Chills
Bloating
Gassiness
Skin breakouts
Sweating
Fever
Swollen glands
When I did my first candida cleanse, I experienced headaches, fatigue, brain fog and dizziness, but once I got to week 4 these symptoms subsided and I felt amazing. The result for me was worth it. The first 4 weeks are the hardest but it gets easier from there. I typically recommend following an anti-candida diet once a year for 4-6 weeks to keep things in check thereafter.
References:
“Candidiasis.” Prescription for Nutritional Healing: the A-to-Z Guide to Supplements, by Phyllis A. Balch, Penguin Group, 2010, pp. 302-303.
Nutritional Symptomatology, by Lynne Hinton & Tracy McBurney, Food for Thought/ Health House, 2012, pp 59-60.