Is Your Diet Causing Candida Overgrowth?

It is estimated that one in three people in the U.S. have an overgrowth of Candida albicans.

Candida is a microorganism that lives in the intestines as part of the microflora. It is normally harmless but responds quickly and can grow out of control easily.

And when Candida gets out of control, it can cause a wide range of unpleasant symptoms. Some people go through life feeling as if they’re in a fog, others experience recurrent sinus infections or yeast infections, and almost all complain of fatigue.

Symptoms of Candida

Here’s a short list of symptoms Candida can produce:

Oral thrush
Vaginal yeast infections and jock itch
Skin and nail infections
Rectal itching
Gas and belching
Sinus infections
Fatigue
Headaches
Hives and rashes
Diarrhea and constipation
Asthma and allergies
Joint pain
Impaired immunity
Hyperactivity in children (“ADHD”)
Many more

Diet & Lifestyle Factors That Encourage Candida Growth

While the range of symptoms of Candida overgrowth is vast (numbering more than 100), the contributing factors are relatively few and include:

Refined carbohydrates and sugar
Food allergies/intolerances
Alcohol
Hormones– oral contraceptives, steroids and pregnancy-related hormones, as well as hormones in non-organic meats
Antibiotics—taken for medical purposes as well as those in foods
Pesticides and other cell-killing chemicals (like chlorine)
Antacids and anti-ulcer medications
Certain pharmaceutical drugs (cytotoxic drugs)
Preexisting conditions that weaken immunity (AIDS, diabetes, etc)

The good news is that you can get Candida under control and start feeling better with simple modifications in diet and lifestyle.

Learn about the Anti-Candida Diet as well as the foods to avoid and those to include to fight Candida and get your gut back in balance.