Candida: Do you have an overgrowth problem?

by Joey

Table of Contents

Candida overgrowth is a very invasive and serious problem that a lot of people are dealing with nowadays. And today we’re covering the basics so we can all get a better grasp on its catabolic effects. So take out that pen and paper, because today is “Candida 101!”

What exactly is Candida anyway?

Candida Albicans is a type of fungus (yeast) that is actually very present within the body. And although we’re all used to dealing with such micro-organisms on some level, it can spiral out of control rather quickly if it’s not dealt with accordingly, and/or if the body is in an unhealthy state.
The species of yeast we’re talking about here are typically found in the gut, but are not necessarily limited to that specific region of the body. I say, “generally found” because if it takes over, many different areas/organs can be affected. It can get very serious very fast, and no one area of the body is really off limits in that case.
You can look at it with a type of “domino effect” mindset – if one falls, the rest will as well.
Candidiasis is definitely the most common type of yeast infection that the public is dealing with today. MILLIONS are at risk with this little (or in some cases) big problem. It’s what I like to call an “underground condition;“ one that is hitting mass amounts of people, and is not being talked about enough.
Kind of sounds like a lot of the topics we discuss. Starting to see a trend here?

Yes, it can hit almost anyone

With our current and steadily growing unhealthy society today, it’s no big mystery why conditions like yeast overgrowth, are able to infiltrate and take over with such ease. In most cases, people are allowing these very invasive species to “dig in” and make a home within the body. A lot of it has to do with lifestyle choices and awareness, and we’ll get into all of that in just a second.
Another thing I’d like to note here is that candida overgrowth can hit almost anybody, but it tends to impact those who have less efficient immune systems. If one’s body is not equipped with all of the necessary tools to deal with such a disorder, how is that body going to eradicate and dispose of the problem fully? Well, it won’t really, and that’s a huge problem! This is exactly why so many people are dealing with it these days!
This is why, as said often, taking care of the body to restore balance is crucial in any diseased state of health. Candida is a prime example of how one’s body can breakdown if major areas are left unchecked. As you may already know, it’s all about keeping a balance, one that will allow health to transpire efficiently. If all systems are in check, there is no reason for one to deal with such health issues, agree?

The most opportunistic little organisms ever

Candida species are truly considered to be opportunistic organisms that can wreck havoc if the environment is right. In other words, if these little problem-makers come across an area of the body (mostly the gut) that seems quite hospitable, they’ll unpack and make a nice little home for themselves.
They’re like the in-laws who just happen to be in town and have decided to stay at your house for a while – not so cool…
If you (the host) create an environment for these problematic suckers to take over, why wouldn’t they? Like I said earlier, they’re opportunistic; therefore, they’re always looking for that golden opportunity to infiltrate and wreck havoc.

Their global effect on the body

That’s right! As with a lot of the topics I discuss, these little invaders can have a very widespread effect on the body, and it’s very detrimental in many cases. For a lot of people, the symptoms can start off with something like weight gain and headaches, but can spiral quickly into other issues like fatigue and joint pain. But these are only a few of the areas to look at. I’ll be going into detail about all of this very shortly.
The thing is, we all have Candida organisms present in the body, it’s a major part of the gut flora balance that we’re all striving to keep in check. What I’m mainly addressing today is “what to do” if that equilibrium is disrupted.
If this balance becomes gets out of control (as with many people today), the intestinal system can be hit very hard. This can be seen in patients that suffer from leaky gut, or some degree of intestinal dysfunction. If the gut is compromised in any way, shape, or form, a viscous cycle is born – one that is extremely hard to correct. And let me just say here, this is very common with a lot of people today! More so than you may think…
Gut malfunctions are SO important to address; therefore, I’ll be talking about them frequently. It’s just one of those areas that can never be talked about enough.
If one gets to the point of having a very downgraded state of health within the gastric system, nothing is really off limits! This actually makes a lot of sense too – gut permeability has the ability to spread toxic by-products/contaminants throughout the body, and this is tied-in with candida on a very serious level. It’s all connected, and it’s all not being talked about enough these days!
I say this because if someone comes to me with gut issues, many of the times I’ll find a degree of Candida overgrowth at play. It’s almost guaranteed that something like this is going to pop up.

How does one get a candida issue?

Although there’s not one thing that normally causes candida to take over, a bunch of things combined can influence its invasion. They are as follows:

Antibiotics due to their horrible effect on the gut overall (another subject we’ll be discussing very soon).

High sugar diets. Sugar is a perfect food for yeast organisms. This also includes refined carbohydrates like white bread.

Stress! Once again, our little friend Mr. Stress is here to ruin the day! This category is tied in with cortisol, adrenal function and overall adrenal fatigue.

Parasites. Like with stress, parasites (an internal form of stress) can add to this problem.

And there are more, but I feel that these rank amongst the top. If candida is able to infiltrate and expand within your gut regions, dysbiosis (microbial imbalances) within the intestinal barriers are almost certain. And this is NOT something that anyone should want to deal with! This too will be talked about in a future post due to its importance. So make sure to keep your eyes open for that one!

So, how do you know if you suffer from a Candida issue?

Well, just to clarify from the start here, EVERYBODY has candida; it’s a major part of the body and has been forever. What we’re talking about is if you have a Candida problem involving some degree of overgrowth.
The main thing to look at here is how healthy your body is overall. Although this is really hard to assess on its own, it’s important to try and look at it thoroughly and from all angles. The key questions to ask yourself may be something like:

Is my diet clean?

Am I frequently sick?

Am I fatigued a lot?

Do I have a lot of digestive discomfort?

Do I crave sugar a lot?

Do I have brain fog often?

Do I crave grains?

It’s these types of questions that can help in answering if you have a candida issue or not, but it all goes much deeper than just answering a few of these preliminary questions.
Let’s look into some (not all) of the symptoms than can accompany this disorder so we can see if it’s actually an issue for you.

Common symptoms of Candida

Eczema, acne, hives and fungal infections

A white covering on the tongue often referred to as “thrush,” bad breath, and dried/cracked bleeding gums can all suggest candidiasis.

Headaches

Weight issues – can’t lose weight all that easily.

Joint pains

Muscle stiffness/pain

Immune system dysfunction – sick a lot.

Intense sugar cravings (food for fungus)

A BUNCH OF OTHER CRAZY SYMPTOMS!

And the reason I say “a bunch of other crazy symptoms” is because many can come into the picture here. On top of this, just looking at symptoms alone can be very misleading at times. Although they’re good to assess in certain circumstances, sure signs can often have confusing qualities that accompany their presence.
To exhibit symptoms of a candida problem also means that one will be showing indications of other conditions or diseases at times. This is why I always say it’s important to dig deep if curious – and by that I mean in-depth lab testing. Numbers don’t lie.
By assessing crucial areas of the body, one suffering from candida overgrowth will find that recovering from such an issue will be more in reach. I say this because certain data is needed to treat such ailments.
In other words, I don’t like throwing protocols at a patient to see what works; this is like blindly throwing darts at a target and hoping for a bull’s-eye hit. Rather, I like to assess crucial data, test body systems, and proceed forward with efficient protocols after a lot of the dots have been connected. It just makes more sense to take this path.

Does traditional medicine deal with Candida efficiently?

NOPE! I’m sorry to say, but it doesn’t even come close to understanding it. Actually, most doctors today often get candida complications mixed up with a variety of other illnesses. And although many aliments can be caused or worsened by a degree of yeast overgrowth, it’s all very misunderstood within the medical community.
Can you believe that I actually had a doctor tell me one time that “I’d be dead if I had any amount of yeast overgrowth?” This ridiculous statement was almost comical, and it really made me realize just how uneducated some doctors can be in regards to understanding candida and it’s overall effect on the body. Pretty sad to say the very least…
I really do hate to say it, but this is just another example of how traditional medicine is NOT equipped to deal with such “under the radar” health barriers. How is one to receive the help that they need (and deserve) when all is geared to work against them?

So what do you do?

First off, I think it’s important that you test to see if you are suffering from any gradation of candida overgrowth. If, after this time, you discover that something is going on, you have to start implementing some major dietary and lifestyle changes.
Avoiding sugars, alcohol, grains, certain fruits, high sugar vegetables, dairy, some nuts, and a few other selections will be key in your overall recovery. For a complete list of these foods, click here.
Another thing to look at is starting a probiotic regimen. By keeping these bacteria in check, the intestinal environment can be restored to deal with such detrimental issues. It’s all about equipping your body to eradicate anything that’s harming it. There’s also an acid/alkaline balance that comes into play regarding the stomach and intestinal system that I urge everybody to read into further.
On top of this, you can take certain antifungals, cleansing regimens, and you can even incorporate a bunch of very effective supplements that can aid in taking control of your candida issue.
I often say that problems like these are signs that one’s life is in need of reformation, and if you think about it like this, you too can start to see it all more clearly.
Thanks for reading.
Gut dysbiosis
Candida
Candida 2

About Joey

I know a lot about health, but it didn't start of that way. For years I felt miserable, had a bad immune system, constant colds, headaches, gut problems, mucus, parasites, you name, one of our writers have probably had it. Read this page or stay unhealthy! I mean it!

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Wednesday, 8 April 2015

Candida and bleeding gums - by Joey