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.