While we’ve all heard of Candida, most of us don’t actually know what it is and how it works.

But it’s something we do need to know, as almost all of us have it.

And when it gets out of control, as it often does with today’s diets, it can cause all sorts of trouble, affecting our mood, our sleep, our ability to recover both from illness and exercise and our overall health.

And it can create some pretty uncomfortable physical conditions.

If you have any of the following, read this article:

• Oral thrush, a white or red and sometimes painful tongue.
• Urinary tract infections, or pain during urination or intercourse.
• General tiredness or fatigue.
• Poor mood.
• Poor sleep.
• Poor recovery.
• Skin conditions such as constant redness, rashes or itching.
• Or digestive troubles such as gas, bloating or heartburn.

Alright, let’s dive in.

WHAT IS CANDIDA OR “A YEAST INFECTION”

Candida, or candida albicans, is a fungus that lives inside of our colon along with the rest of the bacteria in our microbiome.

And this is fine. In a properly balanced microbiome there are other bacteria that keep candida in check.

But, just as certain harmful bacteria can start to take over, either in our colon or small intestine, so too can Candida.

This is a candida overgrowth. When someone says they have candida or, “a yeast infection,” this is what they’re talking about. Not the fact that candida is in their body, as we all have it, but that it is now out of control and causing trouble.

Also, when we have SIBO we generally have a candid overgrowth as well, as they are each brought on by many of the same things. However, what it does in the body, and how we address it, is a bit different.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING CANDIDA OVERGROWTH

Candida normally stays in the colon. But when fed the key foods that both cause it to proliferate and, at the same time, harm other key bacteria that hold it in check, it can get out of control.

This can cause imbalances in our microbiome leading to lessened neurotransmitter production and higher cortisol and stress levels.

But, unchecked, it now goes further, entering our small intestine where, just as harmful bacteria does, it can harm the cells in the lining of our small intestine, contributing to leaky gut.

From there it can then enter our bloodstream, our organs and our joints, causing trouble and discomfort. It can get into our mouth, causing sometimes painful thrush and bad breath. And it can get into our genitals and urinary tract, causing pain and discomfort.

And it releases a very destructive neurotoxin wherever it goes.

But it does something else too.

You see, just like harmful bacteria, our immune system seeks to stop a candida overgrowth by killing it off when it leaves the colon.

However, also like harmful bacteria, candida creates its own biofilm around itself to hide from our body’s immune system.

So even when we raise immune levels and kill some of it off, much more is protected and hidden, ready to come back out as soon as conditions are right.

WHAT CAUSES A CANDIDA OVERGROWTH

The biggest thing is high sugars and starchy foods.

Candida is very common today, often affecting people without their knowing it.

And this is largely due to our diets with their high starch/carbohydrate processed foods, processed sugars which are superfoods for candida, and too little of the proteins, healthy fats and vitamins our bodies need to keep our immune system strong and candida levels in check.

Sugars feed candida. Also, candida uses these sugars to create the biofilms it uses to protect itself.

The longer we’re on a high sugar diet, the more chance candida has to enter every area of our body, causing different types of trouble at each point.

And, while keeping it in check in the first place is relatively easy, once it gets out it’s a bit harder to address.

Other key things that cause or contribute to a candida overgrowth are alcohol, antibiotics which kill off beneficial bacteria that keep candida in check, weakened immune systems and even oral contraceptives.

Let’s see what we need to do.

ADDRESSING CANDIDA & YEAST OVERGROWTH

There are many things to do when addressing candida. And, if it’s reached certain parts of the body such as the mouth or urinary tract, it may require anti-fungals prescribed by a doctor.

But there is one thing many people don’t do when they take these anti-fungals — they don’t then change the diet that caused the candida overgrowth in the first place, so it comes right back.

And, they don’t do a full address including destroying the biofilms much of the candida is hiding behind.

To fully address candida we need to do all of this: anti-fungals if prescribed by a doctor, change in diet, destroying the biofilms protecting the candida, rebuilding the overwhelmed microbiome and healing the damage done.

So let’s break this down:

THE DIET:

The first thing to do is change our diet:

Sugars, starches, breads, grains and alcohol feed candida its greatest source of food. As hard as it may seem, we need to cut these out or take them very low.

Candida will not fully go away, and will come right back, if we don’t do this at this stage. This is more drastic than what is covered in the Gut Health Protocol, but it really is necessary here.

This includes cutting out starchy vegetables and legumes: all squash (except for zucchini), carrots, potatoes and sweet potatoes, yams, corn, beets, peas, parsnips and all beans except for green beans.

Fruits should also be avoided for the most part with only some very low sugar fruits here and there or none at all.

And we need to cut out or cut way down on coffee and caffeine.

What we do need to be eating is healthy proteins (not powders as these are mainly converted to sugar and feed the candida), healthy fats and lots of green and cruciferous veggies.

Also, adding in these natural anti-fungals can be very helpful: garlic, coconut oil, curcumin, aloe vera, kombucha and pomegranate peel.

Each of these have been shown to help injure candida or prevent further overgrowth and help to keep it in check in general.

But they will not alone reverse an overgrowth.

FULL CANDIDA ADDRESS

Once we’ve addressed diet, and while sticking to it, we now need to address the overgrowth itself, the biofilms protecting the candida, the overwhelmed microbiome and the damage done.

First, while there are natural anti-fungals, as above, and Gut Defense is very powerful here, you may need to see doctor on specific areas of overgrowth for a stronger anti-fungal.

Just remember to follow the diet when taking the anti-fungal so it doesn’t come right back.

Next, follow the directions for taking Gut Defense as covered in the Gut health Protocol.

Take Probiotic to help rebuild the beneficial bacteria in the colon that help to keep candida in check.

And lastly, make sure to take PerfectAmino to help repair damage done in the small intestine and internally caused by the toxins candida releases.

If you do the above, along with the full Gut Health Protocol, you should be feeling and doing very well very soon.

I hope this helps.