Candida Overgrowth in the Gut: Symptoms, Diet, and Treatment

What Is Candida Overgrowth?

C. albicans is a commensal yeast that resides in the vagina and gastrointestinal tract of humans. C. albicans is a significant cause of fungal infection worldwide.

Candida lives in small amounts in your gut as part of the normal and natural microbiota.

Overgrowth occurs when your gut bacteria and yeast balance is disrupted, allowing candida to multiply excessively. Candidiasis can cause intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal carcinoma, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Common Causes of Candida Overgrowth:

Several factors cause candida. Let’s see below what some of the common factors:

1. Antibiotic Use
Antibiotics target specific microorganisms in your body. It can also reduce beneficial bacteria while targeting different microorganisms, allowing candida to thrive.

2. High-Sugar Diet 
Sugar acts as a food source for yeast. Hence, it tends to promote the growth of yeast.

3. Weakened Immune System 
Your immune system may become weak from stress, chronic illness, or medications. This makes it more prone to infections. 

4. Hormonal Imbalances 
Hormone imbalances can also alter your gut microbiome. It can be linked to birth control pills or hormone therapy.

5. Gut Dysbiosis 
Gut dysbiosis is a condition in which an imbalance in your gut microbiome can occur. It alters your gut microbiome, causing various gastrointestinal issues.

Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth in the Gut

The symptoms of candida overgrowth differ from person to person. Below are some of the most common symptoms seen: 

1. Digestive Symptoms:

• Bloating and gas.
• Loose motions or constipation.
• Abdominal pain and discomfort.
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramps
• Loss of appetite

2. Systemic Symptoms:

• Fatigue or low energy.
• Brain fog and difficulty in concentration.
• Increased cravings for sugar.
• General weakness

3. Skin and Mucosal Syleadsms:

• Oral thrush (white coating on your tongue).
• Skin rashes or fungal infections (particularly in warm areas like the groin and armpits)

4. Other Symptoms:

• Vaginal yeast infections in women.
• Joint pain or muscle aches.
• Weakened immunity, which leads to frequent infections.

Dietary Strategies to Combat Candida Overgrowth

Your diet can help maintain your optimum gut health, which in turn helps combat candida overgrowth.

1. The Anti-Candida Diet

One of the major reasons for candida overgrowth is poor diet. A poor diet includes food that increases inflammation in your gut.  

The anti-candida diet works by starving the yeast, which feeds mostly on sugary and starch items. It eliminates them from your diet as they promote its growth and incorporate foods that restore gut balance.

Foods to Eat

a) Non-Starchy Vegetables: These vegetables are low in sugar and high in fibre. They help regulate your gut flora by feeding beneficial bacteria and depriving Candida of its primary energy source (sugar). Broccoli, spinach, kale, zucchini, cucumbers, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, eggplant, onion, spinach, tomatoes

b) Low-Sugar Fruits: Fruits low in natural sugar are less likely to promote Candida overgrowth. Berries, lemons, and limes.

c) Lean Proteins: Chicken, turkey, eggs, and fish provide essential amino acids that support your gut lining and also boost your immunity.

d) Healthy Fats: They are rich in medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which have natural antifungal properties and can prevent candida overgrowth. Avocados, olive, coconut, flax, and sesame oil.

e) Fermented Foods: Fermented foods introduce probiotics (good bacteria) into your gut and restore your microbial balance, which eventually helps fight candida infections. Sauerkraut, kimchi, buttermilk, kanji, kefir and unsweetened yoghurt to restore your gut microbiome.

f) Herbs and Spices: Garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and oregano have potent antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties. Garlic contains allicin, a compound that is well known for its Candida-fighting properties. 

How to Add These Foods to Your Diet 

• Use the mentioned herbs and spices in your cooking.
• Replace sugary snacks with healthy alternatives like low-sugar fruits. For example, berries, limes, and lemons.
• Incorporate fermented foods easily by pairing them with meals like buttermilk, yoghurt, and kimchi.  
• Add fats like flax seeds, coconut, olive, and sesame oil to your salads.

Foods to Avoid

The list of foods below can increase inflammation in your body, further worsening your condition.

a) Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates: Candy, pastries, white bread, white rice, sugar and pasta.

b) High-Sugar Fruits: Bananas, mangoes, cherries, litchis and grapes.

c) Dairy Products: Avoid sweetened or processed dairy (milk, cheese, and cream).

d) Alcohol: It can increase your sugar levels and also disrupt your gut balance.

e) Processed Foods:It contains additives and preservatives that can exacerbate your symptoms and slow down ongoing treatment.

Treatment Options for Candida Overgrowth

There are various treatment options available for treating candida. They are as follows:

1. Antifungal Medications

Oral antifungals are the first line of treatment for candida overgrowth, and they are generally prescribed by your doctor to kill excessive yeast growth in your gut.

2. Natural Antifungal Remedies

Along with medical treatments, many natural options are also available in the market for treating candida. Some of them are:

a) Coconut Oil: It contains a substance, caprylic acid, which destroys the cell membranes of candida, thus killing them in the process. It also contains lauric acid, which fights against the overgrowth of yeast.  
How to use: Consume 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil daily by adding it to your smoothies or breakfast.

b) Garlic: It contains allicin, which is antifungal and antibacterial and helps destroy the candida. 
How to use: You can consume crushed garlic with honey and water to decrease the pungentness of garlic. However, if this is too difficult, add garlic to your meals.  

c) Oregano Oil: It is rich in carvacrol and thymol, which prevents overgrowth of yeast. It also helps to reduce inflammation in your body. 
How to use: Oregano oil is too strong for consumption alone. Oregano oil is also available in the form of gel capsules and tinctures. You can consume tincture with water.

d) Aloe Vera Juice: It soothes your gut lining and also prevents any further inflammation. It also helps to inhibit the growth of yeast in your body. 
How to use: Aloe vera juice can be consumed on an empty stomach in the morning. However, avoid consuming large quantities as it can cause gastrointestinal issues.   

3. Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms. They help to restore good gut bacteria, thus improving your overall gut health. This helps to prevent infections and thus prevent candida growth.

Go for probiotics that contain bacteria strains like Lactobacillus acidophilus, as they are most effective in preventing candida overgrowth.

Supportive Supplements

Supplements can boost your healing process and act as a complementary treatment.

a) L-Glutamine: L-glutamine is a nonessential amino acid. It is essential for your overall health. It supports your intestinal health by repairing your intestinal and gut lining.

b) Vitamin D: Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects on your GIT.  Vitamin D also has essential functions in maintaining the integrity of your intestinal barrier and gut homeostasis. Vitamin D regulates your gut microbiota. Apart from this, it helps strengthen your overall immune system.

c) Zinc: Zinc is known to be one of the main elements responsible for healing and repair. It supports your gut barrier integrity. It also maintains your immune system, preventing infections of candida.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Candida Overgrowth

Lifestyle changes are essential to maintain your overall health and prevent lifestyle and infectious diseases. Some changes are :

1. Manage Stress

Increased stress levels for prolonged periods of time can reduce your immunity, which can make you more vulnerable to infections. It can also increase the chances of candida growth. Practice mindfulness, yoga, gratitude, and meditation regularly to help clear your mind and manage your stress levels.

2. Prioritise Sleep

Your body heals and repairs itself during your sleep period. This signifies how important sleep is for your health. 7-9 hours of sleep gives your body proper rest and strong immunity. This helps to fight various infections, including candida overgrowth. 

3. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is necessary for the smooth functioning of processes in your body. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily to maintain optimum gut health. Your gut has an acidic pH, and consuming inadequate quantities of water can disrupt your gut health. Hydration also helps detoxify your gut, which eventually helps in the prevention of infections. 

4. Exercise regularly

Exercise is a great tool to boost your overall health and well-being. It promotes immunity, good gut health, reduced stress levels and improved mood, all of which are essential to reduce your chances of infection.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Candida overgrowth can cause several symptoms in your body, which may differ from person to person. This can affect your daily life, cause significant stress and cause disturbance in your routine.

It is important to consult your healthcare provider if you notice the following:

• Symptoms that persist or worsen despite dietary changes and natural remedies.
• You experience systemic symptoms like fever, chills, or unexplained weight loss.
• You have a weakened immune system or a history of recurrent infections.
• You experience severe gastrointestinal issues and face a loss of appetite.

Wrapping Up

Candida is a common organism present in your gut that plays an important role in maintaining a balance in your gut health. However, an increase can lead to noticeable health issues.

Antibiotic use, dietary influences, and underlying health conditions contribute to the risk of candida overgrowth in our bodies, which can potentially cause candidiasis and other gastrointestinal issues.

Candida overgrowth in your gut can widely impact your health, but with the right combination of diet, antifungal treatments, and lifestyle changes, it’s possible to restore balance in your gut and also reduce symptoms. By creating a diet with gut-friendly foods, avoiding triggers, and listening to your body’s natural defences, you can achieve long-term health. For more information or personalised guidance, you can contact your Nirva team of health experts. For more information on yeast infections, you can refer to this blog by Nirva Health.