7 Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth 

Many of us have Candida without being aware and yet it’s often misdiagnosed. Candida is a type of yeast typically found in small amounts in the mouth and small intestines and on the skin. Candida is quite common and the symptoms are vast.  

At normal levels, the fungi is not problematic. However, when Candida begins to grow uncontrollably, it can cause an infection known as candidiasis.  

In fact, Candida is the most common cause of fungal infections in humans.  

Typically, the health bacteria in your body keep Candida levels under control, however, if the health bacteria levels in your body are disrupted or the immune system is compromised, Candida can begin to overproduce.  

Why does Candida fungal occur? 

  • High stress levels  
  • Eating a high diet in sugar and refined carbohydrates
  • High alcohol intake 
  • A weakened immune system 
  • Taking oral contraceptives 
  • Diabetes 
  • Taking antibiotics  

When Candida begins to overproduce, it can lead to various health problems.  

In this article, we are going to explore the 7 symptoms of Candida overgrowth and how you can treat it.  

1. Oral Thrush 

Candidiasis that develops in the mouth is called “thrush.” Thrush is most common in newborns, the elderly, or people who have a weakened immune system, as well as people with poor hygiene or removable dentures are also at an increased risk.  

2. Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections 

Candida is often found in the vagina tracts of most women. Men can also have genital yeast infections, although it’s less common. An overgrowth of it can lead to Candidiasis of the vagina, also known as a yeast infection. It’s estimated that 75% of women will get at least one yeast infection in their lifetime, and half of those will have at least one recurrence.  

Symptoms of this include redness, swelling, itching, and painful intercourse and thick, which discharge in the vagina.  

Candida can also cause a bladder or urinary tract infection (UTI). Symptoms of a UTI include a burning feeling when you urinate and a frequent urge to urinate, and pain and pressure in your lower abdomen.  

3. Tiredness and Fatigue 

One of the most common symptoms associated with Candida, is tiredness and fatigue which is no surprise because overgrowth of Candida typically occurs when the immune system is weakened.

Candidiasis is often accompanied by nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B6, essential fatty acids and magnesium. Magnesium has been known to cause fatigue.   

4. Skin and Nail Fungal Infections 

Just like your gut, there are bacteria in your skin that prevent bacteria from growing uncontrollably.  

All bacteria thrive in different conditions, including certain temperatures, moisture or acidity levels.  

For instance, cosmetics, soaps, and certain products can alter the skin conditions, making you more susceptible to Candidiasis. While skin candidiasis can affect any part of the body, it is more common in moist areas such as the armpits and groin.  

Skin conditions like this aren’t life threatening by any means, but they can certainly be very uncomfortable and do tend to take time to get rid.  

5. Digestive Issues 

We’ve all heard how important it is to have a healthy gut because when you have a healthy gut, you have a healthy immune system. The health of your digestive system relies heavily on having a good balance of “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria that live in your gut.  

As expected, when the bad bacteria in your gut is imbalanced, you can experience uncomfortable digestive issues.  

6. Joint Pain

If the Candida infection gets into your bloodstream, it can infect your joints and cause arthritis. This typically only happens after surgery or when an overgrowth of Candida is left untreated for an extended period of time. 

How to Fight Off Candidiasis in the 3-step cleanse approach: 

Starve the Yeast 

It is really hard to get rid of Candidiasis without adjusting your diet, even if you’re on an antifungal prescription you still need to eliminate foods that are contributing to the overgrowth.  

This means cutting out vinegar, beer, wine, mushrooms (as part of the fungi family, they can cross-react with Candida) and sugar, refined carbs, processed foods. 

But you also want to limit healthy carbs like legumes, grains, starchy veggies to 1 cup a day, and a single piece of fruit a day, because even good carbs unfortunately feed yeast. 

Overpower the Yeast 

Anti-fungal supplements can be effective, too! Two great supplements are caprylic acid (naturally found in coconut oil) and Candifense (TM) which contain enzymes that break down parasitic and fungal cell walls. The key here is to stick to targeted supplements that really only kill yeast.

Help the “good” Bacteria 

Once the steps prior are taken, it’s now time to take high-quality probiotic supplements which will help protect your body from future infections. You don’t want to take prebiotics at this point in the process because they feed on good bacteria and yeast- but you can add them in down the line when your Candida is under control.  

Bottom Line 

The best way to fight off candidiasis is to go straight to the foundation. As mentioned earlier, Candidiasis is caused from eating high sugar and refined carbohydrates, taking antibiotics, high alcohol intake, high stress levels and more. By being mindful of the amount of high sugar and refined foods you eat and alcohol you drink, you can be in control of the “good” and “bad” bacteria in your gut.  

It’s important to understand that Candida overgrowth is the most common fungal infection in humans and by knowing it’s symptoms, we can prevent it from spreading and causing more severe complications. If you do happen to suffer from Candidiasis, remember to follow the 3- step cleanse which usually lasts three weeks, to get rid of the overgrowth and restore your gut microbiome.