Naperville Integrated Wellness

NAPERVILLE'S TOP RATED LOCAL® FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE FACILITY

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Many people are suffering with yeast overgrowth; especially in their digestive tract. If you have a yeast problem, it is most likely a type of yeast called candida. In this article I will tell you what it is, how you got it and how to get rid of it. In This is the second part of my short series on “overgrowth” problems in the gut. Last week’s article was on SIBO…the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine

Candida

A candida infection/overgrowth is called candidiasis. Candida is a type of yeast and can affect the skin or mucous membranes. The areas of your body that are lined by mucous membranes include the digestive system, bladder, sinuses, lungs, urinary and reproductive tracts. When you have a candida infection of the mouth, we call it thrush. Vaginal infections can result in discharge. In the sinuses it causes sinusitis and when it occurs in your gut, you can experience digestive problems like leaky gut, gas and bloating and changes in bowel movements. In severe cases, the candida can get into your bloodstream and cause candidemia and possibly septic shock…low blood pressure; increased heart rate and changes in breathing…this is not a common threat in the general population.

We all have it

We all have candida on our skin and in our digestive tract. You can’t totally eliminate it from your body; nor do you want to. Candida gets a bad name; just like cholesterol it has been needlessly vilified. You need cholesterol for health and proper body function; you also need yeast for optimal health and function. Yeast helps keep your digestive system in balance and working properly. Having the correct balance of yeast helps your immune system to work properly. Yeast is an important part of the beneficial mix of microbes in your gut. Your functional medicine doctor can help you achieve a healthy level of candida.

Common symptoms

  • Digestive problems
  • Brain fog
  • Inability to lose weight
  • Fatigue
  • Chronic sinus infections
  • Body aches and pains
  • Skin infections
  • Recurring urinary tract infections
  • Oral thrush; white coating on tongue/inside the mouth

Why do I have so much yeast?

If you have not read my previous article on SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), I suggest you look at it. It is not uncommon to have yeast overgrowth and SIBO occurring in your gut at the same time. Many of the same conditions that lead to an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine will also cause an overgrowth of yeast.

Common Causes

  • Antibiotic use
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Too much sugar or carbohydrates in the diet
  • Estrogen dominance (more common in women between the ages of 35-50)
  • Oral contraceptives
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Poor digestion; low stomach acid or digestive enzymes
  • Low levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut
  • Food sensitivities
  • Obesity
  • High levels of stress
  • Elevated blood sugar
  • Elevated cortisol (from the adrenal glands)
  • Weakened immune system
  • Leaky gut

How do I fix it?

The only reason you have an overgrowth of candida in your body is because there is an imbalance in your body. Candida is thriving in your body because the current conditions of your body permit it to grow out of control. This is why taking a functional medicine approach to yeast overgrowth is so important. You can take drugs to kill it, but in most cases it just comes back again…the same with SIBO. Your body is the perfect breeding ground for yeast…it is warm, moist, and there is an endless supply of nutrition for it to feed on. If you look at the list of common causes above, you will see the imbalances that can create the perfect environment for yeast infections. Until you change the environment, the yeast problem will persist. Sure, it may fluctuate; being better or worse over time; but this is just a reflection of your body’s attempt to bring the yeast under control. More often than not, your body needs some help; you will need to discover the root cause or causes that are creating a “yeast farm” in your body.

Probably the most common treatment is to change your diet. There are “yeast diets” or a “candida diet” and these can be helpful and might be a good place to start. These are basically low in sugar/refined carbohydrates, yeast and alcohol. If you want to look deeper for specific root causes or if a yeast diet has not helped you, then I suggest you seek the help of a functional medicine doctor who can help you determine the root cause of your yeast problem. This typically involves functional medicine tests. These tests reveal the imbalances and root causes that need to be addressed.

The purpose of functional medicine is: 

Understanding how the body works, knowing how and where to investigate health issues, knowing what to look for, understanding the significance of what is found and creating a plan of action to reverse and correct the root cause the health problems.

My wish for you…health, happiness and a better quality of life! 

If you would like more information about functional medicine and integrative medicine or Dr. Sexton go to napervilleintegratedwellness.com

Do your own research, inform yourself and ask lots of questions. When collecting information, you MUST consider the source. There is no shortage of false, misleading, outdated, profit-driven and utterly biased information in healthcare today; even from the most respected sources and organizations. 

This approach to healthcare is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease. This article is for information purposes and is not a substitute professional healthcare services. Contact our office for more information.

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