Candida is a fungus (yeast) that naturally lives inside your body. This produces B-vitamins in your gut, which help your cells to make energy from foods that you eat. Unfortunately many people suffer from candida overgrowth (Candidiasis), where the candida yeast starts spreading and infecting different tissues in your body, Such as your mouth, your genitals, skin, toenails, etc..
Antibiotics This happens often when people take a course anti-biotics, which kill off some of the friendly bacteria that live in your body, giving candida an opportunity to spread. Refined Carbohydrates Candida eats sugar as its main fuel source. So if you eat lots of refined carbs and sugars, these foods give candida more energy to infect your body. Another common cause is having high estrogen levels, because your taking birth control pills, are pregnant or overweight. This makes your gut more alkaline instead of acidic, giving candida more opportunities to spread. Other things that cause candida and fungus to spread through your body include – Prolonged mental stress – Consuming too many artificial sweeteners like aspartame in soda drinks – Having a weakened immune system – Using steroid medications – Having diabetes and high blood sugars – Or being in the hospital where candida superbugs are sometimes present.
In this article I want to make you aware of some of different signs and symptoms of candida overgrowth that show up in your body.
10. White Coated Tongue (Oral Thrush)
If your tongue has a white creamy coating, with slightly raised bumps or lesions this is most likely caused by candida overgrowth in the mouth. Oral thrush can also cause sores and red patches on the tongue, the roof of the mouth and the back of the throat which may bleed when you brush your teeth. This often happens in babies, toddlers and older people with a weakened immune system.
9. Genital Thrush (Balanitis & Vaginal Candidiasis)
It’s also very common for candida to infect the private parts (genitals), causing thrush known as balanitis in men, or vaginal candidiasis in women. Moisture trapped in these areas provides a good environment for yeasts like candida to thrive. Using harsh soaps, cosmetic sprays, perfumes or not keeping these areas clean can make you more likely to get a candida albicans infection.
8. Athlete’s Foot (Candidal Intertrigo)
Candida being a type of fungus, likes to live in dark, damp, moist environments and tends to infect the skin between the toes and under the feet. This causes an itching, burning sensation on the feet, and the skin between and around the toes often cracks, becomes red, itchy, swollen and inflamed. The infected skin can also give off a foul odour, because the yeast is releasing biproducts (VOC’s).
7. Brain Fog (Cognitive Dysfunction)
Another extremely common sign of candida overgrowth is having difficulty concentrating, tiredness after sleeping, and general brain fog. This is coming from the neurotoxins (acetaldehyde) that are being released from the candida in your gut, which is causing poor brain function. A candida overgrowth can also deplete your B-Vitamins, causing blood sugar issues which also prevents fuel from reaching the brain cells as it should. And you will likely crave more sugary snacks and drinks.
6. Bloating (Candida Induced)
If you find that you have excessive bloating, gas and a feeling of pressure after you eat carbohydrates, this could be caused by a candida overgrowth in the large bowel. Candida is a fungus which ferments carbohydrates and sugars in your gut to make energy, but this reaction also release gases like carbon dioxide and methane which can make you bloated. Candida also weakens your gut lining (leaky gut), causing toxins to leak into your blood stream which causes inflammation in your gut, and other digestive problems. Taking a supplement of bile salts can help to address this.
5. Skin Rashes (Candida Dermatitis)
Candida is a yeast which naturally exists on the skin’s surface. Under certain conditions candida can become pathogenic and infect the skin causes various types of rashes, especially under the folds of the body where it is dark and moist. For example, diaper rash can be caused by candida overgrowth, it can infect underneath the breasts, between the armpits, around the folds of the buttocks etc… Topical anti-fungal creams are often used to treat this, but you can also use raw coconut oil, tea tree oil or garlic paste as a healthier natural alternative.
4. Fungal Toenail (Candidal Onychomycosis)
There are various types of yeasts, moulds and dermatophytes which can infect your toenails and cause them to change colour. Candida tends to infect the toenail causing white/yellowish nails that thicken and crumble when you try to clip them. The skin around the nail may also become swollen and red. This usually happens in people who have high blood sugars, prediabetes or diabetes because these conditions weaken blood flow to the feet, making them more vulnerable to infection.
3. Sinus Infection (Fungal Sinusitis)
If your immune system is low because of stress, medications or a poor diet, candida can sometimes infect the nasal passages in your face and the nose, causing chronic sinusitis.This can cause you to have a feeling of pressure and a blocked nose, and it may sometimes release a discharge liquid that has a foul smell. This can go on for years if left untreated, because the yeast establishes a colony inside the sinuses. I recommend using gently inhaling steam every day for 10 minutes over a bowl of hot water which contains a few drops of oregano and garlic oil.
2. Bladder Infection (Urinary Tract Infections)
Urinary tract infections are common, especially in women who have high estrogen levels because of pregnancy or taking birth control pills. In some cases, the infection is caused by candida overgrowth and can cause a frequent urge to urinate, cloudy urine, pain or burning when urinating or a foul smell. This can be diagnosed easily by your doctor using a simple urine sample.
1. Joint Pain (Fungal Arthritis)
Although joint pain can be caused by a variety of different issues, if you suddenly begin noticing that you are aching more throughout your body, This could be caused by an immune reaction to the biproducts that candida releases such as acetaldehyde, mannan, mycotoxins amongst others. In fact rheumatoid arthritis can be caused by an imbalance of microbes in your gut, so it does make sense that an overgrowth of candida may be contributing to joint pain
Although it’s not always easy to diagnose candida overgrowth, it is best to visit your doctor to share your symptoms and see which tests are available. Culture tests from the mouth, nose, genitals, skin and urine can be performed to identify if there is indeed a yeast infection.