What is Candida Overgrowth?

One condition which seems to be fairly common, but is frequently misdiagnosed is Candida Overgrowth. Candida is something that is a normal part of a healthy gut flora. But Candida Overgrowth occurs when there is an overgrowth of Candida in the gut.

What Causes Candida Overgrowth?

Candida Overgrowth is caused mainly by antibiotics and contraceptive pills. The reason these medications can cause an overgrowth of Candida is that they seem to upset the sensitive micro-flora in our guts. An improper diet like the Standard American Diet can also cause Candida Overgrowth since it contains a large amount of refined sugar and carbohydrates.

What are the Symptoms?

There are many symptoms for Candida Overgrowth, and every person experiences different symptoms. The most common symptoms are:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Muscle/joint pain
• Brain fog
• Frequent vaginal yeast infections
• Hypoglycemia
• Anemia
• Thrush 
• Skin rashes
• Bad breath
• Acne
• Increased occurrences of the common cold and flu
• Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases

What Can I do to Cure my Candida Overgrowth?

Candida Overgrowth is something I have personally experienced, and it usually can never be completely cured. Once someone is susceptible to Candida Overgrowth, they probably can't eat the same way they used to. Most people who try to eat a normal diet once they are in remission end up with their Candida coming back with full force. But don't worry, Candida can be successfully managed. Here are the steps to managing Candida Overgrowth:

• Choosing a diet to balance your gut flora. Many sites list the Anti-Candida Diet as a means of fighting Candida Overgrowth. While this diet does help temporarily, it's extremely low carbohydrate and hard to follow in the long term. I have found that the GAPS and SCD Diets are extremely beneficial in managing Candida Overgrowth. Not only do they allow more foods into your diet, but I have noticed that they have actually managed my Candida better than the Anti-Candida diet did. I also have more energy on this Diet than I did while I was on the Anti-Candida diet. Although, the Anti-Candida Diet can be a good starting point when trying to kill off the Candida at the beginning of the treatment. Note: It's critical not to cheat on the diet you choose to manage your Candida! I cheated two months into my diet when my symptoms were in remission, and my Candida came raging back. It took me nearly 3 months to get back into remission after that. Every time you cheat, you hinder your progress.  
• Introducing more probiotics and fermented foods into your diet. Probiotics are the good bacteria that eat the bad bacteria in your gut. This step is critical in returning a normal balance to your gut flora. Choose a good quality probiotic which contains at least 50-100 billion units of bacteria. Good fermented food options to incorporate into your diet include yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
• Adding in natural anti-fungal supplements into your regimen. I would suggest starting with Caprylic Acid, which is derived from coconuts. Caprylic Acid is a very strong antifungal. Other antifungals that work well with Caprylic Acid include oregano Oil, Olive Leaf Extract, and Grapeseed Extract. You can also add more Coconut Oil into your diet, which is a natural source of Caprylic Acid. Be sure to increase the amount of antifungals you take very slowly, or you may experience die-off. Note: Make sure not take antifungals continuously for more than three months. Overuse of antifungals can lead to the destruction of the good bacteria in your gut. This can lead to SIBO, AKA Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Overuse of antifungals can lead to more bad than good, a balance is what we're looking for. After three months on the antifungals, they should be removed from your regimen, and the focus should be on adding more beneficial bacteria to the gut.

How to Manage Die Off?

Be prepared to possibly experience something called die-off. Die-off is a temporary condition in which a person feels sick from the high rate of Candida dying in their body. When the Candida cells die they release toxins, which can put a lot of strain on the liver as it tries to expel them. This is the point in the treatment when most people quit. But it is important to note that not everyone who treats Candida goes through die-off.

The symptoms of die-off include sore throat, runny nose, fever, rash, fatigue, and body aches; which usually lasts 1-2 weeks. The symptoms of die-off can be managed by utilizing a sauna, a detox bath using Epsom salts, baking soda, and apple cider vinegar; or a supplement like activated charcoal which absorbs the toxins in your intestines. If you are experiencing a significant amount of die-off, it may be a good idea to temporarily decrease the amount of antifungals you are taking to lessen the symptoms. Usually once die-off is over you will start to feel better than before you started the treatment, so it's worth it in the end.

Candida Overgrowth can be a frustrating and stubborn condition to deal with. But if you follow the steps and adopt a strict, long-term diet and regimen you can get your Candida under control and live a normal life. Once you go through the initial three-month detox period you will find that you don't miss certain foods. I have adopted the GAPS diet and have found that my diet is very satisfying and rewarding. My Candida is now in remission, and I have eliminated every single one of my Candida Overgrowth symptoms. It just takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work.

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