What Is Candida?

Candida is known as a form of yeast or fungus which resides in the mouth or intestine of the human body. The main job of candida is to help in the process of digestion and also in the absorption of nutrients when it is in proper levels. But if there is an over-production of candida, it has a tendency to break down the wall of the intestine and penetrate into the bloodstream. Due to this issue, the toxic byproducts are released into the body, thereby leading to leaky gut, which ultimately leads to other medical problems.

Candida appears in various forms, but one of the main species present in the body is known as Candida albicans. Candida is known to normally reside in the gastrointestinal tract as well as in a few other parts of the body. If there is a disruption in the balance of good and bad bacteria, candida albicans would start to take over, thereby leading to oral thrash, diaper rashes for small babies, and vaginal infections. Use of antibiotics would lead to an increase in the risk of developing a yeast overgrowth. There are chances that candida can grow out of control when the body’s natural pH balance is not in proper order or is not working correctly. When candida grows out of control in the body, it is called candida overgrowth syndrome.

Symptoms of Candida

Growth of candida can vary from person to person, thereby making it difficult to diagnose. Due to this varied nature, each individual would complain of different symptoms experienced. A few of these symptoms are mentioned below:

• Chronic case of fatigue: If an individual starts to complain of exhaustion or feeling fatigued, which seems to stay even when the individual is resting or sleeping for a number of hours, the person may be suffering from a case which is known as chronic fatigue syndrome. If the candida has invaded some of the other regions of the body, where it affects this balance, the individual’s nutrient absorption is also affected. The food which we take in tends to pass through the gut without being broken down properly, thereby leading to a loss of bodily absorption of the healthy nutrients that the foods contain. As time passes, this in turn would lead to cases of fatigue since the body is not able to get the required fuel to work properly. This then is accompanied by a few other symptoms, which include pain in the joints, loss of memory, finding it difficult to concentrate, a series of headaches, and soreness in the throat and pain.

• Mood changes: Those individuals who suffer from candida often complain of sudden changes in their behavior. They also tend to experience a sudden, dramatic mood change, often getting irritated very easily, enduring anxiety attacks or panic attacks, and falling into depression. Intestinal candida growth is known to suppress the production of serotonin, which is one of the neurotransmitters that is known to boost the mood of an individual. Most of the serotonin is produced in the gut, hence, if there is any kind of problem present there, it would lead to a sudden imbalance in its production. Also, the liver, which is overworked, would experience a reduction in its ability to store as well as use vitamin B12, which is an important vitamin that helps the brain and nervous system to function properly. Any kind of change in this vitamin is known to be linked with mental illness and depression.

• Urinary tract infections: This is also known as vaginal thrush, or a vaginal infection. If an individual starts to experience recurring cases of this infection, the possible culprit could be candida. One of the important points to note here is that this infection is known to spread through sexual intercourse as well, hence, it is a sexually transmitted disease. Women are known to reduce the risk by avoiding tight-fitting panties. Also, if anyone is already suffering from this infection, then, in such cases, it is better to avoid hot baths.

• Oral thrush: Oral thrush is also known to be caused by certain strains of candida, which is said to affect the mucous membranes, including the vagina. It is often known to be caused due to the use of prednisone or any other form of oral corticosteroid. If it is left untreated, it can also pass to other regions of the body, which can include the digestive tract, liver, heart valves, or lungs. Newborn babies are also known to get thrush during the birthing process. If the child shares toys with another kid who is infected with candida, it can be passed on to the non-infected one as well. Adults are also known to pass this infection back and forth through their saliva.

• Sinus infection: Not all the chronic infections are known to be caused due to bacteria, which was originally considered to be the case. Short-term cases of sinus infections are said to be due to bacteria, but, in the case of longer-term or chronic sinus infections, it can be due to fungal infections. Antibiotics are mostly provided for treatment so as to cure the sinus infection, but they can also lead to excessive growth of candida. Antibiotics have a tendency to kill the good bacteria, thereby leading to the fungal infection spreading to other parts as well. Hence, if an individual is suffering from a sinus infection, one of the best medicines would be to improve the diet and also rebalance the gut bacteria instead of taking antibiotics.

• Trouble in the intestine: If an individual is facing any kind of distress in the intestine, it could be a sign that they are suffering from a candida infection. A few of the symptoms an individual would experience are constant burping, feeling bloated, constipation, or diarrhea. These are mostly due to the lack of healthy bacteria present in the digestive tract. When the yeast infection takes over the intestine, it becomes extremely difficult for the healthy bacteria to fight it off alone.

• Brain fog: Acetaldehyde is known to be one of the many chemicals said to be produced by candida. This chemical has one of the greatest effects on the wellbeing of an individual. If an individual struggles to remain focused or to concentrate on any particular thing, it can be blamed on this chemical. This in turn leads to feeling foggy.

• Fungal infections in the skin and nails: Yeast infections also have a tendency to reflect in the skin and nails. Fungus present in the toenail and athletes foot are some of the common infections caused due to the presence of candida. If there is a continued case of infections, it can be a sign that the individual is suffering from a systemic candida infection. The areas of the body that are warm and moist, for example, the armpits and groin, are known to be a vulnerable region for the growth of fungal infections.

• Imbalance in hormones: Any imbalance in the hormones can also be a sign of too much candida. Hence, it becomes important to identify how an infection can cause migraine, PMS, early menopause, water retention in the body, and also change the mood or behavior of the individual.

Candida Esophagitis: This is another type of yeast infection present in the esophagus. There are about 20 species of candida that can lead to this condition. The esophagus is the tube which carries food from the mouth to the stomach.