While most people consider bacteria to be harmful, the truth is there are billions of beneficial bacteria living within us. In fact, bacteria make up our microbiome, an integral part of our internal ecosystem that benefits our gut health and immune function.
The vast majority of the bacterial species that make up our microbiome live in our digestive systems. Your microbiome is home to trillions of microbes, diverse organisms that help govern nearly every function of the human body in some way.
When the harmful bacteria outnumber the good, that’s when issues develop, such as candidiasis, or the overgrowth of the candida fungus.
There are over 20 species of candida yeasts that can cause infection, the most common is a single-celled fungus called Candida albicans, which is always present in the intestinal tract.
Candida is a yeast that naturally lives on the skin and in the body. Healthy levels in the body aid with nutrient absorption and digestion. A healthy amount will not cause harm or infection; however, overgrowth of these organisms can cause problematic symptoms to develop in the body.
Know the risk factors.
Some common candida risk factors include having diabetes, undergoing conventional cancer treatments, birth control use, and treating asthma with corticosteroid inhalants.
According to the National Candida Center, there are about a dozen recognized causes of intestinal dysbiosis (or dysfunction of the microbiome) and candida overgrowth, including:
Poor diet
Prescription drugs, especially antibiotics
Alcohol consumption
Hormone imbalance
Tap water
Digestive problems
Stress
Environmental molds and chemicals
Toxic metals and food chemicals
Immune deficiency (like having AIDS or cancer)
Candida is, unfortunately, a very common problem for many people, and when the cause isn’t properly addressed, discomfort and severe health outcomes can result. Even though this a common condition, it is often ignored, undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed.
Know the symptoms.
There are numerous signs that candida overgrowth may be disrupting your microbiome. Too often the following symptoms are thought of as normal but shouldn't be ignored.
Do you ever experience any of the following health issues?
Exhaustion
Cravings for sweets
Bad breath
White coating on the tongue
Brain fog
Hormone imbalance
Joint pain
Loss of sex drive
Eczema, psoriasis, or other skin irritations
Dandruff
Chronic sinus and allergy issues
Digestive problems (gas and bloating)
Weak immune system
Chronic yeast infections
UTI
If so, these are just some of the signs that you may have candida. Because symptoms are common to other conditions, candidiasis may be overlooked as a condition. Over time, symptoms can worsen, and if left untreated, candida will weaken the immune system, leading to more severe consequences.
Don’t ignore the signs or mask symptoms with over-the-counter medications.