The New View on Candida

June 19, 2018
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

Candida yeast is like a super-villain with a secret identity.

Candida is everywhere. It’s in the air you breathe, in the foods you eat, and is a normal part of everyone’s intestinal flora. When your intestinal flora is thriving, candida exists peacefully in the mucus membrane of your intestinal wall and is kept in check as part of a healthy balance. But, when normal probiotic defenses break down and conditions are ripe for Candida to overgrow, it changes its form and goes into attack mode, wreaking havoc in your body and causing a whole host of symptoms and problems. The changing face and form of Candida is what makes it such a challenge to effectively treat and reduce back to peaceable levels.

The Many Faces of Candida

More than 20 strains of Candida have been identified in the human body, and this fungus takes on several different forms in order to protect itself from being eradicated. Candida normally exists as a mild-mannered single-celled organism, nestled in the mucus membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, feeding on excess sugar to grow and reproduce. This is the lens through which researchers view it, and how drugs and even natural approaches are developed to counteract it.

The problem is, when Candida becomes pathogenic and no-more-mister-nice-guy, it joins itself together in long strands called hyphae that drill into the walls of the intestines, allowing fungus, toxins, and other debris direct access to blood vessels and other organs. These root-like structures also bore into macrophages, the immune system cells designed to kill Candida, and render them helpless to mount a defense against this aggressive invader. As if all that isn’t enough, it then groups together and forms a protective shield around itself known as a biofilm.

This protective biofilm allows Candida to create an environment it thrives in, with just the right pH and plenty of food to keep doing its dastardly deeds and growing its population. As this yeast spreads, reproduces, and distributes its toxic entourage, it can affect virtually any part of your body and cause a wide variety of symptoms.

Signs You May Have a Candida Overgrowth

Candida has won the popularity contest as the most common fungal infection, with one in three adults having an overgrowth. While it typically starts in the digestive tract, symptoms can be wide-ranging and varied, as it changes form and spreads to other areas of the body. You may feel:

  • Intense fatigue, headaches, insomnia, weight gain or loss, mood swings, pain, jittery feelings, appetite loss, agitation;
  • Bloating, flatulence, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, stools with mucus;
  • Burning, frequent, and/or urgent urination, recurring bladder infections, cystitis;
  • Cramps, irregular periods, depression, severe PMS symptoms;
  • Itching, burning, white vaginal discharge;
  • Dry mouth, rashes, sore and/or bleeding gums, white patches, white or brown coating on the tongue;
  • Nasal itching and sinus congestion;
  • Psoriasis, rashes, acne
  • Burning sensations in the eyes, blurry vision, floaters, chronic inflammation, tearing, sudden changes in vision;
  • Loss of hearing, fluid in middle ear, recurring infections, ear pain.

Yeast Overgrowth Risk Factors

Candida overgrowth is so prevalent, with such a variety of symptoms, it makes it difficult to zero in on the causes of this stealth infection. Fortunately, we know several risk factors, which greatly increase your chances of overgrowth. In truth, most of our difficulties with yeast are the unintended consequences of lifestyle habits and choices that were supposed to improve our health or help us lose weight. The most common risk factors include:

  • Repeated course of Antibiotics
  • Impaired Immunity, including from immunosuppressant medications
  • Hormone Fluctuations
  • Female Anatomy
  • Diet high in Carbohydrates and Sugars
  • Underactive Thyroid
  • Nutrient Deficiencies
  • Living in a Cool, Damp, Rainy Climate
  • Other Fungal Exposure, like Mold in Your Home
  • Heavy Metal Toxicity

Could You Have Excess Yeast? Take the Quiz!

With the wide variety of symptoms Candida overgrowth can cause, it can be confusing to determine if Candida is truly at the root of your issues. While this quiz can’t give you a definitive answer, it is helpful in narrowing down its potential role. This survey was originally created by the late William Crook, MD, a wonderful personal friend of mine who was considered a pioneer in researching the role of Candida in a plethora of health issues, and authored several books on the subject.

If your answer to any of the following questions is “yes,” write down the number of points for that question. At the end, add up the total points. Your final score indicates the probability of a yeast connection to your health issues.

  1. Have you taken repeated or prolonged courses of antibiotics? (4 points)
  2. Have you been bothered by recurrent vaginal, prostate, or urinary infections? (3 points)
  3. Do you feel “sick all over,” yet the cause has not been found? (2 points)
  4. Are you bothered by hormone disturbances, including PMS, menstrual irregularities, sexual dysfunction, sugar cravings, low body temperature, or fatigue? (2 points)
  5. Are you unusually sensitive to tobacco smoke, perfumes and colognes, and chemical odors? (2 points)
  6. Are you bothered by memory or concentration problems? Do you sometimes feel spaced out or in a brain fog? (2 points)
  7. Have you taken a prolonged course of prednisone or other steroids, or have you taken birth control pills for more than 3 years? (2 points)
  8. Do some foods disagree with you or trigger your symptoms? (1 point)
  9. Do you suffer with constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or abdominal pain? (1 point)
  10. Does your skin itch, tingle or burn; or is it unusually dry; or are you bothered by rashes? (1 point)

Women’s scores: If you score 9 or more, your health problems are probably linked to yeast overgrowth. If you score 12 or more, your health problems are almost certainly connected to yeast.

Men’s scores: If you score 7 or more, your health problems are most likely linked to yeast. A score of 10 or more indicates that your health problems are almost certainly connected to yeast.

Break the Biofilm to Beat the Candida

Recent research shows biofilms make yeast much more resistant to treatment and hide it from your immune system. When Candida groups together, it’s more aggressive and doesn’t respond to treatment the same way a cell on its own would. A large, well-established population forms a biofilm that seems to withstand most of what you throw its way. The longer the Candida is allowed to overgrow, the stronger the biofilm and the more it can resist treatment.

Biofilms are matrices made of complex sugars called polysaccharides. One-third of a biofilm is comprised of glucose, the sugar your body uses the most. So, Candida not only feeds on sugar to grow and reproduce, it also uses it to form the protective shell around each colony. It would seem the logical approach is to cut the sugar out of your diet and use anti-candida herbs, but because of the strength of the biofilm and its ability to use your body’s own blood sugar supply, a more coordinated, 4-pronged approach is needed to beat the biofilm and truly tame Candida into submission.

  1. Cut Off the Food Supply. All carbohydrates can be broken down into the sugars Candida feeds on. So it’s not only essential to eliminate all obvious sources of sugars, but also to severely restrict carbs in the diet. This includes fruits, juices, alcoholic beverages, and not just processed grains but whole grains that contain gluten as well. I also recommend removing mushrooms and fermented foods (except raw apple cider vinegar) while you are cleansing your body of yeast, because these also encourage Candida overgrowth.
  2. Add Enzymes to Break Down Biofilms. Proteolytic enzymes are enzymes that “chew up” and break down the bonds holding the biofilms together. Lumbrokinase, nattokinase, and serrapeptase are among the most powerful biofilm disrupting enzymes we’ve discovered to date. Anti-inflammatory enzyme products like Wobenzym and Inflazym are also heavy hitters when it comes to breaking down biofilms. Anytime you break open a biofilm, the toxic contents are no longer walled off and your body is exposed in proportions it’s not accustomed to. It’s akin to cracking open the shell on an egg. This means you may experience a worsening of your symptoms temporarily while the toxic contents are being flushed out. While this is unpleasant, it’s a good sign you are on the right track.
  3. Use Antifungal Supplements to Eradicate Candida. Once the biofilm is broken down, Candida is wide open for attack. I recommend bursts of broad-spectrum germicides like oil of oregano and Pau d’Arco, with long-term coverage from Y-C Cleanse from UNI KEY Health, a gentle yet effective homeopathic formulation that targets Candida.
  4. Reinforce Your “Good Guys” with Probiotics. Having an overgrowth of Candida is already a sign you are low on the healthy bacteria that normally fortify your immune system and colonize your gut, but addressing Candida naturally can have the unintended consequences of reducing the population of “good guys” as well. Refortify your immune system and your gut by supplementing with a good quality probiotic like Flora-Key from UNI KEY Health. Your intestinal flora numbers in the trillions, so the 6.5 billion probiotic bacteria that are in each teaspoon are like planting seeds that will grow a new, healthy population. And the prebiotic included in the formulation is like fertilizer, feeding the growth of these new, health-promoting colonies.

Want to learn more about Candida overgrowth? Join me for the FREE Candida Summit! The upcoming Candida Summit brings together the most knowledgeable experts on this topic, and I’m honored to be speaking on Day 3 about the copper connection to Candida overgrowth.

Here are just a few of the insightful speakers joining me at the summit:

  • Donna Gates, MEd, ABAAHP, Link Between Candida and Autism
  • Sayer Ji, Founder of GreenMedInfo, Candida and Cancer
  • Tom O’Bryan, DC, CCN, DACBN, Autoimmune Disease and Candida

Learn how to overcome candida and reclaim your health at The Candida Summit, July 9-15, 2018. Click here to register now.

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

18 Comments

  1. Elaine

    Dear Ann Louise,
    Always glad to learn more about handling Candida.
    1. What oils are generally best in an anti Candida regimen?
    2. Is there a connection between Candida and histamine intolerance? Between Candida and estrogen dominance?
    3. Once under control, what would be a good maintenance regimen?
    Thanks very much.

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Elaine, Hemp seed oil is the best one for candida. Yes, there is a connection between Candida and histamine intolerance because you can become allergic to Candida. The connection between Candida and estrogen dominance is that both can be caused by high copper. For a good maintenance program please look at “Super Nutrition for Women.” Ann Louise has detailed everything you need to do in this wonderful book.

      Reply
  2. Katie

    How long is recommended for each step? And thank you for this information.

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Katie, you do each step for 6 weeks.

      Reply
  3. Kimberly Starrett

    So basically do the digestive enzymes first? then start dealing with the candida? I have leaky gut and have been on a candida free for a while have taken antifungal meds and those didn’t even touched it. how long should i take the enzymes before started on the other things?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Kimberly, We suggest staying on the proteolytic enzymes for 6 weeks to break down the biofilm. This may be reason why the antifungal didn’t work.

      Reply
  4. Suzi Colter

    Great information about the biofilm. I will address that issue. I haven’t been able to completely get rid of my yeast.

    Reply
  5. Emily

    This is a great way to see whether Candida is something that would be good to explore further. It is definitely a wider problem than is recognised. Good tips to start to combat it as well.

    Reply
  6. Doris

    Along with cutting out sugar and minimizing carbs, are there foods that will aid in combating yeast during each phase of the cleanse?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Doris, yes there are foods that have anti-fungal properties and some specifically kill candida. Coconut oil, garlic, ginger and cruciferous vegetables to name a few.

      Reply
  7. Stephanie

    Great information! I will be starting wobenzym to break down the biofilm. Should I take an oregano supplement (Candibactin AR) at the same time as the wobenzym or after 6 weeks of being on the wobenzym? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Stephanie, You should wait until after you do the wobenzyme to start the oregano supplement.

      Reply
      • Stephanie

        Thank you! This is probably why I haven’t been able to get rid of the yeast even though I have been on oregano for a couple of months.

        Reply
  8. Angela B.

    Great information about the biofilm. This may be why I’ve never been able to get the yeast under control.

    Reply
  9. Marcy B.

    How much Lumbrokinase do you take, how many milligrams per day and what time of day is best to take it?

    Reply
  10. Team ALG

    Marcy, You can follow the directions on the bottle of lumbrokinase. One to three capsules per day with at least 20 mg of lumbrokinase is the normal dose. Sometimes the capsule will say 200 mg but the actual enzyme is 20 mg. To be most effective you want to take them away from food, between meals.

    Reply
  11. Terri

    I’d like to make sure I understand this process. First change my diet. Second, start on enzymes. Six weeks later add in a antifungals while continuing enzymes. After six weeks of antifungals, add in probiotics. Once on probiotics, do I continue with the enzymes and antifungals. What about maintenance?

    Thank you for your help.

    Reply
  12. Team ALG

    Terri, After six weeks, if your candida is gone you will be on maintenance and can discontinue the enzymes and antifungals.

    Reply

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