17 Symptoms and Treatments of Candida Overgrowth

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17 Symptoms and Treatments of Candida Overgrowth

In this article, you’ll learn and discover the 17 symptoms of candida overgrowth, plus how to get rid of it.

What are Yeast Infections (Candida)?

The yeast Candida albicans is the yeast that normally lives harmlessly in small numbers in the body, controlled by beneficial bacteria in the body and the immune system. If the beneficial bacteria are killed by antibiotics, or if a person’s immune system becomes weakened, Candida can grow unchecked and cause symptoms.
Localized infections, such as oral thrush, skin infections, and vaginal yeast infections in women can result. Widespread infection can occur in immunocompromised people. Candida overgrowth in the intestines is thought to, in some cases; penetrate the intestinal wall, causing the yeast and other unwanted particles from being absorbed into the body.
This is thought to activate the immune system, resulting in fatigue, headache, mood swings, poor memory and concentration, and cravings for sweets, and it has been linked to conditions such as fibromyalgia. This condition, popularized by William Crook, MD in his 1983 book, The Yeast Connection, is considered very controversial. Most conventional doctors think this systemic condition is overdiagnosed and many disagree with the diagnosis.

Causes of Yeast Infections (Candida)

  • Use of oral contraceptives
  • Steroids
  • Antacids
  • Anti-ulcer medications
  • Frequent or long-term use of antibiotics
  • High-sugar diets
  • Pregnancy
  • Diabetes

Symptoms

  • Tired or lethargic
  • Poor memory
  • Feel drained, depleted, or exhausted
  • Numbness, burning, tingling
  • Stomach pain
  • Joint pain or swelling
  • Muscle aching or weakness
  • Constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, or belching
  • Bothersome or persistent vaginal itching, burning, or discharge
  • Prostatitis
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Loss of sexual desire
  • Endometriosis or infertility
  • Menstrual irregularity or cramping
  • Anxiety attacks or crying
  • Cold hands and feet feel chilly
  • Irritable or shaking when hungry

Natural Remedies for Yeast Infections (Candida)

coconut oil

Coconut Oil

You can treat a yeast infection by applying coconut oil straight from the jar to the affected area. You can rub the coconut oil into the skin or skin fold where the yeast infection is.

Tip: When purchasing coconut oil, be sure to select an organic, pure coconut oil. Some brands may try to pass off a coconut oil blend that won’t get you the same results, so look for 100 percent coconut oil. Pure coconut oil typically won’t have a strong coconut smell.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)

This supplement promotes detoxification support. Since milk thistle works on the liver, it can interact with various medications. People with a history of hormone-related conditions or who are at risk for such conditions should speak to their doctors before using milk thistle.

multivitamin

A multivitamin daily

Containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, the B-complex vitamins and trace minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium.

fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids – (fish oil)

It helps to decrease inflammation and help with immunity. Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources. Fish oil supplements can increase the effects of certain blood-thinning medications.

vitamin c

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps to boost adrenal glands and it is an antioxidant that helps restore the immune system.  It also protects the vaginal lining.  Vitamin C helps to boost adrenal glands and helps to restore your immune system.

zinc

Zinc

Miconazole is an antifungal medicine that fights infections caused by fungus. Zincoxide is a mineral that acts as a skin protectant.

probiotic

Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus)

Probiotics supplements work by populating the intestines with beneficial organisms that can prevent the yeast from overgrowing and help the body to naturally balance the infection.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit seed extract (Citrus paradisi)

It’s recommended for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Grapefruit seed extract can potentially interfere with a variety of medications.

Improvement in symptoms is usually noticed after two to four weeks.

Acidophilus

The beneficial bacteria acidophilus is thought to control candida by making the intestinal tract more acidic, discouraging the growth of candida, and by producing hydrogen peroxide, which directly kills candida.
Research has shown that supplementing with a hydrogen peroxide-producing strain of acidophilus, DDS-1, greatly reduced the incidence of antibiotic-induced yeast infections.

Beneficial bacteria also help to restore the microbial balance within the digestive tract.

Fiber

One teaspoon to one tablespoon of soluble fiber containing guar gum, psyllium husks, flax seeds or pectin can be mixed in an 8 oz glass of water two times per day on an empty stomach.

Enteric-coated essential oils

Enteric-coated capsules containing oregano oil, peppermint oil, and other volatile oils are thought to prevent the overgrowth of candida. It is usually recommended for at least several months. A standard dosage is two capsules two times a day with water, in between meals. Pure volatile oils can be quite toxic in this amount so the liquid form of these oils should never be ingested, and the capsules should not be broken open before ingesting.

Enteric-coated garlic

Garlic capsules that have been enteric-coated to open when they reach the intestines are often is used in combination with the volatile oils. One capsule two times per day was taken with the enteric-coated volatile oil is a typical recommendation.
Other valuable supplements are caprylic acid from coconuts, oleic acid from olive oil, oregano oil, and pau d’arco. There are many combination products formulated for candida that contain these herbs and supplements.

Diet

Diet is an essential part of the Candida cleanse. The length of time on the Candida cleanse depends on the length of time one has had symptoms, symptom severity, and overall health. People may notice improvement after strict adherence to the diet for two to four weeks. For others it takes months. Once symptoms are gone and lab tests show significant improvement, foods from the restricted list can be slowly incorporated back into the diet.

List of Foods to Avoid

  • Sugar – refined sugar is thought to encourage the growth of Candida yeast.
  • Honey
  • Maple syrup
  • Corn syrup
  • Maple sugar
  • Molasses
  • Date sugar
  • Turbinado
  • Raw sugar
  • Demerara
  • Amasake
  • Rice syrup
  • Sorghum 
Read labels carefully because there may be hidden forms of sugar. When reading the label, words to watch out for include sucrose, fructose, maltose, lactose, glycogen, glucose, mannitol, sorbitol, galactose, monosaccharides, polysaccharides.

Fruit

They contain natural sugars that are thought to support the growth of yeast. Fruit that is typically eliminated includes fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruit and juice.

Yeast

Foods that contain yeast are typically eliminated. Yeast-containing foods include Baker’s yeast, Brewer’s yeast, Engevita, Torula, and any other types of nutritional yeast.
Baked goods raised with yeast such as bread, rolls, crackers, bagels, pastries, and muffins are not permitted.

Foods Containing Gluten

Gluten-containing foods include wheat, barley, and rye.

This includes products made with these ingredients such as:

  • bread and pasta.
  • Vinegar
  • White Vinegar
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Rice Vinegar
  • Balsamic Vinegar
  • Any Food Made With Vinegage, such as Mayonnaise, Commercial Salad Dressing, Ketchup, Worcestershire Sauce, Steak Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Shrimp Sauce, Soy Sauce, Mustard, Pickles, Pickled Vegetables, Green Olives, Relishes, Horseradish, Mincemeat, and Chili Sauce.
  • Mushrooms: They are typically not allowed on Candida diets.

List of Foods to Avoid

Stay away from eggs and all dairy products, including:
  • Milk
  • Cheese
  • Cottage Cheese
  • Sour Cream
  • Yogurt And Kefir
  • Butter
  • Ice Cream And Frozen Yogurt
  • Wheat
  • Pasta
  • Bread
  • Sweeteners
  • Refined Sugar
  • Any White Sugar
  • Any Brown Sugar
  • High-Fructose Corn Syrup
  • Evaporated Cane Juice
  • Artificial Sweeteners
  • Gluten

All gluten-containing

  • Grains – including wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut, couscous, bran, and farina
  • Soy
  • Tofu
  • Milk made of Soy
  • Yogurt made of Soy
  • Soy Sauce
  • Soy Protein Powder
  • Tempeh

Coffee and Caffeinated Beverages

  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Soft drinks

Animal Products

  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Veal
  • Sausages
  • Hot Dogs
  • Deli Meats And Cold Cuts
  • Shellfish

Condiments

  • Ketchup
  • Relish
  • Soy Sauce
  • Teriyaki Sauce
  • Non-Dairy Creamers
  • Barbecue Or Steak Sauce
  • Salad Dressings Not Made With Allowed Ingredients
  • Mayonnaise
  • Spreads Not Made With The Allowed Ingredients
  • Similar Condiments

Foods Containing…

  • Yeast
  • Alcohol

Food Additives and Preservatives

Limit daily carbohydrate intake – Sugar feeds Candida, so it is important to minimize the total carbohydrate content of one’s diet. During the first 2 to 3 weeks of the program, it is often recommended that carbohydrate intake be restricted to 20 to 60 grams per day, depending on age, health, activity level, and extent of grain sensitivities. As symptoms disappear, the carbohydrate total can gradually increase. Foods that are low carb include protein foods such as meat, chicken, turkey, shellfish, some nuts, and non-starchy vegetables.

Environmental/Lifestyle

Consider talking with your physician about substitute methods of birth control if you are using oral contraceptives.  Practitioners usually suggest avoiding alcohol and smoking. Both can impair the immune function.
Resources

ACOG. ACOG Practice Bulletin. Clinical management guidelines for obstetricians-gynecologists, Number 72, May 2006: Vaginitis. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;107(5):1195-1206.

Black M, Ambros-Rudolph CM, Edwards L, Lynch PJ, eds. Obstetric and Gynecologic Dermatology. 3rd ed. Baltimore, MD: Elsevier Mosby; 2008.

Cabrera C, Artacho R, Gimenez R. Beneficial effects of green tea — a review. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006;25(2):79-99.

Cvetnic Z, Vladimir-Knezevic S. Antimicrobial activity of grapefruit seed and pulp ethanolic extract. Acta Pharm. 2004;54(3):243-250.

Delia A, Morgante G, Rago G, Musacchio MC, Petraglia F, De Leo V. Effectiveness of oral administration of Lactobaccillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F19 in association with vaginal suppositories of Lactobacillus acidofilus in the treatment of vaginosis and in the prevention of recurrent vaginitis. Minerva Ginecol. 2006;58(3):227-231.

Edwards L. Dermatologic causes of vaginitis: a clinical review. Dermatol Clin. 2010;28(4):727-735.

Guo HY, Hu XM, Han DD, Wang ZP, Meng L. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in vagina microenvironment of patients with several common vaginitis. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2013;40(3):331-426.

Heggers JP, Cottingham J, Gussman J, et al. The effectiveness of processed grapefruit-seed extract as an antibacterial agent: II. Mechanism of action and in vitro toxicity. J Altern Complement Med. 2002;8(3):333-340.

Heitzman ME, Neto CC, Winiarz E, Vaisberg AJ, Hammond GB. Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Uncaria (Rubiaceae). Phytochemistry. 2005;66(1):5-29.

Holloway D. Nursing considerations in patients with vaginitis. Br J Nurs. 2010;19(16):1040-1046.

Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017.

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Reid G, Burton J, Hammond JA, Bruce AW. Nucleic acid-based diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis and improved management using probiotic lactobacilli. J Med Food. 2004;7(2):223-228.

Ross SE, Carter B, Lambert S. Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus-2 infection among women seeking medical care for signs and symptoms of vaginitis. Herpes. 2009;15(3):46-50.

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Herbal Guide Staff

schillemi@thecompleteherbalguide.com

Stacey Chillemi is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, speaker & coach. She is the founder of The Complete Herbal Guide. She has empowered hundreds of thousands worldwide through her books, websites, e-courses, educational videos, and live events. You can Twitter me at @The_HerbalGuide.

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