Candida Overgrowth - The Underlying Causes You Need To Know
Do you suspect you are suffering from candida overgrowth? Candida typically lives harmlessly in the body. But sometimes, an overgrowth can be triggered and cause significant health concerns.
Let's have a look at the common causes and relationships that are involved with candida overgrowth.
What is candida?
Candida is a species of yeast (fungus) that often lives happily in the body alongside your other microbes. The most common one we hear about is Candida albicans, which is harmless when part of a balanced microbiome.
However, in some situations, candida is given the opportunity to become mycelium and produce hyphae or long spores. These spores can penetrate into the tissues, grow, and even form a biofilm layer that protects the candida.
So instead of living alongside others, it begins to push many of the beneficial species of microbes out and overtake the area. This can occur in areas including the gut, mouth, vagina, skin or throat.
What causes a candida overgrowth?
So what can cause an overgrowth in the first place? It typically requires long-term environmental triggers to create the type of environment where candida can overgrow. Some examples of candida overgrowth causes include:
Antibiotic therapy (usually multiple courses)
Hormonal triggers such as the contraceptive pill (OCP) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Low stomach acid
Detoxification issues such as MTHFR or COMT
Dietary factors such as high sugar intake or a diet high in hydrogenated fats
Low immunity due to drugs, treatments e.g. chemotherapy or health conditions e.g. HIV infection
Insulin resistance and diabetes
What are the common symptoms of candida overgrowth?
Some of the signs and symptoms you might experience include:
Brain fog
Fatigue
Feeling fuzzy
Low metabolic rate and hypothyroidism
Depression
Sugar cravings
Elevated cortisol levels
Joint pain and inflammation
Low iron levels
Low zinc levels
Smelly flatulence
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Sensitivity to alcohol
Painful sex
Low libido
Low fertility or infertility
Mouth issues such as bleeding gums, halitosis and cavities
Sore, swollen glands
However, it’s important to remember that other health concerns can cause these symptoms. Your best bet is to get tested and diagnosed.
Candida and oestrogen
One of the most important relationships to candida is oestrogen. This is a two-way street, as they both feed into one another.
High oestrogen can lead to further overgrowth of candida. It’s also believed to play a role in candida being drug-resistant.
On the other hand, candida can convert estrone into estradiol. This creates an oestrogen-dominant environment. It can also mimic the symptoms including endometriosis, heavy painful periods and acne.
Estradiol can also alter the immune system’s function. It turns off Th17, causing lower levels of T helper cells. As a result, you are more vulnerable to infections including overgrowth.
Candida and insulin resistance
Another common link is between candida and insulin resistance. When you are insulin resistant, there is more glucose going free in the body. The candida feeds on glucose, as it is a favourite fuel source.
Candida and stress
Are you stressed out all the time? If so, stress might be feeding into your issues.
Candida can feed on cortisol metabolites and prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are inflammatory compounds that can be triggered by stress. If this is an issue for you, you might want to consider a fish oil supplement.
When we get stressed, the body also releases more glucose. This feeds into the candida growth.