CANDIDA, WHAT CAUSES AN OVERGROWTH?

Studies have shown over 70% of Americans have Candida,many factors can contribute to a gut microflora imbalance, but Candida overgrowth is the result of two significant reasons:

Death of good microbes: This can be due to stress, antibiotics, and Common triggers include stress, antibiotics, the birth control pill, and. We will be going over six factors in depth. What triggered your Candida? Was it your diet, a course of antibiotics, or a prolonged period of stress?

Diet, toxic foods feeding Candida: This includes high sugar diets, too many inflammatory foods, excessive alcohol consumption, and overconsumption of fermented foods.

DEATH OF GOOD MICROBES:

The death of good bacteria in the gut plays a significant role in candida overgrowth. When we have a sufficient amount of good bacteria, Candida albicans have no room to colonize. Unfortunately, the balance of good gut microflora can be compromised by stress; taking a round of antibiotics and the pill can compromise the good bacteria in the gut.

Stress:

Anyone stressed out for a long time can agree that stress causes many physical symptoms. However, we may not realize what it does to our digestive system and how it contributes to candida overgrowth. When we are chronically stressed, our body enters into “fight or flight mode.” In the fight or flight mode, our blood sugar is raised, and hydrochloric acid production (needed for digestion) comes to a halt. When we aren’t properly breaking down and eliminating our food, it sits in the gut, waiting to be fed by harmful pathogens. Your immune system is also weakened from stress, taking away your body’s natural defenses against stress.

Antibiotics:

When you're prescribed antibiotics, it's to fight some bacterial infection. And as these prescriptions are designed to do, they kill off the bacteria – both bad and good. The good bacteria in our guts play a crucial role in digesting food, keeping our immune system healthy, and serotonin production. With the good and bad bacteria out of the picture, fungus, like candida, move in and multiply rapidly. Candida albicans no longer need to compete for space and nutrients in your gut, and they hide from your immune system. As they grow out of control, they release more and more toxic byproducts causing headaches and fatigue.

Oral Contraceptives:

hormonal imbalances caused by birth control pills can significantly affect the hormonal balance in the body. When the hormonal balance is off, it creates excellent conditions for candida to thrive. Estrogen, the primary ingredient in the pill, promotes yeast growth. These studies outline research where women on the pill are more prone to yeast infections.

DIET THAT FEEDS CANDIA

CANDIDA OVERGROWTH:

This includes high sugar diets, too many inflammatory foods, excessive alcohol consumption, and overconsumption of fermented foods.

1. A high sugar diet: full of inflammatory, anti-nutrient foods is exactly what Candida albicans needs to thrive. It’s not hard to eat a high sugar diet with all the processed foods that are readily available. Refined sugars and carbohydrates are everywhere you look - even in the foods you’d l, east expect. Bread, vegetable juices, processed meats, pasta, alcohol, and cereals contain added sugar and create the perfect recipe for candida overgrowth.

2. Excessive amounts of gluten and grains: Grains provide essential vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, magnesium, and iron; however, those carbohydrates break down into sugar in the body, feeding the Candida. The gluten in grains like wheat, oats, barley, and rye can also trigger inflammation in sensitive people and impair gut integrity. Especially if you’re actively working on healing your digestive system and treating a Candida infection, keep these off the menu. My “28 Days Gut Restore” offers loads of grain-free recipes!

3. Increased amounts of fermented foods: Kombucha is the most significant health trend right now, and for a good reason. It can provide a good amount of probiotics and is generally a low-cal drink. However, kombucha contains yeast strains and tiny amounts of alcohol, making candida worse. Other fermented foods such as store-bought pickles or packaged kimchi are mass-produced and filled with sugar, vinegar, and other additives to give it that fermented taste. This can also feed candida if it is over-consumed. Clean, cultured, fermented foods such as coconut water, kefir, coconut yogurt, or a probiotic-rich brine cultivated from a safe started culture can benefit after a personalized cleanse. They provide a good amount of lacto-acid bacteria, which will support your good bacteria when your gut is healed.

Personalized Cleanse Options

Overall, fermented foods are a controversial topic regarding the candida diet. My recommendation is to stay completely off of them during your cleanse unless you are willing to find a natural source of fermentation or if you are eager to ferment your own.

The causes of Candida include a high sugar diet, antibiotics, chronic stress, the contraceptive pill, excess gluten/grains, and increased consumption of processed, fermented foods. Usually, two or more of these triggers are to blame. For example, a diet full of inflammatory foods and sugars is more likely to cause a Candida overgrowth when combined with a course of antibiotics.

In my 1:1 coaching packages, I go over the CRUCIAL steps to beating candida using diet, a herbs, essential oils, and extra detox strategies.

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