Candida Yeast Overgrowth and Leaky Gut Syndrome

When you have leaky gut, it’s almost certain that you also have a case of candida yeast overgrowth. These two are very much related to each other because they both are affected by the balance of bacteria in the intestinal flora, however, they are two separate issues. If your digestive tract is overrun by harmful bacteria, it is certain that you will suffer from debilitating symptoms.

A Brief Overview of Candida Yeast Overgrowth

Candida is found in some parts of the body, specifically the mouth, the throat, vagina and in the intestines. It is a yeast organism that is not harmful if their number is kept in check. There should always be a balance between the harmful and beneficial bacteria in the intestine.

What keeps the balance in check is the immune system so if your immune system is working fine, you shouldn’t have to worry about this condition. If the immune system, however, is compromised in any way, this balance can be easily disrupted and you will experience different symptoms. What happens when you have candida yeast overgrowth is that these organisms will grow root like structures throughout your intestine and this will damage the gut. The end result is leaky gut syndrome.

The opposite can also happen, you may already have leaky gut and because of the damage to the gut, yeast can grow exponentially.

Another reason why you may have candida overgrowth is the use of medicines that can cause harm to the good bacteria in the intestine, antibiotics. Antibiotics are taken for infections but it’s side effect is that along with the bad bacteria, it also flushes out the good or beneficial bacteria. This will cause an imbalance in the intestine.

Other reasons include the intake of sugar or refined sugar. Sugar and carbohydrates are the food source of yeast and if you over supply your body with it, it only makes it easier for yeast to reproduce. For women, the use of birth control pills may also contribute to the development of candida yeast.

Candida Symptoms

How can you determine if you have candida overgrowth? Well, there are many symptoms associated with this condition. Below is a list of the many signs and symptoms associated with it. All these symptoms will not necessarily appear or show at the same time. Two people suffering from candida yeast overgrowth may show different sets of symptoms because not everyone is similar. Here are the symptoms:

•     Alternating diarrhea and constipation
•     Thrush
•     White coated tongue
•     Pain in the abdominal area
•     Eating disorder – unexplained craving for sugary foods
•     Acid Reflux or Heartburn
•     Confusion or unorganized thought process as well as difficulty remembering things
•     Frequent headaches that can either be mild or severe, dizziness
•     Insomnia
•     Frequent skin allergies as well as dryness, itchiness
•     Recurring infections
•     Eczema
•     Psoriasis

Getting Rid of Candida Infection

If you have candida overgrowth, it’s almost sure that you have leaky gut syndrome. The proper way to heal both conditions is to focus first on dealing with candida. If you try to treat leaky gut while yeast is still growing in numbers, it will be hard to manage because it may very well have become systemic. One good tip is to take probiotics because this can help restore the balance of bacteria in the intestine. Here is a more complete guide on how to get rid of candida overgrowth. The link will take you to a video presentation that will definitely help you with dealing with candidiasis.