10 Signs You Have Candida Overgrowth and How to Get Rid of it

Candida. It sounds so much like candy but isn’t nearly as sweet. Candida is a form of yeast that lives, in small quantities, in your mouth and intestines. When kept in check, it helps with digestion and nutrient absorption. But when you have more of this yeast than you need, watch out.
Excess Candida finds its way through your intestines and into your bloodstream, where it lets out toxic byproducts that wreak havoc, causing leaky gut.
Candida overgrowth is fairly common, especially among those with autoimmune issues. You might not connect the dots right away and realize that your issues related to digestion, fatigue, brain fog, recurring fungal infections and other chronic symptoms may all be caused by an overgrowth of Candida.
The good news is that once Candida overgrowth is overcome, you can expect to feel like your old self again, complete with increased energy, clear thinking and overall vitality.
So how does this all happen? Dr. Amy Myers M.D. has seen thousands of patients in her practice who suffer from candida overgrowth, and she’s learned more than a thing or two.   Tapping into her experience, let’s break it down.

How Does Candida Overgrow?

Good bacteria in your gut prevents Candida from growing out of hand. But several factors can result in depleted amounts of this good bacteria, which in turn can allow Candida to thrive and multiply.
Excess use of antibiotics, regular consumption of processed sugars and starches, excess alcohol consumption, birth control pills, or even a stressful lifestyle can result in gut dysbiosis. Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi or Kombucha, can also nourish Candida if eaten too frequently.

Top 10 Signs You Have Candida Overgrowth

Dr. Amy Myers lists the following common symptoms associated with Candida overgrowth :

1. Fungal infections such as athlete’s food, ringworm, or toenail fungus
2. Chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
3. Bloating, constipation, diarrhea and other digestive problems
4. Autoimmune diseases as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Scleroderma and others
5. Inability to concentrate, memory problems, ADD/HD and brain fog
6. Skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, hives and rashes
7. Mood issues, such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and irritability
8. Vaginal infections and UTI’s
9. Pronounced seasonal allergies and/or itchy ears
10. Intense cravings for sugar and refined carbs

Testing for Candida Overgrowth

If you want to know for certain that you’re dealing with a Candida overgrowth before you start treating it, there are several tests recommended by Dr. Myers.
Test for IgG, IgA, and IgM Candida Antibodies. This is a blood test that most labs can complete. A result indicating that these antibodies are at excess levels means your body’s immune system is reacting to an overgrowth somewhere in your body.
Since Candida can suppress your immune system, it’s important to test for totals as well as antibodies. Low total levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM could create a false negative test result. With this logic in mind, you’ll also want to run stool and urine tests.
Get a CBC (Complete Blood Count) Test. Even though this test doesn’t evaluate the presence of yeast specifically, there’s a common pattern of low white blood cells (WBC), high neutrophils, and low lymphocytes among Candida overgrowth sufferers.
A Comprehensive Stool Test. This tests analyzes yeast levels in your colon and can show the specific species of yeast, which will be helping in determining  an effective treatment plan.
Run a Urine Organix Dysbiosis Test. This tests for the presence of D-Arabinitol, a waste product of Candida overgrowth, in your small intestine.

Treatment of Candida Overgrowth

There are several things you can do to treat Candida overgrowth. For starters, you’ll want to stop anything that is feeding the yeast and leading to the problems that the overgrowth is causing. But the next part is just as important – you’ll want to bring balance and health back to your gut to prevent another overgrowth.
While there’s more than one way to skin a cat, Dr. Myers has created a simple to follow 3-part program that’s proven to eliminate Candida in 30 days. It includes everything you’ll need for success, such as a meal plan, supplement suggestions, and emails to guide you along the way. If you’d like to skip the details and grab the blueprint, it’s certainly the path of least resistance.