Are you bloating after meals? Do you feel worse after eating sugar? How about brain fog, fatigue, joint pain after these meals?

You could have a yeast overgrowth issue!  I am seeing more and more issues with yeast (Candida).  We naturally have some yeast present in our gut microbiome but when our gut is challenged this is the perfect opportunity for yeast to overgrow.  Frequent antibiotics for any reason, high sugar diet, history of a parasite or gut infection, frequent yeast vaginal infections, IBS, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or chron’s) can all predispose us to yeast in the intestinal tract.

Symptoms of a yeast overgrowth include:

  • Bloating
  • Brain fog
  • Joint pain
  • Fatigue
  • Frequent vaginal yeast infections
  • IBS
  • Difficulty losing weight
  • Persistent acne

READ ON to learn how to diagnose this and treat….

First you have to have the suspicion that yeast could be an issue.  Very often we focus heavily on the potential for small bowel overgrowth (SIBO) which certainly can cause symptoms related to overgrowth of bacteria but often when bacteria are overgrown so is yeast.  If the SIBO is treated and symptoms remain then yeast is most likely a contributing factor.

Diagnosing yeast overgrowth is a bit tricky.

First standard stool analysis thru local labs will miss this completely and if you are finding yeast in blood cultures then you are in the hospital and are very, very sick so I am not talking about these cases.  However, for the overgrowth cases there are a few ways to sleuth this out.

  1. Candida antibodies – this is a blood test. When these markers are elevated, you know that the body is mounting a response to a high level of yeast.  This test does not tell you where the yeast is, how long it has been there or if it is even active.  However, when I see an elevated IgA candida antibody, I look at the gut specifically.  The higher the number the bigger the burden.  This is also an important marker to follow.  You should see lowering levels with the treatment you are doing and if they are not going down then there may be a yeast mimicker like mold toxin in the system.
  2. Specialty stool analysis – labs like GI map and GI effects may turn up yeast when tested. If it does show then you definitely have a large overgrowth.  Unfortunately, these tests can also miss yeast especially if higher up in the small intestine or esophagus.
  3. Food sensitivity testing that shows high markers to candida/yeast.
  4. Suspicion – like I said earlier. I always have yeast on my mind with any type of gut issues regardless if all of these tests are negative.
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How do you address this?

There are many different approaches.  If you want to do a deep dive into the yeast world then I will point you to the books written by Doug Kaufman.

  1. Prescription anti-fungals: medications like fluconazole (Diflucan) or Nystatin are really game changes in the anti-fungal treatment.  The biggest short coming is they are not given long enough.  Because Diflucan can be hard on the liver, I usually pulse this in every 4-6 weeks with herbal products in between so you continue to fight off yeast.  Using Diflucan for 14 days in a row or Nystatin for 30 days in a row and pulsing these in until the symptoms resolve is key.
  2. Herbal products: there are so many great anti-yeast products available.  We use Yeast Cleanse and Candibactin BR routinely especially when finished with the prescriptions.  You can also do these by themselves without the prescriptions but need to take them for several months for best results.  Key ingredients in these products include olive leaf extract, curcumin, scutellaria, berberine, oregano, ginger, caprylic acid to name a few.  I love combinations of these and if one product doesn’t help try a different one.  Biocidin is another great product especially if there are overlying symptoms of SIBO.
  3. Diet changes: If you do not have access to prescription anti-fungals then this is a really key piece.  Even with the medications, if you are eating a high sugar or high carb diet with lots of starches (breads, potatoes, rice etc) then you are providing a smorgasbord for yeast to thrive. Working on cutting back on these foods is always helpful.  There are very strict anti-fungal diets and Doug Kaufman has written several books regarding these diets.  I always think diet is important but when you really get the gut microbiome adjusted, I have just not seen the need for these super strict diets except in a hand-full of patients.  If you have a recurring yeast issue then examine your diet for sure!
  4. Evaluate for mold: if you have a lot of yeast symptoms but are not making any progress then evaluate for mold in your home or work place.  Even better, look at a urine test for mold in your own body.  I see mold masquerading as yeast symptoms all the time and when we do a deep dive discover that it was mold toxins all along creating the issues!

To your health,

 

Laura