Candida is a type of yeast that naturally exists in the human body. Individuals who have an altered natural flora or are immunocompromised are more susceptible to candida overgrowth that cause infections.
Candida can grow out of control and populate the mouth, throat, genitals, skin, and digestive tract causing yeast or fungal infections in other parts of the body. Several factors can contribute to Candida overgrowth with the most significant factor being the use of antibiotics.
Stress is another important factor for the development of Candida in the digestive tract due to its negative effects on the immune system. In reaction to stress, the adrenal glands release Cortisol, a steroid hormone. Continued secretion of steroids by the adrenal glands can exhaust the adrenal glands which can cause low production of adrenaline, the fight or flight hormone. Adrenaline regulates several different systems including the immune system. A decrease in adrenaline can cause chronic fatigue and drain the immune system. Therefore, the immune system is unable to respond properly to pathogens like the Candida yeast.
Candida’s impact on the body is severe; however, it has often been under diagnosed by the current medical community. Candida overgrowth can be responsible for many chronic illnesses and can have a profound health impact to the entire body even if Candida remains confined in a local area.
Depending on the location of the Candida and the patient’s health history, patients may have one or more types of symptoms:
Reproductive system:
The most common form of Candida overgrowth is genital yeast infections or vaginal candidiasis in women which causes intense vaginal itching, soreness, redness, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and a white clumpy discharge. Severe vaginal yeast infections may cause swelling of the vulva resulting symptoms of painful or frequent urination due to the inflammation of the urinary opening. In men, it can cause a red rash on the penis and itching or burning on the tip of the penis. Candida overgrowth in the mouth is called oral thrush, and symptoms include creamy white lesions on the tongue, inner cheeks, roof of the mouth, gums, and tonsils which can cause redness or soreness and difficulty eating or swallowing.
Digestive Tract:
Candida overgrowth in the stomach can cause irritation to the stomach lining. Patients may experience symptoms of gas, bloating, burping, poor digestion, stomach cramps and excessive gas that does not move downward. Candida overgrowth in the intestine can cause irritation to the intestinal lining and patients may experience diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain or intestinal cramps, gas, stools that contains mucous substance with a milky or cream-like color, or possess film like materials, or oily mucus that tends to float.
Candida overgrowth can cause the gut wall to develop openings which leads to Leaky gut syndrome due to the destructive enzyme activity of the SAP proteins and their irritation to the intestine. Candida overgrowth and the resulting leaky gut syndrome can directly lead to many other systemic inflammatory and immune-related symptoms beyond food allergies, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, eczema, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, chronic urticaria (hives), and inflammatory bowel disease.
Lotus Path Wellness Center has a GI-Map stool testing that diagnoses fungal infections. The G.I. Map Test is one of the newest additions to the list of the most sought-after medical tests today. The main goal of this test is to use one stool sample when examining your microbiome. The assessment mainly focuses on the specific microbes that tend to disturb the normal balance of your microbiome, triggering issues in your gastrointestinal flora and causing digestion problems as well as other chronic health conditions.
Some insurances are paying for the test and a kit can be drop shipped to your house.