What is Candida Albicans?

Candida albicans or C. albicans for short, is a yeast, a member of the fungus family, which can live in our intestinal tract along with other good and bad microbes that together make up our gut microbiome. Usually, this fungus is harmless and can be found in the intestinal tract of 40% of healthy adults without causing us any discomfort. However, if C. albicans grows unchecked, it causes Candidiasis (a pervasive yeast overgrowth or infection). Although almost 20 species of Candida may cause infection, we know that C. albicans is the most common culprit. Now, most of you will be stopping here to say to yourselves, “Isn’t that a kind of infection that causes vaginal itching or a UTI? Wouldn’t I know if I had that??”. The answer is yes AND no. An overgrowth of this bacteria can cause unpleasant itching and vaginal yeast infections and those kind of symptoms usually clue someone in that it’s time to take a trip to their doctor. However, it can also cause yeast infections in your GI tract, esophagus and mouth, and those types can be more difficult for us to spot.

First things first, what exactly causes an overgrowth of this fungus? Glad you asked. Some of the top offenders are:

Taking antibiotics frequently on and off or long term

Antibiotics don’t differentiate between our good and bad microbes. They wipe out the good, the bad and the ugly (Side note: that’s why it’s so important to take probiotics after every round of antibiotics). Without good bacteria to balance out the bad, it becomes more likely that certain bacteria, like C. albicans, will flourish and cause problems like (yep, you guessed it) yeast infections. One other possible reason this happens is that when our microflora is disrupted, our guts produce less biotin, one of the B vitamins. Biotin helps suppress the transition of C. albicans into the form that causes yeast infections. So, less biotin, more risk of candidiasis.

Using corticosteroid drugs (especially inhalants) or having a compromised immune system

Corticosteroid drugs suppress our immune system to reduce symptoms that occur when our immune systems are in overdrive, like with asthma or autoimmune conditions like Multiple Sclerosis or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Those with weakened immune systems are more at risk for candidiasis. Specifically, using an inhaler puts you at greater risk for oral yeast infections.

Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetics tend to have higher sugar content in their mouth. Sugar feeds yeast infections since yeast is a type of sugar, and this puts them at greater risk for oral candidiasis.

Diets high in refined grains, sugars and other processed inflammatory foods

Poor diets over time can lead to disruptions in our gut microflora, which can lead to increased risk of candidiasis.

How do I know if I have an overgrowth of C. albicans? Certain symptoms point to possible yeast overgrowth. If you have any of the below symptoms, consider that yeast overgrowth might be the reason:

1. White coated tongue
2. Chronic fatigue or exhaustion
3. Bad breath
4. Frequent UTIs
5. Cravings for sweets
6. Hormonal imbalances or mood swings
7. Aches in joints and muscles
8. Gas, bloating or sudden onset of food sensitivities

QUESTION:   What do I do if I have determined that yeast overgrowth is a problem for me?

The good news is that a yeast overgrowth is fairly easy to get under control. Candida is opportunistic, so instead of killing it, the best way to curb it is by starving it out and removing its fuel source. One of the best ways to do this is though the diet and by adding therapeutic supplements:

• It’s a good idea to remove refined grains and sugars from your diet as doing so will help restore your immune system and reduces inflammation. Corn syrup, fructose, lactose, glucose, sucrose, honey, molasses, fruit juices, cookies, cakes, processed or boxed snacks made with flour, potato or corn starch should be eliminated for at least 2 weeks to allow your body to heal.
• Add high quality animal or vegetarian sources of protein to your diet, unlimited amounts of non-starchy vegetables like cauliflower, kale, spinach and broccoli and high quality oils and fats like olive oil, butter, and coconut oil.
• Start taking a probiotic (at least 25 billion CFU) or eat probiotic rich foods that help restore balance to the gut microbiome. Some wonderful sources of probiotics are yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha or kefir. Making your own fermented foods yields the highest content of beneficial bacteria, though you can find most of these foods at your local grocery store as well.
• Caprylic acid, which is found in coconut oil and MCT oil, is a potent antifungal and it is also a great way to get your body to start using fat more efficiently as a metabolic fuel!
• Adding a few drops of clove and oregano oil to coconut oil also helps to reduce the overgrowth of yeast. Only ingest these essential oils for ten days or less.
• Garlic also has strong antifungal properties and can help with yeast overgrowth. Garlic capsules contain allicin, which is the compound responsible for its beneficial properties. You can choose to take a supplement that contains allicin or eat more garlic in your diet!

Yeast overgrowth may be hard to spot, but knowing some of the red flags can be immensely helpful in determining if you suffer from this bacterial imbalance. Candidiasis can be fairly easy to eradicate with a few simple dietary measures and well chosen supplements. Talk to your health care provider or consult with a nutritionist before starting any kind of candida cleanse or before using a supplement therapeutically.

Written by:

Elizabeth Herbert

Food Sensitivity Solutions, Student Intern

Maryland University of Integrative Health

Sources:

Axe, J., MD. (2016). 9 Candida Symptoms & 3 Steps to Treat Them – Dr. Axe. Retrieved December 18, 2016, from https://draxe.com/candida-symptoms/
Mercola, J., MD. (2016). How Candida Albicans May Affect Your Health. Retrieved December 18, 2016, from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/10/02/candida-albicans.aspx