Can we talk about Candida for a minute?

A recent study showed that more than 25% of patients with IBS or diagnosed SIBO were actually suffering from SIFO (Small-Intestinal-Fungal-Overgrowth) too, AKA candida overgrowth.

This is incredibly hard to diagnose, so if you are one of those chronic irritable bowel sufferers where every test comes back negative, but you just can’t seem to tackle the symptoms - this might be a big part of your problem.

Besides all the symptoms I definitely DO NOT need to remind suffers of (IE belching, bloating, indigestion, nausea, diarrhoea & gas), SIFO brings with it a host of other LOVELY sufferings such as:

〰️ Headache

〰️ Fatigue & low energy

〰️ Anxiety & depression

〰️ “Foggy head”

〰️ Recurrent UTI’s & yeast infections (yes ladies, thrush)

〰️ Frequent sinus infections

〰️ Joint pain & systemic inflammation

Some factors that predispose us to SIFO:

〰️ Chronic use of PPI’s (ant-acids) and/or immunosuppressive drugs

〰️ Excessive use of antibiotics

〰️ Gut motility disorders

〰️ Chronic stress

〰️ Poor diet & excessive alcohol intake

〰️ Chronic low stomach acid.

Tackling SIFO can be hard work, but is vital for true healing & symptom resolution to those who have it. It usually involves the need for anti-biofilm & anti-microbial herbal medicine, liver detoxification support & other functional gastrointestinal support such as supporting gut acid balance & gastric motility.

Adding anti-fungal foods into your diet such as garlic, pomegranate, fresh ginger & cooking with coconut oil is a great way to start to reduce candida overgrowth. I also recommend my patients follow a low-carb paleo-style diet whilst healing the imbalance because unfortunately - Candida LOVES sugar. You know that person who not only craves desert but will probably punch someone if they don’t - this is a red flag for a person with a candida overgrowth (yeast communicates with our brains to try keep itself alive). Gross I know! But kinda amazing too when you think about it. Either way - it definitely requires a bit of self-restraint & dedication to get rid of it.

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