A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO CANDIDA

Small amounts of yeasts normally live inside the body in places such as the mouth, throat, gut. vagina and skin without causing problems. However, yeast and ‘candida’ ‘taking over’ has been associated with multidimensional health problems. Mirthe Eckl, our resident Functional Medicine Practitioner in Notting Hill (London) and Verbier (Swiss Alps) will help shed some light and dive into our multi-faceted Functional Medicine approach to candida below. 

SYMPTOMS

Systemic yeast infections have been associated with multidimensional health problems including contribution to

• Eczema
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Sugar cravings
• Hormone imbalances such as endometriosis, PCOS, cysts and fibroids, estrogen dominance
• Anxiety
• Weight gain for no apparent reason and/or inability to loose weight
• Brain fog, mood swings and if present over longer periods of time can contribute to neurodegeneration/ Alzheimer’s,
• Dandruff
• HPV, cold sores and other viral dominance
• Recurring urinary tract infections, recurring trush
• Autoimmune conditions
• Thyroid problems
• More serious issues such as cancers (1) if present over a very long time. 
• A shift towards the ‘over-reactive’ yet inefficient Th17 immune system which predisposes and contributes to autoinflammatory conditions (NLRP3 inflammasome), such as has been shown to be involved in gout, arthritis, cancer conditions and more.

UNDERLYING CAUSES

 – It usually is a combination of several factors or even all of them

• Antibiotic use induced microbiome imbalances which also wipes out the ‘good’ bacteria that normally keep yeast under control and subsequently allow ‘bad bacteria’ and yeast to flourish and overgrow
• Stress, excess alcohol and/or processed foods intake induced inefficient gut immune system defense (IgA)
• Overabundance of yeast feeding carbohydrates (sugars) and yeast containing foods/drinks (such as wine, rosé, beer, bread, nutritional yeast) in the diet
• Inadequate bile flow, often due to an overburdened liver from (environmental) toxins, excess alcohol and/or sugars (especially also fruit sugar/ fructose!, processed foods, nutrient deficiencies)
• Heavy metal accumulation such as mercury will perpetuate candida issues and vice versa.

STRATEGY

Starve the yeast off its fuel (sugars/ carbohydrates) and actual yeast containing substances:

• Strictly avoid for at least 3 months, better yet 6 months, or until re-testing
  • Nutritional yeast, yeast containing sauces/ stock cubes
  • Baker's yeast such as found in bread, pizza (switch to sourdough)
  • Kombucha
  • Brewer's yeast:
    • Apple cider vinegar (switch to clear white vinegar)
    • Wine (switch to clear spirits such as tequila, vodka, gin with soda water or on the rocks)
    • Beer
    • Soy sauce
• Intermittent fasting (reducing your eating window to 4-8 hours per day) with only water, herbal teas, coffee and potentially pure fats like coconut oil in the ‘non-eating’ window has been shown to help starve off candida and reset the gut microbiome.
• Strictly stick to a low carb lifestyle as outlined in the Meal Planner section. One portion of carbs per day maximum of good quality resistant starches like sweet potatoes, quinoa, oats, not quite ripe banana, on 6 days of the week. Depending on your exercise level and if you are female or male, you may want to have one carb refill day once per week or once per fortnight.

Improve the gut's natural 'yeast defense system' and bile flow

• Increase bile production by consuming bitter and choline containing foods (asparagus, eggs, beet root, dandelion, cruciferous vegetables)
• Intermittent fasting
• Consume coconut oil for it's anti-fungal properties
• Get adequate sleep and lower stress: belly breathing and mini-meditations switch on the vagus nerve, which increases digestive juices in your gut, naturally killing off yeast and increasing the gut’s innate immune system (sIgA).
• Make sure your vitamin D and zinc levels are in optimal ranges to support a healthy immune response.

• Consume cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage that support the body's natural detox mechanisms of heavy metals, environmental toxins and hormones, plus support your liver, all of which are linked to yeast overgrowth, along with their bile boosting properties.

I personally love adding a tablespoon of Sauerkraut, a tablespoon of broccoli sprouts, and about 1/8^th of raw red cabbage chopped up into my lunch salad for a natural boost of all of the above. Additionally rotate the other cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc.