So how can you tell if you have it? Many of the symptoms of candida overgrowth are vague, so the first step is often paying close attention to some of the subtle (or not so subtle) signals your body might be sending out. Here are seven biggies worth paying attention to, plus what to do about them. But certain factors can disrupt the normal balance of good bacteria and fungi. “That can lead to an increase in candida,” explains functional medicine doctor Wendie Trubow, M.D. These can include: Looking at multiple symptoms as a whole can help you and your health care provider figure out whether you’re dealing with candida. Here are some of the most common ones to watch for: Thrush can come on suddenly, and you’ll know it when you see it. In addition to that white coating in your mouth, you might have trouble tasting or swallowing, or feel like your mouth is full of cotton. You might notice redness or soreness around the edges of your mouth too. The candida fungus is one of the most common causes8 of urinary tract infections—so if UTIs feel like a regular thing for you, they could be a sign of candida overgrowth. Candida is the culprit9 behind most fungal infections in people with IBD, likely because an imbalance of good bacteria in the gut makes it easier for fungi like candida to flourish. While IBD symptoms can be individualized, they’re typically marked by belly pain and cramping, diarrhea or bloody stool, diminished appetite, and weight loss. Since candida loves warm, moist environments, the infections often end up forming between skin creases or folds—like the armpit, groin, torso, or under the breasts. They’re typically marked by an itchy rash that looks like a cluster of tiny red pimples. However, sore or achy joints alone might not tip you off to a candida problem. So it’s even more important to pay attention to any other issues that could clue you in to what’s going on. “Additional symptoms might be fatigue, brain fog, skin rashes, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or thinning hair,” Trubow says. The test itself is simple and straightforward: Your provider will check for candida overgrowth by drawing your blood or taking a sample of your urine or stool. The sample is sent to a lab and cultured to test for the candida fungus13. Is one type of test better than the others? Not necessarily, says Trubow. The test your provider picks will likely depend on your specific symptoms. (Frequent yeast infections or UTIs8 might warrant a urine test, for instance.) Sometimes she might opt to confirm the diagnosis with a second test. “I often use blood and stool tests in conjunction. Using both together gives me a sense of how pervasive the candida is,” Trubow explains. But you’ll need to take other steps beyond changing up what you eat. “Diet alone doesn’t address the root cause and doesn’t balance candida with good, healthy bacteria,” Zibdeh notes. “It’s important to follow the diet with antimicrobial agents to reduce its numbers and a complete gut protocol to restore the level of beneficial bacteria.” A functional medicine provider can help you pinpoint parts of your lifestyle that could be driving your candida growth—and suggest strategies for keeping the fungi in check. Taking certain supplements can play a key role here, so consider asking about: Probiotics. Having enough of the good bugs in your system can help keep candida from growing out of control14. “They help boost the gut population of helpful bacteria, thereby crowding out candida,” Trubow says. Probiotic strains like S. boulardii seem to be particularly beneficial for fighting yeast overgrowth15. Antimicrobial agents. Caprylic acid, olive leaf extract16, oil of oregano, garlic17, and lapachol18 boast antifungal activity that could potentially help thwart candida infections. “I use products that contain several of these agents,” Zibdeh explains. “Or if my patient has food sensitivities, I may choose one or two ingredients to introduce at a time.”
