Before we can talk about candida symptoms, you need to understand what candida is. And then we can think about what to do next.
Did you know that around 70% of people are affected by a systemic fungal infection called candida? One type of fungus is yeast, and candida is a yeast that, when it grows out of control, creates problems. More accurately called Candidiasis, the yeast infection caused by candida thrives in an acidic environment. When the body is out of balance and the immune system is weak, candida can begin to reproduce, leading to a wide range of health issues. (1)
A diet full of sugar, alcohol and processed foods can weaken the body’s immune system and create the perfect environment for candida overgrowth. Candida treatment can be helped by a diet that encourages alkalinity instead of acidity. Then you may see some of the following candida symptoms fade away.
Candida symptoms are often easy to miss. Some people write them off as a temporary illness or associate them with other health issues. Recognizing candida can help you remedy the problem and stop candida growth before it causes greater health issues.
7 Easy-to-Miss Candida Symptoms
1. Chronic Fatigue
Tired? Yeah, that can happen. But fatigue is something different. It’s often hard to pinpoint because fatigue can be caused by many different health problems. In fact, chronic fatigue is a common symptom of candida overgrowth. The harmful bacteria in the body can wreak havoc on your immune system and energy levels. (2)
2. Mood Disorders
Candida overgrowth can cause mood swings through a hormonal imbalance. For one, candida overgrowth encourages high estrogen, and high estrogen makes the candida more toxic to your body. Not only that, the acidic environment in the body can end up causing sudden anxiety, depression, or panic attacks. So you see, candida symptoms like mood disorders reflect the many ways this infection impacts your body. (3, 4)
3. Sinus Infections
Candida overgrowth affects many different parts of the body. And the sinuses are just as susceptible to infection. For example, common candida symptoms include persistent coughing, congestion, and general flu-like illness. Yep, these could be caused by an overgrowth of candida instead of a virus. (5)
4. UTI
OK – so this candida symptom may not be “easy to miss.” After all, recurring vaginal and urinary tract infections are generally caused by yeast overgrowth. And candida overgrowth, specifically, is possible. Also, candida can be sexually transmitted and passed back and forth between partners, unfortunately causing UTI’s on a regular basis. (6)
5. Intestinal Distress
Intestinal distress that is ongoing may be a sign of candida. In fact, this may be one of the most well-known of all the candida symptoms. You see, an overgrowth of yeast in the body creates acidity and an environment that good bacteria don’t like. When the good guys die off and the yeast grows rampant, that can cause bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. (7)
6. Brain Fog
Brain fog is another common sign of candida that is often overlooked. Like fatigue, brain fog is hard to recognize, much less identify a connection. Candida overgrowth, though, can cause a lack of focus, poor physical coordination, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating. When you get rid of that yeast overgrowth, you may only then realize that you suffered from one of several candida symptoms. (8)
7. Skin and Nail Fungal Infections
This one may be staring you in the face, but you didn’t realize it. Fungal infections of the skin and nails translate to problems like Athlete’s foot and toenail fungus. Not fun! Unfortunately, this fungus, which stems from the same breed of candida that causes infection elsewhere in the body, wreaks havoc on your nailbed. Recurring skin and nail fungal infections are a common sign of a candida overgrowth. (9)
Sources:
Prospect Medical
Dr. Axe
NCBI – PMC
Hormones & Balance
Body Ecology
Medical News Today
NCBI – PMC
The Candida Diet
Medical News Today