Digestive health

Candida?

Candida is yeast that naturally occurs in your body.

An over growth of Candida can show itself as bloating, gas, flatulence, skin rashes, sugar cravings, fatigue, mild depression, sensitivity to perfumes, smoke or chemicals, multiple food sensitivity, chronic prostatitis, sinusitis, other and fungal infections of the skin and nails. When Candida thrives, it can change from its yeast form to its fungal form. This is when it spreads its “roots” between your cells of your intestinal tract causing gaps or “leaky gut”. Now things that would normally need to be broken down and passed through the cell are now passing in between the gaps of the cells, causing multiple food and chemical sensitivity.

Candida flourishes when the body is stressed, or exposed to an excess of yeast or sugar in the diet or repeated courses of antibiotics or medications that have microbiome altering properties like certain cancer therapies, antihistamines, antipsychotics, antihypertensives, and antidepressants such as SSRIs, topical steroids and birth control pills.

Testing for Candida may be done through clinical intake, skin scrapes, stool or blood analysis.

Overgrowth of yeast needs to be addressed. In addition to removing the yeast and fungus, we need to re-inoculate with the proper balance of healthy bacteria, and heal the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.  Naturopathic doctors use food, vitamins, minerals and plant-based medicines in an individually designed gut repair protocol.

Overview of GUT repair

1. Remove. What may need to be removed from the intestinal tract to support healthy GI function?

  • pathogenic yeast
  • pathogenic bacteria
  • protozoa      
  • foods and additives that result in allergic or intolerant responses.

2. Replace. What may need to be replaced to support healthy GI function?

  • Digestive enzymes
  • bile salts
  • stomach acid secretions should be considered.

3. Re-establish & re-inoculate. What needs to be provided to restore a healthy balance of micro flora?

See also
  • prebiotics
  • probiotics

4. Regeneration & repair. What may be needed to support regeneration and repair of a healthy mucosal layer?

  • A variety of specific nutrients and phytonutrients are available for this purpose.

Dr. Laura M. Brown, ND has a special focus in gut health and will do a thorough assessment and help you decide what testing and therapeutics are best for you.