Fungal Overgrowth: Causes, Symptoms & Solutions

Fungal Overgrowth: Causes, Symptoms & Solutions

Are you battling with bloating, gas, digestion problems, fatigue, headaches, skin problems, or other nagging symptoms? Fungal overgrowth may be the culprit.

Fungal overgrowth is the overgrowth of fungi, most commonly, the yeast Candida in your body that leads to gut flora imbalance and countless symptoms. The good news is that you can prevent and recover from fungal overgrowth through an anti-inflammatory diet, a healthy lifestyle, and fungus-fighting supplements.

In this article, I will explain what fungal overgrowth is. You will understand its symptoms and major causes. I will share the best testing methods and the top natural solutions I recommend for fungal overgrowth.

What is Fungal Overgrowth

Fungal overgrowth is an overgrowth of fungi, most commonly, the overgrowth of the yeast Candida in your body. Fungal overgrowth can lead to a variety of infections across the body, including Oropharyngeal candidiasis or thrush affecting your mouth and throat, Candida esophagitis, an infection in the esophagus, genital or vulvovaginal candidiasis or vaginal yeast infection affecting vaginal health, cutaneous candidiasis affecting the skin, and candidemia occurring in the bloodstream.

Since fungal overgrowth can result in various symptoms all across the body, recent studies decided to investigate the role of fungal overgrowth in the small intestine and a possible cause of unexplainable gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (1, 2). 

You’ve probably heard about small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). But it may be that fungal overgrowth can also happen in your small intestines. Small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO) is a condition characterized by high levels of fungi in your small intestine that results in GI symptoms.

SIFO is a common condition. While it often occurs in those with weakened immune systems, SIFO also affects about 25 percent of the population with healthy immune systems and unexplained GI symptoms. In over 97 percent of these cases, the fungi responsible for the overgrowth is Candida (3, 4).

Candida and Fungal Overgrowth

Candida is found in a healthy body in small amounts in the mouth, immune system, and skin. Candida is normally found in your mouth and intestines. At low levels, Candida is normal and helps digestion. However, when overgrowth happens, you can run into health issues.

When Candida is overproduced and overgrown, it can break down your intestinal wall, get into your bloodstream, and release toxic byproducts. The most commonly known problems contributing to Candida overgrowth are vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush, however, Candida overgrowth in your gut can lead to a variety of gut health issues, as well as other symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, headaches, joint problems, and pain.

Major Symptoms of Fungal Overgrowth

Major symptoms of SIFO and fungal overgrowth may include:

• Bloating
• Gas
• Belching
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Weight issues
• Malnutrition
• Fatigue
• Headaches and migraines
• Poor memory, difficulty concentrating, or brain fog
• Mood swings or irritability
• Depression or anxiety
• Vaginal infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Skin or nail fungal infections
• Skin problems, including rashes, hives, eczema, and acne
• Seasonal allergies

SIFO and other forms of fungal overgrowth can become a contributing factor to leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and autoimmune conditions (5, 6).

Major Causes of Fungal Overgrowth

Fungal overgrowth can develop due to an unhealthy diet and lifestyle and toxic exposure. Let’s look at the major causes of fungal overgrowth.

Inflammatory Diet  

Eating an inflammatory diet high in sugar, starches, dairy, processed foods, and junk food, and low in greens, veggies, healthy fats, and clean protein is the number one offender when it comes to fungal overgrowth. Processed foods, junk foods, and comfort foods in the Standard American Diet (SAD) are high in fungus-feeding and Candida-promoting inflammatory sugar, starches, and dairy, as well as toxic unnatural ingredients.

Sugar, including all-natural sweeteners such as coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey, feeds Candida and other fungal overgrowth. High-carb starchy foods, such as pasta and potato dishes also add to the problem. Alcohol is also problematic. Some alcohol, such as beer and wine are not only liquid sugar but are also fermented.

This yeast and sugar combination feeds fungal overgrowth. Dairy creates an inflammatory environment in your gut and the milk sugar lactose adds to the problem. The combination of these Candida-promoting inflammatory foods can wreak havoc on your system and create fungal overgrowth.

Chronic Stress & Poor Sleep

Chronic stress and poor sleep can be detrimental to your immune system and gut health. When your body is under stress, it responds with the release of cortisol. While this is beneficial in cases of acute stress, such as an accident, fire, or physical attack, in constant high amounts due to chronic stress, cortisol is highly inflammatory and can lead to adrenal fatigue, a compromised immune system, digestive issues, and more problems.

Temporarily shutting down your digestive functions is another stress response that under chronic stress can make you more vulnerable to fungal overgrowth, gut flora imbalance, and digestive problems. Chronic stress can lead to poor sleep, while poor sleep is one of the main contributing factors of chronic stress, which results in an unhealthy and inflammatory cycle that can lead to fungal overgrowth.

Toxic Overload 

Toxins are everywhere around us. They are in our polluted air, tap water, non-organic food, conventional cleaning, body, and beauty products, dental mercury fillings, plastic products, and so on. For example, research has shown the connection between mercury overload and fungal overgrowth.

Candida can bind with mercury in your intestines, disrupt your gut flora balance, and lead to several symptoms. Mold in your house can also directly correlate with fungal overgrowth in your body. Exposure to air fungi or mold can result in systemic inflammation and devastate your immune system leading to the chronic overproduction of fungal antibodies, leaky gut syndrome, and GI symptoms (7, 8).

Use of Antibiotics 

While prescription antibiotics can be beneficial in some serious cases of bacterial infections, they are overprescribed. They are often used when unnecessary for minor bacterial infections that your body could handle with the help of natural remedies or even in cases of viral infections when antibiotics are useless.

The problem with antibiotics is that they not only kill the bad bacteria but also kill the good bacteria in your gut leading to gut flora imbalance. This microbiome imbalance can easily become a feeding ground for Candida and fungal overgrowth. If you are already dealing with fungal overgrowth while taking antibiotics, it makes it even more difficult for your body to rebound and create balance after antibiotic use. 

Eating conventional animal products further feeds into these issues. These animals are not only kept under inhumane conditions and fed non-organic foods but are also treated with antibiotics which end up in your body ruining your gut flora and feeding fungal overgrowth when eaten. Even if you are not taking antibiotics yourself, conventional animal products treated with antibiotics can create an issue and lead to fungal overgrowth (9, 10).

Drinking Unfiltered Water 

Hydration is critical for your health, but to avoid the risk of fungal overgrowth, you have to pay attention to the kind of water you are drinking. Municipal tap water is loaded with toxic environmental chemicals, including chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, arsenic, and DBP’s.

These toxins can destroy your immune system and chlorine can seriously damage your healthy gut bacteria making you vulnerable to fungal overgrowth (11, 12, 13).

Exposure to Pesticides/Herbicides

Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides that non-organic produce and food are treated with can increase inflammation, suppress your immune system, destroy your gut flora balance, and wreak havoc on your health.

By creating a microbiome imbalance, they make you more vulnerable to fungal overgrowth. By compromising your immune response and increasing inflammation, they make it more difficult for your body to prevent or fight off fungal overgrowth (14).

Testing For Fungal Overgrowth 

Testing for fungal overgrowth requires some comprehensive functional health tests. Read on to learn why I recommend a simple at-home spit test along with the Organic Acid Test and the GI Map Stool Test for fungal overgrowth and gut health problems.

The Spit Test:

If you want a quick, cheap test on your own, I would begin by doing a simple home spit test as follows.

1.  Glass of Water:  Drink a glass of water in the morning when you wake up.  After drinking some water, fill a clear glass with room-temperature bottled water.

2.  Have a Good Spit:  Work up a bit of saliva and spit it into the glass of water. Check the water every 15 minutes or so for up to one hour.

3.  Observe the Movement of the Strings:  Your saliva should stay at the top in a cohesive blob.  If you see strings (fibers) traveling down into the water from the saliva floating on the top, cloudy specks (particles suspended in the water), or cloudy saliva that sinks to the bottom of the glass you have a candida problem.

If you have allergies or have recently eaten some dairy products, you will likely test ‘positive’ on the spittle test. Dehydration can also lead to a positive reading, which means that you are far more likely to test positive after you wake in the morning.

Organic Acid Test 

To determine whether or not you have a fungal overgrowth, I recommend a Comprehensive Organic Acid Test. This is a truly comprehensive test that provides metabolic insight into your overall health. There are over 70 markers that this organic acid test is looking for including vitamins and antioxidants, oxidative stress, energy production, detoxification, neurotransmitter levels, oxalates, and intestinal yeast and bacteria.

This means that you can not only look for and diagnose fungal overgrowth but gain a deeper understanding of your overall health and understand the root causes of your symptoms. The test is a simple, non-invasive, at-home urine test that gives a great deal of information. To learn more about this test, I recommend reading this article.

GI MAP Stool Test

Another test I recommend is the GI Map Stool Test. It is important that you know that the Organic Acid Test is better as stool tests are not as good at picking up fungal overgrowth. Nonetheless, the GI Map Stool Test is a comprehensive test that looks at an array of biomarkers.

It allows you and your doctor to gain important information about your gut health and discover underlying gut health issues that may have contributed to fungal overgrowth or developed due to fungal overgrowth. For proper diagnosis and treatment, getting both of these tests done is a smart and proactive idea. To learn more about the GI Map Stool Test, I recommend reading this article.

Natural Solutions for Fungal Overgrowth

If you have been dealing with fungal overgrowth and its symptoms, you have nothing to worry about. You can tackle this issue with the help of some simple dietary and lifestyle changes and some powerful supplements.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet 

To fight fungal overgrowth, Candida overgrowth, or SIFO, I recommend an anti-inflammatory diet. Avoid refined sugar, refined oils, processed foods, junk food, and non-organic food. Since Candida and other fungi feed on sugar, it is important that you eliminate sugary and starchy foods and dairy from your diet.

While fruit is healthy, I recommend that you stick to low-glycemic index fruits, such as blueberries, raspberries, and other berries eating only a limited amount. Following a low-carb ketogenic diet can help you stick to a low-sugar anti-inflammatory plan by focusing on greens, non-starchy vegetables, healthy carbs, and clean protein. To learn more about a low-sugar anti-inflammatory diet, I recommend this article.

Reduce Stress & Improve Sleep

Reducing stress and improving your sleep is critical for creating an anti-inflammatory environment, supporting your gut flora, and recovering from fungal overgrowth. To lower your stress levels, engage in relaxing and stress-reducing activities, including meditation, breathwork, yoga, journaling, dance, nature walks, coloring, play, and reading, avoid stressful situations and people who bring you down, and if needed, learn better coping skills from a coach or a therapist.

To improve your sleep, make sure to create a safe and peaceful environment in your bedroom with comfortable pillows and bedding. Turn off all electronics a few hours before going to bed and engage in relaxing activities. 

Drink Properly Filtered Water

Making sure that you drink properly filtered, high-quality, clean water is critical for fighting and preventing fungal overgrowth. I recommend using a high-quality reverse osmosis system that purifies your water by removing all the toxins. I recommend systems such as the iSpring or the Berkey system.

The best water is the  UltraLux Triple Action Hydrogen Water Machine which is what I use at home as it is powered by molecular hydrogen which reduces oxidative stress in the body and improves immune function.  To avoid further toxicity from chemical residue from plastic bottles, make sure to use a stainless-steel bottle, glass bottle, or a mason jar when out and about. 

Use a Home Air Purifier 

Avoiding mold and other air toxins is critical for prevention and recovery from fungal overgrowth. This is why it’s so important that you protect yourself by using a home air purifier.

I recommend and personally use the EnviroKlenz Mobile UV Model. With the help of a HEPA filter, it captures harmful dust, allergens, microorganisms, particulates, pet dander, and more. Using a patented Earth mineral technology that creates an “Adsorptive Neutralization” process that acts to break down and eliminate airborne mycotoxins, mold spores, and other toxic chemicals.  

Improve Liver Detoxification

Your liver is a very important organ for detoxification. The problem is that if you have fungal overgrowth or other gut flora imbalances, your liver may get overwhelmed and not able to do its job. When you are starting to tackle your fungal overgrowth, you will particularly need your liver’s help to detoxify unnecessary fungi from your body.

Supporting your liver and improving liver detoxification through liver-supporting foods, including radishes, artichokes, lemon, apple cider vinegar, cucumber, celery, cilantro, dandelion, turmeric, and ginger. To learn more about liver cleansing, I recommend this article, and to learn more about liver-supporting foods, read this one.

Use Anti-Fungal Herbs 

To help your recovery from fungal overgrowth, regain your gut flora balance, and prevent future fungal issues, I recommend using anti-fungal herbs. Some of my favorite anti-fungal herbs include garlic, onions, basil, oregano, thyme, fennel, ginger, astragalus, pau d arco, and olive leaf extract.

You can use them in your dishes, as a spice, and most of them are delicious as teas or can be used as essential oils. You may also use them as a supplement. Candida Elim, for example, helps to fight Candida and fungal overgrowth with the help of oregano, ginger, turmeric, and olive leaf extract, while Candida supports your body’s recovery from fungal overgrowth with oregano, pau d’arco, and astragalus root (15).

Consider Using Caprylic Acid 

Caprylic acid is an effective supplement for Candida and fungal overgrowth with research-backed antifungal benefits. To experience the full benefits of caprylic acid, I recommend Keto Brain.

It is a pure and ketogenic C8 (caprylic acid triglyceride) formulation that fights fungal overgrowth while improving the gut, providing immune protection, supporting your brain, and boosting energy (16).

Consider Using Digestive Enzymes & Probiotics

To support your digestion and balance your gut flora, consider using digestive enzymes and probiotics. I recommend Super D-Zyme to support your digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and help the breakdown of lactose and polysaccharides.

Take it daily with each meal. I recommend ProbioCharge for maximum probiotic support. Take it daily for optimal benefits.

Consider Using Activated Charcoal or a Biotoxin Binder 

Consider using activated charcoal or a BioToxin Binder. Activated charcoal has millions of tiny pores that capture and bind materials in an absorbent manner, much like a sponge. It pulls fungus out of your gut.

I recommend taking 2 capsules of Activated Charcoal mid-morning and 2 in the mid-afternoon an hour away from other food, supplement, or medication. BioToxin Binder which is a bioactive carbon-based compound helps to tackle toxins across your entire body. It helps to pull fungus and mold out of your gut, bloodstream, organs, and brain. I recommend taking one capsule three times a day.

Consider a Full Anti-Candida Protocol 

For optimal benefits and smooth recovery from Candida or fungal overgrowth, consider a Full Anti-Candida Protocol. This protocol includes Candida and Candida Elim for the elimination of Candida and fungal overgrowth, Candida Elim for detoxification, Super D-Zyme for digestive support, and Gut Healing Protein for microbiome support.

Along with an anti-inflammatory diet, liver detoxification support, and a healthy lifestyle, the Anti-Candida Protocol is a bullet-proof system that may help to tackle even the most serious cases of fungal overgrowth.

Final Thoughts on Fungal Overgrowth

Fungal overgrowth is a common problem that can lead to bloating, gas, digestive problems, headaches, fatigue, skin issues, and other health problems.

Fortunately, you can prevent and recover from fungal overgrowth through an anti-inflammatory diet, a healthy lifestyle, and fungal-fighting supplementation. Follow my tips to regain your health and happiness free from fungal overgrowth.

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