Candida and Yeast Overgrowth

Candida is a yeast that normally exists in its harmless and beneficial yeast form in the digestive tract and throughout the body, along with 100 trillion other microbes.

Primarily due to the effects of antibiotics, it rapidly converts to its fungal form and spreads throughout the body. The fungal form will affect the way every organ, tissue, and cell of the body functions. This can contribute to over 120 different diseases and conditions.

Common symptoms associated with candida include: sugar/sweet cravings, gas, bloating, fatigue, low energy, allergies, sinusitis, acid reflux, hormonal imbalances, brain fog, depression and arthritis.

The healthy gut contains both yeast and good bacteria, in balance with each other. Common “good” bacteria, also called beneficial bacteria, are lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium, And don’t panic if you see it on your test, but bacteria like e-coli exist in the normal gut. Bacteria share space in the intestinal tract with the yeast. There are many strains of yeast that live in the digestive tract including candida, which appears to be the most common. Occasionally, these complex systems get out of balance and overgrowth of bad bugs becomes an issue. This is a problem in many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Bacteria can overgrow, or there can be a complete lack of beneficial bacteria. Also, bad bacteria can develop and take over, rather than good bacteria, causing major problems for our children. There are also several different types of “bad” bacteria, including clostridia and Citrabacter F.

Antibiotics kill bacteria, both good and bad, but not yeast. Antibiotic use makes yeast worse, or can start off an unhealthy reaction causing yeast overgrowth. Yeast can grow to fill in the space left by the removal of the bacteria.

Overgrowth is made possible by a dysfunctional immune system or gastrointestinal distress. A healthy immune system and regular, healthy bowel movements should keep the candida in check.

What is important to remember: Yeast lives and feeds on sugar. Limiting high sugar (or foods that turn into sugar in the gut) is the first and most important step to controlling yeast overgrowth. A diet high in carbs causes and feeds yeast overgrowth.

What does yeast overgrowth look like? Yeast overgrowth may manifests itself in behavior and physical signs.
Behavioral signs may be: 

• Headaches
• Inappropriate laughter
• Sleep disturbances
• Unexplained intermittent crying episodes
• Belly aches
• Constipation
• Bed wetting
• Gas pains
• Fatigue
• Depression
• “Fogginess”
• Inattention
• Hyperactivity
• Anger, aggression
• Increased self-stimulatory behavior
• High-pitched squealing
• Increased sensory defensiveness
• Climbing/jumping off things
• Sugar cravings
• Confusion
• Lethargy
• Inability to potty train, or loss of this skill
• Self-limiting foods
• Plateauing in skills

Physical signs

• In the mouth, in the form of thrush
• On the skin, via diaper rash or eczema
• Red ring around the anus
• Rash or cracking between the toes or joints

​More info at : https://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/what-is-yeast-overgrowth/