Are you struggling with bloating, constipation, a white coating on your tongue, skin rashes, and do you have a hard time staying away from the sugary sweet foods? This could mean that you are suffering from candida overgrowth. 

Candida is the most common kind of yeast that co-exist in us humans. And under proper conditions, this yeast plays a valuable role in our digestion. We need a small amount of candida in our mouth and in our digestive system to be able to digest our food thoroughly.

However, most of us know that yeast is the ingredient in our bread that loves to grow. When your digestive system is working optimally, and there is a balanced state in your digestive capacity, the bacteria in your GI tract will keep the yeast from overgrowing — maintaining a harmonious balance between bacteria and yeast.

However this balance is easily disturbed. 

EXTERNAL DISTURBING FACTORS

The balance between bacteria and yeast in your GI tract is easily disturbed by external factors like:

• Antibiotics
• refined sugars
• Alcohol
• Synthetic preservatives
• Food colouring
• Birth control pills
• consuming non-compatible foods

Internal DISTURBING FACTORS

The balance can also be disturbed by internal factors such as:

• Stress
• Unhealthy lifestyle
• Disturbed digestive strength (Agni)

All these factors contribute to a buildup of toxins in your body (a.k.a. Ama). This will eventually become food for the yeast. Which will result in? Candida overgrowth.

Some of the symptoms of candida overgrowth in your gut are:

1. You feel itchy all over your body and especially in the anal or vaginal area.
2. You struggle with toenail fungal infections or itchy foot rashes.
3. No matter how hard you try you keep craving sugary sweet foods, and carbohydrates. Yeast loves those the most!
4. You feel gassy and bloated
5. Unexplained joint pain making it hard for you to do keep up with you daily life let alone exercise.
6. Even though you have a regular meditation practise you still struggle with mood swings. You feel frustrated for no particular reason, or even anxious and depressed.

As in every holistic treatment, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. However, the first step to our approach is to rekindle your digestive capacity. Once your digestive fire (Agni) is balanced, your body will generally do the rest.

Yes, this does mean we will have to make adjustments in your diet.

The primary tips for managing yeast overgrowth

1. Eat three meals a day (no snacking)
2. Eat your meals at set times. ex. 7am, noon, 5:30p.m.
3. Don't overeat.
4. No snacking before bedtime
5. Consume your food in a relaxed state
6. Eating mild- to well-cooked foods only (no raw)
7. Add spices like turmeric, fresh ginger, cumin seeds, and black pepper.
8. Remove artificial sugars and (nutritional) yeast from your diet

Eating easy to digest meals like soupy rice or kitchari for one or a couple of days can really help to spark your digestive fire. Getting your digestive fire up and running will make all the difference.