Candida Overgrowth is a Common Condition Easily Overlooked

Numerous studies have linked gut health to overall well-being. In the last decade, scientists have paid close attention to the gut/brain connection, realizing that bacteria regulate important brain functions and that stress, anxiety and depression could all be related to what happens in your gut. But what happens in your gut can affect your daily life in many other ways.

Keep in mind that it is important to keep a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut—but there’s the good and the bad. Of course, diet is directly linked to what happens in your gut, but what if you are making healthy nutritional choices, even exercising, and still feel tired or suffer from headaches and mood swings?

The problem can still originate in your gut, and you could be suffering from a condition known as Candida overgrowth.

Candida albicans is a yeast that lives in the human body and its function is to recognize and destroy harmful bacteria—a healthy body will actually have millions of it. However, if friendly bacteria in your body are decreasing due to the use of antibiotics or poor nutritional choices, for example, this imbalance creates the perfect conditions for yeast proliferation or Candida overgrowth—the underlying cause of chronic, difficult to diagnose health problems.

Unfortunately, many of us have a “sick” gut from years of abusing our bodies through poor nutrition and unhealthy habits. In many cases, a healthy nutrition plan alone may not be enough to treat your symptoms if the root of the problem is unknown. In fact, in order to treat Candida effectively, it is vital to find its source of origin.

Modern medicine does a good job at recognizing disease and treating acute conditions, but fails at identifying common syndromes such as Candida overgrowth, due to the wide range of symptoms that can be subtle or mimic other conditions.

The consequences of a sick gut can be manifested by numerous symptoms including rash, bloating, weight loss, diarrhea/constipation, headaches, anxiety/depression, insomnia and low immunity. Functional medicine doctors are more successful at recognizing and diagnosing conditions as Candida because we look at the person’s physiology, genetic and environmental factors and not just at an isolated set of symptoms.

A number of factors increase the risk of yeast overgrowth. They include:

• Chronic stress
• Alcohol
• Diabetes
• Diet high in simple sugars
• Poor sleep habits
• Lack of physical activity

Treating Candida successfully requires a comprehensive, systematic approach including dietary changes and supplements, such as probiotics. Working with a functional medicine doctor will ensure you get the correct diagnosis and individualized treatment. What works for one person may not work for another. If you feel you may be suffering from Candida, at Bellissimo Medical we can offer guidance to bring relief and accelerate your healing.

Call us today and schedule your free consultation at 954.384.8989. Dr. Jean-Claude Nerette is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Functional Medicine and Stephanie Muniz Nerette is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner and a Diplomate to the Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. Bellissimo Medical is located at 2665 Executive Park Drive, Suite #3, in Weston.
www.BellissimoMedical.com