Signs & symptoms you have a Candida overgrowth (even if you don't have thrush)

Are you experiencing unexplained fatigue, bloating, sinus issues or brain fog? Do you feel like you're doing all the right things but still no relief? Are all your tests coming back normal but you know something is off?

It could be Candida overgrowth...

Candida is so much more than just vaginal thrush. It's a systemic fungal overgrowth that can effect many areas of your body and can be incredibly stubborn to treat. But, before you go blaming Candida for everything, keep in mind that it's a natural part of your body. You’re supposed to have a balanced amount of these fungi, problems only arise, when there is an imbalance and overgrowth.

The thing with Candida is that most of the time, you probably have no idea that your problems are due to this pesky fungi. Why? Because the symptoms are usually overlooked as they are so common and associated with other causes.

How Candida presents in other areas of the body

• Oral symptoms: White bumpy lesions and/or white coating of the tongue, redness, soreness in the mouth or throat

• Emotional changes: Anxiety, irritability, mood swings, low mood, depression or sudden panic-like episodes

• Nervous system dysregulation: Head pressure, tension headaches, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, chronic/unexplained fatigue

• Recurring genital or urinary infections: White 'cottage like cheese' discharge, redness, swelling, itching or painful intercourse as well as recurrent UTIs

• Digestive disturbances: Constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, gas, abdominal cramps and/or bloating

• Chronic sinus and respiratory symptoms: Runny nose, persistent congestion, post-nasal drip, reduced sense of smell, sinus headaches

• Skin and nail fungal infections: Athlete’s foot, ringworm, toenail fungus or persistent itchy rashes that don’t seem to respond well to typical treatments

• Long-term joint aches or inflammation: Especially when tests come back “normal” but pain persists.

Why is Candida so difficult to treat?

Candida can be difficult to treat because it forms a protective biofilm (a sticky, glue-like shield) that helps it hide from your immune system and makes anti-fungal treatments far less effective. Most strains have also become resistant to common antibiotics and anti-fungals, meaning they don’t respond as well to conventional medications. On top of that, Candida can switch between different forms (yeast and hyphal), which allows it to adapt, burrow deeper into tissues and survive in a wide range of environments.

So what's actually driving Candida overgrowth or creating the kind of internal environment where it can thrive?

The main driving causes of Candida overgrowth

• Broad spectrum antibiotics

• Oral corticosteroids (eg. asthma inhalers)

• Immunosuppressant drugs

• A diet high in sugar and refined carbs

• Chronic / elevated stress levels

• Excess alcohol intake

• Smoking

• A weakened immune system

• Malnourishment

• Nutrient deficiencies

• Oral contraceptive pill

• Surgical or medical device implants

• Cancer Treatments

• Douching

• Wearing tight synthetic underwear

• Staying in wet swimmers or sweaty gym clothes regularly

• Vaginal pH imbalances (changes can happen during menses, postpartum and menopause)

• Estrogen dominance

• Hormonal fluctuations

• Diabetes

• Insulin resistance

• Pregnancy

• Hormonal and copper IUDs

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How can Naturopathy help?

Naturopathy has many incredible tools that actually addresses Candida overgrowth, not just mask the symptoms. Most conventional treatments only deal with the tip of the iceberg. As a Naturopath, my work is to go deeper and uncover WHY Candida is taking up more space than it should.

During our consultation, I look at the full picture, including your symptoms, diet, lifestyle, stress load and even your health timeline from birth (eg. were you frequently unwell as a child? Did you have multiple rounds of antibiotics?) I may also use functional testing to assess gut health, nutritional status and hormonal balance. This gives me the insight I need to identify the root cause and develop a personalised treatment plan that helps guide your body back into its natural state of healing.

Book a 1:1 Naturopathic Consultation or FREE 15 Minute Discovery Call