The Connection Between a Candida Infection and Weight Gain

Don’t underestimate the detrimental effects of this normally benign yet incredibly opportunistic yeast. Candida can quickly grow out of control and cause a major imbalance in your system. You just may not be aware of it.

If there is one type of yeast that has a well-deserved bad reputation, it’s candida.

What is candida overgrowth?

Candida overgrowth is the common term used for an overgrowth of the yeast candida albicans, it is also known as a candida imbalance.

Under normal circumstances, and in the body of healthy individual, candida albicans will pose no threat and it is simply part of the many microbes that live in the digestive tract and other parts of the body including the mouth, vagina and often the moist areas of the skin.

The problem is that candida is always on the lookout for a way to multiply and it will jump at the first opportunity to do so. It is also very clever and will build forts (biofilms) around communities of candida to keep them safe. If the other bacteria and microbes that live in your body are unable to keep candida in check, you will quickly have an overgrowth and a host of uncomfortable symptoms to go with it.

Common symptoms of candida overgrowth

Unfortunately many people are unaware that they even have candida overgrowth. Their symptoms are often wide-ranging, perplexing and seemingly unrelated, it can be difficult to pin down and diagnose. In the busyness of our day-to-day lives we may not connect a bout of toenail fungus with recurrent headaches, a touch of brain fog and some sinus issues. But it can all be related to candida overgrowth.

Symptoms of candida overgrowth include:

toenail fungus
vaginal thrush
fatigue
headaches
anxiety
rectal itching
hormonal imbalances
digestive issues
mood swings
dizziness
sore throat
oral thrush
persistent cough
leaky gut
skin rashes
acne
brain fog
bladder infections
low sex drive
sinus inflammation
allergies
sugar cravings

How to test for candida overgrowth

The most reliable method to test for an overgrowth of candida albicans is to undertake proper testing by a functional medicine practitioner who can request lab tests.

Comprehensive Stool Analysis: Although not fun to contemplate this test can in fact reliably determine the levels of candida albicans in your gut and let you know if they are abnormal.

Candida Antibodies Test: This very handy test determines if your immune system has created antibodies as a response to fight a candida infection. There are three different types of antibodies that can indicate an overgrowth of candida.

Organic Acid Test: It tests your urine for any waste products that candida may have left behind as evidence. These waste products are not naturally occurring in the body and their presence would suggest an overgrowth of candida.

The Saliva Test: This is a popular at home test that many people consider to be an indication of a candida infection. The theory is that an overgrowth of candida in the intestinal tract will eventually migrate and been seen in the mucous membranes and appear in your saliva.

To perform the test: First thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything spit into a full glass of water. Don’t be shy and make sure you get a good amount of saliva into the glass. Within 5–10 minutes you will be able to see if there are strings coming down from your saliva or if your saliva sank to the bottom. If this happens it indicates that you have a problem with candida. Healthy saliva will float on the top.

Can candida cause weight gain?

Yes. Candida can be responsible for excess fat deposits and in order to lose weight you need to treat the root cause— the underlying candida infection.

Candida causes you to crave sugar

Candida thrives on sugar, its preferred source of fuel. When you are in the throes of a candida infestation the candida will cause you to crave carbs and sugar in all its forms. Maintaining a healthy metabolism — they key to maintain a healthy weight — is impossible when you need to feed a sugar-craving organism like candida.

Candida toxins overload the liver

Candida is capable of releasing 79 different toxins into your bloodstream. This occurs on an ongoing basis as candida cells naturally die off. This is part of the natural life cycle of the organism. The toxins that are being constantly released need to be processed by your liver. But your liver can quickly become overworked and it will decide to store toxins to be processed at a later date. But where does it store those toxins? In your fat cells. That’s right, those candida toxins will show up as stubborn weight around your abdomen, hips and thighs.

Candida disrupts your hormones

Again, it is the nasty toxins that are released by dying candida cells that can wreak havoc with your metabolism and create hormonal imbalances. A candida infection can quickly lead to weight gain.

To begin with, your adrenal glands, just like your liver, will quickly become overworked from the stress of dealing with the effects of a candida overgrowth. This leads to a sluggish thyroid and metabolism. A slow metabolism, or hypothyroid, will cause you to gain weight.

Secondly, candida releases two particularly nasty toxins, ethanol (alcohol) and acetaldehyde (this is the chemical responsible for the main symptoms of a hangover) that can impair nerve and liver function and disrupt the endocrine system. It is like having a large amount of toxic alcohol floating around in your bloodstream, it will burden your liver, affect your blood sugar levels and disrupt your hormones^[2], all of which will result in gaining weight.

How to deal with candida imbalance and lose weight

So how do we heal a candida overgrowth and begin to shed excess weight? Thankfully, making changes to our diet, lifestyle and supplement regime can quickly yield results. The following three-step approach can quickly help you to eliminate candida and lose weight:

Follow a candida diet plan: By eliminating the foods that candida uses to thrive on you will literally starve off the candida cells.

Balance your gut bacteria: Prevent further candida infections and keep candida in check for good by flooding your system with powerful prebiotics that work to balance your gut bacteria.

Boost your weight loss with natural extracts: Garcinia Cambogia and Green Coffee Bean Extract are the two most effective, natural extracts that can aid in your weight loss goals. We have combined both of these extracts into one powerful formula. The Xtend-Life Garcinia Cambogia and Green Coffee Bean Extract supplement is second to none in quality and will help you to manage a healthy body weight.

There is no need to suffer from the uncomfortable and often debilitating symptoms of candida overgrowth. And there is certainly no need to let candida keep you from reaching your ideal weight. You can take control of your health and beat candida for good.