Between a normal inhabitant and a real imbalance – a look at what is actually known about it
Candida is a normal part of the gut flora in almost everyone. The yeast only becomes a problem when it multiplies more than the gut can compensate for.
What's behind a fungal infection in the gut?
Candida is a yeast that occurs on the skin and mucous membranes of almost everyone – including in the gut. This is completely normal at first. It becomes critical when conditions in the gut change in such a way that the fungus can suddenly spread more strongly. This is then referred to as an imbalance in the gut flora: the protective bacteria lose ground, and the fungus gains.
Causes: How overgrowth occurs
An overgrowth of Candida usually has several triggers at once:
- Antibiotics: They not only clear out harmful bacteria but also beneficial bacteria that normally keep Candida in check. Without this competition, the fungus has free rein.
- Lots of sugar in the diet: Yeasts love sugar. Those who consistently eat a lot of sweets or fast carbohydrates also feed Candida.
- A weakened immune system: Whether due to illness, stress, or certain medications – if the immune system is weak, the body also loses control over the amount of fungus in the gut.
- Altered gut environment: The gut prefers to be slightly acidic. If the "good" lactic acid bacteria are missing, it becomes more basic – and Candida thrives on this.
- Sluggish digestion: If the gut moves more slowly, microorganisms – including fungi – stay there longer and can multiply undisturbed.
- Cortisone and similar medications: They specifically suppress the immune system and thus also the natural control of fungi.
- Chronic stress: Chronic stress affects both the immune system and digestion – a factor that is repeatedly mentioned in specialist texts.
Consequences: What Candida is associated with
An imbalance can manifest itself in different ways:
- Abdominal problems: Bloating, fullness, nausea, and diarrhea are the most well-documented symptoms.
- Anal itching: Occurs frequently, but is rather non-specific.
- Fatigue: Many affected individuals report this, even if the exact connection is not entirely clear.
- Connection with inflammatory bowel diseases: In people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, elevated Candida levels are strikingly often found in stool. In animal studies, inflamed areas in the gut heal more slowly if Candida is involved.
- Poorer nutrient absorption: If the imbalance persists for a longer period, the gut's ability to absorb nutrients may suffer.
For context: For some of the often-mentioned "systemic" complaints – skin problems, poor concentration, sugar cravings – the current study data is not yet sufficient to definitively prove them. There are indications, but no clear proof yet.
Prevalence: How common is it really?
The following observations show how often Candida overgrowth actually occurs:
- Candida is normal: Almost every person has the fungus in small amounts in their gut – its mere presence is therefore no cause for concern.
- More common with digestive complaints: Studies in people with abdominal problems who are otherwise healthy found evidence of stronger fungal colonization in the small intestine in about one in four.
- Often together with bacterial overgrowth: Candida overgrowth often occurs in practice together with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth – both often arise for the same reasons, such as due to antibiotics or sluggish digestion.
- Different perspectives: Naturopathically oriented practices have long treated gut fungi as a separate issue, while conventional medicine remains rather cautious on the question of "overgrowth or completely normal." Incidentally, a similar situation existed with bacterial small intestinal overgrowth before it was recognized as a distinct disease.
Why there are so few clear figures
A fundamental problem: When is it really an overgrowth and when is it still a completely normal colonization? This boundary has not yet been uniformly defined. This makes studies difficult to compare and is also the reason why there are still no reliable figures on how many people are affected overall.
