Candida: What Higher Gut Levels Can Signal

Candida is a group of variable yeast species that regularly live on the skin and in the gut, throat, mouth, and vagina of healthy adults. It is a common cause of vaginal yeast infections, and also oral thrush in babies [1], [2]. The Candida species don’t usually cause issues at low levels in the adult gut, but high levels indicate a poor gut microbiome and can lead to infection [3] [4]. Rarely, Candida can enter the bloodstream in severely immunocompromised individuals and infect several parts of the body, causing a dangerous infection called invasive candidiasis [5], [6]. Candida levels in the gut microbiome may rise after the use of antibiotics.

We consider low or undetectable levels of Candida to be optimum. The best way to combat this is to encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria that will outcompete them for resources. It is also important to avoid taking antibiotics unnecessarily. Certain ingredients such as turmeric, garlic, onion, and ginger may also help to combat Candida [7], [8], [9], [10]. (Adapted from Tiny Health)