Leaky Gut and Candida

Leaky Gut and Candida – Is There a Link?

Candida is a yeast. It is normal for this fungus to live in small numbers in the body, inhabiting the gut and other mucous-membrane lined organs.

It can even be found on the skin. In a healthy body, candida's numbers are kept under control by healthful flora or bacteria.

But when these good bacteria are too low in number or otherwise compromised, the yeast can grow too fast. When this fungus grows out of control, a condition called candidiasis results.

There are a growing number of health professionals who believe that one of the effects of candidiasis is leaky gut syndrome.

When candida becomes established in the gut, it can produce "roots," called rhizoids. These roots are how the candida fungus attaches itself to the intestinal walls.

The rhizoids burrow into the walls of the intestine, literally taking root, and can open up the spaces between the cells of the intestinal lining.

These roots also open up an exchange between the toxic byproducts of the candida and the bloodstream, sending these toxins all over the body.

In other words, the rhizoids provide a link between the candida's toxicity and the blood.

Given this scenario, it is not difficult to see how candidiasis could lead to leaky gut. The walls of the gut become perforated by the yeast, allowing undigested particles to migrate out into the blood.

Food allergies are a component of leaky gut, because the immune system attacks these free-floating food particles (usually undigested proteins) as foreign invaders.

The immune system "remembers" these particles via the production of antibodies, so the next time the offending food is ingested, it is attacked by the immune system automatically. This is the essence of a food allergy.

The symptoms of leaky gut and candida are quite similar. They include:

-chronic diarrhea
-anxiety
-joint pain
-nutritional deficiencies
-compromised immune system
-mental fog and/or forgetfulness
-fatigue
-headaches
-fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia-like symptoms

Leaky gut has been known to follow courses of antibiotics. This indicates another connection between leaky gut and candida - antibiotics kill off the "good" bacteria and create the perfect conditions for yeast overgrowth.

Candida overgrowth may be the causal bridge between the taking of antibiotics and the subsequent development of leaky gut.

It could be argued that candida overgrowth is the result of leaky gut, not the other way around. This is yet another link between leaky gut and candidiasis. If the intestine is compromised by the perforations of leaky gut, that could make it more susceptible to yeast.

So the connections between leaky gut and candida are numerous, and can include causes and effects.

Further Reading for Leaky Gut Syndrome:

Leaky Gut Genergal Overview: Learn more about this condition and treatment options.

Further information Leaky Gut syndrome: Diet Options, Causes, and Natural Cures.

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