Intestinal Yeast Infection
Intestinal Yeast Infections
When most people think of yeast infections, they think of the uncomfortable itching and burning that comes with a vaginal yeast infection. Few people with intestinal distress and digestive problems think of yeast as the culprit, and even fewer ask to be tested for it.
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Yet intestinal yeast infections are incredibly common, often underlying chronic digestive conditions like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflex Disorder), chronic gas and bloating, intestinal cramping, indigestion, and many other conditions that are harder to diagnose.
Intestinal yeast, or candida albicans, is a fungal microorganism that normally exists in the human digestive tract without any harmful effects and without causing any problems. However, certain triggers can cause intestinal yeast to grow rapidly and in such toxic forms that illness results.
Some of most common triggers of intestinal yeast infection are antibiotic use (by far the most common single trigger for any yeast infection), prolonged stress, poor diet, heavy use of cigarettes and/or alcohol, food allergies and sensitivities (often triggered by chemical additives and preservatives in food), compromised immune response (caused by chronic or acute illness), and environmental toxins. Often people who come down with intestinal yeast infection have multiple triggers (or even all the triggers mentioned here) impacting their lives simultaneously.
Once an intestinal yeast infection takes hold, the resulting symptoms can subtle at first, building over time and getting more and more complex before the problem is diagnosed. Some of the many symptoms include headache, joint pain, muscle pain, irritability, depression, anxiety, skin rashes, lack of sleep, attention problems, diarrhea, intestinal cramping, bloating, severe gas pains and belching, heartburn, thrush (a fungal infection of the soft tissues of the mouth), cravings for sugar or starch, and even hangover symptoms after eating lots of sugar or starch.
If an intestinal yeast infection goes undiagnosed long enough, it can morph into a much more serious condition in which the microscopic fungal organisms actually start to send out rhizomes (small tentacles of plant material) that penetrate the intestinal lining and cause the very painful and debilitating symptoms of IBS. Once the infection has reached this level, the victim is hit with unpredictable, painful intestinal spasms and diarrhea so severe that incontinence can keep the person housebound.
How can you tell if you have an intestinal yeast infection?
The 'Indican' test analyzes a small stool sample to assess the ratio of good to bad bacteria in your gut. This test is inexpensive and can be ordered by any licensed physician. The Indican test will instantly diagnose most intestinal candida infections.
Further tests may be ordered to look for food allergies and sensitivities, since these can both be caused by intestinal yeast infections and contribute to the problem. Isolating which foods have become irritants is an important part of treatment, since initially these foods will have to be avoided.
Intestinal yeast infections are treated with a combination of drugs and diet and lifestyle changes. Patients must be willing to relieve stress in their lives and eat a diet rich in vegetables and lean meat, and low in starches, sugars, and processed foods. Other changes may also be recommended, such as dropping the use of tobacco and alcohol products and avoiding specific food allergens.
Diagnosing an intestinal yeast infection is the first step back to robust health and vitality. After diagnosis and treatment, most patients will have to rethink their lifestyles and their way of eating so as not to fall victim to repeat bouts of intestinal candida.
As a direct result of having to make such changes to cure intestinal candida, many sufferers experience other positive side effects such as lower body weight, increased energy, and a stronger immune system. Intestinal yeast infections can be conquered, and the results are often much more dramatic and positive than you might expect.
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