What to do if you have an overabundance of yeast in your system
There are approximately 1,500 different species of yeast that exist in nature. Part of the fungi family, some of the types of yeast that may be familiar to you are: 1) the variety used in the process of baking bread or brewing beer, and; 2) Candida albicans, a type of yeast found in the human body.
Along with trillions of other bacteria, small amounts of Candida reside naturally on the skin and in the mouth and intestines. While you need some yeast for healthy digestion, an overabundance of yeast can result in a number of health problems. Typically, the healthy bacteria in your body keeps Candida from growing out of control. "However, if healthy bacteria levels are disrupted or the immune system compromised, Candida can begin to over produce." [1]
Things that may contribute to a yeast overgrowth include taking antibiotics, eating too much sugar, overindulging in alcohol, a weakened immune system and being under a lot of stress. If this happens, you may experience the negative effects of yeast.
Your body will tell your when it's had enough yeast
So, is yeast good or bad for you? The answer depends on the amount. In small numbers, yeast benefits healthy digestion, but too much can cause an infection. "Candida yeast infections are known as Candidiasis, and can affect numerous areas of the body, including skin, genitals, throat, mouth and blood." [2]
Potential symptoms of Candidiasis include a white coating on your tongue, gas and bloating, fatigue, skin rashes, mouth sores, bad breath and more. For optimal health, you need the right balance of yeast and other beneficial bacteria in your body.
Take the free home test for yeast overgrowth
A good balance between the two allows the healthy bacteria to keep the yeast population under control. When the ratio is disrupted, it can cause common problems such as vaginal yeast infections or oral thrush. Too much yeast in the gut, however, can have more severe consequences. "Leaky gut is a more serious consequence of candidiasis, occurring when Candida causes the intestinal wall to become permeable and allows partially digested proteins and other toxins to be released into the body." [3]
If you suspect that you're out of balance, the treatment for yeast overgrowth includes reducing the amount of sugar and alcohol in your diet, increasing beneficial foods like fruits and vegetables, avoiding antibiotics when possible and adding a daily probiotic supplement like ThreeLac.
Probiotics work by introducing a large amount of beneficial bacteria that can help keep your gut flora in balance. Read about the many benefits of probiotics and how you can do a free test at home to see if you're dealing with an overgrowth on the Global Health Trax site.
[1] 7 Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth (Plus How to Get Rid of it), Healthline.com.
[2] What is Yeast?, Livescience.com.
[3] 5 Signs You're Suffering From Candida Overgrowth - and What You Can Do About It, Health.usnews.com.