As you probably already know, intestinal Candida overgrowth is not pleasant. But besides the obvious digestive discomforts and their impact on your health, Candida can have a variety of negative effects on your social life.
The longer that a yeast overgrowth is allowed to develop in your gut and elsewhere, the worse these symptoms can become – and the more aware you’ll be of them in social situations.
Here’s a brief overview of the problems that you may be experiencing as a result of a Candida overgrowth.
Signs That Candida Is Affecting Your Social Life
1. Bad Breath
Having bad breath makes social situations very awkward. It’s difficult to hold a conversation with someone whose breath makes you want to gag!
Bad breath – aka halitosis – is a condition commonly related to bacteria in the mouth and gut. Studies have also shown that bad breath can be caused by opportunistic yeast such as Candida albicans.
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Although we all have odor-causing bacteria in our mouths, those with chronic bad breath tend to have an imbalance in their gut microbiota. This is what leads to an overgrowth of the germs that cause bad breath.
Treating bad breath begins with treating the bacterial and yeast imbalance in the gut. A healthy, high-fiber diet and probiotics will help.
2. Digestive Problems
Needing to run to the bathroom every few minutes is a sure way to kill a fun night out. Having problems with gas is just as bad – and very off-putting for your company!
Candida overgrowth is a common cause of digestive issues such as gas, diarrhea and cramping. It’s also really difficult to enjoy a meal or conversation when your stomach is bloated.
Candida causes gas and bloating because the it throws your intestinal bacteria out of balance, leading to excess fermentation in the gut. A diet rich in sugars will make this worse, leading to uncomfortable swelling and bloating.
3. Allergies/Sensitivities To Your Environment
Do you find yourself sneezing, itching or breaking out in a rash for no apparent reason? It could be that a yeast imbalance in your gut is causing a sensitivity to everyday smells and substances, like perfumes, animal dander, pollen, or certain foods.
There is strong evidence that intestinal imbalances (often known as dysbiosis) are linked to unwanted immune reactions like seasonal allergies. In fact, people who suffer from seasonal allergies are more likely to have gut microflora that are less diverse and dominated by a handful of species.
4. Fatigue and Sluggishness
Feeling tired, sluggish and ‘foggy’ all the time is a key symptom of Candida overgrowth. You may be fit and getting plenty of sleep, but a gut imbalance like Candida will drag down your energy levels to the point where you don’t feel like doing anything social at all!
Fatigue caused by Candida is due to the imbalance of microorganisms in the gut. A yeast overgrowth prevents the ‘good’ bacteria from absorbing and breaking down the important nutrients that your body needs, such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Digestion also slows down, which can lead to excess fermentation in the gut and further discomfort.
5. Poor Memory
Like fatigue, poor memory is also very debilitating to your social life. Constantly forgetting information can make for all sorts of embarrassment. Poor memory is often caused by inflammation in the body. In the case of Candida, this usually originates in the gut. This inflammation causes neurons in the brain and elsewhere to function less efficiently, which can slow down mental acuity, information recall, and reflexes.
Slow neurons can also reduce energy production in the brain cells, which means fatigue easily. This can make it difficult for you to focus on anything.
6. Depression and Anxiety
Feeling low or depressed is a major deterrent to socializing. Unfortunately, it’s also a typical symptom of Candida. This is linked to the gut-brain connection, in which much of the disturbances caused by bacterial imbalance in the gut has a direct effect on mood and cognition.
It’s known that many of the hormones involved in mood regulation are created in the intestinal tract. This includes 90 to 95% of serotonin, one of the most important neurotransmitters involved in mood. When yeast overgrowth is present in the gut, it can suppress the production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. The result is a tendency to feel depressed, anxious, and generally low.
7. Disrupted Sex Life
As well as affecting your mood, Candida can put a real damper on your sex drive. Yeast infections are one way that this happens, but it can cause unwanted hormonal changes too.
An overgrowth of Candida in the gut affects the production of certain hormones, including sex hormones. This can lead to reduced levels of both estrogen and testosterone. Because these hormones are directly related to your libido, it’s not uncommon to suffer poor sex drive as result.
Low insulin production can also affect the production of sex hormones and also growth hormone. Growth hormone (gH) is essential for a healthy libido.
Take Control of Candida Before It Controls You
The many unpleasant symptoms of yeast overgrowth can really affect your desire to go out and have fun with other people. When you’re feeling tired, gassy or depressed, it often seems easier to just stay home.
Take back your life by tackling the root cause of your symptoms – your Candida overgrowth.
Several supplements can help you on your journey to beating Candida. Between them, they help to eliminate Candida toxin, restore your gut flora, and inhibit the growth of Candida albicans. You can learn more about our recommended supplements here.
Changing your diet can help too, in addition to as eliminating risk factors like PPIs and emotional stressors.
3-Month Candida Elimination Kit Start Your 3-month Candida Cleanse
This Candida Kit contains all the supplements recommended on the Candida Diet:
– LIVER ONE to process and remove the toxins created by Candida.
– CANDASSIST to inhibit and weaken the Candida colonies in your gut.
– PROBIOTIC to replace the Candida yeast with probiotic bacteria.
Plus… the CANDIDA DIET RECIPE BOOK with 50+ low-sugar recipes