The Difference Between Yeast Infections & Candida, A Holistic Nutritionist Explains

Most of us women know about yeast overgrowth. This is by no means a fun topic, but it's, well…there. After all, at some point in your adult life, you've probably had a vaginal infection caused by yeast overgrowth (especially if you've been pregnant). Another common type of yeast infection is oral thrush, an inflammation of the mouth and throat. Yeast overgrowth can affect the entire body, as well, leading to an array of health problems. Even more surprising, many people have chronic multisystemic yeast infections that go undiagnosed for years or even an entire lifetime, leading to many health problems that diminish quality of life and are horribly annoying.

Most people are familiar with yeast in some form. In cooking, it is a leavening agent that you can buy in little packages at the grocery store. Known as baker's yeast, that form is just one type of around 600 species of yeast, which is a type of single-celled fungus. The yeast that commonly occurs in the human body is called Candida albicans1, which is different from but related to baker's yeast. By the way, nutritional yeast, which is a B-vitamin- and amino-acid-rich ingredient that you may find in lots of vegan recipes, is the genus and species Saccharomyces cerevisiae and does not contribute to candida.

Every body has some yeast in and on it. It's found in oral cavities, the digestive tract, and even on the skin. In a healthy biological system, the presence of helpful bacteria keeps yeast in balance1. If you've ever taken a course of antibiotics and then suffered a yeast infection, then you are aware of some of the consequences that occur when your body gets out of balance. Post-antibiotic yeast infections occur because antibiotics kill off more than just the harmful bacteria in your body. They also kill beneficial bacteria. The result is often candida overgrowth.

Post-antibiotic yeast infections manifest as a sudden onset acute infection with a well-known culprit, but many other factors may predispose you to chronic yeast overgrowth2, or candidiasis.

So, if you don't have an active yeast infection, how can you tell if you are suffering from chronic candidiasis? People with chronic yeast overgrowth2 present with multiple symptoms3.

Candida albicans overgrowth may be a major player in a number of health conditions2, such as irritable bowel syndrome, alcoholism, anxiety disorders, food allergies, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and a host of other autoimmune conditions.

While you can go to your doctor for a yeast test, sometimes these tests do not always detect a problem. A strict candida diet can be difficult to follow, but you will get the results you need. This includes eliminating gluten, dairy and fruit and sticking primarily to meat and non-starchy vegetables. You can also try following a less-strict program to help minimize yeast (low-sugar, gluten-free etc.) and see if symptoms alleviate. In my candida course, there is a comprehensive quiz that we provide you to help you pinpoint whether or not you do, in fact, have a yeast imbalance.

Diet plays a significant role in yeast control. Yeast thrives on certain foods you eat, including sugar, vinegar (except for apple cider vinegar), alcohol, and simple carbohydrates. When you ingest foods containing these ingredients, the yeast in your body feeds on them and can quickly grow out of control. To help control candida, I recommend eliminating the following foods:

Yeast can wreak havoc on your health. In a normal, balanced, healthy body yeast causes few problems, but when you become out of balance due to illness, diet, medication, or other factors, then you may experience difficulty. The best way to control yeast is by choosing a healthy, mostly or all plant-based diet free of processed foods and chemicals. By doing so, you will create an environment where yeast stays under control, leaving you healthier and as the most energetic version of yourself, able to go after your all your dreams and goals!