Can Candida Cause Weight Gain?

Can candida cause weight gain? You’re tired, bloated, craving carbs and sugar. Candida albicans is a common microorganism found throughout the human body, including on our skin, in our mouths, and inside our digestive tracts. In this article, we’ll explore how candida overgrowth impacts weight, and what you can do to stop it. 

In healthy amounts, candida is one of many bacteria and fungi responsible for breaking down carbohydrates in the intestines. However, when our microbiomes become unbalanced due to lifestyle, illness, or exposure to environmental toxins, Candida albicans populations can explode, pushing out other beneficial microbes–a condition called candida overgrowth. In this article, we explore how candida overgrowth can cause weight gain and other issues throughout the body. 

What is Candida?

Candida, also known as Candida albicans, is a species of yeast that is naturally present in and on our bodies. Normally, healthy bacteria keep candida populations in check. 

However, when lifestyle factors such as an unhealthy diet and stress, or existing medical conditions, such as autoimmunity or IBS, come into play, the number of healthy bacteria in our bodies can decline, leaving us at risk of candida overgrowth. When candida overgrowth occurs in our intestines, our microbiome can become seriously unbalanced.   

Candida Overgrowth Symptoms

Candida overgrowth can happen on the skin, genitals, nails, or inside the mouth or gut. When candida overgrowth occurs in the gut, it can cause the following symptoms:

Bloating
Constipation
Gas
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain/cramps
Brain Fog
Fatigue
Joint Pain
Inflammation
Craving for sweets
Itchy skin
Rash

Can Candida Cause Weight Gain?

Can candida cause weight gain? The answer is complicated. Directly, our weight is still controlled by a complicated balance of factors including our diet, exercise, stress, genetics, metabolism, body composition, and hormonal health (just to name a few). Indirectly, however, our gut’s microbiome can influence how easily we gain, or lose, weight. 

This is because the microorganisms in our gut are not only responsible for breaking down food into its constitutive parts; they also impact other bodily systems such as our immune system and hormones in complex ways. 

One 2021 study found that Candida albicans was more prevalent among obese participants. Additionally, Candida albicans demonstrated a high positive correlation with weight gain, fat mass, and obesity. However, another study, conducted in 2022, found that mice fed on a primarily high-fat diet gained less visceral fat when dosed with Candida albicans. 

It’s worth remembering that candida yeast is largely responsible for breaking down carbohydrates. High-sugar and high-carb intake tend to fuel candida reproduction. Conversely, a high-fat diet might cause weight gain without increasing the number of candida colonies in the gut. While candida overgrowth might cause weight gain, it’s important to keep in mind that candida overgrowth can be the outcome of an unhealthy diet. 

Supplements for Candida Overgrowth

Unfortunately, once Candida albicans starts to outgrow a healthy range, it can be difficult to reign in again. In addition to examining lifestyle factors like diet and stress, the right supplements can help get candida overgrowth under control. 

Kill, Bind, Sweat

We recommend utilizing the kill, bind, and sweat method for eliminating candida overgrowth. With the kill, bind, and sweat method, select supplements are combined with daily saunas and a low carb diet.

Kill

The kill, bind, and sweat method begins with a “kill agent.” This is an anti-microbial supplement that helps kill off unwanted gut microorganisms like candida. Popular choices include oregano oil and grapefruit seed extract. 

Our top pick? Dr. Eric Snow’s Gut Rescue. Gut Rescue contains four potent anti-microbial herbs including clove, wild bear garlic, olive leaf, and oregano, and is specially formulated to target candida biofilms. For best results, we recommend taking the kill agent first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. 

Bind

Next, thirty minutes after taking the kill agent, a binder supplement is administered. The binder supplement helps absorb and remove toxic byproducts produced by the candida. This is especially important because, as the candida die, they release a burst of toxins which often cause flu-like symptoms, called candida die-off, or a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. 

Activated charcoal is a popular choice, but we recommend Standard Process GI AdsorbTM. GI AdsorbTM is a zeolite compound called Clinaptolite that in our experience works better than activated charcoal as it does not trap beneficial minerals.

Sweat

Remaining toxins are then eliminated from the body via sweat. If available, we recommend using a infra-red sauna, although a sauna blanket (available on Amazon) will work in a pinch. 

Recovery

As the candida die off, restoring the GI tract’s natural balance is essential. That’s why we recommend a combination of Standard Process Zymex® (a candida-specific enzyme), and Dr. Eric Snow’s Gut Restore, an 18-strain probiotic designed to repopulate the gut with healthy beneficial bacteria. Both should be taken at bedtime on an empty stomach. 

We suggest using the kill, bind, sweat method daily for thirty days before retesting for candida.