| OWL Venice

Yeast: A Silent Invader + How to Rebalance Your Microbiome

As far back into our early years as we can remember, many of us frequently heard how important it is to wash your hands, stay clean, and avoid bacteria that can make you sick. Germs are bad, bacteria is bad, don’t touch that - it’s dirty.

And while this is generally good advice for maintaining cleanliness, it may surprise you to learn that your body is actually full of bacteria. That’s right - as gross as it sounds, there are billions of living organisms living all over and inside of you. Germaphobes, fear not. This is healthy for you. A properly functioning immune system thrives off of bacteria and fungi coexisting within us.

One specific type of fungi, yeast, is a naturally occurring part of your body’s microbiome. Candida specifically, is a yeast that takes up residency in your mouth, skin, digestive system, and for ladies, in the nether regions. 

A properly functioning immune system is a good indicator that your yeast levels are in check. However, when a healthy amount of yeast begins to overgrow, you can guarantee to see health problems on the horizon.

 

Yeast Overgrowth Symptoms

 

Symptoms of Yeast Overgrowth

Fatigue

One tell-tale sign that your Candida is out of control is feeling fatigued1. Part of this is because candidiasis often means you have nutrient deficiencies that can leave you feeling drained of energy. Candidiasis is also a sign of a weak immune system which can be a cause in itself for feeling drained.

Poor Digestion

When yeast takes over inside your body, this means that your good bacteria is outnumbered. This is a condition known as dysbiosis, meaning when the bacteria in your microbiome become imbalanced. The result is the inability for your body to digest fibrous foods, starches, and certain kinds of sugars. This leads to issues like nausea, stomach cramps, gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea2.

Skin Issues and Nail Fungus

Your skin can reflect the environment inside of your body, because it too has a bacterial balance to maintain. This balance is what prevents Candida from taking over on the outside of your body as well. Changing this environment with harsh soaps, makeup and moisturizers with certain ingredients can throw off your skin’s balance. When yeast overgrowth occurs, it can cause fungal growth on your skin and nails3. Signs of this include:

  • Itchy skin
  • Visible rash
  • Athlete’s foot
  • Toenail fungus
  • Ringworm

Joint Pain

It is possible for a Candida infection to get into your bloodstream which means it has access to your joints at that point. This can lead to inflammation and even arthritis within your joints4. You’ll likely experience swelling, pain, and stiffness in your hips and knees which are the joints most commonly affected candida infections.

 

OWL Bone Broth

 

Yeast Overgrowth Prevention

Avoid Antibiotics

If possible, do your best to avoid taking any antibiotics, especially if you know you already have yeast problems or are prone to developing them while on antibiotics. These can alter the makeup of your microbiome because they don’t distinguish between good and bad gut flora. If you’re in a situation where antibiotics are the only way to go, consider consuming probiotic foods a few hours after your medication to rebalance your microbiome.

Audit Your Diet

Specifically sweets. Excessive sugar or even excessive consumption of fruit can throw off the balance in your microbiome and make you more susceptible to yeast overgrowth5. Avoiding processed sugars and refined carbohydrates can go a long way in preventing dysbiosis. In addition, going easy on naturally occurring sugars such as honey, syrup, and sugar replacement is another helpful practice, given the amount added to foods to give them the level of sweetness expected by most consumers.

What to consume instead if you believe you’re at risk for yeast overgrowth should include:

  • Lean meats like chicken, fish, & turkey
  • Non-starchy, high-fiber veggies
  • Healthy fats like avocado, certain cooking oils, ghee
  • Fermented foods like sauerkraut or kimchi
  • Prebiotic foods like apples, asparagus, & leeks

 

Fermented foods, high-fiber veggies, and prebiotics will set up camp in your intestines for a while and feed the good gut bacteria6. This will help the proliferation of the bacteria your out-of-balance microbiome needs to restore its state of homeostasis. 

Bone broth is also a heavy lifter when it comes to staving off yeast overgrowth. OWL Broth Elixirs were specifically designed with gut health in mind. Not only are all the ingredients organic and all-natural, they all work together to soothe and heal your gut too. Made in small batches and simmered for over 24 hours in apple cider vinegar, OWL Broth Elixirs contain medicinal herbs that help:

  • Boost your immune system
  • Decrease inflammations
  • Improve digestion
  • Heal the lining of your intestines
  • Balance the microbiome of your gut 

 

Incorporating OWL Broth Elixirs into your diet will lead to a boost in energy, clarity of the mind, a noticeable reduction in inflammation all over your body, and a healthy, happy gut that operates smoothly. All of these results are markers of a healthy balance of yeast.

Monitor your Stress Levels

First comes stress, then comes sickness. It’s common knowledge that stress weakens your immune system. The stress hormone known as cortisol creates raised levels of inflammation within your body. If these levels stay elevated for an excessive amount of time, it sends your immune response into overdrive and therefore wears it down. Cortisol can really throw off the balance within your microbiome as well7. Put it together and you end up with the perfect storm of an environment for Candida to thrive and overgrow.

 

Yeast Buster

 

Yeast Buster

The ultimate defender against Candida, Yeast Buster is an herbal supplement that uses strong ancient remedies to maintain a bacterial balance within your body. This proprietary blend contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that will fight off overgrown Candida,  as well as alleviate yeast infections and skin conditions. If you suspect you have an imbalance, 30 drops 3 times a day, in water, and taken with meals will help right your yeast levels for a healthy internal environment.


Balance Your Bacteria

Tuning into your body and noticing even the most acute shifts in how you feel is a real game-changer in maintaining good health. Taking preventative measures by establishing healthy habits is your first line of defense against imbalances.

 

Sources:

  1. Chronic intestinal candidiasis as a possible etiological factor in the chronic fatigue syndrome - PubMed (nih.gov)
  2. Inflammation and gastrointestinal Candida colonization - PMC (nih.gov)
  3. Dermatology for the practicing allergist: Tinea pedis and its complications - PMC (nih.gov)
  4. Candida Arthritis: Analysis of 112 Pediatric and Adult Cases - PMC (nih.gov)
  5. Factors influencing the growth of Candida albicans (in vivo and in vitro studies) - PubMed (nih.gov)
  6. Effects of high-fiber diets enriched with carbohydrate, protein, or unsaturated fat on circulating short chain fatty acids: results from the OmniHeart randomized trial - PubMed
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4202343/

Julie Weller

Julie is a self-made writer on a forever journey of fitness and health. As a high school music teacher, she has seen and experienced the challenges of maintaining good health while simultaneously balancing a career and healthy relationships.

Julie has always lived a healthy and active lifestyle. She loves the outdoors, hiking, and camping. Over the years she has continued to learn smarter and better ways to take care of her body while continuing to do the things that make her smile. Naturally, all of her teacher friends wanted to know how she did it - what was her secret?

Julie found herself explaining over and over everything she'd learned in her research, and sharing her experiences through trial and error. Her friends would take her advice, try some new things, and then come back to ask how to take it to the next level.

"You should charge for this kind of information!" Became a constant phrase, and so began her career of writing to share her knowledge with the world through health and wellness companies looking to spread healing and healthy habits within their communities. Now Julie gets to combine two of the things she enjoys most - writing and wellness - and use them to affect change in a real way.

When not making music with her kiddos, or writing wellness tips for a higher quality of life, you can find her reading, hiking, drumming, and fitnessing