Yeast, Your Microbiome and You

Dysbiosis means an imbalance in a microbiome, and can apply to any microbiome anywhere in the body. It is most commonly used in reference to the gut, but it applies to the vagina too. Yes, the vagina has its own microbiome, which differs from the one of the gut. Indeed many other organs in the body have their own microbiome: they’ve recently discovered the brain has one too!

The majority of vaginal yeast infections are due to Candida albicans, and as women all know, they are not uncommon. They usually involve a lot of itching, and often a thick white or yellow discharge, which may have an unpleasant odour. Why is this so common? Because Candida is a normal part of our vaginal microbiome. When things are in balance between healthy bacteria and yeasts in the vaginal microbiome, the yeasts don’t cause trouble. But when the microbiome is out of balance, yeasts get the opportunity to overgrow, and cause those nasty symptoms.

A healthy vagina and gut have the presence of Candida in common, which is why it can overgrow in one, the other, or both. Indeed you can have a major yeast overgrowth in the gut, without any symptoms in the vagina. However, recurrent vaginal yeast infections often suggest that the gut has a reservoir of yeast feeding the problem.

Because a small amount of yeast is healthy in both areas, it is always present and ready to take advantage of any opportunity to grow. Yeast is single-celled. It reproduces by budding new ones off existing yeast. If a lot of yeast is present, it can organize itself into biofilms, which make it harder to treat.

When the gut microbiome has a yeast overgrowth, the main symptoms we notice are:

• Sugar cravings - because the yeasts have consumed your dietary sugar, you want more! Plus, they send messages up your vagus nerve, stimulating you to eat more sugars!

• Hypoglycemia, as a result of the yeasts sharing your last meal.

• Bloating, usually increasing as the day goes on, as yeasts ferment the sugars you have eaten.

• Abdominal tenderness may ensue as the gut tissues become inflamed.

• Foggy brain, because yeast can produce neurotoxins that affect our brains. Short term memory is commonly impaired, and we notice that people may temporarily lose words in the middle of a sentence.

People who lose words are often concerned that it may be the start of dementia. If it is due to yeasts, proper treatment enables the return of the short-term memory, which is a great relief!

You’ve probably heard of SIBO, small intestine bacterial overgrowth. When yeast are present, we call it SIFO: small intestine fungal overgrowth. Either can cause a leaky gut*, and these conditions may co-exist, which is why biopsies of the small intestine can show one, the other, or both.

What predisposes to Candida overgrowth?

• Antibiotic use: Antibiotics kill off some of the good bacteria, along with the ones causing illness.**

• Sugar consumption: Yeasts love sugars. The sugar you consume feeds yeasts in the digestive system more directly, but it also feeds vaginal yeasts too.

• Sex with someone who has an increased yeast load, even if they are unaware of the fact.

• The pH of the vaginal environment. The optimal pH for the vagina is quite acidic, in order to suppress the growth of microbes. Vaginal yeast prosper when the vagina lacks the proper probiotic balance. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the probiotics that help maintain that acidic environment.

If you are experiencing signs of yeast overgrowth, eliminate simple sugars, refined carbohydrates and alcohol from your diet. Then seek out treatment with an experienced naturopathic doctor.

Curious about the connections? Check out these links:

* Leaky Gut: Top 10 Symptoms

**Antibiotic Resistance Reduction

While Candida albicans is the most common yeast present in our bodies, there are others, including Candida parapsilosus, that can cause problems. But also note that there are healthy yeast in our gut, such as Saccharomyces boulardii. This was the first microbiome-balancing treatment found to help prevent and treat Clostridium difficile (often shortened to C. Diff), a bacterial infection of the intestinal tract that can be deadly. Because it is a yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii is often recommended as the first probiotic to take if you are experiencing diarrhea while taking antibiotics.