Let’s talk about the yeast beast AKA candida AKA yeast overgrowth.
You read that right, the yeast beast. Why do I call yeast a beast?! Because it affects so many aspects of your health, and it is a BEAST to address.
Yeast is present in 70% of the population. BUT, when the environment changes in your body, yeast can flourish and wreak havoc. There are over 200 different types of yeast (some more harmful than others), so it’s critical to understand how to keep this beast under control.
What is candida?
I have two analogies that I like to use when describing candida/yeast to my patients:
- Candida/yeast in your gut is like a sneaky ivy vine. At first, it stays small and manageable, but when conditions are just right—like too much sugar or stress—it spreads out its roots, called hyphae, and starts climbing, wrapping around everything. This ivy doesn’t just stay on the surface; it digs in deep, breaking through your gut’s protective walls and colonizing things in its path. Left unchecked, it becomes harder to pull out, causing damage and chaos. The longer it grows, the more it takes over, just like a garden overtaken by invasive ivy.
- Now imagine you are drinking a beautiful glass of bubbly. As you are taking a sip of that beautiful glass, you notice little, small bubbles. All those little, small bubbles are the results of a fermentation process of yeast eating sugars— creating bubbles. These “bubbles” are what I use to describe the toxin release in by the candida, such as candidalysin.
Now imagine what the yeast overgrowth is doing to your body—releasing various toxins in your body every second. That build up can create a ripple effect to the rest of the body.
So, when we are talking signs and symptoms, they are not just in your gut or vagina. Yeast overgrowth can be systemic— affect multiple parts of your body.
What are signs + symptoms of candida?
Many people have candida overgrowth and they don’t realize the signs +symptoms of it because these symptoms overlap with other health issues.
Symptoms of yeast overgrowth:
Yeast overgrowth can show up in ways you might not expect, and it’s easy to overlook these signs as they can mimic other health conditions. Here are some common symptoms to watch for:
- Blood sugar: ever feel hangry or low blood sugar/gittery feelings if you haven’t eaten in a while?
- Nausea: general nausea, but my patients also often tell me they feel hungover in the morning even if they didn’t drink the night before (think about that glass of bubbly)
- Fatigue: feeling drained every day or waking up exhausted with no explanation?
- Insomnia: What is keeping you up all night? Could candida be impacting your blood sugar or not allowing you to rest and digest?
- Hormone imbalance: especially endometriosis, estrogen dominance, and PCOS
- Intestinal (gut) problems: constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, etc.
- Recurrent infections: like UTIs (urinary tract infections), sinus infections, or vaginal yeast infections.
- Mood disorders: anxiety, depression, irritability, and mood swings.
- Sugar Cravings: Candida/yeast thrives on sugar and carbohydrates. Side note: Join our No Sugar Challenge!
Signs of yeast overgrowth:
Beyond symptoms, candida can leave visible clues in your body that indicate its presence. These physical signs might be pointing to a deeper issue:
- White tongue: ever heard of oral thrush? Look at the back of your tongue, do you see white? maybe even orangey, brown?
- Nutrient deficiencies: Candida scavenges for iron. Do you have unexplained iron anemia?
- Skin issues: body rashes, even psoriasis
- Nail fungus: do you have a toenail fungus that won’t go away?
- Vaginal yeast infections: how many have you had?
What are the major causes of candida?
Honestly, one of the most significant contributors to yeast overgrowth is eating too much sugar. You are feeding the beast!
But sugar is not the only reason candida overgrows, it all comes down to the 3Ts: thoughts, traumas, and toxins.
For example:
- Trauma: Pregnancy (yes, I know pregnancy is beautiful, but it is also hard on our bodies!) Candida loves estrogen and your estrogens increase massively during pregnancy. Side note: Estrogen can encourage the growth and adhesion of Candida species. (Think about my ivy analogy here!)
- Toxins:
- Birth Control: Hormonal birth control, which contains estrogen and progestin or progestin alone, can disrupt the body’s natural hormonal balance and encourage yeast growth.
- IUD (Intrauterine Device): This study shows how candida increased fourfold after getting an IUD inserted.
- Antibiotics: Can potentially kill beneficial bacteria in the gut, which normally keep candida in check, allowing the yeast to grow unchecked.
- Thoughts: Constant stress disrupts how your brain and body communicate, making it harder to maintain stable blood sugar and a strong immune system. As your body struggles to keep up, it becomes easier for infections like candida to take hold, leaving you feeling even more drained.
How do I know if I have candida in my gut?
At The Wellness Way, we don’t guess — we test! One of the most effective ways to determine if candida is affecting you is through a comprehensive stool test.

As you can see above, this patient had candida overgrowth not only in the gut, but also systemic.
A stool test allows my patients to a clear picture of what’s going on inside their digestive system, showing whether candida is present and at what levels, along with other potential bacteria imbalances.
Instead of relying on symptoms alone, which can often be misleading or overlap with other conditions, the stool test provides specific data that helps us create a targeted plan to address the overgrowth and restore balance to your gut.
Once I see there is candida/yeast overgrowth in your gut, I work on helping my patients cut down inflammatory foods, food allergies, and sugar in their diet, and I also recommend supplements to help address the overgrowth.
What does killing candida feel like?
When you start working on killing candida by cleaning up your diet—cutting out sugar, gluten, processed foods, and other inflammatory ingredients—and taking supplements—you might expect to feel amazing right away.
But instead of feeling better, you could feel worse!
This is called the “die-off effect,” or the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, and it’s a normal part of the process. As the candida yeast dies, it releases toxins, leading to a range of uncomfortable symptoms.
Some common die-off symptoms include:
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Skin rashes or flare-ups
- Bloating and gas
- Nausea
- Flu-like symptoms
- Dizziness
These symptoms happen because your body is trying to get rid of the toxins released by the dying yeast. It’s similar to a detox, where things may get worse before they improve. The die-off effect can feel frustrating, but it’s actually a sign that your body is fighting back and working to restore balance.
How long will die-off symptom last
It varies from person to person, but typically they last anywhere from a few days to a week. While it can be uncomfortable, the key is to push through—things will get better.
If you’re struggling here are some tips to help you feel more comfortable during the process:
- Drink plenty of water
- Get Adjusted
- Enjoy a sauna or epsom salt bath to help support detoxing: If you’re local to Lake Bluff, Flotstone offers both Himalayan salt rooms and infrared sauna services
- Keep your body moving! (Yes, I’m talking about poop, too!)
- Get enough rest and reduce stress (think rest & digest)
Addressing candida is NOT, I repeat NOT easy, especially when its gone systemic. The biggest reason it is so difficult, is because you have to work hard to eliminate sugars in your diet and that is a big lifestyle change for my patients. So mentally, it can be tough! But remember, you are not alone.
I am here to help guide you and provide you with the tools you need!
You can also join The Wellness Way Challenge Page, and see the thousands of people who have joined the No Sugar Challenge!
Have more questions about candida and how it could be impacting your health? Email me or schedule a discovery call! Let’s talk!