Candida and the Gluten Connection

In this article, I discuss the connection between candida, gluten, celiac disease, and the gluten-free diet. Please see my disclosures.

Candida albicans is a common gut-related disorder affecting an estimated 50-80 percent of the American population. People suffering from candida, which is defined by a fungal or yeast overgrowth in the gut, experience a variety of chronic and annoying digestive ailments.

Researchers have found that there may be a strong connection between people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity and candida.

Researchers suggest that candida is a trigger that precludes the onset of celiac disease. They found that a protein (HWP1) found in candida patients contains serological markers identical or highly similar to the gluten proteins (α-gliadin and γ-gliadin) found in celiac patients.

When the HWP1 protein adheres to the intestinal wall, it causes the immune system to create antibodies to attack it. This attack could mean the beginning of celiac disease in genetically predisposed individuals or the start of life-long sensitivity to gluten. 

Therefore, if you suffer from candida, many health experts say it’s wise to ditch gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats. Conversely, if you’ve been recently diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, chances are you also suffer from candida that needs to be addressed in order for you to fully heal your gut.

In this article, I discuss the symptoms and causes of candida, as well as how to rid your gut of candida once and for all.

What is Candida Albicans?

Candida albicans is a fungal or yeast-like fungus overgrowth in the gut. Yeast exists naturally inside the human body and it’s not the problem in itself. The immune system is able to regulate candida in healthy people.

In fact, a healthy person has as many as 500 varieties of viral, bacterial, and fungal microorganisms inside his or her body, all of which keep fungal infections and yeast overgrowth in check.

The problem arises when the yeast is allowed to grow out of control and proliferate. When this happens, a person experiences all sorts of unpleasant symptoms and health maladies.

For example, candida often will penetrate the intestinal walls, create tears in the intestinal walls (known as leaky gut), enter the bloodstream, and then wreak havoc wherever it sets up shop.

The tears in the intestinal wall allow food particles to “leak” into the bloodstream, leading to potential food sensitivities, food allergies, and a wide range of other health issues. In fact, any number of symptoms can be tied to yeast overgrowth, including joint and muscle pain, digestive issues, and nervous system symptoms.

What Causes Candida?

There are several possible causes that can lead to yeast overgrowth as aggressive as candida:

(1) Antibiotics

The overuse of antibiotics may be a contributing factor to yeast overgrowth. When you take an antibiotic, you essentially kill all the bad and good bacteria in your gut. The beneficial [good] bacteria are needed to keep the yeast in check.

While antibiotics are necessary for treating many diseases, they should be prescribed and taken judiciously. Also, note that antibiotics are often consumed in the meat since 80 percent of the antibiotics used in America are given to animals prophylactically.

(2) Poor Diet

A diet that is devoid of leafy green vegetables and nutrient-dense foods and instead is high in packaged foods, processed foods, sugar, and white refined grains is a large contributor to the yeast imbalance that often plagues the gut. The gut’s PH balance must be alkaline, not acidic, but a poor diet makes the gut slightly more acidic and therefore more prone to disease.

Unfortunately, the Standard American Diet (SAD), is filled with refined oils, highly-processed foods, and excess sugar. If you want to overcome candida or prevent it from taking hold in the first place, you’ll want to eat a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods. Read my article, 10 Naturally Gluten-Free Foods Every Celiac Should Be Eating, for ideas on what to eat.

(3) Medications

Birth control pills and synthetic estrogen can contribute to candida overgrowth, as can the use of antacids, ulcer medications, cortisone, and steroids. The overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen, also have been linked to candida overgrowth.

I highly recommend the book, Beyond the Pill by Dr. Jolene Brighton, if you’re contemplating quitting the pill and balancing your hormones once and for all.

(4) Toxins

Environmental toxins, as well as heavy metal exposure (like mercury fillings leaching into your bloodstream), have been known to contribute to bacteria imbalance in the gut.

Do You Have Candida?

There are many possible symptoms that might indicate candida albicans. Here are a few of the most common symptoms:

• Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
• Energy loss, fatigue, low energy
• Weight gain or inability to lose weight
• Muscular and nervous problems such as joint and muscle pain
• Headaches, migraines, brain fog, and memory problems
• Anxiety, depression, and mood swings
• Itchy skin and other skin problems

How to Treat Candida

It’s not easy to treat candida and it takes time and long-term lifestyle and dietary changes. Treating candida involves the following three steps:

(1) Kill the yeast

You must kill the yeast as a first step to ridding your gut of candida. You can do this by starving it out of your system. Yeast feeds off sugar, so eliminating sugar and all grains is a natural, but prolonged, way to “treat” candida.

Some doctors will prescribe antifungal medications such as Nizoral and fluconazole to get the yeast out of the body. While the medication can provide immediate relief, it must be supported with long-term dietary and lifestyle changes because post-medication recurrence of candida is common.

(2) Repopulate the gut with beneficial bacteria

You can repopulate your gut with beneficial bacteria by adding a high-quality, therapeutic dosage of probiotics (50-90 billion CFUs) to your supplement schedule. Take the therapeutic dosage for the first 30-90 days, then, once you feel better, switch to a maintenance dosage of 30-50 billion CFUs. Be sure to discuss supplementation with your doctor.

(3) Promote a healthy gut

You can help the beneficial bacteria grow by eating plenty of nutrient-dense, alkalizing foods (mainly vegetables, which are prebiotics that feed good bacteria) while avoiding highly acidic foods (meats, sugar, carbonated sodas, etc.). This should be a long-term dietary and lifestyle change as candida often finds its way back into your gut if it’s not fully resolved and managed from the start.

You can prevent a recurrence of candida by avoiding antibiotics or using them only when necessary.

Also, avoid yeast or moldy foods, limit caffeine and dairy consumption, and eliminate all sugars and refined carbohydrates from your diet (remember, yeast feeds off sugar!) for at least four weeks.

Remember, sugar comes in many forms and includes white and brown sugar, and all-natural sugars like maple syrup, honey, molasses, and agave. It also includes sugars found in fruit (fructose), high fructose corn syrup, coconut sugar, and alcohol, as well as grains that convert to sugar such as white rice, potato starch, corn flour, and other refined grains.

Grains can be difficult to fully eliminate but it may be a temporary and necessary change to starve out the yeast. Remember, all grains, even whole grains, convert to sugar in your body and feed the stubborn yeast. The difference is that white refined grains convert to sugar faster, which spikes your blood sugar, while whole grains convert more slowly, deterring blood sugar spikes.

Of course, once you feel better, you can add whole grains back into your diet, and you should. This restriction is temporary until you starve out the yeast.

What Can You Eat When Treating Candida?

It may feel like there is so much you can’t eat when you have candida, and that is true. You must avoid sugar, grains, alcohol, and caffeine until you starve out the yeast. However, there are plenty of foods you can eat that will help you more quickly recover from candida, including:

Vegetables. You can eat plenty of alkalizing vegetables, which will help to restore your body’s natural PH balance and keep you healthy. Vegetables, especially leafy greens, will boost your immune system, feed beneficial bacteria in your gut, keep you feeling full, and give you the fiber you need to eliminate the toxins from your body.

Water. You must drink plenty of water (lemon water is especially good for restoring PH balance) to flush toxins out of your body, too. Avoid all carbonated waters (and beverages) as the carbonation is acidic and throws off your body’s delicate PH balance.

Proteins and Fats. Enjoy eating organic meats, eggs, and fish. You can also snack on seeds and nuts, as well as beans and legumes (in moderation). Some experts require you to eliminate beans and legumes when “treating” candida, so listen to your body and decide the right course for you.

Broth. Bone broths can be especially helpful in treating candida because they contain gelatin that can help to heal the mucosal lining of the gut (“heal and seal”) and they flood your body with essential vitamins and minerals. Bone broths are particularly helpful in soothing and resting the digestive system in people with celiac disease and gluten disorders.

Potential Challenges with Candida

There are several challenges to treating candida. For starters, you might experience intense cravings for sugar and grains. Bacteria need sugar in order to survive so those annoying gut bacteria will make you intensely crave sugar, begging you to eat it. You must resist. (Read 10 Tips to Breaking Your Sugar Addiction)

You can be prepared for these intense cravings by having plenty of non-sugary snacks available at your fingertips at all times. When you feel the urge for something sweet, you can instead reach for beef jerky or enjoy guacamole with jicama slices. Other great snacks include hummus and celery sticks, roasted artichokes, sardines, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, cucumber slices, and salsa or unsweetened carob chips. Try making your own trail mix with your favorite nuts, seeds, and carob chips.

Furthermore, you should drink plenty of water and bone broth to curb craving pangs. Oftentimes we confuse thirst for hunger, so stay hydrated.

If you crave a sweet drink, I recommend drinking a bottle of kombucha. It’s sweet and fizzy and nearly sugar-free. Plus, it contains healthy bacteria that your gut needs to heal.

Don’t Go At It Alone

Please discuss any dietary changes and health concerns with your doctor or team of healthcare professionals. Remember, many doctors are not trained in nutrition, so seek out a doctor, nutritionist, dietician, or trained nutrition professional who can help you implement an integrative approach to treating your candida.

Look for someone who can help you successfully implement long-term diet changes. Integrative and functional medicine doctors look beyond the pillbox to help treat your whole body, not just the symptoms.