Digestive puzzle: When intestinal fungus spreads!

Veröffentlicht am: October 28, 2024
Dr. med. Wolfgang  Bachmann
Dr. med. Wolfgang Bachmann

General practitioner

Many types of fungi live in and on the human body, including the genus of yeasts known as Candida known as Candida.

Candida is typically found in small quantities in the mouth and intestines as well as on the skin. With a healthy immune system, the fungus is not a problem. However, if Candida begins to grow uncontrollably, it can cause a fungal infection. Candida is the most common cause of fungal infections in humans, especially in the intestines.

 


Approx. 75 % of healthy people carry Candida albicans!


Contents

What is an intestinal fungus?

Fungal infections are often more common outside the gastrointestinal tract, such as athlete's foot, ringworm or vaginal yeast infections.

When it comes to the gastrointestinal tract, fungal strains (like bacterial strains) are a normal part of the gut ecosystem and are no cause for concern. Bacteria and fungi live primarily in the large intestine; the small intestine is actually rarely a breeding ground for intestinal fungus, as it provides a much less hospitable environment.

 


Problems occur when a stronger colonization takes place in the small intestine and leads to overgrowth.


 

A fungal infection in the small intestine therefore occurs when there is an excess amount of fungi in your small intestine. in your small intestine. It is also the most common fungal infection in humans.

 


A distinction is made between bacterial or fungal overgrowth. Both cause similar symptoms; a stool sample will provide information!


Intestinal fungus symptoms: How does intestinal fungus make itself felt?

The symptoms of small intestine fungi are very similar to chronic diseases of the digestive tract, such as flatulence, diarrhea, bloating or stomach pain. 

Some of the most common symptoms of intestinal fungal infestation are:

  • Bloating
  • Belching
  • Abdominal and stomach pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Feeling of fullness
  • Undigested food in the stool
  • Hair loss and brittle fingernails

A fungal infection in the small intestine can also cause more serious symptoms.

In a case study, it was found that intestinal fungi are associated with malnutrition and weight loss can be associated with malnutrition and weight loss.

Some complementary and alternative medicine practitioners also commonly report symptoms such as fatigue, headaches and memory impairment for the overgrowth of Candida in the gut.

Intestinal fungus symptoms

How dangerous is an intestinal fungus?

An untreated intestinal fungus can be dangerous. It can lead to organ failure and, in the worst case sepsissepsis, i.e. blood poisoning. If you have the feeling that you have an intestinal fungus, you should do something about it.

Why do you get intestinal fungus?

There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of intestinal fungus:

  • Immunodeficiency
  • Excessive use of stomach protection products
  • Excessive use of antibiotics
  • Low stomach acid level
  • Diabetes
  • Motility disorder (movement disorders of the gastrointestinal tract)

 


If you take "stomach protection" over a longer period of time, you significantly increase the risk of bacterial and fungal infections in your intestines.


1. intestinal fungus due to immunodeficiency 

Research shows that fungal overgrowth is more common in people with weakened immune systems. This particularly includes small children, older people and people who take take immunocompromising medication such as patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer. The fungus overcomes the natural immune defenses.

2. you are taking stomach protection products

So-called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medications that are often prescribed for acid reflux (heartburn). They work by preventing stomach cells from "pumping" acid into the stomach. However, a certain level of stomach acid is not only needed to digest food, but also to kill potentially harmful bacteria and fungi before they reach the gut. This cannot happen with the use of gastroprotective preparations. Long-term use of these medications has been associated with both intestinal fungal overgrowthas well as with excessive bacterial growth associated with excessive bacterial growth.

3. intestinal fungus after taking antibiotics

If you have recently taken a lot of antibiotics, you may experience symptoms associated with an overgrowth of fungi in the gut. Antibiotics attack vital fungi and bacteria in the gutwhich in turn weakens your immune system as a whole. This makes it easy for harmful fungi to colonize the intestines after taking antibiotics. Therefore, if you need to take antibiotics, you should also take a probiotic to strengthen your immune system.

4. you suffer from low stomach acid levels

The concentration of stomach acid depends on a number of factors, such as age, nutrient supply and state of mind. Especially older peoplestressful living conditions or nutritional deficiencies can be reasons why the likelihood of suffering from a fungal disease increases.

5. you have diabetes

A diet with lots of sugar, white flour and sweets favors an intestinal environment in which intestinal fungi feel comfortable. Due to the high blood sugar level, fungal infections are more common in diabetics.

6. your intestinal motility is slowed down

Anything that slows the movement of food through your small intestine is also a strong risk factor. This includes things like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or if you've had bowel surgery. A sedentary lifestyle can also be a big factor, as it affects blood circulation and the digestive tract. Any time food lingers longer in the small intestine, bacteria and fungi can colonize and grow in numbers where they don't belong.

Treat intestinal fungus

How can intestinal fungus be treated?

Treatment often requires a multi-pronged approach that:

  • conventional medicine and
  • plant-based fungal inhibitors.

First of all, you should get a diagnosis from a naturopath or doctor.

In most cases, a precise symptom analysis of the practitioner. The recurrence of symptoms in particular characterizes intestinal fungal infections. With the intake of food containing sugar or very acidic drinks the symptoms become more severe.

Intestinal fungi can even be detected conveniently at home using various stool tests.

1. spirulina tablets

Some animal studies show that spirulina, a blue-green algae, is an effective antimicrobial agent against Candida. Spirulina is even able to promote healthy bacteria in the intestinal flora. In addition, spirulina supports the immune system with its high levels of vitamins C, E and B6 as well as antioxidants and minerals.

2. active substances for the treatment of fungi

Often, so-called chemical "antimycotics" can disturb the balance in the digestive tract. It is therefore advisable to take food supplements that contain natural antifungal and antimicrobial ingredients, such as such as

  • Olive leaf extract
  • Grapefruit seed extract
  • Tea tree oil
  • Coconut oil

3. exercise and meal intervals

If your intestinal peristalsis is too slow, two things can help to improve it.

The most important point is frequent exercise during the day, e.g. walks (especially after meals), high jumps and push-ups, and anything that gets the blood moving.

Another way to get the bowels moving: Spread your meals every 3-5 hours and do not eat for at least 3 hours before going to bed. Don't snack constantly and randomly. Having food in your stomach all the time can interfere with an important digestive mechanism in your body.

Similar to too many bacteria in the digestive tract, treating fungal overgrowth requires a multifaceted approach. Unfortunately, the infestation can often recur if you don't address the underlying symptoms that contributed to it in the first place.

4. an anti-fungal diet

The anti-Candida diet can help to limit fungal growth. Research has shown that cultured Candida cells thrive when glucose is supplied, so reducing sugar and refined carbohydrates will curb symptoms.

In addition, it is advisable to temporarily avoid refined carbohydrates, fruits, grains and yeast-containing foods or drinks (e.g. alcohol, vinegar, sauerkraut).

However, you probably don't have to eliminate these foods forever. This is intended as a short-term strategy to bring your gut back into balance.

Studies on how diet can affect symptoms are very limited. Many studies on fungi and diet do not focus specifically on the small intestine.

Anti-fungal diet

Can intestinal fungus be cured?

Having an intestinal fungus is a lengthy process, but it can be managed with patience, discipline and better body awareness.

Strengthen your gut by changing your dietary habits questioning them and using natural helpers for balance in your digestive tract. This is the only way for your intestines to recover from fungal overgrowth.

If your symptoms persist for a longer period of time and do not improve despite the above-mentioned help, we recommend that you visit a naturopath. As the symptoms of intestinal fungal disease are similar to other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is advisable to consult a specialist if the symptoms persist for a long time.

 

Sources (in English):

Erdogan, A., & Rao, S. S. (2015). Small intestinal fungal overgrowth. Current gastroenterology reports, 17(4), 16. doi: 10.1007/s11894-015-0436-2

Rao, S., & Bhagatwala, J. (2019). Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: Clinical Features and Therapeutic Management. Clinical and translational gastroenterology, 10(10), e00078. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000078

Blinkova, L. P., Gorobets, O. B., & Baturo, A. P. (2001). Biological activity of Spirulina. Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii, (2), 114–118.

Rezaie, A., Pimentel, M., & Rao, S. S. (2016). How to Test and Treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: an Evidence-Based Approach. Current gastroenterology reports, 18(2), 8. doi: 10.1007/s11894-015-0482-9

Saffouri, G. B., Shields-Cutler, R. R., Chen, J., Yang, Y., Lekatz, H. R., Hale, V. L., Cho, J. M., Battaglioli, E. J., Bhattarai, Y., Thompson, K. J., Kalari, K. K., Behera, G., Berry, J. C., Peters, S. A., Patel, R., Schuetz, A. N., Faith, J. J., Camilleri, M., Sonnenburg, J. L., Farrugia, G., … Kashyap, P. C. (2019). Small intestinal microbial dysbiosis underlies symptoms associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Nature communications, 10(1), 2012. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09964-7