If you’ve overindulged, Candida albicans is a yeast organism always present in your GI tract, and when it’s in check, it’s a normal part of a balanced microbiome. When your gut is also full of natural, beneficial bacteria, these organisms feed on the yeast, keeping levels low.
However, when the inner ecology of your GI tract gets out of balance, this normally non-invasive yeast can quickly become a highly aggressive fungus and bore into the gastrointestinal lining.
A few of the most common yeast overgrowth triggers include overconsumption of sugar, alcohol (especially beer and wine), refined carbohydrates, fermented or aged foods like cheese and vinegar, and use of antibiotics. Once Candida takes over in your gut, you’ll only crave more of these “trigger” foods and thus begins a vicious cycle.
Here are a few telltale signs that Candida may be running rampant: