When pain and bloating are a sign of too much fungus in the gut: DR MEGAN ROSSI reveals that the fungi have a significant impact on our bodies

Mold isn’t something you’re likely to want to live in, is it? But the reality is, there are hundreds of different types living on your skin, in your mouth, gut, and elsewhere in your body—and they’re pretty important to your health.

And while we have far more bacteria than fungi, the fungi on our bodies (known as the mycobiome) have a significant impact.

In fact, one of the best-studied strains of probiotics, Saccharomyces boulardii — which protects the gut from invading “bad” microbes when you take antibiotics — is actually a type of fungus, specifically yeast. (While many people use the term probiotics to refer to good bacteria, the term actually refers to “friendly” organisms, including yeast.)

Just as we can get sick when the makeup of our gut bacteria is out of whack, allowing certain species to outgrow others, the same scenario happens with our personal fungi.

Perhaps the most famous example of this is an overgrowth of the Candida yeast. This is a common problem that leads to conditions such as athlete’s foot (an itchy, scaly rash between the toes); thrush (which causes white spots in the mouth); vaginal spray; and when it occurs in the intestine, especially the small intestine, small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO).

SIFO can cause all sorts of unpleasant symptoms such as a feeling of fullness, abdominal pain, changing stools and nausea.

If this list sounds familiar, so are all the symptoms we typically associate with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). So how can you tell the difference?

SIFO can occur if you take antibiotics or have a compromised immune system due to underlying health conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes.

As a result, the fungi, which normally live in small numbers in the large intestine, can migrate to the small intestine, which is a little more sensitive to their presence, where they ferment and feast on our undigested food. It causes belching, gas, diarrhea, gas, pain and altered bowel movements.

SIFO affects some people more than others. For example, people with diabetes are more at risk because nerve damage prevents their bowel muscles from working as well.

The weakness of the contractions of the intestinal muscles means that the mushrooms can move against their weak push and end up in the small intestine.

People taking proton pump inhibitors, a common medication for acid reflux, also appear to be at increased risk. This is thought to be because the drugs lower stomach acid, which in turn affects the balance of your microbes and allows certain strains (such as Candida) to overgrow others.

A US study published in the journal Current Gastroenterology Reports in 2015 estimated that up to a quarter of unexplained bowel problems are related to SIFO, although more research is needed.

Although not uncommon, I see many people in my clinic who attribute their symptoms to Candida overgrowth. This is largely due to an increase in online tests that claim to be diagnosed by a home stool sample.

We do not use such tests in a clinical setting, as studies have shown that people with high stool Candida levels may not have symptoms and those with low Candida levels may have symptoms. (So ​​my advice is, don’t waste your money on these tests.) Instead, we typically diagnose SIFO by ruling out other possibilities—and if Candida overgrowth is subsequently suspected, a gastroenterologist may prescribe antifungal medication.

Many self-diagnosed people are tempted to try the Candida “diet” that you also see advertised online.

But not only does it have little scientific basis, it sometimes makes people worse.

One of the main principles is to cut out sugar, which sounds harmless, but there is no evidence that it helps.

The theory is that sugar stimulates the growth of yeast. However, sugar is very highly absorbed in the intestines and not where the troublesome yeast fungus Candida overgrows.

For example, a small 1999 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition gave volunteers 27 teaspoons of sugar every day for a week and found no difference in the levels of Candida in their stools or reported any bowel symptoms.

The candida diet also cuts out a lot of fruit because it contains sugar. But we do know that fruit helps feed the beneficial microbes in the gut, and balancing these levels long-term is linked to preventing Candida overgrowth.

The diet also recommends avoiding gluten because it “disrupts” your gut. But unless you have celiac disease (which is where gluten causes your immune system to attack your body), there is no validated, scientific evidence that it will help.

so what can you do There is a lot of overlap in the symptoms of SIFO and IBS – and it can be difficult to know which is which.

So my suggestion for clients suffering from bloating, pain, occasional loose stools and constipation is to try my first dietary approach for bowel symptoms as it can help with both.

The basic goal is to get your gut bacteria in good shape, suppress any yeast growth and regulate your bowel movements.

Your “good” gut bacteria feed on fiber, so aim for two servings of whole fruit, five servings of vegetables, three servings of whole grains and a serving or two of nuts and seeds daily. Try to spread it out throughout the day so as not to overload your sensitive gut (and make bloating more likely).

And limit your intake of gut irritants such as alcohol and caffeine to no more than one per day; Also avoid spicy foods, high-fat foods, and any sweeteners that end in “…ol,” as all of these can (via various mechanisms) overwhelm the ability of a sensitive gut to function properly.

It won’t work for everyone, but you should see improvement within two weeks to a month if it helps.

A similar approach can help people with recurrent thrush – I find that women on a more plant-based diet are less prone to this. And it makes scientific sense: A more balanced colony of vaginal microbes has been shown to prevent Candida.

It might be worth a try – it won’t hurt you – and is backed by more convincing science than the Candida diet.

Try these: Gingerbread Truffles

These high-fiber, no-sugar truffles are a crowd-pleaser—easy to make and the perfect way to beat those post-Christmas office blues.

power 12

• ½ cup almond flour
• 2 tbsp coconut flour
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 1½ tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ cup nut butter of your choice
• 3 dates, made into a paste with ¼ cup boiling water
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips (use 100% cocoa with no added sugar)
• ¼ cup nuts of your choice, finely chopped

Mix the almond and coconut flour, flaxseed, ginger, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Add the nut butter and date paste and mix until the mixture forms a dough-like consistency. Don’t be afraid to use your hands. Place the dough in the fridge for about 30 minutes to set.

Melt chocolate chips in a small bowl in the microwave, checking every 20 to 30 seconds to make sure they are stirring and to prevent burning.

Remove the dough from the fridge and roll into small, smooth balls between your hands.

Dip the balls in the melted chocolate and place on a tray or plate, sprinkled with mixed nuts. Freeze for an hour and store in the fridge or freezer.

Megan asked

I love coffee but drink up to three cups a day as it seems to make my stools very watery. Why does it do this and can it affect the amount of nutrients I get from my diet?

Mark Thomas, by email.

This is all thanks to the caffeine found in coffee, tea (including green tea), dark chocolate and various other beverages (as well as some cold and flu medications).

Caffeine stimulates your gut muscles, which in turn can speed up the movement of food through your gut. In general, this is not a problem for nutrient absorption and can be helpful for many people who struggle with constipation.

However, because it has a noticeable effect on the consistency of your stool, it can interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients, such as potassium, which are important for heart health.

With that in mind, I would recommend that you switch at least two of those regular coffees to decaffeinated varieties.

Contact Megan Rossi

Email drmegan@dailymail.co.uk or write to Good Health, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY – please include your contact details. DR Megan Rossi cannot comment on the personal correspondence. Answers must be taken in a general context; Always consult your doctor if you have any health problems

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