Candida Overgrowth—A Root Cause or Symptom?

Candida. Most people associate this word with annoying, vaginal yeast infections, and while that’s true, there’s so much more to this common fungus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s estimated that approximately 46,000 cases of candida-related infections occur each year in America, but did you know candida is present in everyone—both male and female?

​What is candida?
Candida is a kind of fungus or yeast that we all have living throughout our gastro-intestinal tract and in other areas of the body. Usually, candida coexists with good bacteria in the body’s system and isn’t problematic. Trouble occurs when candida outnumbers the good bacteria and sends the system into chaos. Dysbiosis, also called dysbacteriosis, is the term for a microbial imbalance or maladaptation inside the body, and in this case, having a candida overgrowth.

Why You Should Remove Gluten from Your Diet

Thinking about eliminating gluten from your diet? You’re not alone. According to a survey conducted in 2013, one in every three Americans claimed to cut down or avoid gluten in their diet. But if you’re still on the fence about adjusting your eating habits, here are some facts about why and how nixing gluten can improve your health.

What is gluten?
Gluten is a complex two-part protein—consisting of gliadin and glutenin. It is the gliadin component that causes the negative reaction within the body. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, etc. The word gluten has a Latin origin and means glue. Fittingly so, because gluten helps food maintain its shape, acting as a glue that holds food together.