YES, your weight problem could be a sign of yeast overgrowth.  You are wondering, “What are you talking about, Skinny-Rules?” Well, when your intestinal flora is out of whack, due to any of the following:

antibiotic use

eating too much sugar

taking steroids

use of birth control pills and/or pregnancy (too much estrogen)

then you are more likely to have yeast (candida) overgrowth in your intestinal tract.  Sometimes you see you are sick with it by looking at your tongue or your poop.  White stuff on either is a sign!

I had unexplained canker sores as a baby and all throughout my life, gooey itchy skin eruptions, deep pits in my nails, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, bloating, stomach pain, and the white tongue. I took many over the counter medications for the issues, but never was given anything to stop it or address the problem.  No doctor understood yeast as an issue for the body and never helped me.  Even today, most M.D.s do not seem to understand anything not related to pharmaceuticals.  It was non-traditional medicine and doctors who helped me.

I have a friend who has been having problems.  I have been telling her for ages that her weight loss problem and health have been compromised by yeast overgrowth and I could see some on her tongue.  I think she didn’t really believe it until she had a colonic the other day and the person administering it (a colonosist?) told her that a clump of yeast passed out of her!  Yuck.  Could this be you?

CANDIDA OVERGROWTH CAN BE A WEIGHT LOSS BARRIER:

Candida overgrowth can be a significant barrier to weight loss. Candida is a naturally occurring yeast in the intestinal tract, and is necessary for healthy digestion. However, when Candida overgrowth occurs, it can create problems, intestinally (bloat, gas, pain) and fatigue, headaches, brain fog and so on.

Yeast feeds or grows off sugar – it actually LOVES sugar. Therefore, a person who has yeast overgrowth is going to crave sugars and carbs, therefore YOU will be craving sugar and carbs.

Part of the dilemma is that the sugar/ carb phenomenon is a catch-22. Yeast feeds off sugar, so a diet high in sugars and carbs will perpetuate Candida overgrowth; and yet Candida overgrowth will set of cravings for more sugars and carbs. This leads to a vicious circle or cycle.

Yeast will crave not only sugar, and alcohol (breaks down to sugar). I know many individuals who crave wine or beer – not because they have a drinking problem – but because they have a yeast overgrowth and they’re predisposed to that because of it. High yeast foods like bread, vinegar and mushrooms can trigger it too. (You have to give these things and sugar up during a cleaning of Candida in the body).

Candida detox treatment (such as Candigone, available at vitamin stores) can often help curb cravings for sugars, carbs and alcohol, and these are three things that will be very helpful in maintaining a healthy weight. Also, treating yeast overgrowth can help reduce intestinal bloating which makes one more feel bigger, even if it’s not true body fat. Addressing yeast overgrowth will also boost energy levels making exercise something more appealing to do.

Candida overgrowth also compromises proper absorption of nutrients. It is associated with “leaky gut”, which means the gap between the intestinal cells widens. (I discovered I had leaky gut through a stool test, done by a homeopathic nurse.)  I found out that I had this many years ago and I treated it and stopped eating sugar and many processed carbs. Leaky gut leads to nutrients not being well absorbed, as well as larger-than-normal food molecules escaping into the blood stream triggering immune reactions and inflammation.  Hence:  Illnesses like hypothyroidism and other autoimmune disorders.  Then, weight problems become even more of a problem.

Addressing Candida overgrowth can be done through diet, although even the most rigid anti-Candida diets are rarely enough to eradicate the problem. The more balanced option is moderate dietary modifications, coupled with anti-fungal remedies, which can range from herbal medicines all the way through to prescription medicines, such as Diflucon. Many people find that once yeast overgrowth is addressed, cravings for sugars and carbs are reduced and weight loss is much easier.