Food

Digestive Health 101: Can’t Ignore that Gut Feeling

24. What is Candida? Candidiasis is a fungal infection due to any type of Candida (a type of yeast). When it affects the mouth, it is… Rina - September 4, 2020

*Candidiasis of the tongue. Image via Shutterstock*

24. What is Candida?

Candidiasis is a fungal infection due to any type of Candida (a type of yeast). When it affects the mouth, it is commonly called thrush. Signs and symptoms include white patches on the tongue or other areas of the mouth and throat. Other symptoms may include soreness and problems swallowing. The 7 main symptoms of Candida overgrowth are: Oral Thrush. Candidiasis that develops in the mouth or throat is called “thrush.” Tiredness and Fatigue.

Recurring Genital or Urinary Tract Infections. Digestive Issues. Sinus Infections. Skin and Nail Fungal Infections, and Joint Pain. One of the symptoms of systemic Candida is weight gain, or difficulty losing weight. It can cause the kind of stubborn fat deposits that are hard to shake off, no matter how little you eat or how much exercise you do. Candida can lead to excess fat deposits in a few different ways.

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*GOOD BACTERIAL FLORA. Image via Shutterstock*

25. SIBO Candida’s best friend

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a serious condition affecting the small intestine. It occurs when bacteria that normally grow in other parts of the gut start growing in the small intestine. That causes pain and diarrhea. It can have mild symptoms or full-blown malabsorption. Small intestine fungal overgrowth (SIFO) occurs when excessive amounts of fungus populate the small bowel. If SIBO is left untreated it can lead to other conditions such as IBS, leaky gut, obesity, acne, anemia, fatigue and an increase of symptoms in gut-brain disorders such as anxiety, depression, and autism.

It can also cause weight gain. SIBO can slow down metabolism and affect your insulin and leptin resistance, both of which help regulate hunger and satiety. The most common symptoms of SIBO include: Abdominal pain/discomfort. Bloating and abdominal distention. Diarrhea. Constipation (generally associated with methanogens). Gas and belching. In more severe cases, there may be weight loss and symptoms related to vitamin deficiencies.

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*A happy woman holds her stomach. Shutterstock*

26. In summary

The stomach is the widest part of the digestive system. Your stomach not only digests food, but it also stores it. It can hold a bit more than a quart (1 liter) of food at once. The design of the stomach allows a person to eat a large meal that can be digested slowly over time. The stomach secretes acid and enzymes that digest food. Ridges of muscle tissue called rugae line the stomach. The stomach muscles contract periodically, churning food to enhance digestion. The pyloric sphincter is a muscular valve that opens to allow food to pass from the stomach to the small intestine.

*Digestive system. Image via Shutterstock*

The stomach has 3 main functions: temporary storage for food, which passes from the esophagus to the stomach where it is held for 2 hours or longer. Mixing and breakdown of food by contraction and relaxation of the muscle layers in the stomach. The digestion of food. It is part of your gut (gastrointestinal tract). A healthy gut contains healthy bacteria and immune cells that ward off infectious agents like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A healthy gut also communicates with the brain through nerves and hormones, which helps maintain general health and well-being.

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Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

https://www.livescience.com/52026-colon-large-intestine.html

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3046172/stomach-everything-you-need-know-about-vital-organ-you
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4017034/

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