Well this is a critical question and cannot be answered with a direct yes or no. The scientific fraternity is equally divided regarding the role of Candida in the manifestation of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Since, there are no direct reports of the yeast causing the disorder some of the researchers have blown away the concept of a link between the two. However, there is similar weight behind the group favouring the connection.
Their argument has to do mainly with the typical Candida overgrowth like symptoms that can be observed in an individual with IBS. Are you confused then whether Candida is the reason behind your IBS symptoms? Well it won’t cause you any harm to check for the yeast overgrowth if you have symptoms of IBS as there are good enough reasons to believe that indeed it could be Candida.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
The irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract and often the triggering factor has been found to be some kind of specific foods. Although in many cases the actual inducing factor has been missing which infact can be Candida. The other names assigned to IBS include spastic colon, irritable bowel and irritable colon.
Even it could be connected to the onset of stress. You can develop stress due to an imbalance in the gut microflora as there have been reports on the Gut-Brain axis. Now, it is Candida when overgrown can manipulate on the number of the gut microbes and lead to the exaggerated symptoms associated with your bowel. Logical enough I suppose. If not properly detected IBS could stimulate further health complications.
Symptoms of IBS:
So what are the symptoms by which you could recognize your Irritable Bowel Syndrome? The associated symptoms of IBS are quite common and easily detected unlike its association with Candida. Some of the symptoms include bloating, constipation, gas, diarrhoea, modifications in the texture, consistency and form of stool, mucus presence in stool, nausea and abdominal cramping.
You might be aware that many of these symptoms are present during Candidiasis as well. According to a report, (10-20)% US adults suffer from IBS symptoms and ~3 million clinic visitors are chronic victims of the disease. Indeed research confirms IBS as the commonest of all Gl tract functional ailments.
Is there any controversy regarding the connection of Candida with IBS?
The major point that is raised against the association between the two is the limited scientific research that could connect the yeast infection with the IBS. Accordingly, there are physicians to support either of the notions, connection or no connection. Some support for the existence of correlationship while others are of the opinion that such evidences are merely coincidental. However, many of the physicians have observed the subsided symptoms of IBS after following an anti-Candida treatment.
Why IBS and Candidiasis could well be connected?
In a study carried out by the group of Dr. Howard at the Holistic Senter, Oslo the yeast antigens, metabolic byproducts and the yeast itself could act as the trigger factor for IBS. The IBS could be a fall-out of Candida or insensitivity developed against certain factors like parasites, gluten, some foods, and chemical as also imbalances in hormones and neurotransmitters. Nonetheless, you could well make out that in a majority of these cases Candida is also present which confirms the suspicion about its possible role in IBS.
The mental fog, headaches, formation of white film on your tongue, the abdominal symptoms which are encountered in IBS are classically Candida symptoms. The observation of mental fog and white filmy tongue could surely be taken as Candida overgrowth. Moreover, as the yeast overgrow in number, it will thrive in the bowel causing symptoms of bloating, pain, indigestion and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Candida can also make pores in the colon causing that irritable symptom so common with your IBS.
Detection of Candida overgrowth and treatment:
If you are suffering from the chronic symptoms of IBS, don’t hesitate to go for a Candida test. It is now made so easy with the availability of detection methods like candia5 test kit which could detect Candida effectively and save you from the unnecessary use of antibiotics. Infact the use of antibiotics can only worsen your situation by favouring the Candida growth.
The best option to inhibit the growth of the yeast and relieve you from the symptoms of IBS could be the regular intake of a well chosen probiotic product like ‘Probacto’. There are a number of reports by scientists like Jimenez and Kwiecien that suggest the efficient healing prowess of the probiotic strains in cases of IBS.
The beneficial strains present in Probacto can easily establish themselves in your gastrointestinal tract as they are present in viable condition, resistant to extreme conditions like bile salt, low pH which they have to encounter within your system. Once established on the GI tract, the probiotics can render long-term benefits and prevent the overgrowth of Candida.
Links to further reading:
