Candida And Celiac Disease

For three days, you’ve been dismissing the symptoms. Though, you’ve started over-the-counter medicines,  you don’t observe any significant benefit yet. You’re thinking about the food that you ate last night, but, you’re on strict dieting and nothing unhealthy has been taken yesterday.
So, what’s going wrong with you?  Don’t you think that you should consult the doctor immediately?  Well, some of the symptoms are usually the potential indication of a big problem. Do you face the problem while eating  gluten products? Don’t get confused; take your time to think about it.

Sometimes, the strange diseases may get connected, which seems to be two different ends, but, really, they have a connection at certain points. Similarly, people living with  celiac disease are more often observing the additional symptoms, which actually do not belong from the celiac disease.

 

So,  what is the contributing disease which can trigger the celiac disease?
The answer is Candida! Your jaws may be dropped after reading this unusual and strange association, but, the experts confirmed this fact. Yet, whenever the celiac diseases are diagnosed, further investigation, especially about the Candida is done first.

However, certain awareness programs have been launched in all over the world, but, still, most of the people are unaware of this fact. Though, many of us even don’t know that we are suffering from  Candida overgrowth. Before heading towards the association of  Candida and celiac disease, it would be good  to discuss both diseases separately,

What is Candida?

Due to the weakened immune system, sometimes your normal flora becomes an enemy of yours. Candida overgrowth is the best example of the disturbance in the settled equilibrium. Once your immune system starts attacking the normal flora, the fungal Candida gets activated and its multiplication begins. Later on, the fungal Candida will travel to all parts of the body via bloodstreams.

Candida Albicans is present in your skin, genitals and gut. As a normal function, the Candida helps with the healthy digestion and the nutrient absorption. Unfortunately, the targeted site of the Candida overgrowth may vary from person to person. Yes, it becomes very much hard to battle with the symptoms, but, the most important part is the medical investigation. The earlier you’re detected with Candida; greater preventive measures can be implemented to kick away the further complications.

Candida overgrowth can be found in many people amongst us, but the following populations are at greater risk,

• Infants
• People who usually binge or choose unhealthy food
• People living with  diabetes
• People having iron or zinc deficiency
• People who are taking or even undergone the antibiotic therapy recently
• People having underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
• People experiencing the inflammatory diseases, like arthritis
• People with poor immune system
• People working in the wet conditions mostly
• People taking the corticosteroids
• People living the sedentary lifestyle
• People smoking and drinking alcohol more frequently
• People  having  much stress
• Women taking  birth controlling pills
• Pregnant women

If you’re experiencing any one of the following symptoms, don’t even think to dismiss them! Just consider visiting a holistic doctor,

• Symptoms of other autoimmune diseases, like swelling around the joints, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, patchy skin.
• Skin or nail infections, including athlete’s foot or toenail fingers
• Feeling too much lethargic and chronic fatigue
• Digestive problems, like constipation, diarrhea etc
• Having problems  concentrating on anything
• Poor memory
• Skin integrity damaged, like, rashes, eczema and hives
• Emotional symptoms, like depression, mood swings, anxiety and irritability
• Excessive sugar cravings
• Severe seasonal allergies

So, after reading the symptoms, you’re wondering  how you can relate  to the multiple symptoms of  Candida. Well, it’s pretty much difficult  and lab tests are the best way to figure out the Candida. Next time, when you’re going for the regular medical check-up, ask your holistic doctor to test  Candida as well.

What is  Celiac disease?

When the antibodies are formed against the gluten due to eating the gluten containing products, then, the immune system attacks the intestinal lining. When the intestinal lining is damaged, the villi (responsible for nutrient absorption) are also deteriorated. As a result, you can’t get the proper nutrition and  you stay malnourished, regardless of  how much you eat.  Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, progressing over  time and often goes undiagnosed. Hence, celiac disease shouldn’t be neglected. If you found anything abnormal, make an appointment with the holistic doctor.

Do you know about gluten?  Well, gluten is the special type of protein, found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. In fact, you won’t find the gluten in meat and eggs.

Weight loss, diarrhea, pain, skin rashes, gas, anemia, muscle cramps, seizures, paresthesia, mouth sores and missed menstrual periods are the potential indicators of the celiac disease. The celiac disease can be detected in a blood test. However, a gluten-free diet is its most effective treatment.

How the Candida overgrowth contributes to the gluten sensitivity?

Though Candida overgrowth is most commonly started in the gut,  it doesn’t end there, in fact, it is the beginning of the further devastation. From there, the Candida overgrowth speeds up and spreads throughout the body. As the gluten implodes the intestinal lining, the food particles can’t undergo to the full digestion any further.

But, the gluten exposure isn’t the only problem…

In fact, the maintenance of the integrity of the intestinal wall also depends on the good or bad bacteria present in the gut.

Candida overgrowth sets the stage for the celiac disease. But how is it possible? As the gluten sensitivity is progressing, your immune system must receive the vague signals in order to prevent  further complications. Pre-existing infection, including Candida overgrowth, can double the chances of the gluten sensitivity.

Yet, the combination of gluten and Candida is the invitation to the big problems. Gluten can send messages to the immune system with the help of the Candida, but when the Candida overgrowth already exists in your body, then, celiac disease may progress at a rapid rate.

The study published in The Lancet in 2003 concluded that  Candida albicans have a significant role in the onset of the celiac disease. Fungal Candida and gluten have an identical amino acid sequence, known as the hyphal wall protein 1 (HWP1). Also, Candida albicans has an amino acid sequence, called as transglutaminase, which is a substrate of the gliadin (it’s also the component of the gluten), used by the C. Albicans to stick to the intestinal wall. When the C. Albicans multiply faster, they can work as an adjuvant for stimulating the antibody formation against the HWP1 and gluten. Thus, the C. albicans contributes to the development of the celiac disease.

Even Candida Albicans can trigger the latent celiac disease. No matter,  if you are only having a 100% gluten-free-diet . if the Candida Albicans is not treated or diagnosed, you won’t see  significant help. However, if you find any symptoms of the celiac diseases, don’t forget to check the candida as well, because, it’s a better option to treat the main problem, not its consequences.

What you can do to manage the Candida overgrowth and celiac disease?

As it is mentioned above that both these diseases are inter-related, if you can take care of your health, the diseases won’t get too much violent. Across the globe, it has been observed that most of the people suffering from the celiac diseases have also the Candida overgrowth issue. In fact, some of the studies confirmed that by reversing the Candida Albicans, the celiac disease can also be eliminated.

If the acidic environment is given to the Candida, it can grow and penetrate more quickly in the intestinal walls. So, you should avoid the foods that are acidic in nature. Because Candida activates your immune system, it can create the long term sensitivity and resistance to the gluten.

Once you’re diagnosed with the celiac disease,  do not eat any products containing gluten, including bread, cakes, cookies and pasta. Diet plays an important role in controlling its symptoms. You should read the food labels very carefully. If dextrin, emulsifiers, corn starch, malt, stabilizers and modified wheat starch is written over the ingredients, just don’t buy that product. Instead of purchasing the processed foods, try to eat the natural foods. Increase the daily intake of  fruits, dairy products and vegetables. But, make sure that you’re not sensitive to the dairy products as well.

Increase the consumption of  water as well. To get rid of the psychological symptoms, including the depression, mood swings, get enrolled in an exercise program. Not only, exercise will help you to feel happy, in fact, it can help to reverse your disease. Eat the antioxidant rich food as much as you can.

So, Candida and celiac diseases are inter-related. Diet is the most important key for tapering down the symptoms of the diseases. So, if you really want to control the Candida associated with the celiac disease, just visit a holistic doctor and pay attention to what you are eating.

And when you go by my protocol of what to take to help with this problem, you will see that your symptoms will go away one by one.

I am not a health professional, please talk to your doctor concerning any serious health issue you may have. I only give advice and am passing along information on what I know and what has helped me.

Leave any questions or comments below and I will reply as soon as I can.