Do you have signs of sugar overgrowth?

Every few months I hold a detox that is especially beneficial for those with yeast or sugar overgrowth in the gut. But how do you know if that is something you may be dealing with?

We all have a mix of good and bad bacteria in our gut, and the good bacteria theoretically should outweigh the bad- they work hard to keep the gut flora healthy and balanced.

But the average American eats over 100 pounds of sugar every year! And many people have unhealthy overgrowth of Candida (a yeast-like fungus). It feeds on sugar, simple carbohydrates (think bread, boxed cereals, crackers) and even alcohol.

The healthy-unhealthy gut balance can be thrown out of balance by oral contraceptives, antibiotics (which kill all bacteria, good and bad) and even simply a high stress lifestyle.

Here are a few signs that you might have an imbalance:

Even if you don’t think you’ve ever had sugar or yeast overgrowth in the gut, it’s important to be aware of these symptoms in your body and eat a well balanced diet. You can make an effort to strengthen the good bacteria in your gut by incorporating fermented foods in your diet, limiting sugar and refined carbohydrates and taking supplements to aid digestion such as digestive enzymes . A high quality probiotic is key, too. (I have discounts to the best probiotic available- contact me if you need one!)

In more severe cases, your doctor can test for candida. It is simple to reverse through diet but it does take time.

I am fairly certain that I have had an imbalance in the past (major signs for me were a bloated belly in the evening). It is especially easy for distance runners to overdo sugar and carbohydrates because they are such a key energy source for training.

But I’ve gotten my body back into balance… the bloat is gone, my energy is higher and my cravings for sugar and carbs have nose-dived. I focus on eating well and a good probiotic has made a huge difference, too.

Have you ever experienced signs of sugar overgrowth?