If you’re drinking lots of water, eating vegetables and fiber, or even taking laxatives to make you “go” and none of those things are working consistently – you could have a very common problem that many doctors miss.
An overgrowth of yeast in your body.
Yeast (a type of fungus) is a normal part of your body’s ecosystem, and sometimes it grows out of control or you can have opportunistic species of yeast take over when your system gets dragged down.
There are a lot of reasons that yeast could get out of control, like low immune function, but the #1 reason we see with our patients is antibiotic use.
You might have taken antibiotics for a variety of reasons like a sinus infection, a UTI, acne, or hidradenitis suppurativa, and they knocked your biome out of balance, causing yeast to run wild.
When yeast grows unchecked, it can lead to constipation by producing toxins that basically “paralyze” the bowels.
Yeast can also indirectly lead to constipation by telling your brain to have out-of-control sugar cravings, which makes constipation worse AND feeds the yeast!
Do You Have a Candida Problem?
Here are some big clues that yeast could be the culprit behind your constipation:
- You have absolutely no urge to go to the bathroom (even after days or weeks)
- Getting extra fiber and water doesn’t help
- You feel gassy or bloated
- You get headaches along with your constipation (and sometimes pooping makes your headache go away)
- You’re prone to vaginal yeast infections or skin rashes
- You feel tired
- You have “brain fog” where it’s hard to focus
Now, here’s something that not many people know:
Stool testing usually isn’t the best way to find out if you have a yeast problem.
(And your regular doctor probably won’t even acknowledge that yeast is a real issue, so they’re not even going to bother testing you at all.)
The thing is, yeast is very sneaky.
It can bury itself deep inside of your gut tissues so it’s not actually coming into direct contact with your stool.
And then, if you were to collect a stool sample to find out if you have yeast overgrowth, you could get a false negative test result.
That’s why our preferred way to look for yeast overgrowth is actually a specialized urine test that looks at more advanced indicators of yeast and fungal problems.
We use this urine test with our 1-on-1 patients and in our online Body Bliss program because it not only gives you insight into your gut health, but also your energy production, nutrient levels, and toxic exposures.
So, once we’ve identified any yeast or fungal problems that are contributing to your constipation, we’ll recommend targeted nutritional strategies along with botanicals and immune support that all work together to normalize your yeast levels and bring your body back into balance.
When you get all of this right, you’ll be surprised at how quickly relief comes.
Your body will get back in tune with its natural rhythms, which means you can have normal, healthy elimination every morning like clockwork. As your levels of yeast normalize and balance is restored in your gut, you’ll also see your skin clear up, your energy perk up, and the fog lift away from your mind.
If you’re struggling with constipation and nothing has really brought relief, we offer an 8-week program called Body Bliss and, as part of the program, we help you get your own specialized lab test – the same one we use with our patients – to find out if yeast is at the root of your constipation.
Plus, we give you our entire, proven roadmap for taking care of your body, along with tailored protocols so you can reverse your constipation (and other bothersome symptoms) and enjoy a lifetime of excellent health.
We also have comprehensive 1-on-1 programs where we’ll dive into your personal history to figure out exactly why you are constipated, and then we’ll develop a personalized plan to help you get relief quickly and effectively.
If you want to finally break free from severe constipation, we invite you to contact us and book a free discovery call to learn how we can help!
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The naturopathic doctors (NDs) at Attune Functional Medicine proudly serve the Denver metro area including Broomfield, Boulder, Aurora, Louisville, Thornton, Lafayette, Westminster, and Erie. Telehealth is also available.
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