Is Candida Overgrowth the Root of Your Insomnia?
By: Kelly Murray, Adult Sleep Coach, FDN-P
I take it you're reading this because you're currently having sleep issues and you’re looking to figure out what the root cause is so that you can address it and get back to sleep. Sleep is complex, and there's likely not just one root cause at play that’s keeping you up.
One of the major factors wreaking havoc on my clients’ sleep is candida overgrowth.
What Is Candida?
Candida is a pathogenic yeast, and most of us have some present in our systems. It lives in our mouth and our throat, our stomach, and in the vagina. It's estimated that 70% of individuals have been infected with Candida at some point in their lifetime. As long as it's in small amounts, it’s ok. But when it becomes an overgrowth in the system, it can become problematic.
The Connection Between Gut Dysbiosis and Candida
Candida Overgrowth Factors
Compromised Immune System
Typically, folks who are chronic insomniacs have some issues with their gut microflora. I’ve written a separate blog that explains why and how gut dysbiosis contributes to sleep issues — I encourage you to read it here →
Gut Dysbiosis Causes
Our stomachs contain a microbiome consisting of good bacteria, bad bacteria, yeast, and sometimes parasites and viruses. The good bacteria's job is to keep the “bad stuff” at bay.
Unfortunately, there are a number of common circumstances which can all contribute to gut dysbiosis:
Stress
Chronic antibiotic usage
Diet
All of these can contribute to gut dysbiosis — when your bad bacteria outnumbers your good bacteria. Consequently, the gut becomes dysfunctional and can't do its job of warding off the “bad stuff” (i.e. yeast, viruses and parasites).
Research shows that after just one night of poor sleep, the contents of your microflora can change. So if you're not getting good quality sleep, chances are, you may have gut dysbiosis — which can then lead to Candida overgrowth.
Lastly, Candida further exacerbates gut dysbiosis, impacting the neurotransmitters and hormones that help us sleep (i.e. GABA, tryptophan, and melatonin), which are all produced in our stomachs. Impaired gut function leads to poor digestion, causing mineral and vitamin deficiencies, and leading to insomnia.
Why Candida Disrupts Sleep
Candida releases up to 79 byproducts, including uric acid and acetaldehyde, which is problematic.
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyde has been known to cause brain fog and headaches — two main symptoms of Candida overgrowth. Acetaldehyde has also been identified by the International Foundation for Research on Cancer as a carcinogen.
Uric Acid
Too much uric acid in the system causes joint pain and gout. Joint pain is another main symptom of a Candida overgrowth and, if you’ve ever tried to sleep with joint pain, you know first-hand how this pain can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep.
Liver Dysfunction
Candida can invade the liver and cause dysfunction. The liver is meant to remove toxins from our blood. Our liver is most active between 1:00-3:00am, so if it can't do its job effectively, it kicks up toxins, causing inflammation and cortisol spikes and leading to night wakings.
How to Know If You Have Candida Overgrowth
Candida Overgrowth Symptoms
joint pain
headaches
brain fog
Additional Side Effects of Candida Overgrowth
sugar cravings (candida feeds on sugar)
anxiety
depression
fatigue
gut issues
allergies
yeast infections
What to Do If You Suspect You Have a Candida Overgrowth
First, Test for candida
If you suspect that you have candida, I highly recommend first getting a test. Below are the different tests available:
Lab Tests (accurate)
The two tests I run for my clients that detect Candida are:
IGG Test — a dried blood test that detects antibodies for Candida
Stool Test — can sometimes be difficult to pick up Candida on this test; however, it does tell you if you have gut dysbiosis (and if you have gut dysbiosis, then you likely have a Candida overgrowth)
DIY Saliva-in-Water Test (not always accurate)
This is an anecdotal test, so we don't know how accurate it is, but it's something that is interesting to do and low-cost. It can also be done in the comfort of your home.
In the morning, fill a cup of room temperature water in a glass, and before you brush your teeth or ingest any food or liquids, work up a dime-sized amount of saliva and spit into the water. Wait 45 minutes and if you exhibit any of these 3 things, you may have a candida overgrowth:
Long stringy legs extending from saliva floating near top of water
Cloudy specks floating throughout the water
Cloud of saliva sinking to the bottom of the glass
Again, it may not be 100% accurate, so I recommend you get a proven lab test.
Then, go for an anti-candida diet
There are many things you can do to eradicate Candida, and one of the first steps you can take is to go on an anti-Candida diet. It essentially looks like eliminating sugar from the diet, as sugar is what Candida thrives on.
In addition to eliminating known sugars found in desserts and sweets, you also want to eliminate hidden sugars found in packaged and processed foods.
Stay away from fruits high in sugar (think tropical fruits), as well as starchy vegetables like peas and corn.
I also recommend eliminating alcohol from your diet, as alcohol is rich with sugar and can cause inflammation in the body. Avoid caffeine and gluten if possible, too.
Consume Probiotics + Prebiotics
Take good care to support the good bacteria in your gut. I recommend taking a daily probiotic, as well as eating foods that contain probiotics (such as yogurt, kombucha and kefir).
If you're going to fill your stomach with probiotics, you also want to ensure you consume enough prebiotics, which are basically fiber. Think lots of fruits and especially veggies.
Consider an Anti-Fungal
The other thing you can do is take an anti-fungal. You can get one prescribed by your doctor or buy an over-the-counter version.
Is it Candida overgrowth? Or is it something else?
I hope that you found this information helpful. As always, if you're struggling with your sleep, I would love to help you!
To learn more about working one-on-one with me, please schedule a complimentary call with me. We can talk about my process and you can decide if taking this next leap for your sleep is the right fit for you.
If you’d like more tips, you can read more articles on improving your sleep in my sleep blog. I have a ton of great resources. My mission is to help you get the rest you deserve to be your best.
Sweet Dreams…
Kelly Murray is a certified adult sleep coach and an award-winning pediatric sleep consultant based in Chicago offering sleep coaching services nationwide.