A certain amount of yeast is natural to our body, but sometimes it’s crucial to hit the reset button to achieve the right balance again. Yeast overgrowth occurs when yeast bacteria has increased at a rate to outgrow its natural environment in the large intestine, invading the small intestine with its continued growth. Yeast overgrowth is a key factor associated with dysbiosis, among other conditions.

What Causes Yeast Overgrowth?

High sugar intake
Alcohol
Antibiotics
Certain medications
Sedentary lifestyle
Lack of sleep
Stress
Poor diet

An overworked immune system, hormonal changes, and an imbalanced bacterial microbiome can result from yeast growing out of bounds and producing almost 200 different toxins.

In addition, the use of antibiotics has been shown to kill both good and bad bacteria, leading to an imbalanced intestinal environment. Furthermore, a high-sugar diet coupled with certain medications creates the perfect storm for the ravenous yeast to feed on.

We cannot achieve gut balance unless we reduce the number of intestinal yeasts. However it’s important to note that if you simply eliminate yeast in the gut without changing the intestinal environment, yeast will eventually return. The good news is that dysbiosis can often be treated with gut therapies and lifestyle changes, whereas if untreated, it can lead to more serious problems.