COMMON CAUSES

Three common risk factors for candida overgrowth are: • Antibiotics, especially repeat courses of broad-spectrum antibiotics, as these often kill the beneficial bacteria that keep candida in check. • A diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. • A high-stress lifestyle – stress can raise your blood sugar as well as weaken the immune system, which undermines your body’s natural defences against a candida overgrowth.

Other lifestyle factors that have been connected to increased candida populations are high alcohol consumption, taking oral con-