Candida albicans is a fungal yeast that is literally everywhere. In other words, you can’t keep it out of your body. If you have unhealthy levels, it can trigger a host of complaints, like localized (primarily vaginal or rectal) itching, depression, irritability, dizziness, unclear thinking, difficulty focusing, brain fog, fatigue, gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, rapid weight loss or gain, flatulence, and cravings for sweets or alcohol. These issues can range from mildly annoying to severely undermining your quality of life. Research from Rice University suggests that up to 70% of Americans are, to some degree, impacted by Candida.

Under normal circumstances, your gut is home to a wide variety of beneficial bacteria called probiotics. If you have thriving populations of these bacteria, Candida is unlikely to present a problem. Candida, however, is highly opportunistic, and if space is available, it will multiply quickly. Under ideal conditions, Candida can double its population every two hours.