The Two Most Common Gut Imbalances I See: Candida & H. pylori

When it comes to the root cause of persistent bloating, fatigue, skin issues, brain fog, and hormone chaos, gut imbalances are often at the center of it all. As a Holisitic Nutritionist who specializes in identifying and addressing toxic load and gut dysfunction, I consistently see two major culprits show up in my clients’ functional stool test results:

👉 Candida Overgrowth
👉 Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Infection

Both of these can fly under the radar for years—causing symptoms that get chalked up to stress, aging, or “just how your body is.” But left untreated, they can wreak havoc on your health and keep you stuck in a cycle of chronic symptoms and inflammation. So let’s break them down:

1. Candida Overgrowth: When Yeast Gets Out of Control

Candida is a type of yeast that naturally lives in your gut. In small amounts, it’s not a problem. But when your gut microbiome is out of balance (from antibiotics, high sugar diets, hormonal shifts, or toxic burden), candida can grow unchecked—aka candida overgrowth.

Common Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth:

• Bloating and gas

• Sugar cravings

• Brain fog

• Chronic fatigue

• Recurring yeast infections or UTIs

• Skin rashes (eczema, athlete’s foot, fungal acne)

• Mood swings, anxiety, or depression

Candida is a master shapeshifter—it can morph into a more invasive fungal form, damage your gut lining, and contribute to leaky gut. This opens the door for food sensitivities, autoimmunity, and systemic inflammation.

Candida + Mold: The Fungal Connection

One thing I always remind clients: if candida keeps coming back, you need to look beyond your gut—and into your environment.

Mold exposure in your home, workplace, or any place you go frequently can fuel fungal overgrowth internally. Mold and candida both release mycotoxins—potent compounds that burden your immune system, block detox pathways, and disrupt mitochondrial function.

If you're living in a moldy space and also dealing with chronic candida, eczema, sinus issues, brain fog, or histamine intolerance—it’s not a coincidence.

You can’t out-supplement a moldy environment.

What to do:

• Be aware of musty smells, water damage, or condensation in your living space.

• Consider testing for mold spores.

• If you’ve tried candida cleanses but symptoms always come back, mold could be the missing piece.

Why Clearing Candida is a Game-Changer:

• Eczema and Skin Rashes Improve:
  Yeast overgrowth contributes to toxic byproducts like acetaldehyde, which your liver then has to detox. When the liver is overloaded, those toxins are pushed out through the skin—leading to eczema, acne, and chronic rashes. Clear the yeast, support detox, and skin often clears dramatically.
  
  

• Weight Loss Gets Easier:
  Candida thrives on sugar and carbs—so it can hijack your cravings and metabolism. Many clients find that once they reduce yeast and rebalance their gut, they stop battling sugar addiction, drop inflammation weight, and start metabolizing food more efficiently.
  
  

• You Release Stored Toxins:
  Candida biofilms and fungal overgrowth often trap heavy metals and mycotoxins. Eradicating yeast helps liberate hidden toxins so your body can finally eliminate them (which is why drainage support is key during any candida protocol).
  
  

Left Untreated, Candida Can:

• Contribute to long-term gut dysbiosis

• Worsen hormonal imbalances

• Trigger or worsen autoimmune conditions

• Compromise liver function due to toxin byproducts

• Make other detox efforts less effective

• Be sustained or re-triggered by mold in your environment
  
  

2. H. pylori: The Silent Stomach Saboteur

H. pylori is a bacteria that lives in the stomach. It’s actually one of the most common chronic infections worldwide—often picked up in childhood and quietly wreaking havoc for decades.

This bacteria is sneaky: it burrows into your stomach lining and reduces stomach acid levels, which is the opposite of what most people think when they have reflux or indigestion.

Symptoms of H. pylori Infection:

• Bloating (especially upper abdominal)

• Reflux/heartburn

• Burping or gas after meals

• Feeling full quickly when eating

• Nutrient deficiencies (especially B12, iron, zinc)

• Bad breath

• Nausea or loss of appetite
  
  

Low stomach acid due to H. pylori can make it hard to digest protein, absorb minerals, and keep the rest of your gut microbiome in check—setting the stage for additional infections and overgrowths (like SIBO or parasites).

Left Untreated, H. pylori Can:

• Lead to ulcers or gastritis

• Increase risk of stomach cancer

• Cause long-term nutrient depletion

• Trigger systemic inflammation and weaken detox pathways
  
  

Why I Always Test, Not Guess

The tricky part? These two imbalances often co-exist and symptoms can overlap. Some clients come to me thinking they have food sensitivities or a slow metabolism—when in reality, it’s their gut trying to fight off a battle beneath the surface that may be causing metabolism issues and food sensitivities.

That’s why I use comprehensive stool testing with my clients. It allows me to look at your microbial balance, digestion, inflammation markers, and pathogenic overgrowths like candida or H. pylori. Once we know exactly what we’re dealing with, we can create a targeted protocol to bring your gut back into balance without guessing.

What Healing Looks Like

Healing these imbalances isn’t about a quick fix. It’s a strategic process of:

• Opening drainage and detox pathways

• Reducing toxic load

• Supporting the immune system

• Using natural antimicrobials and biofilm disruptors to eradicate these infections

• Rebuilding a healthy microbiome

• Addressing both internal pathogens and external mold exposure

• Supporting the liver and lymph to properly release toxins
  
  

And yes—when done right, you might notice your eczema disappears, your jeans fit better, your skin glows, and those 3 p.m. crashes fade away.

This is the power of addressing root cause from the inside and outside.

Final Thoughts

Candida and H. pylori are common, but they’re not normal—and they don’t have to be your forever story. If you’re dealing with chronic symptoms that don’t add up, or you’ve “tried everything” with no lasting change, don’t overlook the gut.

And don’t forget your environment either—because healing isn’t just about what you take. It’s also about what you remove.

You deserve answers, and more importantly—you deserve to feel well again.

If you’re ready to dig deeper and test instead of guess, my Gut Healing Program is designed to do just that.

Let’s get to the root cause, together. Comment below if you have any questions.