What is Candida?

Candida is a genus of yeasts that's a regular part of the microbiota on our skin, as well as in our gut, mouth, throat, and vaginal areas. It's usually harmless, quietly coexisting without causing any issues. The most well-known species, Candida albicans, is often behind conditions like oral thrush in babies and common vaginal yeast infections [1], [2]. Normally, Candida doesn’t cause problems unless its levels get too high. When it overgrows, particularly in the gut, it can lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating, discomfort, and changes in bowel habits. This imbalance can also disturb the gut's microbial community, possibly leading to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which highlights the importance of keeping everything in balance.