Candida is one of the most common causes of fungal infections and when left untreated… can quickly lead to some serious health problems. So it’s no surprise that candida overgrowth is rapidly becoming a health concern across the country. And today we will review about the best candida supplements on the market.
But what exactly is candida? And more importantly, what can we do to prevent, or even stop, an overgrowth before it’s too late?
We want to make sure our Smarter Shoppers are educated on this serious public health issue, so we’ve compiled years of research about candida and its effect on our wellbeing. This quick guide will help you discover everything you need to know to make the most informed decision about your candida supplement needs.
What Is Candida, And Why Is It So Dangerous?
Put simply, candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast, that flourishes in your mouth and your intestines. Don’t worry, it’s supposed to be there in small amounts. It’s actually beneficial – it helps you digest your food and absorb the nutrients you need.
Problems arise when candida begins overproducing. It can break down intestinal walls and penetrate your bloodstream, often resulting in leaky gut and candidiasis (candida infection).
And unfortunately, this overgrowth can be caused by simple lifestyle factors such as poor diet, stress, high alcohol consumption, and even the overuse of antibiotics. (2)
Top Signs Of Candida Overgrowth
Unfortunately, most of us don’t even realize that we may be suffering from candida overgrowth. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Digestive Issues. These include gas, bloating, nausea and cramps. (3)
- Sugar Cravings. You find yourself wanting more sweets than usual. (2, 3)
- Moodiness. Anxiety, depression, and mood swings are common. (3)
- Fatigue. Afternoon sleepiness, or feeling like you didn’t get a good night’s sleep. (3)
- Seasonal allergies. Pollen may not be the only cause of allergies. (3)
- Fungal Overgrowth. Especially if topical treatments aren’t effective. (3)
- Vaginal Discomfort. This is a major sign of candida overgrowth. (2, 3)
- Skin Issues. Including itchy rashes in the folds of your skin. (3)
If any of these apply to you, it may be time to consult your doctor and start looking for a high quality candida supplement. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start, and many of our Smarter Shoppers reported regretting their first candida purchase. With this in mind, we included a section to help you skip their mistakes.
What Not To Do When Buying A Candida Supplement
Forget the Research
Many shoppers believe that it doesn’t matter which candida supplement they choose. This is not the case. Many of them contain ineffective and potentially harmful additives, such as artificial fillers and colors. Binders, including magnesium stearate, chromium, gelatin, and silicon dioxide, or other infamous additives to avoid.
Prioritize Price Over Quality
We found that many lower-priced and generic candida supplements don’t contain the right combination of ingredients to fight candida overgrowth. Our Smarter Shoppers had to buy multiple low-priced candida products just to get all the ingredients that they needed. They effectively paid more for the generic brands.
What You Should Look For In A Candida Supplement
Based on our research and feedback from our Smarter Shoppers, these are the things to look for in an exceptional candida supplement:
Formulated By A Doctor
It takes specific expertise to create an effective formulation. The right mixture of ingredients and probiotic strains determines the product’s quality. Look for real doctors specializing in gut health backing the product.
Clinically Proven Ingredients Proven To Support Fungal & Yeast Balance
The right candida supplement will include potent, all-natural ingredients that have been clinically proven to control overgrowth. The best include: Oregano oil, caprylic acid, coconut oil, and aloe vera. (4)
Probiotic Strains
Supplementing your microbiome with probiotics is key to maintaining the right amount of candida. The bacterial strain clinically shown to help support this balance is lactobacillus acidophilus. Make sure your candida supplement contains this powerful and effective strain. (5)
Digestive Enzymes
Unfortunately, most of the candida supplements we tested didn’t contain the right combination of the anti-fungal ingredients above and digestive enzymes, which help break down yeast cells into waste that our bodies can easily eliminate. Look for ingredients like protease and cellulase, both of which are highly effective yeast-killing enzymes.
Our Specialized Ranking System
At Smarter Reviews, we employ a comprehensive evaluation system to analyze and measure the full value of products, by looking at the ingredients, clinical studies, safety, projected effectiveness, return policies, and overall customer satisfaction. This method is known as the Smarter Reviews Ranking System.
TOP 5 CANDIDA SUPPLEMENTS
We’ve compiled a list of what we’ve found to be the top five products in this category, on the market today.
PROS
- 4 natural herbs
- 2 digestive enzymes
- 18 Billion CFUs of Probiotics
- No artificial additives
- Doctor-formulated
- Third-party tested
- 90-Day Return Policy
CONS
- Due to popularity, sometimes it’s on backorder/sold out
The Bottom Line
1MD’s BalanceMD and its unique, proprietary formula easily won the #1 spot on our Top 5 list.
BalanceMD was developed by a board-certified MD specializing in gastroenterology. It’s the only supplement we found that contains the complete spectrum of treatment we were looking for, at their effective doses: 4 natural herbs, two digestive enzymes, and 18 billion CFUs of the probiotic strain L.Acidophilus.
This was one of the only products that we could verify had no hidden additives, fillers or artificial ingredients. It was also one of the only candida cleanses that was third-party tested. A survey of our Smarter Shoppers found that 1MD’s customer service is the top in its class. Our Smarter Shoppers absolutely loved this probiotic blend, and with that in mind, we decided to place BalanceMD in our top spot.
PROS
- 12 billion CFUs
- Inclusion of aloe vera
- All-natural, clinically-studied herbs & botanicals
- Independently Tested
- No Artificial Flavors, Colors, or Preservatives
CONS
- Frequently out of stock
The Bottom Line
LiveWell Nutrition’s CandiWell landed at #2 in our Top 5 list because of its clinically-studied herbs and botanicals, fiber-digesting enzymes, and 12 billion CFU count of potent probiotics.
It’s also noteworthy to mention the inclusion of aloe vera in their unique formula to help rebuild a healthy intestinal wall. They are independently tested for effectiveness and use only all-natural ingredients.
We also found that LiveWell recently opened an Amazon store where you can buy this candida supplement for a discounted price. It does, however, appear to be a new listing, explaining the lack of reviews.
LiveWell stands by their products by offering a 365-day money-back guarantee, securing them our #2 spot.
PROS
- Natural Antifungals
- Gluten-Free
CONS
- Contains Unhealthy Synthetic Fillers & Additives
- Limited 30-Day Return Policy
The Bottom Line
Candicid Forte contains natural botanical antifungals such as Pau D’Arco Extract, sodium caprylate, berberien sulfate, oregano extract, and cinnamon extract.
Ortho Molecular claims this product may contain one or more of the following additives or fillers; calcium silicate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and silicon dioxide.
Recommended use of Candicid Forte may be excessive for some users as it is instructed to take 2 capsules three times daily. Ortho Molecular’s limited 30-day refund makes it difficult for users to test the effectiveness of the product.
PROS
- Unique Blend of Antifungals
- Digestive Enzymes
CONS
- Only Trace Amounts of Probiotics in Each Serving
- Limited Refund Policy
- Contains unhealthy, synthetic fillers
The Bottom Line
aSquared Nutrition’s Candida Support supplement fell into our #4 spot on the Top 5 list because their formula includes natural antifungals and digestive enzymes.
However, we were very put-off by the fact that their labeling of probiotics on the bottle is misleading. When we did the math, we realized there are only trace amounts of probiotics in each serving, rendering a key ingredient useless.
aSquared offers users a limited 30-day refund, making it hard for users to truly test the effectiveness of the product.
PROS
- Promotes Healthy pH balance
- Helps Restore Gut Lining
- Gluten-Free
CONS
- Confusing Return Policy
- Contains Unhealthy, Synthetic Fillers
- No Antifungals
The Bottom Line
The main ingredient in Candida Freedom’s formula is Bacillus Coagulan, which assists in the pH balance of the small intestines, but the complete absence of antifungals in this product is perplexing to our health editors.
It is stated on Candida Freedom’s website that they offer a full refund of the cost of the product, but it’s unclear how many days users have to return the product.
Citations
Originally posted 2019-05-12 09:24:18.