Candida Life Cycle

Candida yeast is a one-celled organism that lives in the gut of 40 to 80 percent of all people. An overgrowth of candida is called candidiasis and causes many health problems. Candida can cause gas, bloating and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as pneumonia and septicemia.The candida yeast has a multi-stage life cycle.

Candida Locations in the Body

• Candida can live in the skin and mucus, but it can also live in the intestines, lungs, mouth and other organs.

Life Cycle Forms of Candida

• Candida can assume many forms during its life cycle. It can be a yeast that is 10 microns long, or germ tubes. It can also form pseudohyphae, which are long-branching filaments. Because of these various forms, it is difficult to cure candida.

Reproductive Cycle

• Candida reproduces by budding. The individual cells have a bud called a “daughter” that is released and becomes its own individual cell with its own buds. The other form of reproduction in candida is by a filament called pseudohyphae.

Sugar Fermenting

• The first stage of the life cycle is as a sugar fermenting yeast. It buds and sends out new cells. It thrives on sugar in the digestive tract.

Rhizoids

• The second stage is when the candida develops rhizoids that attach to the cell walls with roots. These roots damage the intestinal walls and lead to a condition known as leaky gut.

Overgrowth

• When candida is firmly implanted in the digestive tract, it leads to an overgrowth, forcing out the “good” bacteria and flora that live in the gut. Many diseases are attributed to side effects of an overgrowth of candida.