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.

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. It normally lives in the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing any problems. It can also be beneficial – it helps you digest your food and absorb the nutrients you need. 

However, problems arise when candida begins overproducing. The overgrowth breaks down intestinal walls and penetrates into the bloodstream, thus releasing toxic byproducts into the body. If left untreated, symptoms can include leaky gut, itching, redness, swelling, painful intercourse, and poor digestion. 

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

Skin Issues

Vaginal Discomfort

Fatigue/Tiredness

Moodiness

Sugar Cravings

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.

Rely on Amazon Reviews

Millions of Americans look to Amazon reviews before purchasing their products, but most don’t realize that up to 60% have been paid for. Some disreputable, fly-by-night companies compensate individuals for positive reviews, regardless of whether they've tried the product or not. Risking your health with reviews that are likely false is too dangerous a game to play when you’re choosing an ingestible supplement.

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 antifungal 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 of 2021

We've compiled a list of what we've found to be the top five products in this category, on the market today.