SIFO and Candida Overgrowth Natural Treatment by Dr. William Davis

Expert Insights

Dr. William Davis is best known for his SIBO yoghurt, but he actually talks quite a bit about fungal overgrowth as well.

It seems that many people struggle to get rid of SIBO because it often comes with SIFO which is hard to diagnose and is frequently left untreated.

Dr. Davis recognizes the role fungi play in a healthy gut and in his book Super Gut: A Four-Week Plan to Reprogram Your Microbiome, Restore Health, and Lose Weight he shares a few tips on how to get fungal overgrowth under control.

I highly recommend reading it if you struggle with dysbiosis.

Although the book can feel repetitive at times, it still gives you solid guidance and practical protocols for managing a dysbiotic gut.

I really appreciate that Dr. Davis doesn’t say “it’s all in your head” but instead he really understands how the gut can mess up your nervous system.

Here are a few practical quotes from his book that address SIFO and Candida overgrowth:

Lactobacillus rhamnosus

Although the precise composition of the ideal probiotic to suppress Candida has not been determined, several preparations have been shown to reduce this fungus. The results are slow to develop, requiring up to one year of probiotic use. Lactobacillus species, strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, in particular the GG strain, may be especially effective against Candida.

So we're not talking about just any Lactobacillus rhamnosus here. The GG strain has some solid research behind it and is widely used in probiotic supplements, so there's a good chance you'll find it in your local pharmacy.

However, it needs to be taken up to one year, which shows how resistant Candida can become and how important it is to stay patient and consistent in order to get it under control.

Curcumin

I really like this one because it's easy to find both locally and online and doesn't cost much.

There are 2 things worth keeping in mind, though:

1. Since curcumin comes from turmeric, the quality of turmetic matters. Some products have been found to contain elevated levels of heavy metals, so I reccomend buying spices from a reputable supplier.
2. For SIFO and Candida overgrowth in the gut a non-absorbable form of curcumin actually makes more sense, since you want it to remain in the digestive tract rather than being absorbed quickly.

Here's what Dr. William Davis says:

In addition to antibacterial effects, curcumin shines as an effective antifungal agent against numerous species and strains of Candida. It has even shown efficacy against species that are resistant to conventional antifungal drugs. Curcumin has the added advantages of being both safe and virtually nonabsorbable, so it remains in the GI tract for concentrated effect. For this reason, avoid brands that boast added ingredients or any manipulation that increases absorbability, such as the addition of black pepper, piperine, bioperine, or nanoparticles. Curcumin also helps strengthen the intestinal barrier, a major advantage as you heal from the inflammation of microbial overgrowth.

How much curcumin does Dr. William Davis recommend taking for fungal overgrowth in the gut?

Start with 300 mg twice daily, and increase up to 600 mg twice per day.

Saccharomyces boulardii

Using competition to suppress Candida overgrowth in the gut makes a lot of sense to me. Many people report that it has been notoriously difficult to treat with a strict “kill it” approach because, as they say, nature abhors a vacuum.

Here's another quote from Super Gut: A Four-Week Plan to Reprogram Your Microbiome, Restore Health, and Lose Weight by Dr. William Davis:

The fungal species S. boulardii, a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae used in winemaking, bread making, and beer brewing, can be taken as a probiotic supplement to suppress intestinal Candida through competition. A dose of five billion CFUs per day can work. S. boulardii does not colonize the gastrointestinal tract and is gone within days of stopping supplementation.

Sadly, S. boulardii doesn’t stay in the gut so it’s more of a long-term strategy, but at least it isn’t as harsh as antifungals.

The Bottom Line

It seems that SIFO and Candida overgrowth in the gut require a lot of patience. Some practitioners suggest that long-term use of conventional antifungals may put stress on the liver so Lactobacillus rhamnosus, curcumin and Saccharomyces boulardii may offer a more natural way to support the gut microbiome.