Between Parasites, Candida & Heavy Metals Chronic gut and immune issues rarely exist in isolation. For many individuals dealing with persistent Candida overgrowth or parasitic infections, there may be a deeper terrain issue involved — and heavy metal burden is often part of that conversation. Let’s break down how these three factors may interact. How Heavy Metals Influence the Microbial Environment Heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium are known to: Disrupt immune f