Six-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead has faced new challenges since taking on the mantle. He recently visited multiple doctors in California to seek treatment for his leaky gut and candida overgrowth infection.
In early April 2025, Bumstead addressed these concerns, sharing a low-carb, gut-friendly breakfast shake to restore microbiome balance. He shared how he’s coping with mental lows in the absence of competition.
[Related: How to Make Homemade Meal Replacement Shakes to Fuel Your Training Goals]
Bumstead’s Gut-Healing Blueberry Chocolate Shake
- Blueberries
- Bone Broth Protein Powder
- RAW Protein Powder
- RAW Creatine
- MCT Oil
- Choice of Coconut Milk, Almond Milk, or Water
- Doctor-Prescribed Supplement Powder (Glutamine, Licorice Root, Aloe Vera, Marshmallow Root, Zinc Carnosine)
It tastes incredible, and the texture is really good; my new current breakfast.
—Chris Bumstead
Ingredients in Bumstead’s shake, like glutamine and licorice root, have been shown in studies to support intestinal lining, which can be helpful for issues like leaky gut and candida overgrowth. (1)(2)
Candida overgrowth can wreak havoc on the body when natural yeast grows out of control, impacting the gut and potentially causing bloating, fatigue, and infections. (3)(4) Antibiotic treatment can worsen the imbalance since it kills off beneficial gut bacteria. (5) Bumstead suffers from the autoimmune disease IgA Nephropathy; this condition worsens inflammation and complicates his health issues. (6)
You have to starve it with a diet.
—Chris Bumstead
A leaky gut happens when the intestinal lining becomes permeable, letting toxins and undigested food enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation. Problems like chronic stress and poor nutrition trigger it. (7)(8) Bumstead hopes to correct this by eliminating processed foods, sugar, grains, eggs, dairy, and gluten from his diet.
I’m changing how I eat a lot; not going to be perfect just yet.
—Chris Bumstead
A New Mental Outlook After Bodybuilding
Bumstead’s Olympia dynasty taught him to conquer internal struggles. He believes there are two types of people: optimists and pessimists. Perception shapes how we process emotions, and for Bumstead, this means not letting health setbacks cloud his enjoyment of life post-retirement.
More Bodybuilding Content
- Meal Prep for the 2025 New York Pro — Regan Grimes Pours Protein Shake in His Corn Flakes
- The Shoulder Exercises an Elite Trainer Programs for a Champion Bodybuilder
- Wellness Bodybuilder Wynter Addams’ Tips for Massive Quads
References
- Abbasi F, Haghighat Lari MM, Khosravi GR, Mansouri E, Payandeh N, Milajerdi A. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on the effects of glutamine supplementation on gut permeability in adults. Amino Acids. 2024 Oct 13;56(1):60. doi: 10.1007/s00726-024-03420-7. PMID: 39397201; PMCID: PMC11471693. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11471693/
- Murugan SK, Bethapudi B, Raghunandhakumar S, et al. A flavonoid rich standardized extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra protects intestinal epithelial barrier function and regulates the tight-junction proteins expression. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022;22(1):38. Published 2022 Feb 7. doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03500-1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35130890/
- Cater RE 2nd. Chronic intestinal candidiasis as a possible etiological factor in the chronic fatigue syndrome. Med Hypotheses. 1995;44(6):507-515. doi:10.1016/0306-9877(95)90515-4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7476598/
- de Oliveira Santos GC, Vasconcelos CC, Lopes AJO, de Sousa Cartágenes MDS, Filho AKDB, do Nascimento FRF, Ramos RM, Pires ERRB, de Andrade MS, Rocha FMG, de Andrade Monteiro C. Candida Infections and Therapeutic Strategies: Mechanisms of Action for Traditional and Alternative Agents. Front Microbiol. 2018 Jul 3;9:1351. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01351. PMID: 30018595; PMCID: PMC6038711. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6038711/
- Pérez JC. The interplay between gut bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans. Gut Microbes. 2021 Jan-Dec;13(1):1979877. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1979877. PMID: 34586038; PMCID: PMC8489915. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8489915/
- Stamellou E, Seikrit C, Tang SCW, et al. IgA nephropathy. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2023;9(1):67. Published 2023 Nov 30. doi:10.1038/s41572-023-00476-9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38036542/
- Konturek PC, Brzozowski T, Konturek SJ. Stress and the gut: pathophysiology, clinical consequences, diagnostic approach and treatment options. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2011;62(6):591-599. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22314561/
- Jaquez-Durán G, Arellano-Ortiz AL. Western diet components that increase intestinal permeability with implications on health. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2024;94(5-6):405-421. doi:10.1024/0300-9831/a000801 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38009780/
Featured image: @cbum on Instagram
