Anti Candida Yeast Diet - Guidelines and Foods to Avoid

A good anti candida yeast diet can help to bring this problematic health condition under control.

Candida albicans normally dwell in the body in limited amounts, especially in the digestive tract, where beneficial probiotic bacteria and the body’s immune system work to keep the yeast in check. However, especially if the immune system becomes compromised, a whole host of problems can occur as the yeast grows, multiplies and spreads out of control in the body in a serious condition called systemic candidiasis.

Guidelines

The candida yeast control diet can eliminate the negative effects resulting from an overgrowth of candida albicans in the body. The guidelines of such a diet include:

• Avoid sugar, as excess sugar encourages yeast growth. Sugars can not only come in the form of refined sugar (as in sweeteners) but through simple carbohydrates that break down into sugars in the body.
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  A note about Anti Candida Yeast Diet - Guidelines and Foods to Avoid

  In natural health and healing, we believe in holistic health and healing, as we realize that different parts of the human body are highly interlinked, often beyond Man's understanding. We also believe that the body has the ability to heal itself of any disease, even supposedly incurable diseases.

  In order to do so, the body needs the support of some basic dietary and lifestyle good health habits, such as a full body detox and a proper understanding and application of nutrition. No matter how remote or unrelated a health condition may seem, these fundamental health steps will greatly magnify the effects and benefits of any of our health-promoting efforts, including the use of specific natural health remedies.
  
  
  
• Avoid all refined carbohydrates (white bread, white rice, pasta, cakes, biscuits and pastries).
  
  
• During the initial two to three weeks on the control diet, carbohydrate intake should be restricted to less than 60 grams per day (depending on age, health, activity level, and the extent of food sensitivities).
  
  
• Instead, low-carbohydrate / high-protein foods such as meat, chicken, turkey, shellfish, non-starchy vegetables, and certain nuts should play a central role in the diet.
  
  
• As symptoms of the yeast infection subside, the carbohydrate intake total of the anti candida yeast diet may be gradually increased.
  
  
• The anti candida yeast diet allows for plenty of protein, but as large amounts of red meat can congest the system, limit intake to lean meats and other protein sources. Consume mainly fish, preferably steamed. Eggs (organic or at least from a known source of healthy free range chickens) present an excellent source of healthy protein, as do soy products and legumes.
  
  
• Some encourage you to consume larger than average quantities of full fat, live yogurt, along with coconut milk, due to present active cultures. Others, however, discourage dairy products of all kinds, including yogurt. See below for more information on this aspect.
  
  
• The diet limits the intake of foods containing any type of yeast, including fermented foods like yeasty bread, certain cheeses, aged tomato pastes, and beer.
  
  
• Some dogmatic followers of Dr William Crook’s diet also eliminate all other fungi, so no mushrooms.
  
  
• The duration of the anti candida yeast diet depends on the nature of the symptoms, as well as the individual’s general level of health.

Foods to Avoid

In general, one should avoid the following while following an anti candida diet:

• Aged, Moldy and Processed Cheeses - No Roquefort and other aged, moldy or blue cheeses allowed. Eliminate processed cheese such as pre-packaged cheese slices, Velveeta, Cheese Whiz, cream cheese, and cheese snacks.
  
  
• Alcohol - Alcoholic beverages may encourage candida yeast to grow. All types of alcohol should be avoided, including beer, brandy, fermented liquor, gin, liqueurs, red wine, rum, scotch, vodka, whiskey, and white wine.
  
  
• Also remove cider, root beer, and other fermented beverages from the menu.
  
  
• Coffee and Black Tea - No coffee should be consumed while on the anti candida yeast diet, and this includes decaffeinated coffee, instant coffee, and of course regular coffee. All forms of black tea, including those which are flavored with fruit, should also be avoided. Green or herbal teas may be taken as substitutes.
  
  
• Foods Containing Gluten - Another important aspect of the anti candida yeast diet is to avoid foods which contain gluten, and these include barley, rye, and wheat (including bread and pasta made with wheat).
  
  
• Fruits - Fruits have natural sugars in them, which may encourage the growth of the candida yeast. Some anti candida diets may allow limited quantities of fruits - in which case, only small amounts of fresh, raw and organic fruits should be eaten, and one should stick to varieties with less natural sugar content. Certainly, canned fruits, dried fruits, frozen fruits and fruit juices must be avoided. For a more comprehensive elimination of the yeast, it may be a good idea to avoid fruits altogether while on the cleansing program.
  
  
• No mushrooms and other fungi should be consumed while on the anti candida yeast diet.
  
  
• No microwave cooked food, as this is said to weaken the immune system.
  
  
• No unfiltered tap water should be consumed.
  
  
• Processed and Refined Foods; Packaged Foods - Eliminate various types of processed foods, including those which come in bottles, boxes, cans, and other packages. Foods which contain chemicals, food coloring, artificial flavoring, preservatives, other additives, refined flour, refined sugar, and yeast should be avoided.
  
  
• Peanuts, Peanut Butter, and Pistachios - Peanuts, peanut butter, and pistachios may have mold contamination, so they must be removed from the anti candida yeast diet initially as well. Instead, eat other nuts and seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, etc.
  
  
• Processed, Dried, Smoked, and Pickled Meats - Examples include smoked salmon, pickled herring, sausages, bacon, hot dogs, and most lunch or sandwich meats. Such meats contain harmful chemicals and preservatives, and hence should be avoided in the anti-candida diet.
  
  
• Sugars - All refined and other sugars, including amasake, brown sugar, corn syrup, date sugar, demerrara, honey, maple sugar, maple syrup, molasses, raw sugar, rice syrup, sorghum, turbinado, and white sugar.
  
  
• When reading labels, watch out for: fructose, galactose, glucose, glycogen, lactose, maltose, mannitol, monosaccharides, polysaccharides, sorbitol, and sucrose. In general when reading labels, ingredients that make up the highest quantities in the item will be listed first, so if one of these words appears second or third on the list, replace the item on the shelf.
  
  
• Vinegar - All the various types of vinegar should be avoided, including apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, rice vinegar, and white vinegar. Any food made with vinegar should also not be part of the anti candida yeast diet, such as BBQ sauce, chili sauce, green olives, horseradish, ketchup, mayonnaise, mincemeat, mustard, pickled vegetables, pickles, relishes, salad dressing, shrimp sauce, soy sauce, steak sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.
  
  
• Yeast - Die-hard followers of the anti candida yeast diet typically remove all yeast-based or yeast-containing products. Yeast-containing foods include foods like Baker's yeast, Brewer's yeast, Engevita, and Torula. Baked goods with yeast should also be eliminated, for example bagels, breads, crackers, muffins, pastries and rolls.

Foods to Limit in Consumption or to also Avoid while on Anti Candida Yeast Diet

For the following foods, some parties state that they need not be completely eliminated from anti candida yeast diets, and can be consumed in limited amounts. Others, however, feel that they should be totally avoided instead.

For a better chance of successfully "starving" the yeast, it may be a good idea to also completely avoid these foods while on the anti candida yeast diet.

• Dairy Products - Followers of the diet believe that candida can impair the human body's ability to process and digest fats, so dairy products should be restricted in highly effected individuals. How much dairy you can consume also depends on your lactose tolerance and individual reaction to various milks and milk products.
  
  
• Fresh Fruits - Keep fresh fruit initially to a minimum, and consume lower-sugar varieties such as an apple, pear, or kiwi. Supplement with additional serving of vegetables. No over-ripe fruit, dried fruit, bananas, melons, grapes or fruit juices should be consumed while on the anti candida yeast diet, as the natural sugar levels in these fruits are too high.
  
  
• Most cheeses - Cheeses which are lower in lactose may be permissible, for example Colby, dry curd cottage cheese, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, provolone, sharp white cheddar as well as swiss. Some feel that organic skim yogurt which contains live beneficial bacteria will be helpful.

Herbs and Supplements

Dr Crook's plan emphasized the use of herbs and supplements (and occasionally, prescription drugs) to decrease the amount of candida yeast in the body. Indeed, herbs and supplements form a part of most, if not all, anti candida yeast diets.

Alternative practitioners usually recommend starting with smaller amounts of herbs and supplements while on an anti candida yeast diet, and increasing dosage gradually in order to avoid a temporary worsening of symptoms.

This reaction, called Herxheimer reaction, actually means the yeast has suddenly and simultaneously died off, releasing massive amounts of toxins and undigested proteins into the body. This can trigger a severe autoimmune reaction.

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