Diet for Yeast Control

Your intestines contain a wealth of microbial lifeforms, primarily consisting of bacteria and yeast. The combined weight of these organisms totals 3.3 pounds in the average adult. When an individual's intestinal flora become disturbed, yeast can take over the digestive tract. This shift can result in a wide variety of symptoms, from fatigue to inflammation of joints, but dietary changes can help re-establish the beneficial bacteria as the dominant microbes in the intestines.

Carbohydrate Intake

Because yeasts can only fuel themselves from the consumption of sugar, the reduction of sugar in the diet becomes one of the first and most important steps in controlling these troublesome organisms. Jonny Bowden, a nutritionist certified by the American College of Nutrition and author of seven books on nutritional approaches, identifies this change as the most important, and suggests that Individuals with these concerns should also consider reducing the overall amount of complex carbohydrates also. Complex carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta and rice break down into sugars in the digestive tract.

Antifungal Foods

Certain foods show an ability to kill yeast organisms. Integrating these anti-fungal foods into the diet should provide an additional boost to the efforts of starving these yeasts. Foods such as garlic and coconut oil demonstrate a broad anti-microbial effect, killing off problematic bacteria and viruses together with the yeasts. Bruce Fife, author of "The Coconut Oil Miracle," recommends several servings per day of unrefined virgin coconut oil to kill off lingering yeasts, support the immune system and help energy production.

Antifungal Supplements

Individuals can bolster their attempts to control yeast through the use of additional anti-fungal compounds. Bowden points to the use of Pau d'arco, grapeseed extract, berberine and oil of oregano as potential supplements for this purpose, citing their anti-fungal activity. Pau d'arco, available as a tea as well as in capsules, stands out as one of South America's prized herbs for its anti-yeast capabilities and all-round immune system support. Goldenseal and Oregon Grapes represent the best source of the plant chemical berberine, which most regularly comes in capsule form. Meanwhile, grapeseed extract may be offered for sale in both concentrated liquid form and capsules.

Probiotic Foods

Having eliminated the troublesome yeasts, which most commonly come in the form of candida or trichosporan varieties, it becomes important to provide beneficial bacteria to re-colonize the intestines. Probiotic foods contain millions of good bacteria to ensure this occurs and represent a vital step in re-establishing a positive bacterial balance in the gut, as noted by Australian researchers in their investigations of intestinal microbes. Live yogurts and sauerkraut rank among the best of the probiotic foods for this purpose, although probiotic capsules can achieve the same effect.

Considerations

To efficiently control yeasts in the digestive tract, individuals should avoid common pitfalls, such as the consumption of hidden sugars that may continue to nourish the yeast; these come in the form of cereals, packaged goods and fruit juices. Those undergoing an intestinal cleanse should also expect some sort of die-off reaction, often labeled the Herxheimer reaction, should their dietary changes have a successful effect on the yeast population.