The human body is host to a number of different bacteria. Most of the time, these bacteria are kept in balance by one another and even support certain bodily functions, like aiding in digestion and protecting against infections. However, some medications and illnesses negatively impact particular bacterium, allowing others to proliferate. This can lead to oral thrush, yeast infections and intertrigo. It's also thought to result in a condition known as yeast syndrome, where the intestinal tract suffers an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a fungal form of yeast. Practitioners of non-traditional medicine, recommend treating this condition by maintaining a candida diet.
Simple Carbohydrates
While following a candida diet, it's often recommended that you eliminate all simple carbohydrates. This includes any form of sugar, such as pure cane sugar, granulated sugar, fructose, sucrose and honey. You should also avoid foods containing lactose, which is a sugar found in dairy products, like milk, cream, cheese and butter.
Adverse Effects
In any of its forms, sugar is thought to promote the overgrowth of candida, explains the Mayo Clinic. This overgrowth is said to lead to yeast syndrome, causing a hypersensitivity to any foods made with not only sugar, but yeast, grains and cheese. Diets consisting of such fare can trigger an adverse reaction in its sufferers, leading to gas, bloating, cramps, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain and poor memory.
Benefits
Eliminating sugar from your diet, as well as other problematic ingredients, helps return a balance to the natural flora of your intestinal tract. Other problematic ingredients often include yeast, cheese, white flour, barley, wheat, oats, rye, citric acid, caffeine, alcohol, nuts, vinegar, most perservatives, mushrooms and even fruits. Once the level of Candida albicans is brought down, symptoms associated with yeast syndrome subside, and you should then be able to slowly introduce the restricted foods back into your diet.
Expert Insight
Though conventional medicine considers yeast infections, oral thrush and intertrigo, which are all associated with Candida albicans, as valid medical conditions, practitioners don't usually subscribe to the idea of yeast syndrome. Traditional medical professional also don't believe the candida diet treats any medical condition, largely due to the lack of scientific evidence or clinical trials, explains the Mayo Clinic.
Recommendation
If you are experiencing the symptoms associated with yeast syndrome, or have a yeast infection, oral thrush or intertrigo, consult your primary health care provider. Proper diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms is important for the management of symptoms as well as the treatment ofyour current condition.
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