Candidiasis occurs because of an over-proliferation of Candida albicans, a type of yeast. Candida yeast naturally exist in the human gut, but significant population growth causes a yeast infection. Candidiasis symptoms include fatigue, joint pain and gastrointestinal distress. A modified diet alleviates many symptoms and restores appropriate Candida levels in your gut.
Purpose
The purpose of following an anti-Candida diet is to eliminate Candida yeast from your gut and repopulate your natural gut flora with healthy bacteria. The diet reduces excessive sugars upon which Candida yeast thrives. Removing sugars starves the yeast and returns Candida populations to their normal, natural levels.
Time Frame
The website The Candida Diet recommends undertaking a three-stage diet. The purpose of the first stage is to detoxify your body and cleanse it of harmful yeast and bacteria. This phase typically lasts 2 to 3 weeks and is most restrictive. The second phase, lasting 4 weeks, involves attacking the yeast by restricting diet and taking antifungal medications. The final phase is a maintenance diet in which you repopulate your gut with beneficial bacteria and avoid foods that trigger Candida outbreaks. Some people stay on this stage of the diet long term.
Guidelines
Eliminate all sugars from your diet. Avoid canned, dried or fresh fruits, including fruit juices. Eat non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, onions, tomatoes and squash. Glutinous products, including oats, white flour or pasta can stimulate Candida production and should be avoided. Also beware of aged cheeses, mushrooms, alcohol, peanuts and pistachios. Drink plenty of water to maintain your hydration.
After the Candida yeast are cleared from your system, it is safe to slowly reintroduce banned foods into your diet. If a certain food triggers your candidiasis symptoms, eliminate it from your diet entirely. Most dieters try to reduce overall sugar intake in the long-term to prevent future Candida outbreaks.
Benefits
Following an anti-Candida diet reduces common symptoms of candidiasis. After several weeks on the diet, you may notice a decrease in bloating, gas, joint pain and fatigue. Many dieters report weight loss while on the Candida diet, according to the website Yeast Infection Advisor. Maintaining a balanced diet high in vegetables and whole grains while minimizing sugar intake increases overall health.
Considerations
Following the detoxification and Candida elimination phases of the diet, it is safe to restore the natural flora of your gut. Introduce probiotic foods, such as yogurt products with live and active cultures, to repopulate your gut with beneficial bacteria. According to The Candida Diet website, yogurt made from sheep or goat milk has better probiotic properties than cows' milk. Some flavored yogurts contain high amounts of sugar, so use plain yogurt and carefully check nutrition labels.
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