When people think of candida, or yeast, they commonly picture the commercials on television that address females suffering from itching and odor. Unfortunately, candida does not just affect females and is not limited to just one area of the human body. It can have a whole body effect on males and females.
Signs and Symptoms of Yeast Overgrowth
Yeast can affect every area of the body, so it has many signs and symptoms. If people have a history of recurrent infections, frequent antibiotic use, recurrent vaginal yeast infections or jock itch, recurrent fungal infections in nails, athletes foot, or a history of steroid use, they are susceptible to a candida overgrowth. Physical signs of a yeast overgrowth are chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, and abdominal discomfort in the gastrointestinal system. Whole body symptoms may include decreased cognitive function, brain fog, poor memory, low energy, fatigue, depression, insomnia, restlessness, joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, chronic water retention and difficulty losing or gaining weight. Other signs and symptoms can include chronic sinus congestion, itching in the vagina, anus or mucosal membranes, white coat or thrush on the tongue, and cravings for sweets and other refined carbohydrates.
Foods to Avoid
One way to begin to combat the yeast overgrowth in your body is to avoid foods that contain yeast. These foods include breads, bagels, pastries, pretzels, crackers, pizza dough, cakes, rolls, alcohol, beer, and cereals. Another group of foods to avoid are those that stimulate growth of yeast or contain other forms of fungus or molds. These foods are things such as sugar, honey, corn syrup, syrup, raisins, fruit juices, cheese, vinegar, ketchup, sauerkraut, vinegar based salad dressing, some barbecue sauces, sour cream, olives, mustard, capers, tempeh, cider, tea from fermented leaves, mushrooms, and pickles.
Foods to Eat
With the long list of foods to avoid, many wonder what they can eat. Most vegetables starve candida. Asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, onions, peppers, spaghetti squash, summer squash, spinach, tomatoes, and zucchini are just a few of the recommended vegetables to eat. Beef, chicken, fish and eggs are good proteins to turn too. Wild and brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, and millet are a few non-glutenous grains to substitute for the traditional carbohydrates consumed in meals. For a more complete list of acceptable foods, visit the candidadiet website. A link is in the Resources section.
Change More than Jjust Diet
Sometimes, just changing the diet does not get rid of the yeast completely. If symptoms persist or recur, anti-fungals may need to be discussed with your medical doctor. Also, taking a probiotic that has been specifically formulated to restore normal gut flora can be a helpful over-the-counter way to remove harmful yeast.
Precautions
Some discomfort may be felt in the first few weeks of an anti-yeast diet if there is a massive die-off of yeast. This is especially common with anti-fungal prescriptions. If this occurs, discuss backing off the treatment with your physician. Be cautious with the purchase and storage of probiotics. Many have to be at certain temperatures and out of light.
References
- "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies"; Kenneth Bock M.D.; 2008.
- The Candida Diet: Foods to Eat
