Candidiasis is a condition characterized by fatigue, joint pain, weight gain, gas, bloating, abdominal pain and indigestion. Candidiasis develops when there is a population explosion of Candida albicans, a type of yeast naturally found in the intestines. Following a strict anti-candida diet may alleviate symptoms of candidiasis and restore balance to the gut flora.
Purpose
The purpose of an anti-candida diet is to control candida yeast populations and repopulate the gut with beneficial microorganisms. Candida yeast feed on the sugars that pass through the digestive tract. An anti-candida diet strictly limits consumption of sugary foods to deny yeast their food source. Without a large supply of sugar, the yeast starve to death and cannot reproduce, restoring balance to your gut flora.
Features
An anti-candida diet typically includes three phases, according to The Candida Diet website. The first, most restrictive phase requires dieters to eliminate all fruit, aged cheeses, alcohol, processed foods and caffeine from their meals. Phase one typically lasts two weeks. The second phase, which lasts four weeks, allows dieters to gradually reintroduce prohibited foods. A course of anti-fungal medication further reduces candida populations. In the final phase, the gut is repopulated with beneficial bacteria. Many dieters continue following the guidelines of this phase long-term to prevent recurrence of candidiasis symptoms.
Stage Two Foods
The second phase of the candida diet involves restricting intake of sugary fruits, starchy grains, processed foods and alcoholic beverages. You can slowly reintroduce green apples, pears, berries, beans and starchy vegetables into your diet during phase two, according to The Candida Diet website. Continue eating large portions of leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, squash, tomatoes and cucumbers.
Considerations
The second stage of an anti-candida diet includes taking an anti-fungal remedy to kill excess candida yeast. Natural anti-fungals include aloe vera, black walnut, cloves, garlic, goldenseal, grapefruit seed and oregano oil, reports The Candida Diet website. If these anti-fungal remedies do not improve your symptoms, ask your doctor to prescribe an anti-fungal medication.
Misconceptions
The Mayo Clinic website reports that little scientific evidence supports the diagnosis of candidiasis. Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, weight gain and gastrointestinal distress may be the result of a poor diet containing too much sugar and processed foods. An anti-candida diet may improve symptoms simply because it replaces unhealthy foods with healthy, fresh alternatives.
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