Millions of bacteria and other organisms populate your intestines. Candida albicans is a type of yeast that naturally exists in your gut. Alternative medicine proponents claim that sudden increases in the candida population cause a variety of medical symptoms, a syndrome called candidiasis. Some people follow a special diet to reduce the candida population to normal levels and restore their good health.
Candida Syndrome
According to The Candida Diet website, symptoms of candidiasis may emerge when you take antibiotics or oral contraceptives, drink alcohol, use recreational drugs, experience stress or follow an unhealthy diet. There are a variety of candidiasis symptoms including fatigue, weight gain, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal distress, mood swings, depression, inability to concentrate, confusion, rashes or joint pain.
Diet Stages
The candida diet consists of three major phases. The first detoxification stage purportedly reduces your candida population by cleansing your body of toxins. During this phase, dieters eat soups, water and vegetables to stimulate frequent bowel movements. Some dieters use herbal remedies such as psyllium husks to flush their colons of waste. After three weeks in the detoxification stage, dieters enter the second stage. The second phase, which lasts four weeks, allows you to reintroduce certain foods into your diet. The final phase repopulates your gut with beneficial bacteria that restore normal gastrointestinal functioning. Some people prolong the third stage of the candida diet for weeks or months.
Diet Foods
During the first, most restrictive phase of the candida diet, avoid all fruits, aged cheeses, alcohol, processed foods, caffeine, starchy vegetables, foods containing gluten, peanuts, condiments, oils, fats and sugars. Eliminating all sugar from your diet purportedly causes candida yeast to starve and diet. Acceptable foods include non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and plain yogurt. After the initial detoxification phase, reintroduce beans, starchy vegetables, apples, pears and berries into your diet. Continue to avoid high-sugar foods, such as citrus fruits, candy, chocolate, bananas and canned fruits for the duration of the candida diet.
Considerations
Most conventional medicine practitioners dispute the existence of a candida syndrome. No scientific evidence supports the use of a special candida diet to treat symptoms of candidiasis, according to MayoClinic.com. While an outbreak of candida yeast may not cause medical symptoms, following a candida diet may have certain health benefits. Some dieters lose weight by replacing processed and sugary foods with healthier alternatives. However, the candida diet's restrictive food list may not provide the nutrients you need to maintain good health. Discuss your candida diet plans with a physician to ensure that it is a safe and useful diet for you.
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