The word "diet" has more than one meaning. It can represent the foods you eat daily, or be the means by which you lose weight. For some people, a diet helps manage or control a specific health condition. The yeast-free diet does just this. It prevents yeast overgrowth that can lead to yeast infections, urinary tract infections and fungal infections such as jock itch or athlete's foot. Although following a yeast-free diet may improve your condition, speak to your doctor before doing so.
Understanding Yeast
Everyone requires a certain amount of bacteria in their body to remain healthy. Yeast, particularly Candida albicans, is commonly found in the body as well. Your good bacteria feeds on the yeast, keeping a healthy balance between the two. When you take an antibiotic, are under an enormous amount of stress or take other medication such as birth control pills, the balance between bacteria and yeast is upset and yeast overgrowth occurs.
Symptoms of Yeast Overgrowth
Candida is usually found in moist areas of your body, such as your mouth, vagina, urinary tract and digestive tract. Yeast overgrowth can occur in any of these areas, resulting in symptoms like itching, discharge, fatigue, constipation and bloating. Additional symptoms include dizziness, joint and muscle pain, acne, respiratory problems and irritability. The symptoms you experience depend on the area of the body the overgrowth affects and the condition it results in. Any unusual symptoms warrant an examination by your physician.
Significance of Diet
A yeast-free diet removes specific foods that promote yeast growth. TheYeastDiet.com explains you eliminate excess yeast in your body by removing the foods yeast feeds on, primarily sugar. Anything that breaks down into sugar, such as alcohol, or foods containing yeast or mold, such as dairy products and fermented foods, are prohibited on a yeast-free diet.
Time Frame
TheYeastDiet.com recommends using the yeast-free diet for a period of three to six weeks. The diet is extremely restrictive. The list of what you can eat is much shorter than what you can't. All vegetables are allowed, preferably fresh. All types of meat are acceptable, along with all types of beans. You can enjoy whole grains such as rice, millet, couscous, oatmeal, pasta, barley and buckwheat. Eggs are fine, as are unprocessed seeds and nuts. Unrefined vegetable oil is OK as well, but it must be the type you have to refrigerate. At the end of your six weeks, you can add small amounts of restricted foods back into your diet, such as cheese, bread or grapes. Add one food at a time. If you experience problems in any area of your body, eliminate that food entirely. TheYeastDiet.com suggests following a yeast-free diet long-term to prevent recurring problems.
Side Effects
You may experience unpleasant side effects while following a yeast-free diet due to all the candida in your system dying off. This occurs during the first few weeks of the diet as a result of yeast toxins entering your vaginal and intestinal tracts. These side effects include fatigue, irritability and weakness. These should subside as your body flushes the toxins from your body.
Second Thought
Brent A. Bauer, M.D., internist for the Mayo Clinic states there is not much evidence to prove the existence of yeast syndrome, or yeast overgrowth, and that many conventional health care providers dispute the validity of the diagnoses made. Additionally, no clinical trials support the efficacy of candida cleansing diets.
