Yeast-free diets are also known as candida diets. An excess of yeast or candida albicans in the body can lead to frequent yeast infections, and can worsen health problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome or chronic fatigue. Yeast-free diets don't have to be complicated. With just a bit of planning, they can also be cheap and easy to prepare.
Grains
The main source of yeast in the diet is grains. White bread, breakfast cereals and crackers all contain yeast. If you don't want to completely give up bread, you'll need to look for barley or corn bread. They are usually sold at specialty shops and can be expensive. A way to keep things cheap is to buy rice or rye flour -- both are yeast free -- and bake your own bread. Rice and buckwheat are both yeast free and cheap. You can use them as side dishes or mix them with meats or vegetables to make them into a main dish.
Animal Products
All meats are yeast free, so buy whatever is on sale to keep costs down. Chicken, turkey and fish are the healthiest options, because they contain lower amounts of fat. Don't buy anything processed that's been coated with bread crumbs. Processed cheeses like American cheese contain yeast. So do aged cheeses like blue cheese, buttermilk and fruity yogurt. Plain yogurt is not only acceptable for a yeast-free diet but also cheaper than more processed products. Look for discount prices and deals on mozzarella cheese, which is yeast-free.
Fruits and Vegetables
All fresh vegetables are yeast-free, so stock up on whatever is on sale. Vegetables that are in season are usually cheap. Make them into salads, add them to rice or use them as side dishes for meats. Avoid mushrooms and olives, both of which contain yeast and are expensive. Fruit skin contains yeast, so only buy fruits you can peel. This means avoiding berries, cherries, prunes and raisins.
Other Foods
Although peanuts are cheap, they contain yeast. So does peanut butter. All other nuts are yeast-free, so focus on the cheaper ones, such as almonds and cashews. Brazilian nuts and macademia nuts are yeast-free but more expensive, so buy those in moderation. Baked beans contain yeast, but you can save money by buying yeast-free dried legumes and cooking them yourself.
References
- Nutritional Healing; Yeast-Free Diet; Blake Graham, Bsc
- The Center for Complementary and Integrated Medicine: Yeast Free Diet
- Health Food Express: Yeast-free Diet
- "The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough"; William G. Crook; 2004
