Your health care provider may prescribe a wheat- or yeast-free diet if your body reacts to these ingredients or to help your body rebalance and naturally overcome certain conditions or symptoms. While such a diet may sound like severe deprivation, with a little planning ahead you can enjoy delicious meals and be well on your way to improving our health. The information in this article is not meant to replace the advice of your health care professional. The effectiveness of yeast- and wheat-free diets have not been clinically proven.
Yeast Overgrowth
Your digestive system is populated with a complex ecosystem of microorganisms: bacteria, molds and yeasts. Some are beneficial and some are harmful. When the balance is disrupted, an overgrowth of the harmful ones may result. Such a disruption can occur due to dietary habits, such as eating too much sugar, drinking alcohol or overeating. Antibiotics, which kill bacteria, may make room for overgrowth of yeast and other harmful microbes.
Conditions
Your doctor may prescribe a wheat- and yeast-free diet for a variety of conditions. One common one is a systemic yeast infection. Other conditions that may respond to such a diet include chronic digestive disorders, such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease. According to nutritionist Donna Gates, author of "The Body Ecology Diet," wheat- and yeast-free diets may even help heal autism. There is no conclusive clinical evidence to prove the effectiveness of wheat- or yeat-free diets for these conditions.
How It Works
The theory behind yeast- and wheat-free diets is that yeast overgrowth in your body either causes or exacerbates the condition in question. By cutting out foods containing yeast as well as wheat, which feeds yeast, you stop putting additional yeast into your body. This allows the beneficial bacteria to reproduce and return balance to your system.
Food
If your doctor has prescribed a wheat- and yeast-free diet for you or your child, you may be wondering what you can eat. Many health food stores sell wheat- and yeast-free products, including bread and pasta. If you like to cook, experiment with whole-grain dishes based on rice, millet or quinoa. Cheese and whole vegetables provide healthy snack alternatives. Gates recommends also adding fermented foods and beverages such as kefir and unpasteurized sauerkraut to your diet.
References
- Wisconsin Institute of Nutrition, LLP; Autism; November 2009
- "The Body Ecology Diet"; Donna Gates; 2006
