Most Candida diets require that you eliminate all simple carbohydrates -- foods that quickly turn to sugar in your body and feed the growing yeast population. However, depending on your individual tolerance for grains, some people may be able to include whole sprouted grain products , such as the Ezekiel bread made by Food For Life. Food For Life offers a range of yeast-free sprouted bread products including tortillas, cereals, puffed grain cakes and breads.
Simple Carbohydrates
Candida is a yeast-like bacteria that thrives on sugar. Any food that your body can quickly convert to sugar will feed the Candida, allowing population growth to continue. There are several slightly different versions of the Candida diet available, but they all agree that eliminating all forms of added sugar is essential. There is some disagreement about the amount of natural sugar, such as fructose from fruit or lactose fro dairy products that can be consumed. Some protocols suggest eliminating all grains, some only recommend avoiding gluten. Most Candida diets start with the elimination of all simple carbs, to help starve the Candida quickly, but then gradually allow more foods back into your diet.
Ezekiel Bread
Ezekiel bread is different from other types of bread because it is made from sprouted whole grains, not flour. According to the Candida Solutions website, "Sprouted grains are very healthy for the body and can have a probiotic impact on your healthy flora, which can make it more likely for your healthy flora to overpower the unhealthy Candida bacteria." The only way to know how Ezekiel bread will affect you is to try it and see if it makes the symptoms of your Candida infection worse. Gradually introduce any new food into your diet slowly to be able to note any reaction. The very-high fiber content of Ezekiel bread may cause some gastric distress; drink more water to help your body adjust.
Candida Diet
The longer you wait to introduce foods such as low-sugar fruits and sprouted grains into your diet, the better chance you have of avoiding a re-infection of the Candida. Try to avoid the sweeter Ezekiel products -- some contain raisins and carrots that may be too high in sugar. If possible, choose yeast-free products. Foods For Life, the manufacturers of Ezekiel bread, offer yeast and gluten free breads, tortillas and pasta products made from whole sprouted grains.
Other Tips
Eliminating sugar is only one part of fighting your Candida overgrowth. It's equally important to repopulate good gut flora by eating a diet high in probiotics and anti-fungal foods. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria found in fermented or cultured foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut. Coconut oil, olive oil, onions and garlic have strong anti-fungal properties and should be added to your diet. Avoid taking medications that upset the balance of beneficial bacteria in your body -- antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria, and birth control pills and steroids can also kill the friendly bacteria that keeps Candida in check.
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