Candida is a yeast-like fungus; a bacteria that lives in your digestive tract and on moist areas of your skin, for example, between your fingers and toes and around your genitalia. In small numbers, candida is harmless, but when they multiply, candida can lead to uncomfortable yeast infections such as thrush, athlete's foot, jock itch or vaginitis. It's so common to have a candida overgrowth that the University of Maryland Medical Center estimates that up to 75 percent of women will have a vaginal yeast infection at some point. Anti-fungal medications can treat a current infection, but eliminating sugar, mold and yeast from your diet will prevent future outbreaks.
Candidiasis Symptoms
A candida overgrowth can cause various types of yeast infections, including vaginitis, jock itch, diaper rash, thrush and athlete's foot. Left to multiply unchecked, candida can damage your intestinal wall and cause "leaky gut syndrome" leading to food intolerance, allergies, migraines, chronic fatigue and endocrine system disruptions, which could cause either weight gain or weight loss, according to the United Kingdom's National Candida Society. You can treat a current outbreak with anti-fungal creams, making dietary changes, and replenishing friendly bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria, which are probiotics that crowd-out yeast.
Yeast-Free Diet
Eliminating yeast from your diet should help kill the candida overgrowth. Yeasts are found in baked goods; fermented beverages, such as wine, beer and spirits; vinegars, aged cheeses; and smoked meats. When you start your anti-candida diet, you may notice a sudden worsening of your symptoms. When the candida in your body begin to die, they release toxins -- making you feel worse before you feel better, Known as the Herxheimer reaction, this is actually a positive sign that your dietary changes are working and the yeast are dying.
Other Dietary Changes
Eliminating yeast from your diet is only one important change, but because candida thrive on sugar, you must also eliminate simple carbohydrates such as sugar, starchy vegetables and foods made from refined flour that your body can quickly convert to sugar. This helps starve the yeast. As the candida die off, you must replenish the good bacteria in your digestive system by eating foods that contain probiotics, such as yogurt and kefir, or taking probiotic supplements. The friendly probiotic bacteria will help keep candida in check and prevent future overgrowth.
Concerns
According to the Mayo Clinic, many doctors don't believe that a systemic candida infection can cause symptoms such as fatigue, migraines and leaky gut syndrome. Dr. Brent A. Bauer of the Mayo Clinic says "there are no clinical trials that document the efficacy of a candida cleanse diet for treating any recognized medical condition." However, Bauer does note that any diet that eliminates sugar, refined flours and processed foods will probably improve your general health. Candida diets favor nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and healthy fats instead of high-calorie foods that lack essential vitamins and minerals.
Member Comments