Alternative medicine practitioners claim that elevated levels of a common intestinal yeast, Candida albicans, causes weight gain, gastrointestinal distress, joint pain and fatigue. They recommend treating the infection by adopting a special candida diet, which supposedly kills candida yeast by starvation. Lima beans can only be eaten during certain phases of the candida diet. Before starting a new diet to improve your medical symptoms, discuss your diet with a doctor.
Diet Features
The central purpose of the candida diet is to eliminate most carbohydrates from your meals. Candida yeast live in your intestines and feed upon sugars from the foods you eat. If you stop eating sugar-rich foods, the candida supposedly die of starvation. Thus, the candida diet plan limits your intake of fruits, high-carbohydrate vegetables, beans, alcohol, processed foods and other high-sugar items.
Phase One
The candida diet consists of three phases. The first phase acts as a detoxifying cleanse that supposedly kills large amounts of candida yeast. During this phase, dieters restrict their food intake to low-carbohydrate vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and nonfat yogurt. You should not eat lima beans during the first diet phase. Lima beans contain large amounts of starch, which your body breaks down into sugar molecules. Candida yeast feed upon these sugars and proliferate in your intestines.
Phases Two and Three
After the strict detoxification stage, many candida yeast in your body are supposedly dead. During phases two and three of the candida diet, you may reintroduce lima beans. The beans contain fiber, which promotes gastrointestinal regularity. According to The Candida Diet website, lima beans also have anti-fungal properties that help kill remaining candida yeast. Because lima beans may cause bloating or gas, you should limit your bean consumption to several servings per week. Soaking dried beans or rinsing canned beans may help your body digest them better.
Considerations
After several weeks on the candida diet, many people experience improvements in their energy levels and gastrointestinal problems. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether the candida diet actually kills candida yeast. Dieters may simply feel better because they cut excess sugar and processed foods from their meals. Before beginning the candida diet, talk to your doctor about your medical problems to determine whether the diet is a good solution for you.
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